Knowledge Graph Guided Report Builder

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional systems for defining custom reports lack guidance in ensuring consistency with domain semantics, leading to potential errors and user frustration, and often require reports to be based on predefined templates, limiting user customization.

Innovation Solution

A method and system that utilize a knowledge graph to dynamically guide user actions through a graphical user interface, restricting the selection of entities and attributes to ensure report schema consistency with domain semantics, allowing users to define complex reports without coding by transitioning through various states of selectability.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If conventional systems allow free selection of entities for custom reports, then user customization flexibility is improved, but report accuracy and domain consistency deteriorate

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveuser customization flexibilityVSAvoidreport accuracy and domain consistency

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces a knowledge graph as an intermediary between the user and the report generation system. The knowledge graph stores domain-specific entities, relationships, and rules, acting as a mediator that guides user selections while ensuring domain consistency. When users build custom reports, the system queries the knowledge graph to validate and constrain selections, thereby maintaining both flexibility and accuracy.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The system implements feedback mechanisms where the knowledge graph continuously evaluates user selections against domain rules and relationships. If a selection violates domain semantics, the system provides feedback to the user, preventing erroneous report configurations. This feedback loop ensures that customization flexibility does not compromise report accuracy.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

2Reliability

If conventional systems use predefined templates for reports, then report accuracy and domain consistency are improved, but user customization flexibility deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvereport accuracy and domain consistencyVSAvoiduser customization flexibility

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The patent transforms static predefined templates into dynamic, adaptive report structures. Instead of fixed templates, the system uses a knowledge graph that dynamically adapts to user needs while maintaining domain constraints. Users can dynamically select and configure report elements based on their specific requirements, with the knowledge graph adapting its guidance accordingly.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The patent segments the report building process into discrete, manageable steps guided by the knowledge graph. Rather than requiring users to work with monolithic templates, the system breaks down report construction into selectable entities and relationships that users can configure independently, yet remain constrained by domain rules.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

3Adaptability or versatility

If conventional systems allow unrestricted custom report definition, then user customization flexibility is improved, but user frustration and time consumption deteriorate

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveuser customization flexibilityVSAvoidtime consumption and user frustration

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent performs preliminary actions by pre-configuring the knowledge graph with domain entities, relationships, and validation rules before users attempt to build reports. This preliminary setup enables the system to automatically guide users through valid configuration paths, reducing trial-and-error attempts and minimizing time consumption while preserving customization flexibility.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Data Source

PatentUS11783119B2Custom report builder

Publication Date: 2023.10.10 INTUIT INC

AI summary

A method may include obtaining a knowledge graph including entities, and determining, for the knowledge graph, a first state including a first selectable entity subset of the entities that are selectable by a user. The first selectable entity subset may include an entity. The method may further include receiving, from the user and via a graphical user interface (GUI), a selection of the entity from the first selectable entity subset, and responsive to the selection, adding the entity to a report schema. The method further includes restricting, by the GUI, a space of selectable entities addable to the knowledge graph to the first selectable entity subset. The report schema may be used to populate a report. The method may further include, responsive to the selection, transitioning the knowledge graph to a second state including a second selectable entity subset of the entities that are selectable by the user.