Distributed Key-Value Consistency via Mediator Voting

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Solution Overview

Problem

Distributed collaborative document drafting and translation environments face language usage inconsistencies due to different terminology and acronym usage among geographically dispersed groups of document drafters and translators, leading to inconsistencies within the same document.

Innovation Solution

A networked distributed drafting platform generates a public key-value context file with initial default mappings, elects refined project-level mappings by considering differences in personal key-value mappings from each drafter, and updates the initial mappings to ensure consistent terminology across the project, allowing for continuous refinement and adaptation as drafters change.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If different distributed drafters use personal key-value mappings independently, then each drafter can work autonomously with local terminology preferences, but terminology consistency across the distributed project deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedrafter autonomyVSAvoidterminology consistency
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces a centralized terminology server as an intermediary between distributed drafters and the project terminology database. This mediator collects personal key-value mappings from drafters, resolves conflicts through voting mechanisms, and maintains the authoritative terminology mappings. The intermediary enables both drafter autonomy in defining local terminology preferences and project-wide consistency through centralized coordination.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent merges personal key-value mappings from multiple drafters into a unified project terminology database. By combining individual terminology preferences through a voting mechanism, the system creates a consolidated authoritative mapping that reflects collective drafter input while maintaining consistency across the distributed project.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

2Manufacturing precision

If a centralized terminology management system is implemented to ensure consistency, then terminology uniformity improves, but system complexity and coordination overhead increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveterminology consistencyVSAvoidsystem complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Manufacturing precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements a self-service terminology management system where drafters automatically contribute their personal key-value mappings to the centralized database. The system autonomously collects mappings, performs conflict resolution through voting, and updates the authoritative terminology without requiring manual intervention from system administrators, thereby reducing operational complexity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The patent establishes a feedback loop where the centralized terminology server continuously collects personal mappings from drafters, processes conflicts through voting mechanisms, and propagates updated terminology back to drafters. This automated feedback cycle maintains terminology consistency while minimizing manual coordination overhead.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

3Manufacturing precision

If personal key-value mappings are constantly synchronized with the central database, then terminology consistency is maintained, but network bandwidth consumption increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveterminology consistencyVSAvoidnetwork bandwidth
Core Design Contradiction:
Manufacturing precisionVSLoss of energy

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements periodic synchronization instead of continuous real-time updates. The centralized terminology server collects personal key-value mappings at intervals, processes conflicts through voting, and updates the authoritative database periodically. This approach maintains terminology consistency while significantly reducing network bandwidth consumption compared to continuous synchronization.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #19Periodic action

4Manufacturing precision

If manual training is provided to each drafter for terminology compliance, then terminology consistency improves, but time consumption and training costs increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveterminology consistencyVSAvoidtraining time
Core Design Contradiction:
Manufacturing precisionVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces manual training with a self-service automated system. Drafters independently define their personal key-value mappings, which are then automatically processed by the centralized server through conflict resolution and voting mechanisms. The system autonomously maintains terminology consistency without requiring time-consuming manual training sessions for each drafter.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The patent substitutes the mechanical process of manual training with an automated computational system. Instead of human instructors teaching terminology to each drafter, the system uses algorithmic conflict resolution and voting mechanisms to automatically establish and maintain consistent terminology mappings across all drafters.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Data Source

PatentUS10275223B2Distributed key-value consistency and mapping
Publication Date: 2019.04.30 INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINE CORPORATION
  • US10275223B2 patent drawing
  • US10275223B2 patent drawing
  • US10275223B2 patent drawing

AI summary

A processor within a networked distributed drafting platform generates a public key-value context file that includes initial default key-value mappings between keywords and values for use in a distributed drafting project. Refined project-level key-value mappings are elected by considering differences between the initial default key-value mappings and personal key-value mappings within a set of distributed personal key-value context files each maintained by different drafters of the distributed drafting project. The initial default key-value mappings of the public key-value context file are updated with the elected refined project-level key-value mappings within the networked distributed drafting platform.