1. A method for managing and validating product development, comprising:
obtaining a product specification for a product;
identifying prior products that have capabilities within a defined range of the product specifications;
developing a performance specification based on the product specification and the identified prior products;
obtaining approval for the performance specification;
developing the product according to the performance specification; and
validating that the product meets the performance specification.
2. The method of claim 1, further including:
creating a technical summary for the product by analyzing the product specifications;
storing the technical summary in a first database;
creating a performance contract based on the performance specification; and
storing the performance contract in the first database, wherein
obtaining approval includes obtaining approval for the performance contract.
3. The method of claim 2, further including:
creating first test data by simulating a first modeled product, the first modeled product being configured based on the product specifications;
creating second test data by simulating a second modeled product, the second modeled product being configured based on the performance specification;
creating third test data by testing the developed product;
storing the first test data, the second test data, and the third test data in the first database, and
storing technical details of the simulations and the testing in a second database.
4. The method of claim 3, further including providing a comparison between the first test data, the second test data, and the third test data.
5. The method of claim 1, wherein:
a technical contract includes the product specifications, the product specifications indicating desired performance characteristics for the product, and
a performance contract includes the performance specifications.
6. The method of claim 1, further including using one or more web-based forms to:
obtain the product specification;
develop the performance specification; and
obtain the approval.
7. The method of claim 6, further including building the web-based form using a data dictionary including standardized terms for the product.
8. A computer-readable medium comprising program instructions which, when executed by a processor, perform a method for managing and validating product development, the method comprising:
obtaining a product specification for a product;
identifying prior products that have capabilities within a defined range of the product specifications;
developing a performance specification based on the product specification and the identified prior products;
obtaining approval for the performance specification;
developing the product according to the performance specification; and
validating that the product meets the performance specification.
9. The computer-readable medium of claim 8, wherein the method further includes:
creating a technical summary for the product by analyzing the product specifications;
storing the technical summary in a first database;
creating a performance contract based on the performance specification; and
storing the performance contract in the first database, wherein
obtaining approval includes obtaining approval for the performance contract.
10. The computer-readable medium of claim 9, wherein the method further includes:
creating first test data by simulating a first modeled product, the first modeled product being configured based on the product specifications;
creating second test data by simulating a second modeled product, the second modeled product being configured based on the performance specification;
creating third test data by testing the developed product;
storing the first test data, the second test data, and the third test data in the first database, and
storing technical details of the simulations and the testing in a second database.
11. The computer-readable medium of claim 10, wherein the method further includes providing a comparison between the first test data, the second test data, and the third test data.
12. The computer-readable medium of claim 8, wherein:
a technical contract includes the product specifications, the product specifications indicating desired performance characteristics for the product, and
a performance contract includes the performance specifications.
13. The computer-readable medium of claim 8, wherein the method further includes using a web-based form to:
obtain the product specification;
develop the performance specification; and
obtain the approval.
14. The computer-readable medium of claim 13, wherein the method further includes building the web-based form using a data dictionary including standardized terms for the product.
15. A system for managing and validating product development, comprising:
a memory;
at least one input device; and
at least one central processing unit in communication with the memory and the at least one input device, wherein the central processing unit:
obtains a product specification for a product;
identifies prior products that have capabilities within a defined range of the product specifications;
develops a performance specification based on the product specification and the identified prior products;
obtains approval for the performance specification;
develops the product according to the performance specification; and
validates that the product meets the performance specification.
16. The system of claim 15, wherein the central processing unit further:
creates a technical summary for the product by analyzing the product specifications;
stores the technical summary in a first database;
creates a performance contract based on the performance specification; and
stores the performance contract in the first database, wherein
obtains approval includes obtaining approval for the performance contract.
17. The system of claim 16, wherein the central processing unit further:
creates first test data by simulating a first modeled product, the first modeled product being configured based on the product specifications;
creates second test data by simulating a second modeled product, the second modeled product being configured based on the performance specification;
creates third test data by testing the developed product;
stores the first test data, the second test data, and the third test data in the first database, and
stores technical details of the simulations and the testing in a second database.
18. The system of claim 17, wherein the central processing unit further provides a comparison between the first test data, the second test data, and the third test data.
19. The system of claim 15, wherein:
a technical contract includes the product specifications, the product specifications indicating desired performance characteristics for the product, and
a performance contract includes the performance specifications.
20. The system of claim 15, wherein the central processing unit further:
uses one or more web-based forms to:
obtain the product specification;
develop the performance specification; and
obtain the approval, wherein
the web-based form uses a data dictionary including standardized terms for the product.
The claims below are in addition to those above.
All refrences to claim(s) which appear below refer to the numbering after this setence.
1. A system comprising:
a digital camera that comprises a lens, an image sensor, a display, a video output port for coupling the camera to a television having a television display screen, and processing circuitry;
a test signal comprising a beacon stored in the digital camera; and
autocalibration firmware that runs on the processing circuitry and when the camera is coupled to a television, prompts the user to point the digital camera at the television display screen, displays the test signal and beacon on the television display screen, images the test signal and beacon displayed on the television display screen, moves the test signal and beacon horizontally and vertically towards respective edges of the television display screen until the beacon is lost at each edge, determines how much viewing area is available on the television display screen, and automatically adjusts the sizes of the images transferred from the camera for display on the television display screen to provide for the maximum viewing area while minimizing cropping or clipping of the images.
2. The system recited in claim 1, wherein the autocalibration firmware comprises a user interface that allows the user to selectively adjust the horizontal and vertical size of the displayed image.
3. The system recited in claim 2, wherein the television display screen comprises a 16:9 HDTV television display screen.
4. The system recited in claim 2, wherein the television display screen comprises a 4:3 NTSC television display screen.
5. The system recited in claim 2, wherein the user interface comprises a menu.
6. The system recited in claim 2, wherein the user interface comprises buttons.
7. A method comprising the steps of;
providing a digital camera that comprises a lens, an image sensor, a display, a video output port for coupling the camera to a television, and processing circuitry;
providing a television having a television display screen;
coupling the digital camera to the television;
storing a test signal comprising a beacon in the digital camera;
configuring the digital camera with autocalibration firmware that runs on the processing circuitry;
initiating the autocalibration firmware;
prompting a user to point the digital camera at the television display screen;
displaying the test signal and beacon on the television display screen;
viewing on the camera display the test signal and beacon displayed on the television display screen;
moving the test signal and beacon horizontally and vertically towards respective edges of the television display screen until the beacon is lost at each edge;
determining how much viewing area is available on the television display screen; and
automatically adjusting respective sizes of images transferred from the camera for display on the television display screen to provide for the maximum viewing area while minimizing cropping or clipping of the images.
8. The method recited in claim 7 wherein the autocalibration firmware comprises a user interface that allow the user to selectively adjust the horizontal and vertical size of the displayed image.
9. The method recited in claim 8, wherein the television display screen comprises a 16:9 HDTV television display screen.
10. The method recited in claim 8, wherein the television display screen comprises a 4:3 NTSC television display screen.
11. The method recited in claim 8, wherein the user interface comprises a menu.
12. The method recited in claim 8, wherein the user interface comprises buttons.