RU2534969C2 - Method for integration with automated article data management system - Google Patents

Abstract

FIELD: physics, computer engineering.

SUBSTANCE: invention relates to a method for integration with an automated article data management system (AADMS). Documents are created and input into the AADMS using an integration unit. The AADMS performs management of said documents, coordination processes and life cycle operations of said documents. Upon logging on to an automated system integrated with the AADMS, users receive or enter input data into said system through its application. The method prevents direct user access into the AADMS for managing documents created and input into the AADMS through the automated system, which integrates functions thereof, through automatic comparison of records of said systems and non-disclosure of record data of the AADMS to the users. Data needed to create documents are stored in the database of the automated system which integrates AADMS functions. Users use the automated system application to perform functions: optionally indicating the process and coordination scheme, automatic input of created documents into the AADMS, optionally automatic launch of the process of coordinating input documents. Users are notified of the presence of remarks to documents input into the AADMS and coordinated by said users. Automated system data are corrected and new versions of documents are created. For new versions of documents in the AADMS, the coordination process is resumed if necessary; users can browse documents in the AADMS through the automated system application.

EFFECT: enabling a user to make changes to electronic documents created in an automated system and stored in an AADMS.

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Description

The invention relates to information computing systems and methods of their integration, and more particularly to information systems that include a client application and a database integrated with an automated product data management system (ASUDI), so that the consistency of electronic data with the content generated based on them electronic documents.

An intermediate result of the processes that make up the activities of the enterprise are often electronic copies of documents made in a form oriented to the further printing of paper originals. To prepare electronic copies of documents, automated systems can be used, which include a database and a client application. In this case, the following scheme of work is implemented. The user works with data in an automated system. It forms electronic copies of documents on their basis, which are further used for printing paper originals. If it becomes necessary to amend paper documents, the user can use an automated system and electronic copies of documents to then print new versions of paper original documents. It is also possible for the user to make changes directly to paper documents. It should be noted that the data of the automated system may be in demand by other business processes of the enterprise. However, additional time and organizational efforts are required to ensure the correctness and relevance of this data. In this case, a technically implemented mechanism for ensuring data compliance in the automated system and in the original documents is required.

Currently, thanks to the emergence of automated product data management systems, it has become possible to switch to working with electronic documents. The scheme of work using ASUDI may look as follows. The user works with data in an automated system. On their basis generates electronic documents, which are then placed in ASUDI. If necessary, electronic documents placed in ASUDI are used to obtain paper copies.

The use of ASUDI opens up new possibilities, but is not in itself sufficient to solve the above problem.

Examples of automated systems integrated with ASUDI can be found among developers of integrated automation solutions for technological preparation of production (CCI).

CCI automation is a prime example of the activity in which this problem is manifested. CCI consists of interconnected processes, including technological design, rationing and planning of the use of technological equipment. These processes exchange data with each other. Therefore, for effective automation, it is necessary to ensure the possibility of quickly obtaining relevant and correct technological data for the CCI processes. The main difficulty in this is that the technological design is focused on the release of documentation that meets the requirements of the Unified System for Technical Documentation, and the data in the system that automates the receipt of this documentation is not accompanied.

The largest developers of CCI automation complexes include a computer-aided design (CAD) system of technological processes (TP) and ASUDI integrated with it. We give examples of such related systems: ″ VERTICAL ″ and ″ LOTSMAN: PLM ″ from ASCON, SWR-Technology and SWE-PDM from SolidWorks, ″ Timeline ″ and ″ PDM Vault ″ from SDI Solution, etc.

As a prototype, a method of integration with ASUDI, implemented in a complex of automated systems ″ VERTICAL ″ - ″ LOTSMAN: PLM ″ by ASKON [Vertical. The system of computer-aided design of technological processes. User's manual. 2008]. The same method is used in the complex of automated systems ″ Timeline ″ and ″ PDM Vault ″ by SDI Solution [A. Andrichenko, A. Koptev ″ Principles of integration of PDM systems and CAD of technological processes ″; CAD / CAM / CAE Observer No. 8 (68) / 2011].

Schematically, the user’s work with documents and TP data in existing solutions is presented in Fig. 1. The user uses CAD software (1) to work with data from technological processes, and ASUDI (2) to manage files generated in CAD software, the processes of their coordination and implementation of life cycle operations on them.

CAD TP allows you to create and place two types of files in ASUDI: data files and document files. The former are designed to store process data obtained as a result of design. Downloading TP from ASUDI and saving TP in it occurs through the use of data files. Document files are the result of technological design, presented in accordance with the requirements of the standard.

Pay attention to the following features of the described operation scheme:

- TP data is stored in ASUDI as a binary file associated with the CAD CAD application;

- TP documentation is stored in the ASUDI archive. Saving the documentation of TP in a neutral format (PDF, DOC, XLS, XPS) allows you to get by with regular ASUDI tools. It is worth noting that the choice of PDF format limits the ability to make changes by the user;

- a set of technological maps is saved in ASUDI at the same time as a TP file is saved.

After analyzing the above, we can conclude that the existing method of automation of technological design allows us to solve the identified problem, since when using it:

1. These TPs are placed in ASUDI, from where they can be accessed by other automated systems.

2. Compliance of TP data and the contents of technological documentation is achieved through the use of PDF format. This forces the user, if necessary, to make changes to the technological documentation to make changes to the data file using CAD software.

However, the considered method has several disadvantages. The main one is that the user has access to ASUDI and can manually manage documents and TP files. The presence of the human factor does not allow to give a one hundred percent guarantee of data compliance. In order to minimize the possible consequences of this drawback or to completely eliminate them, additional organizational or technical changes are needed. The first of them would be an obligation to work the user ″ in the right way ″, i.e. to place documents in ASUDI not directly, but through integration implemented in CAD / CAM. Technical changes would include the implementation of an ASUDI profile that provides the user with the limitations described above.

