Interactive Technical Manual Communication for Secure User Coordination
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional interactive electronic technical manuals (IETMs) face inefficiencies in navigating large volumes of information, lack secure access control, and require users to switch between systems for tasks, leading to resource waste and security challenges.
Innovation Solution
An IETM system with enhanced functionality allows users to initiate communication sessions, manage secure access, and navigate technical documentation efficiently through integrated display and interaction features, including communication options, secure user identification, and seamless task performance within a single environment.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Quantity of substance
If conventional IETMs provide extensive technical data in electronic format, then information completeness is improved, but user navigation efficiency deteriorates due to lengthy tables of contents and nested subsystems
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces an intermediary search interface that mediates between the user and the extensive technical data. Instead of requiring users to manually navigate through lengthy tables of contents and nested subsystems, the search interface acts as a mediator that processes search queries and returns relevant information directly, significantly reducing navigation time while maintaining access to comprehensive technical data.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the mechanical navigation system (manual browsing through tables of contents and nested menus) with an automated search system. The search interface uses computational algorithms to process search terms and retrieve relevant technical data, substituting the manual mechanical navigation process with an automated information retrieval mechanism that is much faster and more efficient.
2Ease of operation
If conventional IETMs provide basic interactive viewing functionality, then ease of operation is improved, but security control capability deteriorates for confidential technical data
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a universal authentication framework that provides multiple security functions through a single integrated system. The authentication mechanism handles various security requirements including user verification, authorization levels, and data protection, enabling both ease of operation through unified access and reliable security control for confidential technical data.
3Adaptability or versatility
If users access technical data independently, then operational independence is improved, but communication efficiency deteriorates when coordination is needed
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a communication interface as an intermediary that enables efficient coordination between users while maintaining their independent access capability. The interface facilitates message passing and coordination mechanisms that allow users to work independently when needed but communicate effectively when coordination is required, improving overall productivity without sacrificing operational independence.
Data Source
AI summary
Embodiments of the present disclosure provide methods, apparatus, systems, computer program products for supporting communication functionality in an interactive electronic technical manual system (IETM) configured to provide electronic and credentialed access via an IETM viewer to technical documentation for an item. In one embodiment, a method is provided comprising: providing a window comprising a communication session option; receiving input of a selection of the communication session option; responsive to receiving the input: identifying active users who are signed into the IETM for a particular object of the item based on credentials for the user and the user being signed into the IETM for the particular object; and causing display of an identifier for each active user on the window as selectable; receiving input of a selection of an indicator for an active user; and responsive to receiving the input, initiating a communication session with the active user within the IETM.