Automated Criterion-Based Grouping for Complex Software Architecture Analysis
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Solution Overview
Problem
Complex computing scenarios involving large item sets with numerous interrelated components and relationships, such as software architectures and networks, face challenges in analyzing and presenting information due to the difficulty in determining significance and semantics, leading to overwhelming user presentations that hinder understanding of the overall structure.
Innovation Solution
An automated grouping technique organizes items based on specified criteria, iteratively assigning related items to groups, and generating visual presentations that simplify complex relationships, reducing the need for extensive user input and trial-and-error methods.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of information
If items are presented in detail to show all relationships and components, then completeness of information is improved, but user understanding deteriorates due to overwhelming complexity
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies segmentation by automatically grouping items into criterion-based groups and hierarchical levels. Complex item sets are divided into manageable segments where items are organized into groups based on shared criteria, with each group potentially containing subgroups. This hierarchical segmentation allows users to understand relationships at multiple levels of abstraction without being overwhelmed by the complete detail structure.
2Ease of operation
If automated grouping is applied to simplify presentation, then ease of operation is improved, but loss of detailed relationship information increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements nesting by creating hierarchical group structures where groups contain items and can also contain subgroups. This nested organization preserves the complete relationship information at multiple levels: individual items within groups, groups within larger groups, and the criteria defining each level. Users can navigate through nested levels to access detailed relationship information while maintaining an simplified overview at higher levels.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent adds a hierarchical dimension to the presentation by organizing items into multiple levels with different granularities. Instead of presenting all items at one level, the system creates vertical hierarchy levels where each level provides a different view of the data. This dimensional transformation allows simultaneous preservation of detailed relationships and simplified overview by navigating through different hierarchical levels.
3Measurement precision
If extensive user input and trial-and-error are used to analyze complex item sets, then analysis precision is improved, but productivity deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies self-service by implementing automated criterion-based grouping that performs analysis without extensive user input. The system automatically evaluates items against criteria, assigns them to appropriate groups, and generates hierarchical presentations. This automation maintains analysis precision by systematically applying defined criteria while dramatically improving productivity by eliminating manual trial-and-error processes.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements preliminary action by pre-defining criteria and automated grouping rules before analysis begins. The system prepares the grouping framework, criteria evaluations, and assignment logic in advance, allowing rapid automated analysis once initiated. This preliminary setup enables precise analysis to be performed automatically without requiring users to manually work through trial-and-error scenarios during the actual analysis process.
Data Source
AI summary
Interrelated items in a complex item set (such as a set of components in a complex software architecture) may be difficult to present in a manner that facilitates an understanding and evaluation of the item set, due to the amount of information and the difficulty in automatically discerning the organization of the item set. A set of criteria may be utilized to form criterion groups to which items matching respective criteria may be automatically assigned. Further grouping assignments may be achieved by identifying an ungrouped item that is associated with a grouped item. Such techniques may be applied in many variations to yield a representation of the item set, and a presentation of the item set to a user, that aggregates similar items and interrelationships, thereby promoting an understanding and analysis of the structure and organization of the item set while reducing the user involvement in the generation of same.