Property Graph Data Model for System Architecture Consistency Analysis

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current system architecture analysis methods are manual, subjective, and lack consistency and repeatability, failing to quantify the consistency of system architecture designs by comparing information exchange interfaces with physical hierarchies across disparate tools and domains.

Innovation Solution

A property graph data model is generated to represent system architectures, allowing for computational analysis of system-level consistency by transforming data from various tools into a unified, scalable format, and a weighted part-to-part coupling graph is used to evaluate modularity, robustness, and fragility.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Extent of automation

If manual modeling and analysis by experts is used to perform overall system architecture analysis, then the analysis can be performed with human judgment and flexibility, but the process lacks consistency, repeatability, and objectivity

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveautomation of system architecture analysisVSAvoidconsistency and repeatability of analysis

Core Design Contradiction:

Extent of automationVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces manual expert analysis (mechanical human process) with automated computational analysis using property graph data models and graph theory algorithms. The system automatically performs consistency analysis between physical hierarchy and information exchange interfaces, eliminating subjective human judgment while maintaining analytical depth through objective mathematical models.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces property graph data models as an intermediary layer that standardizes data from disparate tools and enables automated analysis. This intermediary representation allows consistent computational processing while preserving the complexity of system architecture relationships, bridging the gap between diverse input formats and automated analysis requirements.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Adaptability or versatility

If data from various disparate tools is integrated into a unified format for comprehensive analysis, then the analysis coverage becomes more complete, but the complexity of data integration and transformation increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecompatibility with disparate toolsVSAvoidcomplexity of data transformation process

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent creates a universal property graph data model that can represent system architecture information from multiple disparate tools and domains. This universal representation format enables comprehensive integration of physical hierarchy, information exchange interfaces, and other architecture aspects without requiring tool-specific processing logic, achieving multi-functionality across different data sources.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent transforms data from various tools by changing their representation parameters into a standardized property graph format. This parameter transformation approach converts diverse data structures into a common language of nodes, edges, and properties, enabling automated analysis while managing integration complexity through systematic parameter mapping.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

3Productivity

If computational analysis is performed on various aspects of system design using different tools, then the analysis depth for individual aspects improves, but the overall system architecture lacks integrated analysis capability

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveanalysis depth for individual aspectsVSAvoidintegration of multiple analysis tools

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent merges multiple separate analysis capabilities into a unified computational framework using property graph data models. By combining physical hierarchy analysis, information exchange interface analysis, and consistency checking into a single integrated system, it maintains the analytical depth of individual aspects while achieving comprehensive system-level analysis that individual tools cannot provide separately.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Data Source

PatentUS10496704B2Quantifying consistency of a system architecture by comparing analyses of property graph data models representing different versions of the system architecture

Publication Date: 2019.12.03 RAYTHEON CO

AI summary

A system and method generates two weighted property graph data models to represent a system architecture. The models each include a plurality of vertices representing a plurality of instances of a design dimension of the system architecture and a plurality of weighted compositional edges that connect first pairs of vertices to represent hierarchical directed-composition and hierarchical directed-decomposition of first pairs of instances of the design dimension represented by the corresponding connected first pairs of vertices with respect to one another, while only the first model includes a plurality of weighted interface edges that connect second pairs of the vertices to represent an information exchange interface between second pairs of instances of the design dimension represented by the corresponding connected second pairs of the vertices. Betweenness hierarchical clusters of each of the two models are generated and correlated with each other to quantify a consistency of the system architecture.