Graphical user interface shop floor control system

Patent 6396516 Issued on May 28, 2002. Estimated Expiration Date:

May 29, 2018. Estimated Expiration Date is calculated based on simple USPTO term provisions. It does not account for terminal disclaimers, term adjustments, failure to pay maintenance fees, or other factors which might affect the term of a patent.

Abstract Claims Description Full Text

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Inventor

Beatty, Robert A.

Assignee

Plexus Systems, LLC

Application

No. 086751 filed on 05/29/1998

Examiners

Primary: Bayerl, Raymond J.
Assistant: Hailu, Tadesse

Attorney, Agent or Firm

Oliff & Berridge, PLC

International Classes

G09G 005/00
839
734-737

Abstract

A graphical user interface shop floor control system includes one or more of factory screens, shop floor screens, machine status screens, a material/parts container screens, machine login screens, new production screens, and machine maintenance screens. The factory screen graphically represents a factory. The shop floor screens represent different shop floors or other areas of the factory. These areas of the factory are represented by selectable icons, positioned within the factory screen at locations corresponding to the locations of the represented areas within the factory. Each shop floor screen depicts the general appearance of one of the areas of the factory and the factory elements of that area of the factory. Icons representing factory elements are positioned within the shop floor screens at locations corresponding to the locations of the represented factory elements within the corresponding shop floor. Icons representing machines and storage locations include graphics depicting the appearance of the represented machine or storage location. The shop floor screens include status buttons. Selecting a status button and a machine icon assigns the selected status to the machine represented by the selected machine icon, and color codes that icon. Containers of parts are associated with the various machines. Their movement around the shop floors is controlled by scanning bar code labels associated with the containers. Animations of the movement of the containers is displayed to indicate that the movement of the container has been recorded. Animations can also be provided for the machine icons based upon their status.

Other References

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