Role-Based Custom Product Design for Manufacturing Constraints
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing collaboration tools for customizing physical products online are cumbersome and difficult to navigate, leading users to skip customization opportunities and order products in default configurations.
Innovation Solution
A computer-implemented collaboration system that facilitates role-based collaboration between users, allowing access and modification of interactive designs based on user roles and manufacturing constraints, with features like attribute representations, user interface elements, and product options framework to streamline the customization process.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If users navigate through traditional product customization interfaces, then product customization functionality is provided, but the number of clicks and complexity increases significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the customization interface into multiple collaborative roles (customer, designer, peer reviewer) with different access levels and capabilities. Each role can perform specific customization actions without requiring users to navigate through all available options, thereby reducing the number of clicks while maintaining comprehensive customization functionality.
Solution Approach 2:
The system creates a universal collaboration platform that handles multiple customization tasks through a single interface framework. Users can view, edit, comment, and approve design elements within one unified system, eliminating the need to switch between multiple tools or interfaces for different customization aspects.
2Adaptability or versatility
If traditional collaboration tools are used for product customization, then multiple users can contribute, but the interface complexity and difficulty of navigation increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements local quality by providing role-specific interface elements and permissions. Each user role (customer, designer, peer reviewer) receives a customized view of the collaboration interface showing only the tools and options relevant to their specific function, reducing overall interface complexity while maintaining comprehensive collaborative capabilities.
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs preliminary actions by pre-configuring user roles with appropriate permissions and interface access before collaboration begins. This upfront setup eliminates the need for complex real-time permission management during collaboration, simplifying the interface while enabling versatile multi-user participation.
3Adaptability or versatility
If comprehensive product attributes are made available for customization, then customization options increase, but navigation difficulty and time required increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by pre-organizing product attributes into role-specific categories and default configurations. When a user accesses the customization interface, relevant attributes are already grouped and presented in a logical sequence based on their role, eliminating the need to manually navigate through all available attributes and significantly reducing customization time.
Solution Approach 2:
The system introduces an intermediary layer (the collaboration platform) that mediates between the comprehensive product attributes and the user. This intermediary automatically filters, groups, and presents attributes based on user role and context, making the vast array of customization options accessible without requiring users to navigate through them all individually.
Data Source
AI summary
In some embodiments, a system and a computer-implemented method for role-based collaborative design based on manufacturing constraints are disclosed. A method comprises: receiving, at a computer collaboration system, an electronic digital editing invitation from a first user interface that executes on a first user device associated with a first user, the editing invitation comprising inviting a second user to collaborate on a digital electronic interactive design as an editor, the interactive design comprising a graphical visual representation of a physical product that is capable of custom manufacture with a plurality of variable product attributes; transmitting to a second user device of the second user, the product description data for rendering the interactive design in a second user interface executing on the second user device; receiving a first modification to the interactive design from the second user interface; automatically generating a first updated product description data based on the first modification.