Imaging System Node Lock Dependency Discovery
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Solution Overview
Problem
Users of imaging systems face difficulty in discovering which dependent feature causes a feature of interest to be locked, due to complex and non-intuitive lock dependencies, requiring domain knowledge or brute-force methods to unlock features.
Innovation Solution
A method and system that parse a markup language file to identify nodes associated with locked features, outputting a list of nodes that potentially lock or unlock the feature of interest, handling simple and complex dependencies, and presenting meaningful settings to users for adjustment.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If users manually investigate lock dependencies through domain knowledge or brute-force methods, then they can discover locked features, but the process becomes time-consuming and complex
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces an intermediary system that automatically analyzes the configuration file to identify lock dependency relationships. This intermediary processing layer translates complex file parsing and dependency analysis into user-friendly information, eliminating the need for users to manually investigate dependencies through domain knowledge or brute-force methods.
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs preliminary analysis of the configuration file to pre-identify all lock dependency relationships before the user needs them. By parsing the file structure and establishing dependency maps in advance, the system prepares the information needed to quickly respond to user queries about locked features, avoiding time-consuming manual investigation.
2Loss of information
If the system provides detailed dependency information to users, then users can understand lock relationships, but the complexity of the interface and information increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the complex dependency information into hierarchical levels: direct lock dependencies (first level), indirect dependencies through parent nodes (second level), and related configuration settings (third level). This segmentation allows the system to present information in manageable portions, starting with the most relevant direct dependencies and allowing users to drill down into deeper levels only if needed.
Solution Approach 2:
The system applies local quality by providing different levels of detail for different types of nodes based on their relevance to the locked feature. Direct parent nodes that immediately lock the feature receive prominent display, while more distant dependencies are presented with less emphasis. The interface adapts the level of information density to the specific context of each dependency relationship.
3Measurement precision
If the system parses the entire configuration file to identify all dependencies, then complete dependency information is obtained, but the processing time and computational resources increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts only the specific portions of the configuration file that are relevant to identifying lock dependencies, rather than processing the entire file uniformly. The system selectively parses node definitions, lock condition specifications, and parent-child relationship declarations, while skipping over unrelated configuration data. This extraction approach maintains accurate dependency identification while significantly reducing processing time.
Solution Approach 2:
The system employs partial action by initially focusing on identifying direct lock dependencies with high confidence, then optionally expanding to indirect dependencies based on user needs. The parsing process can be configured to stop after finding a sufficient number of relevant dependencies, providing a balance between completeness and processing speed. This allows the system to deliver useful results quickly while offering the option for more comprehensive analysis if required.
Data Source
AI summary
Various techniques are provided to generate a list of node names that cause a node in a machine vision camera to be locked. In one example, a method includes receiving a file identifying a plurality of nodes corresponding to associated features of a device, wherein each of the nodes has an associated plurality of settings and each of the nodes is configured to be in either an unlocked state to permit adjustment of its associated settings by a user or a locked state to prevent adjustment of its associated settings by the user; receiving a request by the user that identifies a first one of the nodes in the locked state; parsing at least a portion of the file to identify a second one of the nodes having associated settings on which the locked state of the first node is contingent; and presenting the associated settings of the second node to the user. Additional methods and systems are also provided.