Software Design Model Visualization for Apparatus Status Troubleshooting
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Solution Overview
Problem
Navigating and troubleshooting complex software designs in large industrial apparatuses is time-consuming and inefficient due to the difficulty in traversing and understanding hundreds of pages of design artifacts, making debugging costly.
Innovation Solution
A system that provides design model-based visual representation of apparatus operational status, automatically translating operational data into a visual representation of the software design model, enabling easy navigation and reducing troubleshooting time.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If model-based design and behavioral constructs are used to capture software design complexity, then design precision and reliability are improved, but device complexity and difficulty of navigation increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent creates a visual copy or representation of the operational status that mirrors the complex software design model. Instead of navigating the actual complex code and state machines, engineers interact with a simplified visual copy that replicates the essential operational states and transitions, making the system manageable while preserving design fidelity
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces an intermediary visual representation layer between the complex software design model and the engineer. This intermediary translates operational data into intuitive visual formats, serving as a mediator that bridges the gap between complex underlying systems and human comprehension without losing essential design information
2Measurement precision
If engineers manually traverse and decipher nested internal states against state machine designs, then measurement precision of operational status is improved, but loss of time increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent performs preliminary actions by automatically capturing and processing operational data before the engineer needs to analyze it. The system pre-processes the operational status information, aligns it with the software design model, and prepares visual representations in advance, eliminating the need for engineers to manually traverse state machines during troubleshooting
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the mechanical process of manual code traversal and state machine analysis with an automated computational system. Software automatically compares operational data against the design model, generates visual representations, and highlights discrepancies, substituting human manual analysis with automated processing that maintains precision while dramatically reducing time
3Ease of operation
If visual representation systems are implemented to simplify navigation, then ease of operation is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent creates a visual representation system that serves multiple functions simultaneously: it displays operational status, highlights discrepancies between actual and expected states, provides navigation assistance, and maintains alignment with the software design model. This multi-functionality consolidates what would otherwise require multiple separate tools into a single universal interface
Solution Approach 2:
The patent merges the operational data visualization, design model representation, and discrepancy highlighting into a single integrated visual interface. Rather than requiring separate tools for each function, the system combines these elements into one unified representation that maintains ease of operation while managing complexity through integration
Data Source
AI summary
A system includes a hardware processor and a memory storing software code. The hardware processor is configured to execute the software code to receive operational data including multiple timestamps each corresponding to an operating state of an apparatus, receive, from a system user, a query identifying at least one of an apparatus event or one of the timestamps, and obtain, based on the operational data and in response to the query, a software design model of the apparatus. The hardware processor is further configured to execute the software code to identify, using the operational data and the software design model, an operational status of the apparatus at the identified at least one of the apparatus event or timestamp, generate, based on the software design model, a visual representation of that operational status, and provide an output data including the visual representation to the system user.