An Internet based STEP data exchange framework for virtual enterprises

In virtual enterprise companies, a wide variety of software systems are use d at geographically distributed locations. In this environment of heterogen eous computer based systems, a crucial issue is the data communication and exchange between these systems. The technical objective of the STandard for the Exchange of Product model data (STEP) is to enable the communication o f product data between heterogeneous CAD/CAE/CAPP/CAM/CAx systems. The Inte rnet (a global network of computers) allows companies to collaborate electr onically. Therefore, the combination of the Internet and STEP will provide an effective and efficient mechanism to support virtual enterprises. Since applications of STEP are still in its infant stage, many systems used in th e virtual enterprises do not support it. To implement the data exchange, in dividual STEP translators for various systems need to be developed. Develop ing these translators in every virtual enterprise company is neither econom ic nor possible. A possible solution to this problem is to provide the Inte rnet based services for STEP data translation. This paper introduces an Int ernet based STEP data exchange framework for virtual enterprises. It demons trates an avenue for on-line STEP data translation services for virtual ent erprises. (C) 2000 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.