Introduction of a Data Schema: The Inner Workings of a Design Repository

This paper describes the fundamental pieces of design information that compose the University of Missouri Rolla\u27s (UMR) design repository schema. Knowledge-based systems along with similar design information-capture schemas are reviewed. Repository schema conventions and specific implementation details are outlined to provide an understanding of the system connections and information relationships. Next, the repository schema is divided into seven main categories of design information including: artifact-, function-, failure-, physical-, performance-, sensory- and media-related information types. Each of the seven types of design information are described in detail to illustrate what elements of design information are recorded and how their relationships are established. An overview of the entire repository database is also presented. The result is a complete description and specification of the repository framework and allowable design information types such that the schema and repository could be recreated. Finally, a brief comparison is made between the UMR repository and its antecedent NIST repository framework