Dynamic Engineering Object Previews for Faster PLM Navigation
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Current product lifecycle management systems fail to provide an effective preview of engineering projects, particularly those involving complex automation devices like PLCs and HMI screens, leading to inefficiencies in user navigation and understanding of project content.
Innovation Solution
A method and system for dynamically generating previews of engineering objects in a product lifecycle management environment, utilizing meta files and preview strategies to display relevant information on a graphical user interface, allowing users to select and combine preview types based on attributes, user profiles, and previous selections.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If a high level preview is displayed for engineering projects, then navigation efficiency is improved, but understanding of engineering project content deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The preview is segmented into multiple regions, each displaying different types of information about the engineering project. The first region shows a graphical representation of the engineering object, while the second region displays contextual information such as project name, description, and key parameters. This segmentation allows the preview to provide both quick visual identification and detailed content understanding simultaneously.
2Loss of information
If detailed engineering objects are displayed in preview, then understanding of project content is improved, but complexity of preview generation increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system extracts only the most relevant and essential information from the complete engineering project data to display in the preview. Instead of displaying all engineering objects and details, the system selectively extracts key information such as the primary engineering object's graphical representation, project metadata, and summary descriptions, thereby reducing preview generation complexity while maintaining content understanding.
Solution Approach 2:
Different regions of the preview display different levels of detail and types of information appropriate to their purpose. The first region provides a visual overview with graphical representations, while the second region provides textual context and metadata. This local quality approach ensures that each part of the preview displays the most appropriate information type for that location, optimizing both understanding and generation efficiency.
3Loss of information
If multiple types of engineering objects are included in preview, then comprehensiveness is improved, but difficulty of locating specific project increases
Solution Approach 1:
The preview employs asymmetric layout where the first region prominently displays a visual graphical representation that captures the essence of the engineering project, while the second region provides supplementary textual information. This asymmetric design with visual prominence makes it easier for users to quickly scan and locate specific projects of interest among multiple previews, while still providing comprehensive information about the engineering objects contained within.
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3
AI summary
The present invention relates to a method and system of dynamically generating a preview (604, 704, 804, 904, 1004, 1104, 1204, 1304, 1404) of an engineering object in a product lifecycle management environment (100). In an embodiment, the system (102) comprises a processor (202) and a memory (204) coupled to the processor (202). The memory (204) includes a preview generation module (108) configured for obtaining a meta file indicating association of one or more preview strategies selected from a plurality of preview strategies with the engineering object. The preview generation module (108) is also configured for determining preview strategies associated with the engineering object based on the association of the preview strategies with the engineering object in the meta file. Furthermore, the preview generation module (108) is configured for dynamically generating a preview of the engineering object according to the determined preview strategies and displaying the generated preview (604, 704, 804, 904, 1004, 1104, 1204, 1304, 1404) of the engineering object on a graphical user interface of the user device (106A-N).