Hierarchical Service Trees for Standardized Architecture Modeling
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing service modeling applications lack constraints, leading to compatibility and complexity issues when sharing service architectures between different users, resulting in increased development, integration, support, and upgrade costs due to varied implementations.
Innovation Solution
Implementing a hierarchical service tree structure with predefined layers, enforcing conditions for containment and usage of hardware, firmware, and software components, allowing for structured documentation and simplified recordation of dependencies, thereby providing a standardized service architecture with limited infrastructure elements.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If service architecture allows free modeling without constraints, then each user can model service architecture differently to meet specific needs, but compatibility and complexity issues arise when sharing service architectures between different users
Solution Approach 1:
The service architecture is segmented into a hierarchical structure with multiple levels (service category definition level, actual service level, service component level, system element level, device level). Each level represents a specific aspect of the service architecture, allowing users to model only the necessary portions for their specific needs while maintaining compatibility through the standardized hierarchical framework.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces specific parameters and constraints at each hierarchical level that govern how services can be modeled. These parameters define the rules for containment and usage relationships between different levels, enabling standardized modeling that maintains both flexibility for customization and compatibility for sharing across different users and systems.
2Adaptability or versatility
If service architecture allows free modeling without constraints, then users can create varied implementations, but development, integration, support, and upgrade costs increase
Solution Approach 1:
By segmenting the service architecture into standardized hierarchical levels, the patent enables modular development and implementation. Users can leverage pre-defined templates and patterns at each level, reducing development effort and costs while still allowing customization within the structured framework.
Solution Approach 2:
The hierarchical service tree structure serves multiple functions: it provides a standardized framework for modeling, enables sharing between different users, simplifies integration, and reduces support and upgrade costs. This universal structure can be applied across various service categories and implementations, making it a multi-functional solution that addresses multiple concerns simultaneously.
3Ease of operation
If service architecture uses predefined hierarchical levels with containment and usage conditions, then documentation and implementation are simplified, but customization options are reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The hierarchical segmentation provides clear documentation structures at each level, making it easier to document service architectures. However, the segmentation also enables customization by allowing users to work with only the relevant levels and components for their specific needs, rather than requiring complete customization of the entire architecture.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent provides pre-defined templates, patterns, and structures at each hierarchical level that can be used as starting points for documentation and implementation. These preliminary structures simplify the documentation process while still allowing users to customize and adapt them to their specific requirements through the containment and usage relationships defined at each level.
Data Source
AI summary
A predefined hierarchical service tree can be stored that includes a top at a service category definition level and a bottom at a level of a number of devices, each of the number of devices selected to perform a specific service function. A sequential progression can be enforced through the predefined hierarchical service tree to perform a service.