ELECTRONIC PRODUCT DESIGN SYSTEM

摘要

A product design system has a workstation (1), a central web site (32) and vendor databases (42, 44, 46, 48). The workstation includes access to one or more design tools (22, 24, 26, 28) that are used by a user, such as a product designer, to formulate a design. The vendor databases (42, 44, 46, 48) have one or more vendor data files (40a...n) that have vendor-supplied data associated with a different material, process, component, or the like that is offered by the vendor. The vendor data files (40a...n) have a standardized database structure that is suitable to one or more design tools (22, 24, 26, 28) stored at the workstation (1). Each vendor database (42, 44, 46, 48) and vendor data file (40a...n) is associated with a URL that is searchable. A user at the workstation accesses the central web site (32) and conducts a search of desired vendor-supplied data. Results are presented to the user, who may then reformat or edit the search or download the located vendor-supplied data into a vendor-supplied database at the workstation. The vendor-supplied data can then be imported from the vendor-supplied database into any of the design tools. The design tool creates a design file that is stored at the workstation and can be transported to any different design tool through a Neutral Dynamic Hub, which first converts the design file to a neutral format and then to a format suitable to the destination design tool.