Context-Based Configuration Management Using Visual Icons
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Solution Overview
Problem
Managing complex projects requires a system to intuitively represent the status and history of activities, with each activity needing a distinct and easily recognizable icon or symbol to facilitate quick understanding of its status and changes, especially in large, complex projects.
Innovation Solution
The Context-Based Configuration Management (CBCM) system uses a visual and textual approach with intuitive icons to indicate the status and changes in project operations, integrating with enterprise-level decision-making systems, and allowing for customizable icons and metadata to track changes and inter-operate with various management systems, utilizing a graphical user interface and object-relational database for data storage and querying.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a visual system with intuitive icons is implemented to indicate status and changes of project activities, then ease of operation and information presentation are improved, but device complexity and system integration requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The system segments complex project management information into distinct visual categories using different icon shapes (circles for decisions, squares for configurations, triangles for feedback). Each icon type represents a specific class of project activity, allowing users to quickly understand status without processing complex data structures. This segmentation of information presentation resolves the contradiction by simplifying user interaction while maintaining systematic organization behind the scenes.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces an intermediary layer of visual icons and symbols that mediate between the complex underlying project data and the user interface. These icons serve as a translation layer, converting complex status information into intuitive visual representations. This intermediary resolves the contradiction by shielding users from system complexity while enabling comprehensive status monitoring.
2Loss of information
If multiple classes of activities are represented with distinct icons and symbols, then information presentation and recognition are improved, but manufacturing precision and consistency of representation decrease
Solution Approach 1:
The system applies local quality by assigning specific visual characteristics to different activity classes: circles for decisions, squares for configurations, and triangles for feedback. Each icon shape has distinct local visual properties that encode meaningful information about the activity type. This resolves the contradiction by maintaining consistent visual language within each category while allowing differentiation across categories, balancing clarity with consistency.
Data Source
AI summary
A computer-based system for configuring and displaying information on changes in, and present status of, a collection of events associated with a project. Classes of icons for decision events, configurations and feedback mechanisms, and time lines (sequential and/or simultaneous) for related events are displayed. Metadata for each icon in each class is displayed by choosing and activating the corresponding icon. Access control (viewing, reading, writing, editing, deleting, etc.) is optionally imposed for metadata and other displayed information.