Specification-Based Augmented Search for PLM Library Management

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current Product Lifecycle Management (PLM) systems lack a general method for organizing and reusing product data effectively, leading to increased costs and complexity in managing libraries of reusable parts, particularly in contexts like designing and producing complex products where regulatory and customer constraints apply.

Innovation Solution

A library management system with specification-based augmented search capabilities, utilizing a classification hierarchy and membership rules to dynamically populate libraries, support multiple sources, and ensure specification-compliant search results, enabling transparent exposure of classification functionality tailored to specific tasks and contexts.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If manual organization and management of product data libraries is used, then flexibility in customization is maintained, but time consumption and operational complexity increase significantly

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveease of library managementVSAvoidtime consumption for data organization

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The system enables automatic self-organization of product data through AI-driven classification algorithms that autonomously categorize, tag, and structure library contents without manual intervention, allowing the system to serve itself in data management tasks

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

Manual mechanical operations of data sorting and classification are replaced by automated intelligence systems including machine learning models and natural language processing algorithms that perform classification tasks digitally and autonomously

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

2Measurement precision

If comprehensive classification hierarchies are implemented to ensure complete data organization, then data retrieval accuracy improves, but system complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedata retrieval accuracyVSAvoidsystem complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The classification hierarchy is implemented as a dynamic, adaptive structure that automatically adjusts and evolves based on usage patterns and user feedback, allowing the system to optimize retrieval accuracy without requiring static complex configurations

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The system dynamically modifies classification parameters and hierarchy structures based on learned patterns from data usage, enabling adaptive optimization of retrieval accuracy while maintaining manageable system complexity through automated parameter adjustment

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

3Adaptability or versatility

If multiple data sources are integrated into the library system, then data completeness and versatility improve, but data management complexity and duplication increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedata source integration capabilityVSAvoiddata management complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

An AI-driven intermediary layer is introduced between multiple data sources and the library system, automatically mediating data ingestion, validation, deduplication, and standardization processes to integrate diverse sources without proportionally increasing management complexity

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The system automatically identifies and discards duplicate or redundant data from multiple sources while preserving unique valuable information, using intelligent recognition algorithms to detect and eliminate redundancies across integrated data streams

Inventive Principle:

Principle #34Discarding and recovering

4Reliability

If regulatory and customer constraints are strictly enforced through manual verification, then compliance reliability improves, but productivity and operational speed decrease

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecompliance reliabilityVSAvoidoperational speed

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

Manual verification processes for compliance are replaced by automated intelligence systems including rule engines and machine learning models that continuously verify regulatory and customer constraints, maintaining high reliability while operating at automated speeds

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

Compliance verification is transformed from discrete manual checks to continuous automated monitoring that operates throughout data management processes, ensuring ongoing compliance reliability without interrupting operational flow or reducing productivity

Inventive Principle:

Principle #20Continuity of useful action

Data Source

PatentUS9799002B2Integrated PLM based library management system and method

Publication Date: 2017.10.24 SIEMENS INDUSTRY SOFTWARE INC

AI summary

Methods for specification based augmented search. The specification based augmented search includes determining input characteristics based on a design and a user, identifying design rules associated with the input characteristics, traversing a library for library nodes including specifications that contain the design rules, displaying a plurality of library elements that correspond to the library nodes including the specifications that contain the design rules, receiving a selection of a library element from the plurality of library elements displayed, and returning a library object associated with the library element.