GB2498702A

GB2498702A - A graphical user interface for planning worktop cutting

Info

Publication number: GB2498702A
Application number: GB1121005.1A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Malcolm Stanley Healey
Original assignee: WREN KITCHENS Ltd
Current assignee: WREN KITCHENS LIMITED
Priority date: 2011-12-07
Filing date: 2011-12-07
Publication date: 2013-07-31
Also published as: GB201121005D0

Abstract

A space planning tool which allows a user to resize lengthwise items such as worktops in two or three dimensional space by representing the worktop as a graphic object which can be resized according to user inputs, this resizing causing the generation of a remainder off-cut graphic object item in response to the user resizing. The remainder may be displayed and grouped in the user interface, the grouping may be in a parent-child relationship, the cut margin may be accounted for, the remainder may be re-sized, the interface may include an off-cut area which may have an icon, a plurality of worktop item groups may be tracked in the space planning tool, the off-cut area may be openable, resizing the remainder may be iterative in response to user inputs, the tool may be provided on-line in a server-cloud-client format and the server side component may generate a manufacturing control file from received graphic objects by extracting then necessary information from them.

Description

MANUFACTURING SYSTEM WITH SUPPORT FOR

BACKGROUND

Technical Field

The present invention relates generally to the field of manufacturing systems, and more particularly to systems that control manufacturing processes in factories, assembly lines or other industrial environments.

Description of Related Art

It is known to provide systems which control the production of complex items having multiple component parts. As one example, a manufacturing system controls the production of furniture items such as cupboards, cabinets, and drawer units. Typically, these furniture items are produced according to a bespoke customer order at the factory, and delivered ready to be installed into a physical space. That is, the furniture units are constructed to order and will fit together or be installed according to a required plan, such as in a customer's kitchen, bathroom or bedroom. Computer-aided planning tools are available to assist with space planning. However, these computer-aided planning tools tend to be relatively complex, have a high capital cost, and require skilled, professional operators.

It is now desired to provide a system with improved interaction and control over the manufacturing process, particularly when producing complex items which are to be installed together in a physical space according to a specific customer plan. Further, it is desired to minimise waste and improve efficiency, particularly relating to worktops and other lengthwise items.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

According to the present invention there is provided a manufacturing system as set forth in the appended claims. Other features of the invention will be apparent from the dependent

claims, and the description which follows.

Generally, a manufacturing system is provided including a space planning tool arranged to deliver graphic objects to a client device to be displayed on a display screen as graphical representation of a plurality of items, such as kitchen units, and a physical space in which the items will be installed.

In one aspect, the space planning tool is arranged to receive and display at least a first worktop item graphic object representing a lengthwise item such as a worktop, which is reduced to a desired length in response to user inputs, whereupon a remainder worktop item graphic object is generated representing a remainder portion of the lengthwise item.

In one aspect of the present invention there is provided a manufacturing system having a mechanism for supporting lengthwise units such as worktops, the system comprising: a client device having a space planning tool arranged to receive and display a plurality of graphic objects on a display screen to form at least a two-dimensional space planning graphic representation of a plurality of planned items and a physical space in which the planned items are arranged; wherein the space planning tool is further arranged to receive at least a first worktop item graphic object representing a lengthwise item such as a worktop; and wherein the space planning tool is arranged to receive user inputs to perform resizing of the first worktop item graphic object to a desired length, and in response generate a remainder worktop item graphic object representing a remainder portion of the lengthwise item.

In one aspect, the space planning tool is arranged to display the remainder worktop item graphic object on the display screen within the two-dimensional space planning graphic representation.

In one aspect, the space planning tool is arranged to associate the first worktop item graphic object and the remainder worktop item graphic object together as a worktop item group.

In one aspect, the space planning tool is arranged to reduce a remaining length available within the remainder worktop item graphic object by a predetermined cut margin representing material consumed when cutting the first worktop item graphic object.

In one aspect, the space planning tool is arranged to receive further user inputs for placing and sizing the remainder worktop item graphic object elsewhere in the space planning representation separately from the first worktop item graphic object.

In one aspect, the space planning tool is arranged to group the first worktop item graphic object and the remainder worktop item graphic object with a parent-child relationship.

In one aspect, the space planning tool is arranged to lock the first worktop item graphic object while the remainder worktop item graphic object is displayed.

In one aspect, the space planning tool is arranged to receive user inputs to adjust a length of the remainder worktop item graphic object and not to adjust the length of the first worktop item graphic object while the remainder worktop item graphic object is displayed.

