Audit-Proof Electronic Data Archiving System

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current archiving systems for electronic data in the pharmaceutical industry lack audit-proof capabilities, leading to inefficiencies in documentation, storage, and compliance with legal requirements, resulting in unnecessary paper usage and increased costs.

Innovation Solution

An archiving system comprising memory means, a data processing system, and acquisition systems that convert working steps and component data into electronic data, ensuring audit-proof storage, retrieval, and compliance through comparator and evaluation means, with optional display systems for real-time feedback and navigation.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Loss of substance

If electronic data is archived without audit-proof capabilities, then storage costs and paper usage are reduced, but compliance with legal requirements and data security are compromised

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvepaper usageVSAvoidaudit-proof capability
Core Design Contradiction:
Loss of substanceVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary actions by automatically capturing working step data during process execution and preparing it for archiving before any compliance audit is needed. The data processing system continuously converts working steps into electronic data and stores them with metadata, ensuring audit-proof documentation is already in place without requiring reactive paper documentation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The patent replaces mechanical paper-based documentation systems with electronic data processing and storage. The working step acquisition system automatically captures process data, the data processing system converts it to structured electronic format, and memory means store it permanently - eliminating the need for physical paper archives while maintaining or enhancing compliance capabilities.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

2Reliability

If paper documentation is used for archiving, then audit-proof capabilities are maintained, but storage space requirements increase significantly

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveaudit-proof capabilityVSAvoidstorage space
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSArea of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

The system creates electronic copies of working step data that serve as the official archived documentation. Instead of storing physical paper copies, the data processing system generates digital representations of all process data with associated metadata, storing them in memory means. These electronic copies are equally valid for audit purposes while occupying minimal storage space.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #26Copying

Solution Approach 2:

The patent changes the physical state of archived documentation from paper-based to electronic format. By converting working steps into digital data with controlled parameters (metadata, timestamps, authentication), the system maintains audit-proof capabilities while dramatically reducing the physical storage space required from room-sized archives to server-based storage.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

3Device complexity

If manual documentation processes are used, then implementation simplicity is maintained, but productivity and efficiency are reduced

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesystem simplicityVSAvoiddocumentation efficiency
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The system implements self-service automation where the working step acquisition system automatically captures process data without human intervention. The data processing system autonomously converts working steps into electronic data, assigns metadata, and stores them in memory means. This eliminates manual documentation tasks while maintaining system accessibility through standard interfaces.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The system performs all documentation tasks preliminarily during process execution rather than requiring post-process manual documentation. Working step data is captured in real-time, converted to electronic format immediately, and archived automatically - transforming documentation from a separate manual task into an integrated automated process that enhances productivity without significantly increasing perceived system complexity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Data Source

PatentUS20250094382A1Archiving System and Method for Archiving Electronic Data
Publication Date: 2025.03.20 GLATT GMBH
  • US20250094382A1 patent drawing
  • US20250094382A1 patent drawing
  • US20250094382A1 patent drawing

AI summary

An archiving system for archiving electronic data in memory of the archiving system in an audit-proof manner and a related method for archiving electronic data on the archiving system. The archiving system includes memory for storing electronic data, a data processing system for processing the electronic data, and an acquisition system that includes a working step acquisition unit and a component acquisition unit. The working step acquisition unit is configured for acquiring working step raw data, wherein the working step raw data includes working steps which are carried out in a process.