Portable Dataport Grid View Manager for Field Document Access
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
The construction industry faces inefficiencies due to the lack of portable and user-friendly solutions for retrieving, inter-relating, annotating, and managing electronic documents at the point of need, leading to increased labor costs, miscommunication, and delays in resolving field issues.
Innovation Solution
A portable dataport device with a View Manager that logically organizes documents into a grid system, allowing for easy navigation and annotation, and uses caching and scrollable-image-viewers to preload connected documents, enabling users to access and manage documents without extensive computer knowledge.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If documents are stored and managed using traditional paper-based or centralized office systems, then document security and control are maintained, but accessibility at the point of need is poor and labor costs increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the document management system into distributed portable dataport devices that can be carried to different locations, rather than requiring centralized office access. Each dataport contains local storage and processing capabilities, enabling field staff to access documents at the point of need without returning to the office.
Solution Approach 2:
The portable dataport devices are designed to be self-contained with embedded document management capabilities, allowing field staff to independently retrieve, view, and manage documents without requiring office personnel or complex centralized systems. The devices autonomously handle document storage and display functions.
2Productivity
If field staff are reduced to lower labor costs, then profitability improves, but the ability to manage and access documents in the field deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the mechanical system of having multiple field staff members physically manage and transport documents with an electronic system where portable dataport devices automatically store and display documents. This substitution eliminates the need for dedicated document management personnel in the field.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the parameter of document access from requiring physical presence in an office environment to enabling remote field access through portable devices. This parameter change allows field staff to perform document management tasks directly at construction sites without returning to the office.
3Loss of time
If comprehensive document management capabilities are provided in the field, then labor efficiency improves, but device complexity and computational requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements preliminary action by pre-loading relevant documents onto portable dataport devices before field staff need them. The system anticipates document access needs and makes documents available in advance, eliminating delays associated with retrieving documents from centralized storage during field operations.
Data Source
AI summary
A method and device for using a portable dataport for electronic document retrieving, annotating, inter-relating, and managing, comprising a view manager having an at least one-dimensional grid. The view manager and grid provide document inter-relation and management in a user friendly fashion. The view manager is electronically linked to an electronic document storage device to retrieve, inter-relate, annotate and manage the documents.