Online product design

Abstract

The method and system disclosed herein provide a means for developing product designs for a given product concept of a problem provider over a network. A problem provider inputs product design requirements of a product concept in a user interface. An environmental element module identifies environment elements for the product concept. A secondary perspective function module identifies secondary functions that can be added to the product concept from the perspective of the environmental elements. A components and applications selection module derives components for the product concept and secondary functions. A masking module masks the application of product concept. A vertical independent classification system (VICS) is provided that is a repository of functions with predetermined linkages, with solution provider classified under each function. Solution providers are selected from VICS for the masked product concept and secondary functions.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

The foregoing summary, as well as the following detailed description of the embodiments, is better understood when read in conjunction with the appended drawings. For the purpose of illustrating the invention, there is shown in the drawings exemplary constructions of the invention; however, the invention is not limited to the specific methods and instrumentalities disclosed.

FIG. 1 illustrates the various processes used in a computer implemented internet based system for developing or identifying alternate product designs for a given product concept of a problem provider.

FIG. 2 illustrates the computer implemented internet based system for developing or identifying alternate product designs for a given product concept of a problem provider.

FIG. 3 depicts an exemplary output of the secondary perspective functional module for a receiver.

FIG. 4 illustrates a method of masking the product design requirement.

Claims

1. A computer implemented system for developing product designs for a product concept of a problem provider by a plurality of solution providers, over a network in communication with a server, said system comprising: a user interface for inputting product design requirements of the product concept by said problem provider;an environmental element module for identifying the environment elements for said product concept;a secondary perspective function module for identifying secondary functions that can be added to the product concept from the perspective of said environmental elements;a components and applications selection module that is used to derive components for said novel product concepts and applications derived from the vertical independent classification system;a masking module for masking the application of product concept and said secondary functions; anda vertical independent classification system that is a repository of functions with predetermined linkages, with solution provider classified under each function, wherein the secondary functions and product concepts are identified in said vertical independent classification system, whereby a plurality of solution provider are chosen for the design of a novel product for the product concept and for performing secondary functions.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the network is the internet or a private network, or a combination of the internet and a private network.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein said server hosts the environmental element module, secondary perspective function module, masking module, vertical independent classification system and the components and application selection module.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein said environmental elements identified from said environmental element module environment comprises the proximate physical environment elements of the product concept and the types of human users of the product concept.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein said component and application selection module comprises a search engine that searches for components for a given function in a database of components and functions.

6. A computer implemented network based method for determining alternate product designs for a given product concept of a problem provider over a network with a server, comprising: inputting product design requirements for a product concept by said problem provider;identifying environment elements for said product concept;identifying secondary functions that can be added to the product concept from the perspective of said environmental elements;providing a components and applications selection module that is used to derive components for the product concept and said secondary functions;masking the application of the product concept and said secondary functions; andproviding a vertical independent classification system that is a repository of functions with predetermined linkages, with solution provider classified under each function, wherein the secondary functions and product concepts are identified in said vertical independent classification system, whereby a plurality of solution provider are chosen for the design of a novel product for the product concept and for performing secondary functions.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein the problem provider and the solution provider collaboratively work real time via the internet to choose environmental elements and component sets.

8. The method of claim 6, wherein said functionality is a utility, application or activity.

9. A method of classifying service providers, comprising the steps of: identifying means of performing functions claimed in the preamble of independent claim of the service provider in a patent of the service provider, wherein the service provider is an assignee or author of the patent document;creating an hierarchical information database of means of performing functions; andclassifying the service provider under said means for performing functions.