In one aspect, the space planning tool is arranged to provide an off-cut area for temporarily storing the remainder worktop item graphic object before being added to the space planning representation.

In one aspect, the off-cut area is represented by an icon on a toolbar.

In one aspect, the space planning tool is arranged to track a plurality of different worktop item groups.

In one aspect, the off-cut area is openable to display the remainder worktop item graphic objects relating to a plurality of different worktop item groups.

In one aspect, the space planning tool is arranged to iteratively sub-divide the remainder worktop item graphic object when resized in response to user inputs.

In one aspect, the space planning tool comprises a client-side component provided on the client device, and a server-side component which supplies the plurality of graphic objects to the client device.

In one aspect, the client-side component is provided in an Internet browser.

In one aspect, the manufacturing system further comprises a configuration server arranged to generate a manufacturing control file that configures the manufacturing system relevant to the plurality of items represented by the plurality of graphic objects, wherein the configuration server comprises a server-side component of the space planning tool; wherein the configuration server is arranged to receive the graphic objects from the client device in a modified form, including one or more boundary graphic objects that define boundaries of the graphic representation and one or more item graphic objects that define the items arranged in the graphic representation, and wherein the configuration server includes an extraction unit that extracts information from the graphic objects received from the client device to form the manufacturing control file; and a manufacturing server that controls a production of the items according to the manufacturing control file generated by the configuration server.

In one aspect, the space planning tool in response to user commands received from the client device delivers one or more of the boundary graphic objects to the client device to define boundaries of the space being planned, selects among item data in a library file to thereby select the one or more item graphic objects relevant to the selected item data, and delivers the item graphic objects to the client device to be added to the representation as displayed on the display screen.

In one aspect, the library file comprises the item data for a plurality of related items, and each item data comprises a plurality of attributes, including at least an item identifier field and one or more manufacturing information fields; wherein each item graphic object received from the client device includes an item identifier field which records the item identifier of a corresponding item data in the library; and wherein the extraction unit extracts the attributes from the item data in the library file according to the item identifier recorded in each received item graphic object, modifies the extracted item data according to the information carried in the received item graphic objects, and uses the extracted data to form the manufacturing control file.

In one aspect, the boundary graphic objects comprise dimension fields that record physical dimensions of the space being planned and wherein the item graphic objects comprise dimension fields that record physical dimensions of the items, and wherein the space planning tool controls insertion of the item graphic objects and the boundary graphic objects into the representation according to the dimension fields.

In one aspect, the item graphic objects comprise position fields that record a relative position of that item within the representation, such that the manufacturing control file is formed with respect to the position information.

In one aspect, the item graphic objects comprise one or more manufacturing option fields that configure production of the respective item, and the extraction unit extracts the manufacturing option fields into the manufacturing control file.

In one aspect, the space planning tool recreates the representation at the manufacturing system according to the graphic objects received from the client device.

In one aspect, the graphic objects are transferred to the configuration server and stored at the configuration server in a serialised format.

In one aspect, the space planning tool further defines an item toolbar to the client device that displays one or more of the item graphic objects prior to the items being added to the space planning representation.

In one aspect, the space planning tool provides a control to the client device that, when activated, cause the graphic objects in the representation to be transferred between the client device and the configuration server, or vice versa.

In one aspect, the space planning tool provides a control to the client device that, when activated, triggers the extraction unit to form the manufacturing control file using the received graphic objects.

In one aspect, the manufacturing control file comprises one or more cost information fields, the manufacturing server automatically generates cost information from the manufacturing control file using the cost information fields, and the cost information is delivered to the client device.

In one aspect, the manufacturing system further comprises a customer accounting server that executes an account processing tool which automatically processes a customer payment account with respect to one or more cost fields held in the manufacturing control file, by communicating with the client device.

In one aspect, the space planning tool determines a remaining lateral dimension when an item graphic object is added to the space planning representation, and automatically adjusts a position of the item with respect to the space being planned to optimise the remaining lateral dimension for additional item graphic objects that are yet to be added to the space planning representation.

In one aspect, the configuration server holds at least one library file with attributes including at least one lateral dimension attribute for each of the items, and wherein the space planning tool automatically adjusts the position of the added item with respect to the space being planned according to the lateral dimension attributes of the other items in the library file.

