Action-Based Navigation Visualization for Accessible Supply Chain Software

Solution Overview

Problem

Existing supply chain software is complex, distracting, and inaccessible, leading to inefficient navigation and user experience issues, particularly for specially-abled users.

Innovation Solution

A machine learning-based recommendation engine with a probabilistic matrix factorization algorithm provides a goal-oriented end-to-end solution for supply chain navigation, using natural language processing and context-dependent keyboard shortcuts to guide users through tasks.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If supply chain software provides comprehensive functionality and information, then system capability is improved, but user navigation becomes more difficult and time-consuming

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesystem capabilityVSAvoidnavigation time

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary actions by pre-defining navigation paths, workflows, and information hierarchies before users need to navigate the software. Context-aware navigation guides users through predefined sequences of actions and information display, eliminating the need for users to explore the complex system structure independently and reducing navigation time.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The software interface is segmented into hierarchical levels and modular components that can be independently navigated. The system divides complex information and navigation paths into manageable segments, allowing users to access specific portions of the system without being overwhelmed by the entire complex interface structure.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

2Adaptability or versatility

If supply chain software provides comprehensive functionality and information, then system capability is improved, but ease of operation deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesystem capabilityVSAvoidease of navigation

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary actions by pre-defining navigation paths, workflows, and information hierarchies before users need to navigate the software. Context-aware navigation guides users through predefined sequences of actions and information display, eliminating the need for users to explore the complex system structure independently and reducing navigation time.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The system introduces intermediary navigation layers and context-aware guides that mediate between the user and the complex underlying system structure. These intermediaries simplify the interface by presenting only relevant navigation options and information at each step, making the system easier to operate while maintaining full functionality.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Quantity of substance

If supply chain software displays extensive information on screen, then information availability is improved, but user distraction increases and navigation clarity deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveinformation availabilityVSAvoidnavigation clarity

Core Design Contradiction:

Quantity of substanceVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The software interface is segmented into hierarchical levels and modular components that can be independently navigated. The system divides complex information and navigation paths into manageable segments, allowing users to access specific portions of the system without being overwhelmed by the entire complex interface structure.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The system performs preliminary actions by pre-defining navigation paths, workflows, and information hierarchies before users need to navigate the software. Context-aware navigation guides users through predefined sequences of actions and information display, eliminating the need for users to explore the complex system structure independently and reducing navigation time.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Data Source

PatentUS20250231625A1System and Method of Action-Based Navigation Visualization for Supply Chain Planners and Specially-Abled Users

Publication Date: 2025.07.17 BLUE YONDER GROUP INC

AI summary

A system and method are disclosed for predicting recommendations for a user interface. The method includes generating a graphical user interface that receives an input from a user of a client portal, crawling tasks associated with the user in the client portal, ranking the tasks according to an intent associated with the input from the user, fetching at least one task from the ranked tasks, calculating a quantity of steps to complete the task from the ranked tasks; identifying one or more slots used by the task in at least one step from the quantity of steps, and generating one or more recommendations comprising a subsequent action for the user to complete the task.