Unified Interface for Monitoring Data Elements Across Networks

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional alert systems are inadequate for monitoring diverse data elements across multiple networks and processes, as they often obscure ambiguity, lack relevance, and fail to handle complex correlations, leading to inaccurate and ignored alerts, which can result in disastrous consequences.

Innovation Solution

A computer-implemented method utilizing independent software entities called 'Blades' to analyze and characterize data elements, presenting their status in a simple graphical vocabulary through Tiles on a unified interface, allowing users to quickly assess the significance of multiple situations without interpreting detailed data.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Loss of information

If conventional alert systems present detailed data and multiple indicators, then the system provides comprehensive information, but the system obscures ambiguity and creates false certitude leading to inaccurate alerts

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveinformation completenessVSAvoidalert accuracy

Core Design Contradiction:

Loss of informationVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts only the most critical status information from complex data sets, presenting simplified visual indicators rather than complete detailed data. This extraction approach maintains reliability by showing only what is necessary for accurate situation assessment, avoiding the false certitude that comes with presenting incomplete or ambiguous data as comprehensive information.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

Instead of presenting detailed data and expecting users to interpret it, the system inverts the approach by presenting simplified visual status indicators that directly communicate the current state without requiring interpretation of underlying complex or ambiguous data, thereby improving alert accuracy.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #13The other way round (Inversion)

2Adaptability or versatility

If conventional alert systems monitor multiple data elements across different networks, then the system provides broad coverage, but the system increases complexity and reduces ease of operation

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvemonitoring coverageVSAvoiduser assessment difficulty

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The patent merges multiple status indicators into a unified visual display that shows the state of multiple data elements across different networks simultaneously. This consolidation maintains broad monitoring coverage while improving ease of operation by presenting all information in a single, easily interpretable visual format rather than requiring users to navigate multiple separate indicators.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The system creates a universal visual language for status indication that can represent multiple different data elements and network states using consistent visual metaphors. This multi-functional approach allows the same visual interface to monitor diverse systems while maintaining ease of operation through familiar, intuitive visual cues.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

3Loss of information

If conventional alert systems provide detailed interpretations and preliminary diagnoses, then the system offers comprehensive analysis, but the system increases cognitive load and reduces productivity

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveanalysis depthVSAvoidresponse efficiency

Core Design Contradiction:

Loss of informationVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The system extracts only the essential status information needed for rapid decision-making, removing unnecessary detailed interpretations and preliminary diagnoses that increase cognitive load. This extraction maintains adequate analysis depth for operational decisions while improving productivity by enabling faster response times.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

4Loss of time

If conventional alert systems generate alerts for exceptional events, then the system provides timely notifications, but the system creates false alarms and reduces reliability

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveresponse timeVSAvoidalert trustworthiness

Core Design Contradiction:

Loss of timeVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The system uses color changes and visual status transitions to communicate the severity and state of exceptional events, providing timely notifications through intuitive visual cues rather than relying solely on text-based alerts. This approach improves alert trustworthiness by using universally understood visual metaphors that reduce misinterpretation and false alarm responses.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #32Color changes

Data Source

PatentUS9292831B2Monitoring data elements across multiple networks and processes

Publication Date: 2016.03.22 BURNS CHRISTOPHER

AI summary

The invention described here is a computer-related method for analyzing and reporting the current status of a wide array of processes and conditions across multiple networks and systems. It employs independent software entities called “Blades” to control the retrieval, analysis and characterization of each situation, combined with a common presentation system that displays those characterizations in a simple graphical vocabulary for expressing degrees of positive and negative significance. By employing Tiles or similar independent graphical reports, shown together on the screen of a desktop computer, notebook, tablet, mobile device or wearable interactive display, the invention described here allows the user to see his or her world at a glance.