Automated Attribute Detection Across Disparate Technical Tables

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Solution Overview

Problem

The management of technical standards is inefficient due to the difficulty in comparing and updating tables with reference relationships, as attribute names may not coincide and tables can be located in different documents or pages, requiring manual effort for detection and calculation of conditions.

Innovation Solution

An information processing apparatus with a detector and information generator that analyzes electronic documents and tables to identify common attributes by detecting reference relationships, converting attribute names, and generating information about these attributes, using a combination of document and table structure analyzers, reference relationship detectors, and SAT tools to automate the process.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Measurement precision

If manual comparison and updating of technical standards is performed, then accuracy of standard management is maintained, but productivity is reduced and time consumption increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveaccuracy of standard managementVSAvoidefficiency of standard management

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces an information processing apparatus as an intermediary between technical standards and their managers. This apparatus automatically detects reference relationships between tables in different documents, identifies common attributes, and generates update information, thereby replacing manual comparison work while maintaining accuracy.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent replaces the mechanical manual process of comparing tables and updating standards with an automated information processing system. The system uses document structure analyzers, table structure analyzers, and attribute detectors to automatically perform tasks that were previously done manually, significantly improving productivity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

2Productivity

If automated detection of reference relationships is implemented, then productivity is improved, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveefficiency of standard managementVSAvoidcomplexity of detection system

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The information processing apparatus is divided into multiple functional modules: a document structure analyzer for analyzing document structure, a table structure analyzer for analyzing table structure, an attribute detector for detecting common attributes, and an information generator for generating update information. This segmentation makes the complex system more manageable and maintainable.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

3Ease of operation

If manual detection of attribute relationships is performed, then ease of operation is maintained, but loss of time increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesimplicity of standard managementVSAvoidtime for detecting and updating standards

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary analysis of document and table structures, pre-identifying potential reference relationships and common attributes before actual updates are needed. This preliminary action enables rapid processing when updates are required, significantly reducing the time loss associated with manual detection.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Data Source

PatentUS11568662B2Information processing apparatus for detecting a common attribute indicated in different tables and generating information about the common attribute, and information processing method, and non-transitory computer readable medium

Publication Date: 2023.01.31 KK TOSHIBA

AI summary

An embodiment of the present invention provides an information processing apparatus for detecting an attribute indicated in different tables in common and generating information about the attribute. An information processing apparatus as an embodiment of the present invention includes a detector and an information generator. The detector detects a common attribute indicated in a first table and a second table. The information generator generates information about the common attribute based on contents of the first table and the second table.