Universal Business Form Template for Automated Equipment Data Input

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing systems require separate business forms to be developed for each equipment, making it cumbersome to automatically input data from various devices into a business form, and often necessitate significant changes to the business form program or equipment-side data acquisition measures.

Innovation Solution

A terminal device that senses and acquires data from various utilization equipment using equipment control modules, injecting them into a business form application, allowing for dynamic input without pre-defined forms for each equipment, utilizing an equipment information database and driver database to manage and control data acquisition.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Extent of automation

If separate business forms are developed for each equipment, then data can be automatically input from specific equipment, but the system complexity and development effort increase significantly

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveautomatic data inputVSAvoidbusiness form development complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Extent of automationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements a universal business form template that can handle multiple equipment types through a standardized interface. The system uses a common business form structure with equipment-specific configurations, allowing one template to serve multiple purposes. This is achieved by defining a standardized data acquisition interface that works across different equipment types, eliminating the need to develop separate business forms for each device.

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

Solution Approach 2:

The patent segments the business form system into a reusable template portion and equipment-specific configuration portions. The template contains common elements that remain unchanged, while equipment-specific parameters are separated into configurable sections. This segmentation allows the core business form logic to be reused while adapting to different equipment types through configuration rather than code changes.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

2Extent of automation

If equipment-specific business forms are created, then data acquisition from specific devices is enabled, but the time and effort required for form development increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedata acquisition capabilityVSAvoidbusiness form development time
Core Design Contradiction:
Extent of automationVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent performs preliminary action by pre-defining a universal business form template that includes all necessary structural elements and data acquisition interfaces. This template is prepared in advance and can be quickly instantiated for different equipment types by simply configuring equipment-specific parameters, rather than developing forms from scratch each time.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The patent uses copying by replicating the universal business form template for different equipment types. Instead of creating unique forms, the system copies the proven template structure and adjusts it through configuration for each equipment type, significantly reducing development time while maintaining consistency across the system.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #26Copying

3Adaptability or versatility

If the business form program is significantly changed to acquire data from another equipment, then new equipment integration is possible, but system stability and reliability decrease

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveequipment compatibilityVSAvoidprogram stability
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent achieves equipment compatibility through a universal interface design that maintains program stability. The business form template uses standardized data acquisition methods that work across different equipment types without requiring changes to the core program logic. This universal approach allows new equipment to be integrated by configuration rather than code modification, preserving system reliability.

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

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces an intermediary layer in the form of a standardized interface between the business form template and equipment-specific data sources. This intermediary abstraction layer allows the core program to remain unchanged while accommodating different equipment types through the interface, thus maintaining stability while enabling versatility.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

4Adaptability or versatility

If multiple equipment types are supported with individual forms, then comprehensive data coverage is achieved, but the ease of operation and maintenance deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveequipment type coverageVSAvoidsystem operation simplicity
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The patent operates a single universal business form template that handles multiple equipment types, greatly simplifying operation and maintenance. Users interact with a consistent interface regardless of which equipment type is being used, and maintenance personnel deal with one codebase rather than multiple equipment-specific forms. The template's equipment-agnostic design makes the system easier to operate while maintaining broad equipment coverage.

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

Data Source

PatentEP3264348B1Information processing device, information processing method, and information processing program
Publication Date: 2020.04.15 FUJITSU LTD
  • EP3264348B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3264348B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3264348B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

An information processing device including: a processing unit configured to: discover an equipment coupled to the information processing device, based on an equipment identifier associated with an input field in form information, acquire data from the equipment, and insert, into the input field, the data acquired from the equipment.