Web Browser-Style Interface for Engineering Data Navigation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Engineering analysis applications face challenges in navigating complex networks of information, leading to convoluted workflows, redundant data, and difficulty in determining engineering intent due to the limitations of traditional tree-based structures, which fail to scale with increasing complexity and diversity of data.
Innovation Solution
A web browser-style user interface is introduced, utilizing tabs, links, history, bookmarks, and search to facilitate navigation and data access, allowing users to focus on relevant data and actions without the need for complex tree structures, and enabling efficient handling of diverse and scalable content across modern platforms.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If traditional tree-based structures are used to organize engineering data, then data organization is simple and hierarchical, but navigation becomes convoluted and workflows become complex as data networks grow in size and complexity
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the complex engineering data network into manageable visual groups and clusters that can be explored interactively. Instead of forcing all data into a single hierarchical tree, the interface divides data into visual segments that users can navigate through spatial arrangement and visual grouping, making complex data networks more manageable and easier to navigate.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent transitions from a one-dimensional hierarchical tree structure to a two-dimensional visual network interface. Data is arranged spatially in a visual workspace where relationships are depicted through spatial positioning, proximity, and visual connections rather than nested folders. This dimensional change allows users to navigate complex data networks more intuitively by visually exploring relationships across the screen space.
2Ease of manufacture
If tree structures are used to accommodate diverse engineering content, then implementation is straightforward, but the structure fails to scale with increasing data diversity and complexity
Solution Approach 1:
The patent creates a universal visual network interface that can accommodate diverse engineering data types without requiring different organizational structures. The same visual interface handles geometry, materials, boundary conditions, results, and other engineering data types uniformly through spatial arrangement and visual relationships, making the interface both easy to implement and highly adaptable to diverse content.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements a dynamic visual network where data relationships can be visually adjusted, rearranged, and reconfigured based on engineering needs. The interface allows dynamic creation of visual connections, spatial repositioning of data elements, and adaptive grouping that responds to user interactions and engineering workflows, enabling the structure to scale with increasing data diversity.
3Quantity of substance
If complex tree structures are implemented to handle all engineering data, then data coverage is comprehensive, but manual investigation is required to determine engineering intent
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses visual attributes including color coding to represent different data types, relationship categories, and engineering intent indicators. Visual cues such as color, shape, and spatial arrangement make engineering intent detectable at a glance without requiring manual investigation of complex tree structures. The visual network displays relationships and data characteristics through perceptible visual variations.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces visual relationship indicators and connection elements as intermediaries between data elements. These visual mediators explicitly display the nature and strength of relationships between engineering data, making intent detection easier. The visual interface acts as an intermediary layer that translates complex data relationships into perceptible visual patterns that reveal engineering intent without manual investigation.
Data Source
AI summary
A user interface and method. A user interface and method of using said interface that uniquely applies a web browser navigation style to engineering analysis applications is disclosed herein. The user interface, which may be implemented at least in part by use of a computer system, may comprise a browser panel, a tabbed workspace, a graphics view, a search box, and a search and select bar.