In one aspect, the system is arranged to produce domestic furniture units such as kitchen units.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

For a better understanding of the invention, and to show how example embodiments may be carried into effect, reference will now be made to the accompanying drawings in which: Fig. 1 is a schematic view of an example manufacturing system; Fig. 2 is another schematic view of the example manufacturing system; Fig. 3 is another schematic view of the example manufacturing system; Fig. 4 is another schematic view of the example manufacturing system; Fig 5 is a schematic view showing the example manufacturing system in use; Fig. 6 is another schematic view showing the example manufacturing system in use; and Fig 7 is a schematic view showing the manufacturing system with improved support for

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EXAMPLE EMBODIMENTS

The following embodiments will be discussed in detail using the example of a system that produces complex furniture items such as cabinets, cupboards, drawer units and worktops for domestic kitchens. However, the teachings, principles and techniques discussed herein are also applicable to many other specific implementations. For example, embodiments of the invention are also applicable to the production of bathroom or bedroom furniture. Further examples include furniture for homes, factories, schools, offices or laboratories. Thus, the invention is generally applicable to any system where items are produced for installation in a planned physical space.

Figure 1 is a schematic overview of the example manufacturing system 10, which is suitably installed in a factory, warehouse or other industrial site. The system 10 includes, amongst other things, one or more server computers 20, 30, 40 which are coupled together with appropriate communication links, such as a local area network (LAN). The server computers 20, 30, 40 include physical hardware such as memory, processors, I/O interfaces, network cards, backbones, power supplies and so on, and an operating system such as UNIXTM, LinuxTM or SolarisTM. These server computers support a variety of software services including external communications, web server applications, data processing, and file storage.

Although three separate server computers 20, 30, 40 have been shown in this example, other embodiments may use more, or fewer, such servers.

The manufacturing system 10 controls one or more manufacturing process lines 12, such as component picking lines and assembly lines, to produce items ready for dispatch to customers. Also, the manufacturing system may include a plurality of local client terminals 14 for use by technical and administration staff at the site.

In use, the manufacturing system lOis also coupled to one or more client devices 100.

The client device 100 is suitably remote from the factory site and is coupled to the manufacturing system 10 over a wide-area communications network 101 such as the Internet.

The client device 100 comprises a user input unit 110, such as a keyboard and mouse, and a display screen 120. In the example embodiment, the client device 100 is suitably a personal computer, laptop computer, personal digital assistant, or other computing device.

The client device 100 typically comprises hardware such as memory, processors, storage devices and so on, an operating system such as WindowslM or Linux1M, a web browser application such as Internet ExplorerTM, Chrome'TM, FirefoxTM or SafariTM and a graphics rendering tool 130 such as an Adobe FlashTM animation tool.

Figure 2 is a schematic diagram showing the example manufacturing system 10 in more detail. Here, a configuration server 20 configures the manufacturing system 10 to produce the desired items, while a manufacturing server 30 controls production of the items according to configuration information received from the configuration server 20.

The configuration server 20 executes a space planning tool 22 that, in use, causes one or more graphic objects 210, 220 to be delivered across the communication network 101 to the client device 100. These graphic objects 210, 220 are rendered by the graphics tool 130 at the client device 100 and are displayed on the display screen 120 to form at least a two-dimensional graphical representation 200 of a physical space being planned. The graphic objects 210, 220 are conveniently rendered in the form of lines, rectangles or other geometric objects with start points and end points relative to an XY (or XYZ) origin.

Suitably, the graphic objects 210, 220 include one or more boundary graphic objects 210 and one or more item graphic objects 220 to the client device 100. The boundary graphic objects 210 define outlines of the space planning representation 200. That is, these boundary graphic objects 210 suitably comprise a plurality of boundary conditions that define boundaries of the space being planned by the space planning representation 200. Thus, in the case of a domestic kitchen, the boundary graphic objects 210 define, for example, a relative position and length of each wall of the kitchen, and optionally also define doors, windows, partition walls, electrical services, gas services and water service and other physical constraints relevant to the physical space being planned.

The item graphic objects 220 are used to add a plurality of items into the space planning representation 200. That is, the server 20 supplies the item graphic objects 220 to the client device 100 representing items within the space being planned. In this example, the item graphic objects 220 represent cabinets, drawers, corner units, wall units and so on as a new kitchen is planned graphically at the client device 100. Thus, the space planning representation 200 suitably provides a 2D or 3D representation of the space being planned using 2D or 3D graphic objects, or a combination thereof.

