Product Intelligence Engine for Asynchronous Data Synchronization
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Solution Overview
Problem
The lack of data synchronization between configuration, bill-of-materials, and CAD data maintained in separate and asynchronously-modifiable systems leads to inconsistencies and manual, time-consuming processes for matching and resolving mismatches in product development and maintenance, especially for complex products with hundreds or thousands of parts.
Innovation Solution
A product intelligence system with a matching engine that determines matches and non-matches between functional, physical, and virtual parts, using a visualization engine to render data and provide helper information for resolving non-matches, while integrating data from disparate systems without requiring direct access or expertise.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If data are maintained in separate computer systems by different personnel, then each department can manage its own data independently, but data inconsistencies and synchronization issues arise across systems
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces an intermediary system that acts as a mediator between separate departmental systems. This intermediary maintains a unified product definition that references parts from different departments' systems without requiring direct integration, thereby preserving independent data management while ensuring data consistency through a central coordinating layer
Solution Approach 2:
The patent segments the product data management system into independent modular components, where each department maintains its own parts database separately. The unified product definition is constructed by assembling references to these segmented parts from different departments, allowing independent management while achieving overall consistency
2Ease of operation
If manual processes are used to match and resolve mismatches between parts data, then flexibility in handling complex cases is maintained, but time consumption and effort increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements self-service mechanisms where the system automatically performs matching of parts data across departments and identifies mismatches without requiring manual intervention. The unified product definition is automatically constructed by resolving part references, eliminating time-consuming manual matching while maintaining flexibility through automated conflict detection and resolution protocols
3Adaptability or versatility
If legacy systems from different vendors are integrated, then existing departmental processes are preserved, but system complexity and integration difficulty increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces an intermediary layer that sits between legacy systems from different vendors and the unified product definition system. This intermediary handles the complexity of integrating disparate legacy systems through standardized interfaces, allowing existing departmental processes to be preserved while eliminating direct integration complexity
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates a universal product definition system that can reference parts from multiple different legacy systems through a common interface. This universal system performs multiple functions including data retrieval, matching, and conflict resolution across different vendor systems without requiring custom integration for each system pair
4Adaptability or versatility
If product data changes are made by different personnel across departments, then specialized knowledge is utilized, but data synchronization and version control become difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements feedback mechanisms where changes made by personnel in different departments are automatically tracked and propagated to the unified product definition. The system provides feedback loops that ensure data synchronization by detecting conflicts and triggering resolution processes, allowing specialized expertise to be utilized while maintaining data stability
Data Source
AI summary
In one example, a product intelligence engine for visualizing matching and non-matching ones of asynchronously-modifiable functional parts, physical parts, and virtual parts of a variant of a product.