Cable Connection Accessory Matching Across Product Lines
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Solution Overview
Problem
Identifying compatible electrical cable connection accessories across different manufacturers is challenging due to inconsistent product lines and varying characteristics, making it time-consuming even for experts.
Innovation Solution
A computer-based system utilizing a product repository, association data structure, and decision-driven logic tree to quickly identify optimal connection accessories by matching electrical cable characteristics with compatible accessories, facilitated by user interfaces and a compound index for progressive searching.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If manual evaluation of cable characteristics is used to identify compatible accessories, then accuracy of matching can be achieved, but time consumption increases significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces manual mechanical evaluation of cable characteristics with an automated computer-based system that uses algorithms to match cable parameters with compatible accessories. The system automatically processes cable specifications (voltage, insulation, shielding, conductor type, size) and retrieves matching accessories from a database, eliminating the need for manual expert evaluation while maintaining matching accuracy.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates a digital copy of cable characteristics and accessory specifications in a structured database format. By storing standardized parameter data for multiple manufacturers' products, the system can quickly retrieve and compare specifications without physically examining cables or manually searching through product catalogs, significantly reducing identification time while preserving matching precision.
2Measurement precision
If comprehensive product data from multiple manufacturers is collected, then compatibility identification accuracy improves, but data complexity and processing difficulty increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the comprehensive product data into distinct standardized parameters (voltage, insulation type, shielding, conductor material, conductor size, connector type). Each manufacturer's products are broken down into these discrete characteristic categories, allowing the system to process complex multi-manufacturer data systematically through structured database fields rather than as unmanageable raw information.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent transforms diverse manufacturer-specific product specifications into standardized parameter formats. By converting various manufacturers' different naming conventions and specification styles into uniform parameter structures (e.g., standardizing conductor size measurements, voltage ratings, and insulation types), the system manages data complexity while maintaining comprehensive compatibility identification across multiple manufacturers.
3Reliability
If expert knowledge is used to evaluate cable-accessory compatibility, then matching reliability improves, but operational complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent enables the system to perform compatibility evaluation autonomously without requiring expert human intervention. The computer-based system automatically retrieves cable parameters, queries the accessory database using predefined matching criteria, and identifies compatible accessories independently. This self-service capability maintains expert-level reliability while eliminating the operational complexity of requiring trained personnel to perform manual evaluations.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent performs preliminary organization and structuring of compatibility rules and matching criteria during system setup. Expert knowledge regarding cable-accessory compatibility requirements is pre-encoded into the system's algorithms and database relationships before actual use. This preliminary preparation stores expert judgment in advance, allowing the system to automatically apply reliable matching logic during operation without requiring users to possess expert knowledge or navigate complex evaluation procedures.
Data Source
AI summary
This specification generally describes technology for identifying connection accessories for electrical cables. In some implementations, a system includes a product repository that includes electrical cable product data, the product data including, for each electrical cable represented in the product data, an electrical cable part number and various characteristic values for the electrical cable. An association data structure associates, for an electrical cable part number and a connection accessory type, connection accessories that are compatible for use with the electrical cable. A computing server is configured to handle requests for electrical cable and/or connection accessory information. User interfaces are provided to computing devices to facilitate information requests.