In the example embodiments, the graphic objects 210, 220 are modified at the client device 100 and are then returned to the manufacturing system 10. Conveniently, the graphic objects 210, 220 are grouped together into a single customer graphics file (CGF) 240, which is then stored in the manufacturing system 10. As will be discussed in more detail below, the manufacturing system 10 uses these graphic objects 210, 220 to control production of the items. In the example embodiments, the server 20 creates a manufacturing control file (MCF) 260, directly from the graphic objects 210, 220 in the customer graphics file 240. The manufacturing control file 260 configures the manufacturing system 10 and controls the production of these items, ready for delivery from the factory to the customer.

Figure 3 is schematic diagram showing the manufacturing system 10 in more detail.

Here, the item graphic objects (IGO) 210 and the boundary graphic objects (BGO) 220 are provided from the server 20 in a scripting language, such as PHP. In other words, each of the graphic objects 210, 220 is provided as a graphics control file that controls the graphical representation of that object.

In this embodiment, the space planning tool 22 refers to a plurality of library files 28, each of which contains item data 280 for a plurality of items that may be placed together into the space planning representation 200. For example, the library files 28 each relate to various cupboards, cabinets or drawer units that match together as a range.

Each set of item data 280 comprises a plurality of attributes, including at least an item identifier field 281 and one or more manufacturing information fields 282, 283. In one example, the library files 28 are constructed using a mark-up language such as XML. Thus, many different items each having multiple attributes are conveniently grouped together within a single library file 28. Also, each set of item data 280 is associated with a respective item graphic object 220.

Each item graphic object 220 suitably includes an item identifier field (ItemID) 221 which records the item identifier 281 of a corresponding item 280 in the library 28, and dimension fields (DIM) 222 which record least lateral dimensions of the corresponding item 280 (e.g. X & Y, width & length, or width & depth). For three dimensional planning, the graphic object 220 preferably also includes third-axis dimensions (e.g. Z or height). Further, each graphic object 220 conveniently comprises position fields (POS) 223 that are used to record a relative position of that item within the space being planned according to the space planning representation 200, e.g. relative to the XY origin (or an XYZ origin).

In this embodiment, the item graphic objects 220 also carry one or more manufacturing option fields (OPT) 224. These option fields 224 suitably correspond to one or more of the manufacturing information fields 283. For example, an item graphic object 220 comprises a manufacturing option field 224 which records whether a door will be hinged to a left-hand or right-hand side of a cabinet.

The boundary graphic objects 210 comprise, amongst other things, dimension fields (SIZE) 211. Conveniently, these dimension fields 211 are used to record relevant real-world physical dimensions of the space being planned.

In use, the space planning tool 22 first provides one or more of the boundary graphic objects 210 to the client device 100 to define boundaries of the space being planned, in response to user commands received from the client device 100. Next, the space planning tool 22 selects one of the library files 28, and selects among the item data 280 in that library file 28, again in response to user commands received from the client device 100. The space planning tool 22 thereby selects the one or more item graphic objects 220 relevant to the selected item data 280, which are delivered to the client device 100, added to the space planning representation 200, and displayed on the display screen 120. Here, the dimension fields 222 control insertion of each graphic object 210 into the space planning representation 200, e.g. by preventing overlaps between items or between items and boundaries. Suitably, the position of each graphic object 220 with respect to the space planning representation 200 (e.g. the XY position or XYZ position) determines item position values that are recorded in the position

fields 223 within that graphic object 220.

Next, the graphic object files 210, 220 are returned from the client device 100 to the manufacturing system 10, complete with the client-side data additions such as the dimension values, the position information values and the manufacturing option values.

In the example embodiment, the graphic objects 210, 220 are serialised into a string format as text files, and then sent back from the client device 100 to the server 20 as the customer graphic file 240. The customer graphic file 240 is conveniently stored at the first server 20 in this serialised format. In one example, the customer graphic file 240 is passed back to the manufacturing system 10 using a remoting gateway such as AMFFHP, which transforms the graphic objects 210, 220 from being held in the memory of the client device 100 relevant to the graphics tool 130 into a serialised textual format that is easily read by a variety of server-side tools, such as PHP.

