Visual Programming Flow Dependency Notification System

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Solution Overview

Problem

Developers using visual programming tools face challenges in efficiently developing applications due to the need to understand template flow diagrams, which requires time and effort, and often lack knowledge of dependency relations between attribute values, hindering intuitive development.

Innovation Solution

A flow preparation assisting apparatus calculates the difference between flow data sets and template flow data sets, determining dependency relations between attribute values and notifying developers, allowing them to change attribute values without predefining constraint conditions, thereby enabling knowledge sharing among multiple developers.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If developers use templates to shorten development period, then productivity is improved, but understanding time and complexity increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedevelopment speedVSAvoidtime to understand template

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The system provides automated feedback by calculating dependency relations between attribute values and notifying developers of required changes. This feedback mechanism eliminates the need for developers to manually analyze template dependencies, thereby maintaining high productivity while reducing understanding time.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

Solution Approach 2:

The flow preparation assisting apparatus acts as an intermediary between the template and the developer. It automatically calculates dependency relations and generates notifications, serving as a mediator that translates complex template requirements into actionable information for developers.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Reliability

If developers manually analyze template dependency relations, then accuracy of change propagation is improved, but time and effort increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvechange propagation accuracyVSAvoidtime to analyze dependencies

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs self-service by automatically calculating dependency relations between attribute values without requiring developer intervention. The flow preparation assisting apparatus independently analyzes template flows and generates notifications, eliminating manual analysis while maintaining accurate change propagation.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The patent replaces manual mechanical analysis with automated computational methods. The system uses algorithmic calculation to determine dependency relations, substituting the manual process of analyzing template flows with an automated mechanical system that achieves the same reliability faster.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

3Reliability

If constraint conditions are preliminarily defined for templates, then dependency management is improved, but device complexity and setup time increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedependency managementVSAvoidconstraint condition definition

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary action by automatically calculating dependency relations before the developer makes changes. The flow preparation assisting apparatus analyzes the template flow structure in advance and pre-determines dependency relationships, eliminating the need for developers to manually define constraint conditions.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The patent changes the approach from manually defining constraint conditions to automatically calculating dependency parameters. The system transforms the dependency management process from a configuration-based approach to a computation-based approach, reducing complexity while maintaining reliability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

4Adaptability or versatility

If multiple developers use the same template, then collaboration is improved, but knowledge sharing is hindered without automated dependency notification

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecollaboration capabilityVSAvoiddependency knowledge sharing

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSLoss of information

Solution Approach 1:

The system establishes a feedback mechanism that automatically notifies all developers of dependency changes. When one developer modifies an attribute value, the flow preparation assisting apparatus calculates affected dependencies and sends notifications to other developers, enabling real-time knowledge sharing and collaborative development.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

Solution Approach 2:

The flow preparation assisting apparatus serves multiple functions: it calculates dependency relations, generates notifications, and supports multiple developers simultaneously. This universal system handles both individual development tasks and team collaboration, eliminating information silos between developers.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Data Source

PatentUS10606572B2Apparatus and method for assisting preparation of flow using visual programming tool

Publication Date: 2020.03.31 HITACHI LTD

AI summary

A flow preparation assisting apparatus calculates a difference between one or more flow data sets and a template flow data set having been a base of the one or more flow data sets, and calculates a dependency relation between node attributes for a template flow indicated by the template flow data set, from the calculated difference. The flow preparation assisting apparatus issues a notification according to the calculated dependency relation.