Dynamic Alarm Notification Workflow via GUI

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current remote alarm notification systems are inflexible and require extensive development and maintenance efforts due to pre-coded logic and sequential personnel notification lists, making it difficult to adapt to changing circumstances and complex systems.

Innovation Solution

A graphical user interface (GUI) that allows users to create and edit notification strategies and tactics using a flow chart style interface, enabling flexible escalation rules and easy modification of workflows, which are converted into executable instructions for processing notifications based on alarm events.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of manufacture

If pre-coded logic and sequential personnel notification lists are used in remote alarm notification systems, then the system structure is simplified and implementation is easier, but the system becomes inflexible and requires extensive development and maintenance efforts when adapting to changing circumstances

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveease of implementationVSAvoidflexibility

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of manufactureVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements dynamic notification strategies where the system can adapt notification sequences and rules based on real-time conditions. The notification system transitions from static pre-coded logic to dynamic rule-based logic that can be modified without extensive reprogramming, allowing the system to adapt to changing circumstances while maintaining ease of implementation through a structured framework.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The system allows modification of notification parameters such as notification sequences, rules, and strategies without requiring fundamental changes to the system architecture. By enabling parameter changes through configuration rather than reprogramming, the system achieves flexibility while maintaining the simplicity of its core structure.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

2Adaptability or versatility

If complex notification strategies and tactics are implemented to handle different types of events, then the system becomes more versatile and adaptable, but the development and maintenance become very resource and time intensive

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvenotification strategy flexibilityVSAvoiddevelopment efficiency

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments complex notification strategies into modular components including notification rules, tactics, and sequences. Each component can be independently configured, tested, and maintained. This segmentation allows the system to handle complex notification scenarios while reducing development time and maintenance effort through reusable modular elements rather than monolithic code structures.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The system enables copying and reusing of notification templates, rules, and tactics across different alarm scenarios. Once a notification strategy is developed for one type of event, it can be copied and adapted for similar events, significantly reducing development time and resource requirements for handling multiple types of alarms while maintaining versatility.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #26Copying

3Ease of operation

If sequential notification lists with predetermined strategies are used, then the system is easier to implement and maintain, but modification of logic and personnel lists requires cryptic line-by-line changes to embedded coding

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveease of initial setupVSAvoidease of modification

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSEase of repair

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements a configuration interface that allows users to modify notification strategies, rules, and personnel lists without requiring access to embedded code. The system provides self-service capabilities where end users can directly configure and modify notification logic through graphical interfaces or configuration files, eliminating the need for cryptic line-by-line coding changes and enabling easy maintenance by non-programmers.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

4Adaptability or versatility

If multiple notification strategies and tactics are created to handle different event types, then the system becomes more versatile, but creating and changing these strategies becomes very resource and time intensive

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveevent handling capabilityVSAvoidstrategy creation time

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements pre-configured notification templates, standard tactics, and default strategies that can be applied to different event types. Rather than creating notification logic from scratch for each event, the system provides preliminary configurations that can be quickly adapted through parameter modification, significantly reducing the time and resources required to create multiple notification strategies while maintaining versatility in handling different event types.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Data Source

PatentUS9535570B2Method and system for remote alarm event notifications for automated machinery

Publication Date: 2017.01.03 SMARTSIGHTS LLC

AI summary

A tactic for notifications of an alarm event occurring in automated machinery and systems is created by constructing a diagrammatic representation of a logical workflow of processing operations by dragging and dropping icons representing instructions for controlling processing operations on to a workspace of a GUI, and converting the diagrammatic representation into a sequence of executable instructions for controlling a computer system to process alarm event notifications in accordance with the logical workflow.