Later, the serialised data held at the configuration server 20 is unserialised to restore the PHP scripting language format of the graphic object files 210, 220. Conveniently, the manufacturing system 10 then renders the graphic objects 210, 220 into a displayable form using an animation tool, such as Adobe FlashTM, e.g. to deliver viewable images on a display screen of one of the local terminals 14 within the manufacturing system 10. Thus, the space planning tool 22 on the server 20 exactly recreates the space planning representation 200 that was previously displayed on the client device 100. The servers 20, 30, 40 in the manufacturing system 10 access the same graphic objects 210, 220 as were displayed previously on the client device 100.

As mentioned above, the manufacturing control file 260 is created from the graphic objects 210, 220 that have been returned from the client device 100, here in the form of the customer graphic file 240. In the example embodiments, the manufacturing control file 260 is provided in a markup language, such as XML. To this end, the configuration server 20 further comprises an extraction unit 24 which extracts sets of item data 280 from the respective library files 28, according to the item identifier 215 carried by each item graphic object 220, modifies the extracted item data 280 according to the information carried in the graphic objects 210, 220, and adds the extracted data to the manufacturing control file 260. Conveniently, the many production attributes 282, 283 relevant to each item are retrieved from the item data 280 in the library file 28 by matching the item identifier 215 carried in the graphic object 220 against the item identifier 281 in the relevant library file 28. Thus, a full and detailed manufacturing control file 260 is created from the relatively lightweight information carried in the graphic objects 210, 220. Meanwhile, the graphic objects 210, 220 are an efficient mechanism to carry the information that is required by the manufacturing system 10 to produce the items.

Figure 4 is another schematic diagram illustrating the example system in more detail.

Here, the space planning tool 22 provides the boundary graphic objects (BGO) 210 and the item graphic objects (IGO) 220 in response to user commands from the client device 100, as discussed above, to form the graphic representation 200.

In this example, the space planning tool 22 delivers an item toolbar 202 that displays one or more of the item graphic objects 220 prior to the items being added to the space planning representation 200. These item graphic objects 220 are suitably derived from the item data 280 in the relevant library file 28. For example, the item toolbar 202 displays item graphic objects 220 for each corner unit or wall unit in a given range of kitchen units. Thus, the client device 100 is now able to graphically select from the available item graphic objects 220, in order to add items into the space planning representation 200.

In this example, the space planning tool 22 delivers a control toolbar 204 comprising a plurality of user controls, such as buttons or fields, that are activated in response to user commands through the user input unit 110. Here, the control toolbar 204 may include SAVE and RESTORE buttons that cause the graphic objects 210, 220 in the representation 200 to be pushed back to the configuration server 20 at the manufacturing system 10, e.g. using the remoting gateway discussed above, or pulled back to the client device 100 in order to restore a previously saved version of the space planning representation 200.

In this embodiment, the system has a control 204 that, when activated by the client device 100, forms a customer basket from the graphical representation 200 and delivers the customer basket back to the client device 100. The system then produces the items according to the customer basket.

For example, the control toolbar 204 suitably provides a SUBMIT button (or BUY icon) that causes the configuration server 20 to activate the extraction unit 22 and create the manufacturing control file 260. The manufacturing control file 260 is first used to process a payment for the items that have been gathered together into the space planning representation 200, by interacting with the client device 100 and performing a payment process. In the example embodiment, this payment process is performed by the manufacturing server 30, or by a separate accounting server 40 (see Fig. 1). Here, the manufacturing information fields 282, 283 suitably include one or more cost information fields. Thus, the manufacturing system generates cost information relevant to this customer order from the manufacturing control file 260, conveniently without any manual intervention. The cost information is suitably delivered to the client device 100 from the manufacturing system 10 and is displayed on the display screen 120, such as in the control toolbar 204. Thus, there is an immediate connection between the at least 2D graphical representation 200 and the displayed cost information displayed on the display screen 120. Conveniently, the payment process includes the collection of payment information form the customer, followed by a PROCEED or ACCEPT signal. Optionally, the payment process may include payment authorisation and the sending of an acknowledgement back to the client device 100. As discussed above, the manufacturing server 30 then extracts relevant item manufacturing information 282, 283 from the same manufacturing control file 260 to control production of the items, again without requiring any manual intervention. Thus, the manufacturing system 10 provides integrated configuration with complete end-to-end control of the manufacturing process all derived from the graphical space planning representation 200 as presented on the client device 100.

Figure 5 is a schematic view of the display screen 120 of the client device 100 when displaying the space planning representation 200. In this example, the space being planned is defined by at least two dimensions X and Y lying in an XY plane. Optionally, a third dimension Z is tracked using height markers above the XY plane.

