Workflow Extraction from Design Files via Transition Graphs

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional workflow creation techniques require access to usage data, which may not be available to application developers, limiting their ability to discover and replicate common processes across different applications.

Innovation Solution

A computer-implemented method that extracts functional elements from design files to create a database of design screens, generates a flow graph, and analyzes screen transitions to automatically detect and tag workflows, enabling their extraction and reuse in new applications.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Measurement precision

If conventional workflow creation techniques are used, then workflows can be discovered through usage data analysis, but access to usage data is required which may not be available to application developers

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveworkflow discovery accuracyVSAvoidavailability to application developers

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

Instead of analyzing usage data to discover workflows (bottom-up approach), the patent inverts the approach by extracting workflows directly from design files during the design phase (top-down approach). This allows application developers to access and utilize workflow information without requiring usage data, while still achieving accurate workflow discovery through systematic analysis of design screens, functional elements, and transition graphs.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #13The other way round (Inversion)

2Adaptability or versatility

If manual workflow creation is performed, then workflows can be customized for specific applications, but the process is time-consuming and lacks efficiency

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveworkflow customizationVSAvoidworkflow creation speed

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs self-service by automatically extracting workflows from design files without requiring manual intervention. The automated extraction process analyzes design screens, identifies functional elements, constructs transition graphs, and generates workflow information autonomously, thereby maintaining customization capability while dramatically improving workflow creation speed and productivity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The patent replaces the manual mechanical process of workflow creation with an automated computational system. Instead of manually analyzing and documenting workflows, the system uses algorithms to automatically parse design files, extract functional elements, and generate workflow information, substituting human effort with automated processing while preserving customization through design-file-based extraction.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

3Loss of information

If usage data collection is implemented, then workflow patterns can be discovered, but additional infrastructure and data management requirements are introduced

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveworkflow pattern informationVSAvoiddata collection infrastructure

Core Design Contradiction:

Loss of informationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies preliminary action by extracting workflow information during the design phase, before the application is deployed and before any usage data is generated. By analyzing design files upfront and constructing transition graphs in advance, the system captures workflow patterns without requiring subsequent usage data collection infrastructure, thereby eliminating the complexity of data management while preserving complete workflow information.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Data Source

PatentUS10754622B2Extracting mobile application workflow from design files

Publication Date: 2020.08.25 INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINE CORPORATION

AI summary

A workflow extraction method, system, and computer program product include analyzing, for each of the design screens, a relatability of one design screen to a previously analyzed design screen in the database and generating a tag that represents a workflow and creating a database linking the tag to a sequence of design screens from a transition graph that details how to move from one of the design screens to another.