University Student Degree Data Distribution System

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Solution Overview

Problem

Universities face challenges in collecting, distributing, and displaying student enrollment, progress, and degree completion data effectively due to separate systems generating data in different formats, lack of a unified interface, and inability to provide timely, user-specific information to mobile devices.

Innovation Solution

A system that integrates data from multiple sources into a single database, validates and filters relevant data, and generates user-centric reports and graphic media for distribution to various user devices, including mobile devices, using a network operation center to manage data distribution and provide real-time updates.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If multiple separate systems are used to collect and display student information, then each system can maintain its own data format and update schedule, but it becomes impossible to provide unified, real-time degree completion data across all user interfaces

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedata format flexibilityVSAvoidsystem integration complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces a Network Operations Center (NOC) as an intermediary system that collects data from multiple separate university systems, standardizes the data formats, and redistributes the unified data to various user interfaces. This mediator resolves the contradiction by allowing source systems to maintain their own formats while providing unified output to users.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The NOC is designed as a universal platform that performs multiple functions: data collection from diverse sources, data validation, format standardization, and distribution to multiple types of users (students, faculty, administrators) through various devices (mobile phones, tablets, desktops). This multi-functional approach eliminates the need for separate systems while maintaining adaptability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

2Quantity of substance

If data is collected from multiple sources with different formats, then comprehensive student information can be gathered, but data validation and filtering become significantly more difficult

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedata comprehensivenessVSAvoiddata validation difficulty

Core Design Contradiction:

Quantity of substanceVSDifficulty of detecting and measuring

Solution Approach 1:

The NOC implements parameter standardization by transforming data from various source formats into a unified data model with consistent parameters. The system defines standard data elements (student ID, enrollment status, course information, degree requirements) and automatically maps incoming data to these standardized parameters, making validation straightforward through rule-based checking against the unified schema.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

3Ease of operation

If separate dedicated displays are used for each user population, then each group can see customized information, but real-time updates and centralized control become impossible

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveuser-specific customizationVSAvoiddata update efficiency

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The system implements dynamic content delivery where the NOC pushes updated degree completion data to user devices in real-time based on individual user profiles and preferences. Users receive customized information (student-specific data for students, departmental data for faculty, institutional data for administrators) without requiring manual refreshes, as the system dynamically updates content based on user identity and data changes.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

4Reliability

If legacy formatting and non-essential information are retained in the database, then historical data integrity is maintained, but data distribution efficiency and user experience deteriorate

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvehistorical data integrityVSAvoiddata processing time

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The NOC extracts only the essential degree completion data elements needed for user display from the comprehensive database, separating critical information (enrollment status, course progress, degree requirements) from legacy and non-essential data. This extraction process maintains historical data integrity in the source systems while distributing only the necessary subset to users, reducing processing time and improving efficiency.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Data Source

PatentUS11410258B2Method and system for distribution of university student degree completion data

Publication Date: 2022.08.09 BOARD OF TRUSTEES OF THE CALIFORNIA STATE UNIV

AI summary

The invention is directed to a system and method for collection, distribution and delivery of university student enrollment, progress, and degree completion data, media content, and other data to campus students, faculty, users, employees, and external stakeholders, and more particularly to an integrated distribution system and method that obtains data from multiple sources into a single database, extracts and validates relevant data from the multiple sources and removes legacy formatting and non-essential information, provides user-centric reports, and distributes graphic media from one or more filtered special-purpose user-centric reports that is published to user display devices.