Thing-Sourcing Workflow Automation via Task Graphs
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing thing-sourcing platforms face challenges in efficiently managing tasks and data collection from network-connected devices, including reliability, cost, and data quality issues, which affect the value and utility of the data obtained.
Innovation Solution
A thing-sourcing platform that allocates tasks, tracks device reliability and accuracy, and generates data workflows by representing tasks as edges in a task graph, connecting input and output nodes, and using collaboration patterns to select available network resources for complex projects, ensuring quality, cost, and completion time factors are met.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If tasks are manually organized by humans in crowd-sourcing, then workflow flexibility and adaptability are improved, but labor costs and time consumption increase
Solution Approach 1:
The system enables automated workflow generation where the platform itself performs the task organization function. The automated workflow generator receives project requirements and automatically creates collaboration workflows without human intervention, allowing the system to serve itself in the workflow creation process.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the mechanical human decision-making process with an automated computational system. The automated workflow generator uses algorithms to analyze project requirements and generate workflows, substituting human manual organization with automated mechanical processes.
2Productivity
If more network resources are utilized in thing-sourcing, then task completion capability and productivity are improved, but system complexity and coordination difficulty increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the complex task allocation problem into manageable components by representing tasks as edges in a task graph and resources as nodes. This graphical representation breaks down the complex coordination problem into structured, analyzable elements that can be processed systematically.
Solution Approach 2:
The automated workflow generator acts as an intermediary between project requirements and resource allocation. It mediates the complex interaction between multiple network resources by automatically generating workflows that coordinate their activities, reducing the direct coordination burden.
3Productivity
If automated workflow generation is implemented, then efficiency and speed are improved, but automation extent and system complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The automated workflow generator enables the system to automatically create its own workflows without external human intervention. The platform performs the workflow generation function itself, transforming from a manually-operated system to a self-sufficient automated system.
4Reliability
If data quality requirements are increased in thing-sourcing, then data reliability is improved, but cost and resource consumption increase
Solution Approach 1:
The system incorporates feedback mechanisms where the automated workflow generator receives information about data quality requirements and adjusts resource allocation accordingly. By analyzing feedback about required data quality, the system optimizes resource consumption to meet quality standards without excessive resource usage.
Data Source
AI summary
Provided is a computer system that includes a processor and a memory coupled to the processor, the memory including computer readable program code embodied therein that, when executed by the processor, causes the processor to generate a catalog that identifies a plurality of tasks that a plurality of network resources are available to perform, the network resources including Internet-of-things devices and human network resources and to generate, in response to receiving a request to perform a complex project, a solution path that includes an ordered list corresponding to selected ones of the plurality of tasks that are capable of aggregately performing the complex project, wherein the selected ones of the plurality of tasks define the solution path in an edge graph that include the plurality of tasks represented as edges therein.