The second drawback is the placement of data in files, which leads to a relatively low processing speed. The last drawback is the need for the user to work in two systems: in CAD CAD for working with TP data and generating documentation, and in ASUDI for performing life cycle operations and managing file approval processes. This increases the required number of user actions, complicates the process of learning, worsens the usability.

The aim of the invention is the creation of an alternative method of integration with ASUDI, which solves the problem of consistency of data and contents of documents.

This goal is achieved by the fact that in the method of integration with an automated product data management system (ASUDI), in which users work with data in an automated system (AS), they generate documents and place them in ASUDI by using the integration module; ASUDI manages the posted documents, their approval processes and their life cycle operations; when registering in an AS integrated with ASUDI, users receive or install login data to this system through its application, eliminate the possibility of direct access to users in ASUDI for managing documents generated and placed in ASUDI through AS integrating its functions by automatically matching credentials records of these systems and non-disclosure of data from ACUDI accounts to users; storage of data necessary for the formation of documents is carried out in the AS base, integrating the functions of ASUDI; users use the AS application to perform the functions of: specifying, if necessary, the process and the approval scheme, automatically placing the generated documents in ASUDI, and if necessary, automatically starting the approval process for the placed documents; users are notified of the presence of comments on documents issued by them and being consistent with the ASUDI issued by them, they correct the AS data, and form new versions of documents; for new versions of documents posted in ASUDI, if necessary, resume the approval process; through the AS application, users can view documents placed in ASUDI, as well as information regarding their approval and comments issued, if necessary, receive their paper copies.

Figure 1 presents the diagram of the user with CAD TP and ASUDI in existing complexes of automated systems.

Figure 2 presents a diagram of the interaction of the user, the integrating system and the automated system for managing product data.

Figure 3 shows the algorithm for working with electronic documents in an automated system integrated with ASUDI.

Figure 4 presents the scheme of obtaining information about documents for viewing in the system integrating function ASUDI.

Figure 5 shows the algorithm for calling and performing the functions of ASUDI.

The proposed method determines the technical organization of the interaction of the integrating system (IS), ASUDI and the user as shown in figure 2.

IS (1) is designed to manage the data necessary for the formation of documents. It consists of a server part and an application. The IP application contains all the forms necessary for using the functions of the IP, as well as the functions of the ASUDI, performed through the integration module.

The integration module (3) can be implemented as part of an integrating system application using the ASUDI application programming interface.

The purpose of ASUDI (2) is to manage documents generated on the basis of IP data and placed in it through the integration module. This system, as a rule, has its own application.

When implementing this method, the user does not have access through the ASUDI application to the functions that manage documents generated in the IS. He uses all the necessary functions only through the IP application.

The algorithm of work in the IS and ASUDI will look as follows (figure 3).

1. Entrance to the IP. Run the program and enter user account information.

2. User work with data in the IP. Entering the necessary information, adjusting the available data and other actions.

3. The user calls and performs the functions of generating new documents or new versions of previously generated documents. Before generating documents, if necessary, the user selects the process and the coordination scheme.

4. Placement of the generated documents in ASUDI occurs automatically after the formation of the documents.

5. The launch of a new, or the resumption of the previously launched process of approval of placed documents occurs automatically after the placement of documents in ASUDI.

6. Viewing documents on the coordination node, issuing comments, or accepting the document and transferring it to the next node. If the coordination node is not finite, then repeat step 6.

7. If comments were issued to the document, the user is notified of the need to adjust the document. After that, the steps 2-7 are carried out.

8. If there are no comments on documents at the final coordination node, then they are approved.

Working in the IS, the user can view information about the status of documents posted in ASUDI. At the same time, he can use the means of viewing documents in ASUDI and the comments issued to them. The scheme for obtaining information about documents for viewing in the IP is presented in figure 4.

For documents stored in ASUDI, paper copies are possible. To access work in the IS, the user is registered in it, receiving or indicating at the same time the details of his account. When working in the IS, access to the functions of the ASUDI is carried out through integration. The algorithm for calling and performing ASUDI functions is presented in FIG. 5.

The IS uses the data of the ASUDI account (FIG. 2) to access its functions. The IP is extracted from the information base in which it is mapped to the account data of the current IP user (Fig. 2). Thus, each IS account corresponds to a special ASUDI account, designed to access the management functions of the documentation generated in the IS.

The data of the ASUDI account is not disclosed to the user, which eliminates the possibility of making changes through the ASUDI application to documents developed in the IS and posted to ASUDI through integration.

Claims (1)

A method of integration with an automated product data management system (ASUDI), in which users work with data in an automated system (AS), generate documents and place them in an ASUDI through the use of an integration module; ASUDI manages the posted documents, their approval processes and their life cycle operations; when registering in the AS integrated with ASUDI, users receive or install login data to this system through its application, characterized in that they eliminate the possibility of direct access to users in ASUDI for managing documents generated and placed in ASUDI through AS integrating its functions, by automatically matching the accounts of these systems and non-disclosure of these ACUDI accounts to users; storage of data necessary for the formation of documents is carried out in the AS base, integrating the functions of ASUDI; users use the AS application to perform the functions of: indicating, if necessary, the approval process and scheme, automatically placing the generated documents in ASUDI, and if necessary, automatically starting the approval process for the placed documents; users are notified of the presence of comments on documents issued by them and being consistent with the ASUDI issued by them, they correct the AS data, and form new versions of documents; for new versions of documents posted in ASUDI, if necessary, resume the approval process; through the AC application, users can view documents placed in ASUDI, as well as information regarding their approval, and issued comments, if necessary, receive paper copies of them.

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