Engineering Database Integration for Lifecycle Traceability

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current engineering systems face challenges in maintaining consistency and traceability between engineering information and lifecycle information of physical systems, requiring manual and error-prone processes to ensure compliance with test cases and standards, which is inefficient and time-consuming.

Innovation Solution

A computer-implemented method and system that integrates engineering and lifecycle information within a database framework, allowing for the creation, management, and testing of engineering artifacts against lifecycle artifacts using test cases, with results stored and linked for persistent traceability.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If manual processes are used to maintain consistency between engineering information and lifecycle information, then flexibility in handling diverse data types is maintained, but time consumption and error rates increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveconsistency between engineering information and lifecycle informationVSAvoidtime consumption for manual verification processes

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces manual mechanical verification processes with an automated computer-implemented system that uses software to perform consistency checks, traceability verification, and compliance testing between engineering information and lifecycle information, thereby eliminating time-consuming manual operations while maintaining reliability

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

The system enables self-service automation where the computer-implemented method automatically performs consistency verification and traceability management without requiring manual intervention, allowing the system to serve itself in maintaining data integrity and compliance

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

2Reliability

If integrated database framework is implemented to link engineering and lifecycle information, then traceability and consistency are improved, but system complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvetraceability of engineering artifactsVSAvoidcomplexity of integrated database framework

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements a universal integrated database framework that handles multiple functions including storing engineering information, lifecycle information, test cases, and test results, while providing consistent access and traceability across all data types through a single unified system that reduces overall complexity

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Solution Approach 2:

The computer-implemented method acts as an intermediary that manages the connections between engineering information and lifecycle information databases, handling the complexity of data linking, consistency verification, and traceability maintenance through automated software processes

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Measurement precision

If automated testing of engineering artifacts against lifecycle artifacts is performed, then compliance accuracy is improved, but processing time and computational resources increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveaccuracy of compliance testingVSAvoidprocessing time for test execution

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies preliminary action by pre-configuring test cases with expected results and compliance criteria before actual testing, allowing the automated system to efficiently execute tests and compare results against predetermined standards, thereby maintaining high accuracy while reducing processing time through prepared test frameworks

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Data Source

PatentUS20240054257A1Engineering a physical system, method, and system

Publication Date: 2024.02.15 SIEMENS IND SOFTWARE GMBH (SWITZERLAND)

AI summary

For an improved engineering of a physical system, a method includes providing engineering information, lifecycle information and at least one test case in an engineering database. The engineering information is related to physical, mechanical, electrical, electronic, hydraulic, thermal, control, electric power, and/or process-oriented information of the physical system. The lifecycle information is related to conception, requirements, use cases, issues, design, realization, and/or service information of the physical system. A respective engineering artifact included by the engineering information, a respective lifecycle artifact included by the lifecycle information, and/or a compliance of the respective engineering artifact with the respective lifecycle artifact may be tested using the respective test case. The test may be performed using the respective test case, and a respective test result may be generated in the engineering database, respectively. The respective test result is linked to the respective lifecycle artifact stored in the lifecycle database, respectively.