Condition Data Management for Pricing and Maintenance

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current data management systems face challenges in efficiently managing pricing and maintenance conditions for multiple items, often resulting in errors due to individual control of prices, requiring separate adjustments and lacking a structured approach.

Innovation Solution

A computer-implemented method and system that predetermine and process a plurality of conditions associated with a condition variant to determine prices or maintenance conditions for products or services, using a condition module, variant module, and processing module to automate price determination based on defined conditions and hierarchy levels.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If individual control of prices is maintained for each item, then flexibility in pricing each item is improved, but complexity of data management and error risk increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvepricing flexibilityVSAvoiddata management complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments pricing control into two levels: condition variants (group-level) and individual conditions (item-level). This allows most items to be managed through condition variants while retaining individual control when needed, reducing overall complexity while maintaining flexibility.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

Condition variants serve multiple functions: they define base pricing for groups of items, enable targeted adjustments, and provide a structured framework for condition management. This multi-functionality reduces the need for separate individual price controls for each item.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

2Adaptability or versatility

If separate adjustments are made for each item, then targeted pricing control is improved, but time consumption and processing effort increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvetargeted pricing controlVSAvoidprocessing time

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent merges multiple individual price adjustments into condition variants. When a condition variant is modified, all associated items inherit the change automatically, eliminating the need to process each item separately and significantly reducing processing time.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

Conditions are pre-defined and associated with condition variants before pricing operations. This preliminary structuring allows for rapid application of conditions to multiple items simultaneously without requiring individual processing for each item.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

3Reliability

If structured approach with condition variants is implemented, then data management accuracy is improved, but system complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedata management accuracyVSAvoidsystem structure complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The system structure is segmented into condition variants and individual conditions, providing clear organization and reducing confusion. This segmentation improves accuracy by ensuring conditions are applied to the correct items while maintaining a manageable system structure.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

Condition variants act as intermediaries between the pricing system and individual items. They provide a structured layer that mediates between general pricing policies and specific item requirements, improving accuracy without creating excessive complexity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

4Ease of operation

If individual price controls are maintained, then ease of operation for individual items is improved, but overall efficiency decreases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveindividual item controlVSAvoiddata management efficiency

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The system combines individual item control with group-level condition variants. Most operations can be performed at the condition variant level for efficiency, while individual item control remains available when needed, balancing ease of operation with overall efficiency.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The system applies condition variants to multiple items simultaneously (excessive action at the group level), which is more efficient than individual processing. Individual item control is available as a partial option when specific items require special handling.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #16Partial or excessive action

Data Source

PatentUS8762293B2Condition data management

Publication Date: 2014.06.24 SAP SE

AI summary

A computer-implemented method of managing data includes identifying a plurality of conditions pertaining to a price or a maintenance condition and defining at least one condition selection variant, the condition selection variant representing a plurality of conditions. At least a first key field identifying an item to be associated with at least one of the conditions and is linked to at least a second key field identifying a variable corresponding to the condition. The second key field is displayed to enable data entry by a user to specify the variable corresponding to the price or the maintenance condition pertaining to the item identified in the first key field. The price or the maintenance condition of the item identified in the first key field is determined by processing each condition of the plurality of conditions associated with the condition variant.