Context-Sensitive Lot Attribute Management System
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current data management systems are not user-configurable and context-sensitive, prompting users to enter irrelevant lot and serial attributes, leading to increased costs and inefficiencies due to the need for custom configurations and frequent modifications to accommodate changing attribute requirements across different industries and items.
Innovation Solution
A system that allows users to define and configure item-specific lot and serial attributes, group them into contexts, and capture, maintain, and query only the necessary attributes relevant to each item, using a flexible structure that adapts to user needs, with a graphical user interface for attribute management and an attribute engine for context-specific handling.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If the system provides all lot and serial attributes that the system is capable of capturing, then the system is applicable to a broad range of users and reduces system costs, but users are prompted to enter attributes that are not relevant to their particular needs
Solution Approach 1:
The system segments the comprehensive attribute set into item-specific subsets. Each item can have its own customized attributes selected from the full system capability, allowing the system to maintain broad applicability while presenting only relevant attributes to each user during data entry.
Solution Approach 2:
The system dynamically adapts the attribute presentation based on the specific item being processed. The data entry interface changes according to item configuration, showing only the attributes that are relevant to that particular item, thereby maintaining ease of operation across different user needs.
2Ease of operation
If the system is configured by the vendor for the specific application, then users are only prompted for relevant lot and serial attributes, but the system becomes more costly due to reduced economy of scale
Solution Approach 1:
The system provides universal attribute templates that can be applied across multiple items and industries. Vendor-configured attribute sets serve as reusable templates that maintain economy of scale while ensuring relevance, as the same template can be applied to numerous similar items without requiring custom configuration for each.
Solution Approach 2:
The vendor performs preliminary configuration by pre-defining relevant attribute sets for specific applications and industries. These pre-configured attribute templates are then automatically applied to items within those contexts, eliminating the need for users to manually configure attributes while maintaining relevance and reducing system complexity.
3Adaptability or versatility
If the list of lot and serial attributes is frequently added to accommodate changing user needs, then the system remains adaptable to industry changes, but the system requires frequent modifications by the vendor
Solution Approach 1:
The system enables self-service configuration where users can independently add, remove, and modify attributes for their items without requiring vendor intervention. Users can select from the full system capability and customize attributes according to their evolving needs, allowing the system to remain adaptable while eliminating frequent modification requirements.
Data Source
AI summary
A novel method for configuring an item specific user-definable lot or serial attribute. The method also provides for grouping one or more attributes into an time specific context. The method also provides for capturing, maintaining and querying attribute data values according to the item specific context.