Business Intelligence Gadgets Embedded in Process Forms

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current business process management systems are low-level and operational, requiring manual, ad-hoc, and near-real-time information-dependent management processes, which lack efficient data access and decision-making capabilities for non-programmer users, leading to latency and errors in planning processes.

Innovation Solution

The integration of business intelligence (BI) gadgets into business process activity forms for data navigation, search, rendering, and interaction, allowing users to access predefined functionalities without programming skills, thereby embedding BI capabilities directly into business processes.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If manual data retrieval and custom SQL queries are used in existing business process management systems, then non-programmer users can access data, but the process becomes time-consuming and error-prone

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveease of data accessVSAvoiddata retrieval time
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The system enables self-service through automated BI gadget embedding. When a business process activity form is generated, the system automatically identifies and embeds relevant BI gadgets that provide data access functionality without requiring users to manually write queries or retrieve data. The gadgets self-configure based on the form's context and automatically connect to data sources, eliminating manual intervention while providing intuitive data access to non-technical users.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The system performs preliminary action by pre-configuring BI gadgets with necessary data connections and query logic before the user needs them. During form generation, the system anticipates data access needs and embeds pre-functional BI gadgets that are already connected to relevant data sources and configured with appropriate query parameters, eliminating the need for users to perform time-consuming manual data retrieval setup.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

2Adaptability or versatility

If manual data input is required in business process forms, then users can provide necessary information, but errors in inputting or transferring data increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveflexibility in data provisionVSAvoiddata accuracy
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The system merges manual input capabilities with automated data retrieval by embedding BI gadgets directly within business process activity forms. This integration allows users to access pre-retrieved data from organizational data sources directly within the form context, eliminating the need to manually input or transfer data between systems. The merged interface maintains user flexibility in data provision while significantly improving data accuracy through automated retrieval.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The BI gadget acts as an intermediary between the user and organizational data sources. Instead of users directly querying databases or manually retrieving data, the embedded BI gadget mediates the data access process by automatically connecting to data sources, executing queries, and presenting results within the form. This intermediary layer eliminates manual data transfer errors while maintaining user flexibility in specifying data needs.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Loss of information

If custom hand-crafted data retrieval queries are used, then specific data can be accessed, but the process requires programming skills and increases complexity

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedata accessibilityVSAvoidsystem complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Loss of informationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The system uses copying by deploying pre-built, templated BI gadgets that encapsulate complex data retrieval logic. Instead of requiring users to create custom queries from scratch, the system provides copyable BI gadget templates that can be automatically embedded in forms. These templates copy proven data access patterns and can be configured with simple parameters, making data accessibility available to non-programmers while reducing system complexity through reuse of standardized components.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #26Copying

Solution Approach 2:

The BI gadgets provide universal data access functionality that works across multiple data sources and business process contexts. A single BI gadget type can serve multiple purposes by connecting to different data sources and configuring different queries based on the form's context. This multi-functionality eliminates the need for separate custom query solutions for each scenario, reducing overall system complexity while maintaining broad data accessibility.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Data Source

PatentUS7707040B2Method of generating business intelligence incorporated business process activity forms
Publication Date: 2010.04.27 X CORP
  • US7707040B2 patent drawing
  • US7707040B2 patent drawing
  • US7707040B2 patent drawing

AI summary

A business process management system provides one or more business intelligence (BI) gadgets, each providing a predefined functionality for extracting data from one or more data sources of an organization. The system allows embedment of one or more BI gadgets into a business process activity form for presenting to a user relevant data for a business process activity represented by the business process activity form.