In the example embodiment, an automatic placement algorithm is provided from the space planning tool 22 to the client device 100. Each new graphic object 220 is placed on the space planning representation 200 under user control, e.g. in response to user commands such as keyboard strokes and/or mouse movements. Then, the placement algorithm automatically adjusts a position of the graphic object 220. Conveniently, the automatic placement algorithm adjusts the position of the relevant item according to predetermined placement criteria, such that the new item is optimally placed.

In the illustrated example, the space planning tool 22 calculates a remaining linear distance Dl according to placement of an item A under user control. Then, the algorithm automatically adjusts the relative position of the item A so that the remaining distance Dl is reduced instead to a value D2. In this case, the distance Dl is adjusted according to the dimensions of one or more other items 280 available within the relevant library file 28. For example, the remaining distance Dl is adjusted according to a relevant width dimension of another item B, until an optimal positioning of the item A is achieved that will allow item B to be placed into the representation 200 alongside item A. Fig. 6 is another schematic view of the manufacturing system in use, with the display screen 120 of the client device 100 providing a visual image output of the space planning representation 200.

Here, a further plurality of the item graphic objects 220 are provided to represent lengthwise items that are manufactured and sold in unit lengths, such as a kitchen worktop.

That is, a kitchen worktop of laminate, wood or granite is manufactured to predetermined stock sizes of depth, width and length. Here, the manufacturing system automatically derives the required manufacturing information from these further graphic objects.

In Fig. 6, the dotted rectangle Wi" represents a length of kitchen worktop which is placed onto the space planning representation 200 as a graphic object 220 as discussed above. Conveniently, the width of the object is present to one of a set of standard values according to selected item data 280 from the library file 28 for this type of worktop or worktop range as displayed on the item toolbar 202. Meanwhile, the length of the object is freely adjusted by the user controls of the client device 100 when placing the object 220 onto the representation 200. In this example, the object 220 is provided with one or more handles 225 for drag-resizing of the object. Notably, this type of lengthwise unit item has substantially different manufacturing constraints when compared with block items such as carcasses, cupboards, or drawer units, not least because worktops are a highly visible component of the finished kitchen and must fit appropriately into the physical space when the kitchen is assembled on site.

As shown in Fig. 6, this example kitchen requires worktops over the distances Di, D2, D3 and D4. This dimensional information is provided in the customer graphic file 240 and transmitted back to the manufacturing system 10. As discussed above, the manufacturing control file 260 is derived from the customer graphic file 240, here using a processing routine for lengthwise items.

Firstly, the dimension Dl is automatically extended to DIA, because the worktop length at Dl is determined to be within a specified range of the boundary object 210. Typically, a customer will wish the worktop to run accurately to the wall rather than finish short, and the system hence allows for planning inaccuracies.

Secondly, one or more perpendicular join areas are identified, such as in the example here between the runs Dl and D3, because the two graphic objects are close adjacent one another. In response, the dimension D1A is further extended (i.e. to D1B) to allow material for forming an appropriate join between the two worktop sections.

Thirdly, the extended length dimensions are distributed among a plurality of standard worktop planks of predetermined length. In other words, a cutting algorithm automatically determines one or more cuts that need to be made to the first plurality of planks in order to arrange the planks into the desired sections of worktop. This algorithm is iterative, such as to meet a fewest cuts criteria. However, each cut itself consumes material from the planks.

Therefore, fourthly, one or more additional planks are added to the plurality of planks to replace this wastage cause by the cuts, giving a second plurality of planks. This second plurality of planks is output as a manufacturing information in the manufacturing control file, optionally together with cut placement information for each of the determined cuts.

Thus, the manufacturing system now readily provides lengthwise units, such as kitchen worktops, to accurately fulfil the desired space planning representation when the worktops are installed at the customer's site.

Figure 7 shows a further refinement of the manufacturing system, incorporating a mechanism for supporting lengthwise units such as worktops. The worktops are relatively high cost, being made of laminate, wood or granite, and hence it is desired to use these resources efficiently. In particular, it is desired to minimise waste, which is now addressed by this further enhancement of the manufacturing system.

As shown in Figure 7, the space planning tool 22 provides an item graphic object 220 representing a lengthwise commodity item such as a worktop. In this example, the worktop item 220 has a default initial length D10. Suitably the initial length D10 is set as a standard value according to the selected item data 280 from the library file 28 for this type of worktop.

