Visual Editor for Geo Fence Boundary Definition
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current workflow authoring systems require users to enter spatial coordinates for geographic locations, which are not user-friendly and do not intuitively correlate events or actions with locations, making it difficult to define location-based workflows.
Innovation Solution
A visual editor is used to select a portion of a map by marking a geo fence with boundaries, allowing the establishment of a geo decision point in the workflow where conditions within the geo fence can be determined, thereby simplifying the process of associating tasks with geographic locations.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If users enter spatial coordinates into traditional form fields, then geographic locations can be defined, but the system becomes difficult to use and users cannot easily correlate events with locations
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a visual editor as an intermediary between the user and the geographic location data. Instead of directly entering coordinates into form fields, users interact with a visual map interface that translates their selections into precise spatial coordinates. This mediator layer makes the complex task of defining geographic locations intuitive and user-friendly while maintaining measurement precision.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the mechanical interaction of manually entering coordinates into form fields with a visual drag-and-drop interface on a map. Users can visually select and place geographic locations by dragging markers on a map, which automatically captures the coordinate data. This substitution eliminates the need for users to understand or manually input coordinate systems, significantly improving ease of operation while preserving location accuracy.
2Loss of information
If traditional form fields are used for entering spatial coordinates, then geographic data can be captured, but the complexity of the system increases and usability decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the complex coordinate input functionality from the traditional form field system and separates it into a dedicated visual editor component. The visual editor handles all coordinate capture, validation, and processing internally, while the main workflow system only needs to interact with simple visual markers on a map. This extraction reduces system complexity by isolating the complex spatial data handling into a specialized module.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses visual map markers and graphical representations as copies of the underlying coordinate data. Instead of requiring users to work directly with numerical coordinates, the system creates visual copies (map pins, markers, and boundary polygons) that represent geographic locations and regions. These visual copies are easier to manipulate and understand, reducing system complexity while preserving the precision of the underlying spatial data.
Data Source
AI summary
A workflow authoring program generates a workflow. Further, a visual editor is invoked. In addition, a portion of a map is selected with the visual editor by marking a geo fence with boundaries that indicate the portion. The workflow authoring program also establishes a geo decision point in the workflow at which a determination is made if a condition is met within the geo fence.