Electronic support work station and method of operation

Abstract

A computer-controlled electronic support system includes an electronic work station with a display screen and pointing device coupled to a central processing unit where an operator performs an operation on a workpiece. The workpiece operation begins by an operator entering and processing a work order identifier. In response to that work order identifier, a corresponding workpiece identifier is generated. Image, graphic, and text information associated with that workpiece identifier is retrieved from memory. A user-friendly, menu-based display screen provides a plurality of entries with each entry having menu options associated with the workpiece identifier. Advantageously, an operator can select any one of several different images of the workpiece simply by selecting a menu option. Not only is the particular workpiece image displayed, but also a plurality of graphics associated with that workpiece image. The graphics may include for example icons and 'hot spot' areas of the displayed image, any one of which may be selected by the operator simply pointing to the graphic on the display screen. In response, information is displayed relating to the workpiece corresponding to the selected graphic that will assist the operator in performing a particular support operation on the workpiece, e.g., maintenance, servicing, testing, repair, etc.