Aggregation-Driven Approval System for Complex Policy Modeling
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing approval systems lack flexibility in modeling complex approval policies, particularly when dealing with aggregated data values across multiple document components, leading to incorrect approval enforcement and requiring substantial integration efforts.
Innovation Solution
An aggregate-driven approval system that defines aggregation attributes and filters to automatically aggregate data values across document components, allowing users to create and apply approval rules based on aggregate data values, reducing setup requirements and improving accuracy.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If existing approval systems are used to route documents, then document approval can be processed, but the system lacks flexibility in modeling complex policies and requires substantial integration efforts
Solution Approach 1:
The system segments approval policies into discrete approval rules that can be independently configured. Each rule can be defined with specific conditions (aggregation attributes, filters) and approval actions, allowing complex policies to be broken down into manageable components that can be modeled without substantial integration efforts.
Solution Approach 2:
The system introduces aggregation attributes as configurable parameters that can be dynamically defined. Users can specify aggregation functions (sum, count, average) and filters to create customized approval conditions. This parameter-driven approach provides flexibility in modeling complex policies while maintaining system simplicity through standardized parameter definitions.
2Reliability
If approval rules are applied to individual data values, then specific conditions can be checked, but the system cannot accurately enforce policies based on aggregated data across multiple components
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary aggregation of data values before applying approval rules. Aggregation attributes are pre-calculated by summing, counting, or averaging data values across multiple document components. This preliminary action ensures that approval rules operate on accurate aggregate data, improving enforcement reliability while the automated aggregation process manages complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The system introduces aggregation attributes as intermediary elements between raw data values and approval rules. These attributes serve as mediators that transform individual data values into meaningful aggregates (e.g., total amount, count of items). This intermediary layer enables accurate policy enforcement based on aggregated data while abstracting the complexity of data aggregation from the rule evaluation process.
3Adaptability or versatility
If manual setup of approval policies is performed, then customization is possible, but the setup process is time-consuming and error-prone
Solution Approach 1:
The system enables self-service configuration of approval policies through user-friendly interfaces. Users can define aggregation attributes, select filters, and create approval rules without requiring extensive technical expertise or time. The system provides templates and guided setup processes that allow customization while minimizing setup time and reducing errors.
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses universal aggregation attribute definitions and standardized approval rule patterns that can be applied across different scenarios. Instead of requiring custom setup for each policy type, users can leverage pre-defined aggregation functions and filter mechanisms, reducing setup time while maintaining full customization capability through configurable parameters.
Data Source
AI summary
A system is provided that manages aggregated information-driven approvals. The system creates an aggregation attribute that includes an aggregation function that automatically aggregates a plurality of data values into an aggregate data value for an attribute across a plurality of components of a document. The system defines an attribute identifier for the aggregation attribute, where the attribute identifier defines the attribute of the document whose data values are automatically aggregated by the aggregation function. The system further defines one or more filters for the aggregation attribute, wherein the one or more filters define the components of the document whose data values are automatically aggregated by the aggregation function.