Automated Taxonomy Construction Using GUIDs and Format Conversion

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Solution Overview

Problem

The current processes for creating, modifying, and exporting taxonomies are time-consuming and resource-intensive, requiring manual tasks that lead to inefficiencies and loss of time due to the complexity of defining and managing hierarchical structures for data organization in computer systems.

Innovation Solution

A system and method that utilize a computing device to receive inputs, generate globally unique identifiers, and assign terms to a taxonomy tree, allowing for automated construction, organization, and exportation of taxonomies in formats like Excel or XML, with the ability to bi-directionally convert between these formats and map to ontologies such as W3C, JSON, or Industry Foundation Classes.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If manual tasks are used to create and manage taxonomies, then flexibility and control over taxonomy structure are maintained, but time consumption and resource expenditure increase significantly

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvetaxonomy creation speedVSAvoidsystem complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The system enables automatic generation of taxonomy structures through computational algorithms that process input data and autonomously construct hierarchical taxonomies without requiring manual intervention for each taxonomy element, thereby improving productivity while managing complexity through automation

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

Manual mechanical processes of taxonomy construction are replaced with automated computational systems that use algorithms to process input data, generate taxonomies, and perform conversions between different formats, significantly reducing time consumption while maintaining structural accuracy

Inventive Principle:
Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

2Measurement precision

If manual organization of taxonomy is performed, then accuracy and domain knowledge integration are maintained, but time and resources are lost

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvetaxonomy organization accuracyVSAvoidtime for taxonomy creation
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The system incorporates validation mechanisms that provide feedback on taxonomy structure and organization accuracy, allowing automated generation to be refined and verified against domain knowledge requirements, ensuring precision while reducing manual time investment

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

Solution Approach 2:

The system performs preliminary processing of input data to pre-organize information into structured formats before final taxonomy generation, reducing the time required for manual organization while maintaining accuracy through pre-computed structural relationships

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

3Adaptability or versatility

If multiple taxonomy formats and schemas are supported, then adaptability and interoperability improve, but complexity of managing and converting between formats increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvetaxonomy format compatibilityVSAvoidconversion system complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The system implements a universal conversion framework that can handle multiple taxonomy formats and schemas through a single integrated platform, allowing the same system to process different formats without requiring separate specialized tools, thereby improving adaptability while managing complexity through unified design

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Solution Approach 2:

The system introduces standardized intermediate representation formats that act as mediators between different taxonomy schemas, allowing conversion between various formats through a common intermediary layer, which simplifies the complexity of direct conversions between incompatible formats

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Data Source

PatentUS20250094478A1Systems and methods for automating the construction and organization of a taxonomy
Publication Date: 2025.03.20 UNIV OF FLORIDA RESEARCH FOUNDATION INC
  • US20250094478A1 patent drawing
  • US20250094478A1 patent drawing
  • US20250094478A1 patent drawing

AI summary

Various examples are provided related to taxonomy construction and organization. In one example, a system includes a computing device and machine readable instructions that, when executed, cause the computing device to at least: receive an input that identifies a term and a definition of the term; generate a globally unique identifier (GUID) that uniquely identifies the input; store the input and the GUID in a data store; and assign the input and the GUID to a taxonomy tree, wherein the input and the GUID are assigned to a node within a hierarchy of the taxonomy tree. In another example, a method includes receiving, by a computing device, an input identifying a term and a definition of the term; generating a GUID that uniquely identifies the input; and assigning the input and the GUID to a node within a hierarchy of a taxonomy tree.