The item graphic object 220 for the worktop is placed onto the space planning representation and resized to a desired length, such as using one or more handles 225, similar to the embodiment discussed above.

In the illustrated mechanism, resizing the original worktop item 220 to a reduced length, as illustrated by the item graphic object 220a automatically forms a further item graphic object 220b, which is added to the data structure of the space planning representation 200 as held by the space planning tool 22. These objects 220b, 220b together are logically associated as a worktop item group 270. In this example, resizing the initial object 220 from length D10" instead to length "Dli" produces a remainder, or off-cut, of length "D12". Thus, the system now generates the additional item graphic object 220b to represent this off-cut and hold data values relevant to the off-cut. Further, these two item graphic objects 220a, 220b are associated in the resulting space planning representation 200, so that the space planning tool 22 can track that these two objects 220a, 220b are divided from the initial worktop plank 220.

As a further enhancement, the manufacturing system recognises that each cut (shown here by dotted lines) will consume material, and thus the lengths "Dli" and "D12" combined will be slightly less than the original length D10 by a predetermined cut margin.

When the first portion of the worktop 220a has been placed on the space planning representation 200 and resized appropriately, the remainder or off-cut 220b is now available to be used elsewhere in the space planning representation 200.

Suitably, the first portion 220a is locked while the second portion 22Db is active. Thus, the user may now place the second portion 22Db. Also, with the second portion 22Db active, the user may adjust the length of the second portion 220b, e.g. to a reduced length D121.

Here, locking the first portion 220a prevents a readjustment which would be impossible given the physical constraints of the worktop represented by these item graphic objects. That is, the first portion 220a cannot be made longer or shorter without also considering the corresponding effect on the second portion 22Db. This lock is suitably a parent-child relationship in the data structure so that the parent 220a is locked while the child 220b is active on the space planning representation. In this example, the parent 220a may only be resized when the child is not present in the representation 200.

Conveniently, the generated off-cut 22Db may be stored temporarily in a reserve or "off-cut area" until needed within the space planning representation 200. That is, to avoid screen clutter and allow the user to focus on the most important aspects, each off-cut 22Db is placed initially in the off-cut area. The off-cut area may be represented by an icon on the toolbar 202.

Opening the off-cut area allows the user to see the created off-cuts, which may be derived from a plurality of different planks. In one example, the off-cuts are shown on-screen, e.g. as a list or grid, with relevant information presented textually or graphically, such as material, colour, remaining length, etc. The user may now select one of the available off-cuts from the off-cut area to be added to the space planning representation 220. Conveniently, the system uses the worktop item groups 270 to track which plank has been cut to create which off-cut, and several different worktop item groups 270 may be tracked simultaneously.

As shown in Figure 7, the "off-cutting" process may continue iteratively with the second portion 220b being divided to create a third portion 220c of length D122 by forming cut C2.

The third portion 22Dc now becomes a child of the second portion 22Db, and an interlock may be implemented as discussed above so that the second portion 22Db is locked when placing and resizing the third portion 220c.

In summary, the manufacturing system has many advantages as have been highlighted herein or will be apparent to those skilled in the art. In particular, the manufacturing system has a simple and convenient mechanism for interaction and control over the manufacturing or production process, particularly when manufacturing complex items which are to be installed together in a physical space according to a specific customer plan.

At least some of the example embodiments may be constructed, partially or wholly, using dedicated special-purpose hardware. Terms such as component', module' or unit' used herein may include, but are not limited to, a hardware device, such as a Field Programmable Gate Array (FFGA) or Application Specific Integrated Circuit (ASIC), which performs certain tasks. Also, elements of the example embodiments may be configured to reside on an addressable storage medium and be configured to execute on one or more processors. That is, some of the example embodiments may be implemented in the form of a computer-readable storage medium having recorded thereon instructions that are, in use, executed by a computer system. The medium may take any suitable form, but examples include solid-state memory devices (ROM, RAM, EPROM, EEPROM, etc.), optical discs (e.g. Compact Discs, DVDs, Blu-Ray discs and others), magnetic discs, magnetic tapes and magneto-optic storage devices. In some cases the medium is distributed over a plurality of separate computing devices that are coupled by a suitable communications network, such as a wired network or wireless network. Thus, functional elements of the invention may in some embodiments include, by way of example, components, such as software components, object-oriented software components, class components and task components, processes, functions, attributes, procedures, subroutines, segments of program code, drivers, firmware, microcode, circuitry, data, databases, data structures, tables, arrays, and variables. Further, although the example embodiments have been described with reference to the components, modules and units discussed below, such functional elements may be combined into fewer elements or separated into additional elements.

