Configurable Business Rules for Utility Network Design Adaptability
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Solution Overview
Problem
CAD software for utility network design faces challenges in adaptability due to hard-coded computations and parameters, limiting the ability to accommodate different design scenarios, units, environmental factors, and safety standards.
Innovation Solution
The implementation of rule points within CAD software allows users to customize operations by associating predefined conditions with programmable logic, enabling the execution of user-specified rules and parameters, which can be modified and grouped hierarchically for validation and material ordering.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If hard-coded computations and parameters are used in CAD software, then software stability and reliability are maintained, but adaptability to different design scenarios, units, environmental factors, and safety standards is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the computational logic into separate rule points that can be independently configured and activated. Each rule point represents a discrete set of computations that can be enabled or disabled based on specific design scenarios, allowing adaptability without requiring complete software reconfiguration.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces dynamic configurability where computations and parameters can be changed during the design process through the rule point system. The software transitions from static hard-coded parameters to dynamic, user-configurable rules that can adapt to different units, environmental factors, and safety standards without affecting overall system stability.
2Adaptability or versatility
If rule points with programmable logic are implemented, then adaptability and customization are improved, but device complexity and difficulty of operation increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent creates a universal rule point interface that can handle multiple types of computations and validations through a consistent interaction pattern. Users interact with all rule points using the same graphical user interface mechanisms, regardless of the underlying complexity of the computations, thereby maintaining ease of operation while achieving broad customization capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces an intermediary layer between the user and the complex computational logic. The rule points serve as mediators that abstract the complexity of programmable logic while presenting a simplified, user-friendly interface. This intermediary structure allows users to customize computations without needing to directly manage the underlying programming complexity.
3Reliability
If multiple rule groups are processed in specified ordering, then validation accuracy is improved, but processing time and computational resources increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements preliminary organization of rule points into hierarchical rule groups with predetermined processing orders. This preliminary structuring allows the validation process to systematically execute rules in an optimized sequence, ensuring that dependent rules are processed after their prerequisites, thereby maintaining validation accuracy while improving processing efficiency through predictable execution patterns.
Data Source
AI summary
Methods, systems, and apparatus, including computer programs encoded on a computer storage medium, for providing a graphical user interface configured to present a view of a computer model of a network, wherein the model of the network includes a plurality of elements that represent physical objects in the network and wherein each of the elements is associated with one or more rule points; receiving user input selecting a rule point for an element presented in the view; accepting user input specifying programming logic to be associated with a first one of the predefined conditions of the selected rule point, the programming logic having been entered into a graphical user interface configured to present an interactive template of the predefined condition; enabling the predefined condition based on the accepting; and validating the model by simulating operation of network.