Electronic Workflow Modification via Search Query Matching

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing electronic workflows at mobile devices often include redundant and overlapping steps, leading to inefficient use of processing, bandwidth, and storage resources, as well as increased workload for users, particularly in scenarios like police operations or workplace incidents.

Innovation Solution

A system and method that compare search queries from user mobile devices with stored queries from previous workflows to identify overlapping steps, allowing the computing device to notify the mobile device to skip these redundant steps, thereby modifying the current workflow to omit them and reducing the need for redundant data processing and storage.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If electronic workflows include all standard steps to ensure complete documentation, then reliability of recordation is improved, but processing time and resource usage increase due to redundant steps

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveelectronic recordation consistencyVSAvoidworkflow completion time

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary actions by storing search queries and workflow steps from previously completed workflows in a database. When a new workflow is initiated, the system proactively compares the current search query against stored queries and identifies overlapping steps before the user begins executing the workflow, allowing redundant steps to be pre-identified and removed.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The system implements feedback by continuously comparing current workflow steps against historical workflow data. When a search query is entered, the system provides immediate feedback by identifying matching previous workflows and suggesting which steps can be skipped, allowing the user to make informed decisions about workflow execution while maintaining documentation integrity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

2Reliability

If electronic workflows include all standard steps to ensure complete documentation, then reliability of recordation is improved, but device complexity and user workload increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveelectronic recordation consistencyVSAvoidworkflow step complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The system enables self-service by automatically comparing current workflow steps against historical data and autonomously identifying redundant steps without requiring user intervention. The system independently determines which steps can be skipped based on matching search queries, reducing the cognitive load on users while maintaining documentation completeness.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

3Loss of information

If all workflow steps are executed and recorded to ensure complete documentation, then data completeness is improved, but bandwidth usage and processing resources increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveworkflow data completenessVSAvoidprocessing and bandwidth resources

Core Design Contradiction:

Loss of informationVSLoss of energy

Solution Approach 1:

The system extracts and removes redundant workflow steps by comparing current search queries against stored queries from previous workflows. When matches are found, the system extracts the overlapping steps and excludes them from the current workflow execution, thereby reducing the amount of data that needs to be processed, transmitted, and stored while maintaining the essential documentation of unique steps.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The system discards redundant workflow steps that have already been executed in previous workflows by identifying matching search queries. The system recovers the value of those previous executions by using their results to eliminate duplicate work, thereby reducing processing requirements and bandwidth usage while preserving the necessary information through selective documentation.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #34Discarding and recovering

4Productivity

If redundant workflow steps are eliminated to improve efficiency, then productivity is improved, but ease of operation may worsen due to modified workflows

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveworkflow completion efficiencyVSAvoidworkflow usability

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

Data Source

PatentUS20230281185A1Device, system and method for modifying electronic workflows

Publication Date: 2023.09.07 MOTOROLA SOLUTIONS INC

AI summary

A device, system and method for modifying electronic workflows is provided. An example device: receives, from a user mobile device, a search query, as one step, of a plurality of steps, of a current electronic workflow followed in association with an incident; compares the search query with stored search queries received from other user mobile devices as a respective step of previously implemented respective electronic workflows, different from the current electronic workflow, as stored at one or more memories; in response to matching the search query with a stored search query of a previously implemented electronic workflow, compares remaining steps of the current electronic workflow with respective executed steps of the previously implemented electronic workflow; and, in response to determining an overlap between the remaining steps and the respective executed steps, causes one or more overlapping steps to be skipped in the current electronic workflow.