Publication Object for Conditional Report Distribution

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Solution Overview

Problem

Commercially available reporting tools lack a centralized and conditional control mechanism for distributing reports and documents to various business intelligence users in multiple formats, making it difficult to simplify and facilitate the distribution process.

Innovation Solution

A computer-readable storage medium with executable instructions to create a publication object, associate report templates with it, define recipients, and set delivery rules that specify conditions for report delivery, allowing for centralized control and conditional distribution of reports in various formats and destinations.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If reports are distributed to multiple users using commercially available reporting tools, then report distribution capability is provided, but centralized and conditional control mechanism is lacking

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedistribution processVSAvoidcontrol mechanism

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces a publication object as an intermediary between reports and recipients. This publication object serves as a mediator that centralizes the control of report distribution, allowing conditional delivery rules to be defined and managed in one place rather than requiring complex individual configurations for each recipient.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The publication object is designed to be universal, capable of associating with multiple report templates and multiple recipients simultaneously. It provides multi-functional capabilities including format definition, destination specification, and conditional delivery rule enforcement, replacing the need for multiple separate distribution mechanisms.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

2Adaptability or versatility

If multiple report formats and destinations are supported, then versatility is improved, but control mechanism complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveformat and destination supportVSAvoidcontrol structure

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments the distribution control into distinct components: format definitions, destination specifications, and conditional delivery rules. Each aspect is independently defined within the publication object, allowing versatile support for multiple formats and destinations without creating a monolithic complex control structure.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

All format, destination, and delivery rule configurations are performed in advance when creating the publication object. This preliminary action eliminates the need for complex real-time control decisions during report distribution, as all parameters are pre-defined and automatically applied.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

3Manufacturing precision

If conditional delivery rules are implemented for multiple recipients, then delivery precision is improved, but system complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedelivery condition controlVSAvoidrule management structure

Core Design Contradiction:

Manufacturing precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent merges multiple delivery control functions into a single publication object. Conditional delivery rules for multiple recipients are combined and managed within one unified structure, allowing precise control over which recipients receive which reports based on defined conditions, without requiring separate complex rule management systems.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Data Source

PatentUS8234569B2Apparatus and method for defining and processing publication objects

Publication Date: 2012.07.31 SAP IRELAND LTD

AI summary

A computer readable storage medium includes executable instructions to create a publication object, associate a set of report templates with the publication object, and define a set of recipients for the publication object. A format and a destination for each report template associated with the publication object is defined. A delivery rule for the publication object is also defined, where the delivery rule specifies a condition for delivery of distinct reports to the set of recipients.