Engineering Application Dynamic Element Recommendation

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Solution Overview

Problem

The existing engineering configuration processes are time-consuming and tedious due to the manual search for elements in large element libraries, requiring skilled personnel and extensive effort for creating complex configurations.

Innovation Solution

A method and apparatus that dynamically recommend elements suitable for engineering configurations by detecting user actions and utilizing a pattern of user activity to suggest elements from a database, reducing the need for manual searching and improving efficiency.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If manual search for elements is used in element library, then completeness of element selection is improved, but time consumption and operation complexity increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveease of element selectionVSAvoidtime for creating engineering configuration
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary actions by analyzing historical user activity patterns and pre-computing recommended element sequences before the user actually needs them. When a user opens the element library, the system has already prepared context-aware recommendations based on the current engineering configuration state, eliminating the need for manual searching through thousands of elements.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The system enables self-service by automatically understanding the user's intent and providing relevant element recommendations without requiring the user to manually search or filter through the element library. The system monitors user actions, analyzes patterns, and autonomously presents the most likely needed elements, making the user serve themselves through intelligent automation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

2Adaptability or versatility

If complete element library is provided, then element selection flexibility is improved, but user skill requirement increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveelement selection flexibilityVSAvoiduser skill requirement
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The system introduces an intermediary intelligence layer between the user and the complete element library. This intermediary analyzes the engineering configuration context, user behavior patterns, and element relationships to filter and prioritize elements. The user interacts with this intelligent mediator that presents a simplified, context-relevant subset of elements, reducing skill requirements while maintaining access to the full library's flexibility when needed.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The system applies local quality by providing different levels of element library access and presentation based on the specific context and user needs. Instead of presenting the entire element library uniformly, the system dynamically adjusts the presentation to show highly relevant elements with detailed information locally, while maintaining the option to access broader categories when needed, thus reducing cognitive load while preserving versatility.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

3Measurement precision

If manual element searching is required, then precision of element selection is improved, but productivity decreases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveprecision of element selectionVSAvoidconfiguration creation speed
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The system implements feedback mechanisms by continuously monitoring user selections, corrections, and interactions with recommended elements. This feedback is used to refine the recommendation algorithm, improving precision over time. The system learns from user behavior patterns and adjusts its recommendations to better match actual needs, maintaining high precision while dramatically improving productivity through automated suggestions.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

Data Source

PatentEP3009900B1Dynamic recommendation of elements suitable for use in an engineering configuration
Publication Date: 2020.01.22 SIEMENS AG
  • EP3009900B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3009900B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3009900B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

The present invention relates to a method and apparatus (100, 404A-N) for dynamically recommending elements suitable for use in an engineering configuration (512, 606). In one embodiment, an apparatus (100, 404A-N) comprises a processor (102), and a memory (104) coupled to the processor (102). The memory (104) comprises an engineering application (112) capable of detecting at least one user action associated with an engineering configuration (512, 606) being created for an automation system. The engineering application (112) is further capable of dynamically determining at least one element suitable for use in the engineering configuration (512, 606) from a plurality of elements in response to the user action based on a pattern of user activity associated with the engineering configuration (512, 606). Furthermore, the engineering application (112) is capable of displaying a graphical object (508) representing the at least one element for use in the engineering configuration (512, 606).