Although a few preferred embodiments have been shown and described, it will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that various changes and modifications might be made without departing from the scope of the invention, as defined in the appended claims.

Claims

<claim-text>CLAIMS1. A manufacturing system having a mechanism for supporting lengthwise units such as worktops, the system comprising: a client device having a space planning tool arranged to receive and display a plurality of graphic objects on a display screen to form at least a two-dimensional space planning graphic representation of a plurality of planned items and a physical space in which the planned items are arranged; wherein the space planning tool is further arranged to receive at least a first worktop item graphic object representing a lengthwise item such as a worktop; and wherein the space planning tool is arranged to receive user inputs to perform resizing of the first worktop item graphic object to a desired length, and in response generate a remainder worktop item graphic object representing a remainder portion of the lengthwise item.</claim-text> <claim-text>2. The system of claim 1, wherein the space planning tool is arranged to display the remainder worktop item graphic object on the display screen within the two-dimensional space planning graphic representation.</claim-text> <claim-text>3. The system of any preceding claim, wherein the space planning tool is arranged to associate the first worktop item graphic object and the remainder worktop item graphic object together as a worktop item group.</claim-text> <claim-text>4. The system of any preceding claim, wherein the space planning tool is arranged to reduce a remaining length available within the remainder worktop item graphic object by a predetermined cut margin representing material consumed when cutting the first worktop item graphic object.</claim-text> <claim-text>5. The system of any preceding claim, wherein the space planning tool is arranged to receive further user inputs for placing and sizing the remainder worktop item graphic object elsewhere in the space planning representation separately from the first worktop item graphic object.</claim-text> <claim-text>6. The system of any preceding claim, wherein the space planning tool is arranged to group the first worktop item graphic object and the remainder worktop item graphic object with a parent-child relationship.</claim-text> <claim-text>7. The system of any preceding claim, wherein the space planning tool is arranged to lock the first worktop item graphic object while the remainder worktop item graphic object is displayed.</claim-text> <claim-text>8. The system of any preceding claim, wherein the space planning tool is arranged to receive user inputs to adjust a length of the remainder worktop item graphic object and not to adjust the length of the first worktop item graphic object while the remainder worktop item graphic object is displayed.</claim-text> <claim-text>9. The system of any preceding claim, wherein the space planning tool is arranged to provide an off-cut area for temporarily storing the remainder worktop item graphic object before being added to the space planning representation.</claim-text> <claim-text>10. The system of any preceding claim, wherein the off-cut area is represented by an icon on a toolbar.</claim-text> <claim-text>11. The system of any preceding claim, wherein the space planning tool is arranged to track a plurality of different worktop item groups.</claim-text> <claim-text>12. The system of any preceding claim, wherein the off-cut area is openable to display the remainder worktop item graphic objects relating to a plurality of different worktop item groups.</claim-text> <claim-text>13. The system of any preceding claim, wherein the space planning tool is arranged to iteratively sub-divide the remainder worktop item graphic object when resized in response to user inputs.</claim-text> <claim-text>14. The system of any preceding claim, wherein the space planning tool comprises a client-side component provided on the client device, and a server-side component which supplies the plurality of graphic objects to the client device.</claim-text> <claim-text>15. The system of claim 14, wherein the client-side component is provided in an Internet browser.</claim-text> <claim-text>16. The system of any preceding claim, further comprising a configuration server comprising a server-side component of the space planning tool.</claim-text> <claim-text>17. The system of claim 16, wherein: the configuration server is arranged to generate a manufacturing control file that configures the manufacturing system relevant to the plurality of items represented by the plurality of graphic objects; and wherein the configuration server is arranged to receive the graphic objects from the client device in a modified form, including one or more boundary graphic objects that define boundaries of the graphic representation and one or more item graphic objects that define the items arranged in the graphic representation, and wherein the configuration server includes an extraction unit that extracts information from the graphic objects received from the client device into the manufacturing control file, ready for production of the items according to the manufacturing control file generated by the configuration server.</claim-text> <claim-text>18. The system of any preceding claim, wherein the items are domestic furniture units.</claim-text> <claim-text>19. The system of any preceding claim, wherein the items include kitchen units.</claim-text> <claim-text>20. A manufacturing system substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to Figure 7 of the accompanying drawings.</claim-text>