Interactive Flow Chart Builder with Standardized Nodes
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing process flow chart tools are cumbersome and non-uniform, requiring extensive training and making it difficult for technicians to understand and implement, especially when dealing with complex systems involving multiple subsystems and failure modes.
Innovation Solution
An interactive multimedia process flow chart builder that displays charts in a graphically editable format with standardized node shapes and links, allowing for easy creation and analysis, and includes a system with memory and processing circuitry to support user interfaces for editing and navigation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If complex configuration and layout options are provided in flow chart development tools, then customization capability is improved, but device complexity and ease of operation deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The flow chart development tool is segmented into distinct functional modules: a library of pre-defined standardized flow chart symbols, a palette for selecting symbols, a workspace for arranging symbols, and a link-creation tool for connecting symbols. This segmentation allows the tool to provide comprehensive customization capability while maintaining simplicity by breaking down the complex creation process into manageable, independent tasks.
Solution Approach 2:
The tool provides pre-defined flow chart symbols with standardized meanings and configurations before the user begins creating their flow chart. These preliminary prepared elements eliminate the need for users to configure complex parameters from scratch, reducing tool complexity while maintaining adaptability through the ability to select and arrange these pre-configured symbols in various combinations.
2Productivity
If multiple flow chart developers are involved, then productivity is improved, but manufacturing precision deteriorates due to non-uniform design
Solution Approach 1:
The tool enforces homogeneity by providing a standardized library of flow chart symbols that all developers must use. Each symbol has a defined meaning and configuration, ensuring that flow charts created by different developers maintain uniform design standards. This standardized approach allows multiple developers to work simultaneously while producing consistent, uniform results.
Solution Approach 2:
The tool serves multiple functions: it acts as a design template engine, a validation system, and a standardization enforcement mechanism simultaneously. By providing a universal set of rules and symbols that all developers follow, the tool enables collaborative work while maintaining design uniformity across all created flow charts.
3Measurement precision
If flow charts are overly detailed and technical, then measurement precision is improved, but ease of operation deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The tool applies local quality by allowing different levels of detail in different parts of the flow chart. Critical troubleshooting steps can use detailed technical symbols with specific parameters, while less critical areas can use simpler, more intuitive symbols. This localized approach to detail maintains troubleshooting accuracy where needed while improving overall ease of understanding.
Solution Approach 2:
The tool utilizes visual properties such as color coding to differentiate between various types of flow chart symbols and their meanings. This visual encoding system allows users to quickly understand the purpose and technical details of different nodes without requiring extensive text documentation, thereby maintaining precision while improving ease of operation.
Data Source
AI summary
According to an aspect a method for building an interactive multimedia process flow chart is provided. The method includes displaying a process flow chart in an interactive graphically editable format on a user interface. The process flow chart includes a plurality of nodes each located entirely in a single node cell of a node grid. A pair of output hubs on a decision node of the process flow chart is linked to a pair of nodes defining a yes-path and a no-path. An output hub of a process step node of the process flow chart is linked to a single node defining a next process step. A link is established to an end node of the process flow chart absent any output links from the end node. The decision node, process step node, and end node each have a common shape including a display region and an editing command region.