In the Background of Product Object Definition Process László Horváth and Imre J. Rudas Óbuda University, John von Neumann Faculty of Informatics, Institute of Intelligent Engineering Systems, Budapest, Hungary horvath.laszlo@nik.uni-obuda.hu, rudas@uni-obuda.hu Abstract—Decisions in the course of definition hundreds of part, part placing, analysis, control program and other related entities during development of a product in a modeling system are done using less or more information and knowledge in the background. One of the most actual problems to be solved in product modeling is including this background information and knowledge in the model. If this capability of model representation for background would be available, it could drive processes for entity definition and redefinition of entities at their changes, and would help engineer at understanding decisions of other engineers. The authors of this paper proposed a content based product model where human defined knowledge for product objects definition. In this paper, they introduce a method for the application of this content as background for decisions. Paper explains the concept of background at product object definition. Following this, background is characterized as it is considered at decision on product objects. Next, engineering process entities are explained for considering background during the above decisions. Finally, few words outline possibilities for implementation and future research. I. INTRODUCTION Engineering processes in product development are configured for coordinated definition high number of product objects while very different human influence requests are harmonized. Conventional product model definition has not background information and knowledge representation capability enough for modeling process support. This is why current advanced modeling is based on engineering object definition where dialogues between engineer and product object definition communicate results of this activity. At the same time, modeling system is well equipped to accept model entity definition through application programming interface (API). In order to utilize this capability, the authors of this paper developed representations for support background information and knowledge based decision activities in product model construction. Background support may be very complex because recent modeling of product is demanded for lifecycle management of product information. In [1], product lifecycle management (PLM) as important company IT application was emphasized. At the same time, the author of [1] recognized that lack of standard engineering processes for PLM and failings of the PLM technology produce great challenges. Advanced product modeling started with long international development of the STEP (Standard for the Exchange of Product Model Data, ISO 10303) product model standard. A great deal of research in product modeling is about implementation of STEP. It is stated in [2] that, a new overall approach to leveling was necessary to be developed in order to enable interoperability of STEP Application Protocols. In this context, leading companies recognized its essential importance at communication of modeled information between different modeling systems without loss. This was the beginning of the era of improved communication between engineers by a new medium called as product model. This medium can represent product information for engineering activities from the first sketch to the successful recycling. The authors of this paper joined to development of product model representations for better communication between engineers in order to improved efficiency and quality of work in product modeling systems. In [3], they discussed definition and integration of knowledge in product models in order to enhance capabilities for representation of human intent, skill, and experience. They introduced a new intelligent human-computer communication in [4], together with some elements of human intent based product modeling were introduced. In [5], information content is modeled in connection with model object information for which it is defined. In [6], the authors conceptualized a new content based product definition in virtual space that represents and applies background information and knowledge. In this paper, a method for the application of the above content as background for decisions is introduced. Paper explains the concept of background at product object definition. Following this, background is characterized as it is considered at decision on product objects. Next, engineering process entities are explained for considering background during the above decisions. Finally, few words outline possibilities for implementation and future research. II. BACKGROUND OF PRODUCT OBJECT DEFINITION Current product models include entities for various engineering purposes. They are traditionally shape centered. The first modeling problem was representation of advanced shapes those could be designed and manufactured only by using of mathematical functions. Other entities such as representations for relative placing of parts, degrees of freedom, analysis results, etc. are mapped to shape representation entities. Schema of this model is outlined in Fig. 1. Contextual units are placed in a model space. Contextual unit consists of contextual product objects, such as geometric set, part, placing and the related DOF, rule set, FEM/FEA, etc. Product objects SISY 2011 • 2011 IEEE 9th International Symposium on Intelligent Systems and Informatics • September 8-10, 2011, Subotica, Serbia – 391 – 978-1-4577-1974-5/11/$26.00 ©2011 IEEE