Automated Hand-Drawn Topology Parser for System Deployment

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Solution Overview

Problem

There is no automated tool available to convert hand-drawn topology diagrams into actual computing system deployments, requiring manual entry of details for system configuration.

Innovation Solution

A method that involves parsing hand-drawn topology images to identify shapes and relationships, converting them into polygons, and mapping these to corresponding system components, allowing for automated deployment of computing system components based on the identified relationships.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Measurement precision

If manual entry of details is used for system configuration, then accuracy of topology deployment can be ensured, but time consumption and labor effort increase significantly

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveaccuracy of topology deploymentVSAvoidtime consumption for system configuration
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent uses image recognition technology to automatically copy and extract topology information from hand-drawn diagrams. The system captures the visual representation created by users and automatically converts it into structured deployment data, eliminating the need for manual re-entry while preserving the original design intent and relationships between components

Inventive Principle:
Principle #26Copying

Solution Approach 2:

The patent replaces the mechanical process of manual data entry with automated image processing and recognition systems. Optical character recognition and shape detection algorithms automatically extract topology information from images, substituting human manual operations with computational processes that are both faster and equally accurate

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

2Productivity

If automated tools are introduced to convert hand-drawn topologies, then productivity and speed of deployment improve, but system complexity and parsing difficulty increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvespeed of topology deploymentVSAvoidcomplexity of parsing system
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent divides the complex image parsing task into distinct segments: shape detection, relationship identification, and mapping to system components. By breaking down the overall process into manageable stages, each handling a specific aspect of topology extraction, the system achieves high productivity while keeping individual processing modules relatively simple and maintainable

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces an intermediary processing layer that converts hand-drawn diagrams into standardized topology representations before final deployment. This intermediate format serves as a bridge between the informal hand-drawn input and the formal system configuration requirements, simplifying the overall transformation process

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Measurement precision

If detailed parsing of hand-drawn images is performed to identify shapes and relationships, then accuracy of component mapping improves, but processing time and computational resources increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveaccuracy of component mappingVSAvoidcomputational resources for image parsing
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies partial action by focusing image parsing efforts on critical elements only - primarily shapes and their relationships - rather than analyzing every detail of the hand-drawn diagram. This selective approach maintains accurate component mapping while reducing unnecessary computational overhead from processing non-essential visual information

Inventive Principle:
Principle #16Partial or excessive action

Data Source

PatentUS10262228B2Automated realization of hand-drawn topologies
Publication Date: 2019.04.16 VMWARE INC
  • US10262228B2 patent drawing
  • US10262228B2 patent drawing
  • US10262228B2 patent drawing

AI summary

Techniques disclosed herein provide an approach for automated realization of hand-drawn topologies. In one embodiment, a topologizer application is configured to parse an image depicting a hand-drawn topology and identify shapes and relationships between the shapes in the image. The topologizer may convert the hand-drawn topology to polygons and then identify the polygons as being, e.g., particular shapes and arrows representing relationships between the shapes. The identified shapes and relationships are then output in a machine-readable format for consumption, in which the shapes are mapped to corresponding components of a computing system and deployed based on the mapping and the relationships indicated in the topologizer output.