Universal Product Configuration System for Cross-Domain Standardization

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional product configuration systems are costly, time-consuming, and require software engineering expertise, often lacking interoperability and data sharing capabilities, making it difficult to create and maintain conceptual frameworks and knowledge sets across multiple domains, and they do not allow users to select valid products and generate meaningful outputs without programming.

Innovation Solution

A universal product configuration system that allows domain experts to create and maintain conceptual frameworks and knowledge sets without software engineering expertise, enabling users to select valid products and generate outputs, while also allowing for the importation of legacy data and standardization across domains.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If conventional product configuration systems are used, then product configuration functionality is provided, but software engineering expertise is required to create and maintain conceptual frameworks and knowledge sets

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveease of creating and maintaining conceptual frameworksVSAvoidcomplexity of system architecture

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces an intermediary tool that serves as a bridge between domain experts and the product configuration system. This intermediary automatically generates and maintains conceptual frameworks and knowledge sets from domain expert input, eliminating the need for software engineers while managing the complexity internally. The intermediary translates user-friendly domain concepts into the structured formats required by the configuration system.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Reliability

If multiple custom quote systems are used for different product lines, then domain-specific configuration accuracy is achieved, but interoperability and data sharing between systems is lost

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveaccuracy of domain-specific configurationVSAvoidinteroperability between systems

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements a universal product configuration system that can handle multiple product lines and domains through a single unified platform. The system uses standardized conceptual frameworks and knowledge sets that can be applied across different domains while maintaining domain-specific accuracy. This universal approach enables interoperability and data sharing between what were previously separate custom systems, allowing the same system to configure windows, doors, and other building products accurately.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

3Productivity

If hard-coded output reports are generated, then report generation functionality is provided, but flexibility to augment or modify content without software engineering expertise is lost

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvereport generation efficiencyVSAvoidease of modifying report content

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The patent transforms static, hard-coded report generation into a dynamic system where report content and structure can be easily modified. The system allows domain experts to configure report templates, select which knowledge set elements to include, and customize output formats without requiring software engineering expertise. This dynamic approach maintains efficient automated report generation while adding flexibility through user-configurable parameters and templates.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

4Adaptability or versatility

If conventional product configuration systems are developed manually, then customization to specific domain needs is achieved, but development time and cost increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecustomization to domain needsVSAvoiddevelopment and maintenance time

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements preliminary action by providing pre-built templates, standard conceptual frameworks, and reusable knowledge set structures that can be quickly adapted to specific domain needs. Instead of manually developing configuration systems from scratch for each domain, the system offers ready-to-use components that domain experts can configure and customize. This approach significantly reduces development time and cost while maintaining the ability to adapt to specific domain requirements through configuration rather than coding.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Data Source

PatentUS20160078515A1System and method for building and providing a universal product configuration system for arbitrary domains

Publication Date: 2016.03.17 QUOTETECH INC

AI summary

A system and method for building and providing a universal product configuration system for arbitrary domains allows one or more domain experts to create and maintain domain-specific conceptual frameworks and associated knowledge sets such that users can select and configure valid products and generate meaningful output. Multiple domains can be represented simultaneously, allowing multiple conceptual framework/knowledge set pairs to be used in any combination so that products from their respective conceptual frameworks can be shared within and across domains. The present invention further allows products to be converted and imported from legacy data sources, and provides for the standardization of product configuration systems, including the critical data embodied therein, within a single domain as well as across arbitrary multiple domains.