Spreadsheet tool manager for collaborative modeling

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2017199728-A1
Application number	US-201614995041-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Jan 13, 2016
Priority date	Jan 13, 2016
Publication date	Jul 13, 2017
Grant date	—

Abstract

According to an embodiment of the present invention, a computer-implemented method for collaborative management of a plurality of modeling tools is described. The method may include receiving, via a processor, a modeling tool request from a user for a modeling tool configured to operate in a spreadsheet application, determining, via an inventory manager, whether a tool record exists matching the modeling tool request, building, via a tool creation module, a new modeling tool configured to operate in the spreadsheet application responsive to determining that a tool record does not exist, and updating, via the inventory manager, a tool record in an inventory database if a tool record does not exist that matches the modeling tool request.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1 . A computer-implemented method for collaborative management of a plurality of modeling tools comprising:
receiving, via a processor, a modeling tool request from a user for a modeling tool configured to operate in a spreadsheet application; determining, via an inventory manager, whether a tool record exists matching the modeling tool request; building, via a tool creation module, a new modeling tool configured to operate in the spreadsheet application responsive to determining that a tool record does not exist; and updating, via the inventory manager, a tool record in an inventory database if a tool record does not exist that matches the modeling tool request.

2 . The computer-implemented method of claim 1 , wherein determining whether a tool record exists comprises:
receiving, from a user, at least one attribute; determining, via a taxonomy manager, whether the at least one attribute exists in a tool record; outputting, via an output device, a selectable list of at least one tool record having the at least one attribute; and retrieving a modeling based on a user input indicative of a tool selection.

3 . The computer-implemented method of claim 2 , wherein the at least one attribute comprises an engineering calculation.

4 . The computer-implemented method of claim 1 , wherein the tool creation module is configured to build a new modeling tool by:
prompting, via a processor, a user for information regarding an attribute of the new modeling tool; receiving, via a processor, user input indicative of the attribute; categorizing, via a taxonomy manager, the modeling tool into a category of modeling tools having at least one attribute in common with the modeling tool; and saving, in the inventory database, the modeling tool, wherein the modeling tool is accessible by at least one other user.

5 . The computer-implemented method of claim 1 , further comprising:
receiving, via the processor, an existing modeling tool based on the modeling tool request responsive to determining that the tool record exists in the inventory database.

6 . The computer-implemented method of claim 5 , wherein the existing modeling tool is installable on a remote device.

7 . A system for collaborative management of a plurality of modeling tools comprising a processor configured to:
receive, via the processor, a modeling tool request from a user for a modeling tool configured to operate in a spreadsheet application; determine, via an inventory manager, whether a tool record exists matching the modeling tool request; build, via a tool creation module, a new modeling tool configured to operate in the spreadsheet application responsive to determining that a tool record does not exist; and update, via the inventory manager, a tool record in an inventory database if a tool record does not exist that matches the modeling tool request.

8 . The system of claim 7 , wherein the processor is configured to determining whether a tool record exists comprises:
receive at least one attribute; determine, via a taxonomy manager, whether the at least one attribute exists in a tool record; output, via an output device, a selectable list of at least one tool record having the at least one attribute; and retrieve a modeling tool based on a user input indicative of a tool selection.

9 . The system of claim 8 , wherein the at least one attribute comprises an engineering calculation.

10 . The system of claim 7 , wherein the tool creation module is configured to:
prompt a user for information regarding an attribute of the new modeling tool; receive user input indicative of the attribute; categorize, via a taxonomy manager, the modeling tool into a category of modeling tools having at least one attribute in common with the modeling tool; and save, in the inventory database, the modeling tool, wherein the modeling tool is accessible by at least one other user.

11 . The system of claim 7 , wherein the processor is further configured to:
receive an existing modeling tool based on the modeling tool request responsive to determining that the tool record exists in the inventory database.

12 . The system of claim 11 , wherein the existing modeling tool is installable on a remote device.

13 . A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium comprising program instructions that are executable by a processor that, when executed, perform a method for collaborative management of a plurality of modeling tools, the method comprising:
receiving, via the processor, a modeling tool request from a user for a modeling tool configured to operate in a spreadsheet application; determining, via an inventory manager, whether a tool record exists matching the modeling tool request; building, via a tool building module, a new modeling tool configured to operate in the spreadsheet application responsive to determining that a tool record does not exist; and updating, via the inventory manager, a tool record in an inventory database if a tool record does not exist that matches the modeling tool request.

14 . The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 13 , wherein determining whether a tool record exists comprises:
receiving, from a user, at least one attribute; determining, via a taxonomy manager, whether the at least one attribute exists in a tool record; outputting, via an output device, a selectable list of at least one tool record having the at least one attribute; and retrieving a modeling tool based on a user input indicative of a tool selection.

15 . The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 14 , wherein the at least one attribute comprises an engineering calculation.

16 . The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 13 , comprising:
prompting, via a processor, a user for information regarding a attribute of the new modeling tool; receiving, via a processor, user input indicative of the attribute; categorizing, via a taxonomy manager, the modeling tool into a category of modeling tools having at least one attribute in common with the modeling tool; and saving, in the inventory database, the modeling tool, wherein the modeling tool is accessible by at least one other user.

17 . The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 13 , further comprising:
receiving, via the processor, an existing modeling tool based on the modeling tool request responsive to determining that the tool record exists in the inventory database.

18 . The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 17 , wherein the existing modeling tool is installable on a remote device.

Assignees

• Hamilton Sundstrand Space Sys

Inventors

• Woods Roberto

Classifications

• G06F9/44526

  Plug-ins; Add-ons · CPC title

• G06F8/35 Primary

  model driven · CPC title

• G06F8/71

  Version control (security arrangements therefor G06F21/57); Configuration management · CPC title

• G06F8/61

  Installation · CPC title

• G06Q10/101

  Collaborative creation, e.g. joint development of products or services · CPC title