Decentralized Network Node Segmentation for Work Process Collaboration

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Solution Overview

Problem

Centralized process management systems face bottlenecks and scalability issues as the number of users increases, leading to inefficiencies and complications in managing work projects and communications.

Innovation Solution

A decentralized computer network system where collaboration messages are received and processed at network nodes, eliminating the need for a central authority, allowing for efficient and scalable communication among collaborators through verified process instance data and state updates.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Device complexity

If a central authority is used to manage work processes and communications, then system design and operation are simplified, but processing bottlenecks occur and system scalability is limited as user base expands

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesystem design complexityVSAvoidsystem processing efficiency

Core Design Contradiction:

Device complexityVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments the centralized process management system into multiple decentralized network nodes, each capable of independently managing work process instances. This segmentation eliminates the single point of failure and processing bottleneck by distributing management tasks across multiple nodes, thereby maintaining system efficiency while reducing design complexity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces collaboration messages as intermediary carriers that transmit work process instance data between network nodes. These messages serve as the communication medium that enables decentralized nodes to coordinate and share process state information without requiring a central authority, thus resolving the contradiction between simplified design and processing efficiency.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Ease of operation

If a central authority manages all process messages and state updates, then communication control is centralized, but system growth is limited and bottlenecks increase with more users

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecommunication controlVSAvoidsystem scalability

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The patent divides the centralized communication control into multiple decentralized network nodes, each capable of independently processing and forwarding collaboration messages. This segmentation allows the system to scale horizontally by adding more nodes, thereby improving adaptability while maintaining ease of operation through standardized message protocols.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent designs network nodes with universal functionality to handle various work process instances and collaboration messages. Each node can process multiple types of process data and communicate with any other node, making the system highly adaptable to different scenarios and scalable without requiring specialized components for each function.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

3Reliability

If process management is centralized, then data consistency can be maintained, but processing bottlenecks occur and system efficiency decreases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedata consistencyVSAvoidsystem processing efficiency

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements feedback mechanisms where network nodes verify instance parameters and version numbers of collaboration messages. This feedback loop ensures data consistency by detecting and correcting inconsistencies, while the distributed architecture maintains processing efficiency by allowing parallel verification and updates across multiple nodes simultaneously.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

Solution Approach 2:

The patent incorporates preliminary verification of instance parameters and version numbers in collaboration messages before processing. This preliminary action prevents inconsistent data from propagating through the network, maintaining reliability while avoiding the need for centralized re-verification that would create bottlenecks.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

4Adaptability or versatility

If users alternately come online and offline, then system flexibility is improved, but complication increases for the central authority to update project status

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveuser availability flexibilityVSAvoidstatus update management

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent enables network nodes to autonomously handle status updates and collaboration messages without requiring constant central authority intervention. When users come online or offline, the decentralized nodes automatically adjust and continue processing, eliminating the complexity of centralized management while maintaining flexibility for user availability changes.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

Data Source

PatentUS9542660B2Work process collaboration management

Publication Date: 2017.01.10 MITCHELL INTERNATIONAL INC

AI summary

A collaboration message is received at a computer system network node of a computer network that operates in a decentralized arrangement such that network nodes comprise work process sources and destinations, and the collaboration messages convey process state updates among the collaborators. There is no central authority though which all process messages and state updates must pass and which thereby may create a system bottleneck and limit system growth. The computer system is scalable and system operation remains efficient with increasing numbers of network nodes.