Attaching Computing Devices to Nonintelligent Items for Workflow Communication

Solution Overview

Problem

In workflows involving both intelligent and nonintelligent items, the inability of nonintelligent items to communicate with intelligent items leads to inefficiencies, such as reduced accuracy and increased time in performing actions, due to a lack of communication and data exchange.

Innovation Solution

A computer system identifies workflows and attaches computing devices to nonintelligent items to convert them into intelligent items temporarily, enabling communication and data exchange with intelligent items and other converted nonintelligent items, thereby enhancing workflow efficiency.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Loss of information

If nonintelligent items are used in workflows without computing devices, then device complexity is reduced, but communication capability and data exchange with intelligent items are lost

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecommunication capabilityVSAvoiddevice complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Loss of informationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The computing device is attached to the nonintelligent item before the workflow begins, enabling the item to become intelligent and communicate with other items in advance. This preliminary conversion ensures communication capability is established before information loss occurs during workflow execution.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The computing device acts as an intermediary between the nonintelligent item and the intelligent item, enabling communication and data exchange. The computing device receives data from sensors, processes it, and transmits it to intelligent items, bridging the communication gap without requiring the nonintelligent item itself to be complex.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Manufacturing precision

If computing devices are attached to nonintelligent items to enable communication, then accuracy and coordination improve, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

ImproveaccuracyVSAvoiddevice complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Manufacturing precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The computing device is attached to the nonintelligent item before the workflow begins, enabling the item to become intelligent and communicate with other items in advance. This preliminary conversion ensures communication capability is established before information loss occurs during workflow execution.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The computing device acts as an intermediary between the nonintelligent item and the intelligent item, enabling communication and data exchange. The computing device receives data from sensors, processes it, and transmits it to intelligent items, bridging the communication gap without requiring the nonintelligent item itself to be complex.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Productivity

If nonintelligent items lack communication capability, then device complexity is low, but workflow execution time increases due to inefficiencies

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveworkflow efficiencyVSAvoiddevice complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The computing device is attached to the nonintelligent item before the workflow begins, enabling the item to become intelligent and communicate with other items in advance. This preliminary conversion ensures communication capability is established before information loss occurs during workflow execution.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The computing device acts as an intermediary between the nonintelligent item and the intelligent item, enabling communication and data exchange. The computing device receives data from sensors, processes it, and transmits it to intelligent items, bridging the communication gap without requiring the nonintelligent item itself to be complex.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Data Source

PatentUS20240231926A9Nonintelligent item conversion to intelligent items

Publication Date: 2024.07.11 INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINE CORPORATION

AI summary

A computer implemented method manages nonintelligent items. A computer system identifies a workflow to be performed. The computer system identifies a group of the nonintelligent items involved in actions for the workflow. The computer system attaches a set of computing devices to the group of the nonintelligent items to convert the group of the nonintelligent items into a group of converted nonintelligent items. The computer system performs the actions in the workflow using the group of converted nonintelligent items.