Workflow Data Conflict Resolution via Grid Interface

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Solution Overview

Problem

In workflow processes, managing records across multiple users and locations is challenging due to conflicts in data modifications, which can lead to inaccuracies and integrity issues, as existing methods lack effective conflict resolution mechanisms.

Innovation Solution

A method and system that identify records for users, display them in a grid format, receive and compare modifications, perform data integrity checks, and trigger a conflict resolution process to choose and save the appropriate modifications, ensuring data integrity and accuracy.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If multiple users can simultaneously edit records, then productivity and collaboration are improved, but data integrity and accuracy deteriorate due to conflicts in data modifications

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecollaborative editing efficiencyVSAvoiddata integrity

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary actions by detecting conflicts between simultaneous edits before saving data, and by prompting users to resolve conflicts before the modifications are committed to the database, preventing data integrity issues from occurring

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The system provides feedback to users when conflicts are detected in their edits, displaying conflict information and requiring user confirmation or resolution before saving, ensuring users are aware of and can address data integrity issues

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

2Measurement precision

If data integrity checks and conflict resolution are performed, then data accuracy is improved, but system complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedata accuracyVSAvoidsystem complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs self-service by automatically detecting conflicts between simultaneous edits and prompting the appropriate user to resolve them, eliminating the need for complex external arbitration mechanisms while maintaining data accuracy

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

3Stability of the object's composition

If conflict resolution processes are implemented, then data consistency is improved, but processing time increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedata consistencyVSAvoidprocessing time

Core Design Contradiction:

Stability of the object's compositionVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs conflict detection and user prompting as preliminary actions before saving data, resolving conflicts in advance to prevent repeated save attempts and ensuring data consistency without significant time loss

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The system allows users to quickly resolve conflicts by selecting from predefined options or making simple decisions, enabling rapid conflict resolution that minimizes processing time while maintaining data consistency

Inventive Principle:

Principle #21Skipping (Rushing through)

Data Source

PatentUS9710508B2Method and system for managing data in a workflow process

Publication Date: 2017.07.18 QUICKBASE INC

AI summary

In general, in one aspect the invention relates to a method and system for managing data. The method and system involves identifying for a first user at least one record of a plurality of records, generating a user interface which displays a data field associated with the at least one record in a grid format, receiving from a second user, subsequent to generating the first user interface, a first desired modification of the data field, receiving from the first user a second desired modification of the data field, triggering a conflict resolution process, wherein the conflict resolution process involves choosing a chosen modification from the first desired modification and the second desired modification, and saving the chosen modification in the data field.