Unified Data Transformation Graph Model

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Solution Overview

Problem

The maintenance of data transformation graphs is cumbersome and prone to errors due to limited capabilities of conventional tools in identifying errors, relying heavily on domain experts whose understanding and requirements are constantly changing.

Innovation Solution

A unified model of a data transformation graph is created by displaying user models, facilitating modification and error identification through a user interface that presents column lists, summary information, data origin and destination, and value frequencies, allowing users to interact and create a collective understanding of the graph.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If conventional tools are used to maintain data transformation graphs, then the existing tools are simple to use, but they are limited in their ability to identify errors and are cumbersome for maintenance

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveerror identification capabilityVSAvoidmaintenance operation difficulty
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces an intermediary system that acts as a mediator between domain experts and the data transformation graph maintenance process. This intermediary automatically generates, stores, and retrieves user models that capture expert knowledge, thereby enhancing error identification capabilities without requiring direct expert involvement in routine maintenance operations.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent creates copies of expert knowledge in the form of user models that can be stored, retrieved, and applied repeatedly. These user models capture the reasoning patterns and domain knowledge of experts, allowing the system to identify errors and maintain transformation graphs without requiring the actual experts to be constantly involved.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #26Copying

2Manufacturing precision

If domain experts maintain data transformation graphs directly, then the maintenance accuracy is high due to their deep understanding, but the maintenance process is time-consuming and challenging as experts' understanding and requirements constantly change

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvemaintenance accuracyVSAvoidmaintenance time
Core Design Contradiction:
Manufacturing precisionVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent performs preliminary action by automatically generating user models that capture expert knowledge and reasoning patterns before maintenance tasks are performed. These pre-captured models are stored and can be rapidly applied during maintenance operations, eliminating the need for experts to repeatedly analyze the same transformation graphs while preserving high maintenance accuracy.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The system enables self-service by allowing the maintenance system to automatically retrieve and apply previously captured user models without requiring active expert participation. The stored models serve the system itself, enabling accurate maintenance operations to be performed independently by the system while maintaining the quality that would otherwise require expert involvement.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

3Productivity

If a unified model is created by displaying user models for multiple users, then the collective understanding improves maintenance efficiency, but the system complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvemaintenance efficiencyVSAvoidsystem complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent merges multiple user models from different users into a unified model that captures collective domain knowledge. This unified model integrates the reasoning patterns and understanding of multiple experts, enabling the system to leverage diverse expertise while maintaining a single coherent knowledge base that improves maintenance efficiency without requiring complex coordination of multiple expert systems.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Data Source

PatentUS11257264B2Maintaining data transformation graphs
Publication Date: 2022.02.22 UIPATH INC
  • US11257264B2 patent drawing
  • US11257264B2 patent drawing
  • US11257264B2 patent drawing

AI summary

Systems and methods for creating a unified model of a data transformation graph to facilitate maintenance of the data transformation graph are provided. A user model of a data transformation graph is received and stored for each of a plurality of users. Creation of a unified model of the data transformation graph is facilitated based on the user models. The unified model of the data transformation graph is displayed.