Protocol Evaluation Apparatus for Directed Graphs with Simultaneous Merging
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing protocol evaluation methods struggle to accurately assess protocols in materials research, particularly when multiple raw materials are used simultaneously or branch into multiple elements, leading to incorrect calculation of evaluation values such as cost due to the inability to handle 'simultaneous' merging and branching in directed graphs.
Innovation Solution
A protocol evaluation support apparatus that creates specific symbols for simultaneous merging and branching, removes duplicate elements, and calculates individual evaluation values to provide an accurate overall evaluation of protocols expressed as directed graphs, ensuring correct handling of 'simultaneous' operations.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If the protocol is expressed as a directed graph with merging and branching, then the protocol can be concisely represented, but the evaluation accuracy deteriorates because simultaneous merging and branching cannot be properly handled
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the handling of merging and branching operations by introducing separate symbols (simultaneous merging symbol and simultaneous branching symbol) to distinguish between individual and simultaneous operations. This segmentation allows the system to accurately track element frequencies while maintaining the concise directed graph representation.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces intermediary symbols (simultaneous merging symbol and simultaneous branching symbol) as mediators between the protocol elements. These symbols act as placeholders that indicate simultaneous operations, allowing the directed graph to represent both concise structure and accurate element frequency information.
2Measurement precision
If duplicate elements are removed from the protocol, then the evaluation calculation becomes more accurate, but the processing complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent performs preliminary action by removing duplicate elements before the evaluation calculation is performed. The processing device identifies and removes duplicate elements in advance, creating a cleaned protocol structure that simplifies subsequent evaluation calculations while ensuring accuracy.
Solution Approach 2:
The processing device performs self-service by automatically identifying and removing duplicate elements based on the protocol structure and evaluation requirements. This self-service mechanism eliminates the need for manual intervention in the duplicate removal process, streamlining the overall workflow.
Data Source
AI summary
A processing device included in a protocol evaluation support apparatus executes creation processing (S302 and S303) for creating a simultaneous merging symbol at a portion in a protocol where a plurality of elements simultaneously merge into one element, and creating a simultaneous branching symbol at a portion in a protocol where one element simultaneously branches to a plurality of elements, development processing (S304) for developing the protocol for each of paths included in the process procedure, removal processing (S305 and S306) for removing all of the elements that are duplicated in a process after the simultaneous merging symbol and removing all of the elements that are duplicated in a process before the simultaneous branching symbol for the protocol, and calculation processing for making each of individual evaluation values correspond to each of the remaining elements and calculating an overall evaluation value of the protocol based on the individual evaluation values made to correspond to the remaining elements for the protocol.