The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
May. 07, 2002
Filed:
Sep. 30, 1996
David G. Blahnik, Metmora, IL (US);
Stephen J. Jackson, Peoria, IL (US);
Steven D. Monday, Glasford, IL (US);
Allen B. Peacock, Bartonville, IL (US);
Catherine A. Roling, Peoria, IL (US);
Leslie W. Johnson, Yorkville, IL (US);
Paul M. McCarron, Twinsburg, OH (US);
Bruce W. Day, Peoria, IL (US);
Caterpillar Inc., Peoria, IL (US);
Abstract
A method and system for producing production control software for a plurality of electronic control modules, is provided. The electronic control modules are located on production machines. Each production machine includes a subset of the electronic control modules. The system includes a part file staging area for receiving and storing new production control software from a design engineering group. A product engineering workstation is coupled to the part file staging area and operated by a product engineering user. The product engineering user can review, modify and approve the new production control software. A production staging area, coupled to the product engineering workstation, receives and stores approved production control software and receives an order for a production machine. A production workstation, coupled to the production staging area, receives the order for a production machine, determines the subset of electronic control modules located on the ordered production machine, and retrieves the production control software corresponding to the subset of electronic control modules located on the ordered production machine. The production workstation is coupled to the ordered production machine and adapted to download the production control software from the production staging area to the subset of electronic control modules located on the ordered production machine.