With design teams now operating in multiple sites and time zones, distributing a corporate library has become a very complex task. Existing methods have entailed complex, overnight distribution mechanisms that update local databases with the help of a local support staff. Using the Internet, standard Web browsers, and a well-tuned server, it is now possible to provide a standard user interface for any user to search the library, select the desired part, insert it into their schematic, and provide this capability worldwide.

This paper describes an approach being developed by Hewlett-Packard to make its library more accessible to users. A key objective is to provide a highly responsive system, which requires high-performance website, database, and networking design with the ability to utilize E-Commerce to implement pay-per-use. It is also intended to reduce the associated support costs, be able to support users on PCs and Unix workstations, and provide a superior user experience with the corporate library. The system will be available to R&D engineers, CAD engineers, and PCB designers with automatic links to Design Architect and Board Station. We believe that this concept can be extended to any company and user base, large or small. A demonstration of the system can be shown at the trade show.

Bio

Tom Anderson was a Hardware Development Engineer at Hewlett-Packard for 16 years and has spent the last three years as a Software Engineer/Scientist at the HP EEsof Division. Tom's hardware experience includes digital, analog, and RF design. He designed the IF signal processing circuitry in the HP 8560 High-Performance Spectrum Analyzers and also the HP ESA Series Spectrum Analyzers. As a user of Mentor Board Station tools, Tom did both circuit design and layout, customizing the tools as needed for schematics and layout. He has been involved with the development of this new web-based library system.