3D Visualization for Product Requirement Traceability
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current product systems lack effective visual traceability of requirements, making it difficult for users to understand the impact of changes across complex systems and components, especially with large amounts of data and complex relationships.
Innovation Solution
A data processing system that generates a user interface to visually indicate associations between product requirements and components, allowing users to select requirements or components and display their associated counterparts in a 3D visualization, enhancing comprehension through interactive visualization and highlighting of relevant components and requirements.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of information
If traditional product systems are used to manage requirements, then data can be stored and accessed, but visual traceability between requirements and components is lacking, making it difficult to understand system-wide impacts
Solution Approach 1:
The patent transforms the traditional linear or tabular requirement-traceability data into a three-dimensional visual representation. The 3D model spatially maps requirements and components, allowing users to perceive traceability relationships through depth, position, and visual hierarchy rather than flat lists, thus recovering lost traceability information without increasing perceived system complexity
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a visual interface as an intermediary layer between the complex underlying data structure and the user. This interface translates complex requirement-component relationships into intuitive visual elements (such as highlighted components, connected nodes, or spatial groupings), enabling users to understand traceability without directly interacting with the complex data model
2Loss of information
If detailed requirement data is displayed to ensure complete traceability, then information completeness is improved, but users are overwhelmed with excessive information
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by selectively highlighting or emphasizing specific portions of the 3D model based on user selection or relevance. When a user interacts with a particular requirement or component, only the related elements are visually emphasized (through color, size, or position changes), while unrelated elements remain subdued, allowing complete information to be available but presenting only relevant portions at any given time
Solution Approach 2:
The visual interface dynamically adapts its presentation based on user interactions and context. As users navigate through requirements or components, the 3D visualization dynamically updates to show relevant traceability relationships, expanding or contracting the visible information scope to match the user's current focus, thus maintaining ease of operation while preserving information completeness
3Measurement precision
If comprehensive requirement-traceability data is managed, then measurement precision is improved, but the complexity of detecting and measuring relationships increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses color changes as a visual encoding mechanism to represent different aspects of requirement-traceability relationships. Different colors or shades can indicate various relationship types, statuses, or levels of association, allowing precise measurement and differentiation of relationships to be detected instantly through visual perception rather than requiring complex analysis of data structures
Data Source
AI summary
A system and method is provided for visual traceability of requirements for products. The system may include a processor configured to generate a user interface through a display device that outputs a listing of at least a portion of a plurality of requirements for a product based on data stored in a data store that specifies associations between requirements and one or more of a plurality of components included in the product. The processor may receive a first input through at least one input device that is representative of a first selection of at least one of the plurality of requirements. Responsive to the first selection, the processor may determine at least one component that is associated in the data store with the at least one requirement for the product that was selected via the first input and cause the user interface to visually indicate in a three dimensional (3D) visualization of a 3D model of the product, which of the plurality of components shown in the 3D visualization of the 3D model of the product are associated with the at least one requirement that was selected via the first input.