Workflow Operation Control System for Managing Change Requests

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing workflow systems face challenges in efficiently managing and updating operation results, particularly in scenarios where modifications are needed to completed details, leading to difficulties in maintaining accurate and consistent workflow execution.

Innovation Solution

A computer-readable medium and operation control system that includes modules for accepting change requests, identifying permitted operations, notifying workers, suppressing operation shifts, and processing branching operations, allowing for the correction of operation results within the workflow system by analyzing operation procedures and managing state transitions.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If a workflow system allows modifications to already completed operation details, then the system's adaptability is improved, but the complexity of managing operation states and ensuring consistency increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveability to modify completed operationsVSAvoidcomplexity of managing operation states

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments the workflow into discrete operations with defined states (executed, executing, unexecuted). By dividing the workflow management into state-based segments, the system can handle modifications to completed operations without managing the entire workflow state globally, thus reducing complexity while maintaining adaptability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent establishes operation procedures that predefine the sequence and state transitions of operations before execution. This preliminary structuring allows the system to automatically determine which operations can be modified and which cannot, based on their defined states and relationships, reducing the complexity of real-time decision-making while enabling flexible modifications.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

2Measurement precision

If the system identifies and processes permitted operations after a change request, then the accuracy of workflow execution is improved, but the time required to process changes increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveaccuracy of identifying permitted operationsVSAvoidtime to process change requests

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements a feedback mechanism where the system automatically evaluates change requests against predefined operation procedures and state conditions. This feedback loop quickly determines whether modifications are permitted without requiring manual analysis, thus maintaining high accuracy in identifying permitted operations while minimizing processing time.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

Solution Approach 2:

The system performs self-service by automatically determining which operations can be modified based on their current state and the defined operation procedure. Instead of requiring external intervention to assess each change request, the system autonomously evaluates permissions and executes appropriate actions, reducing time loss while maintaining precision.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

3Stability of the object's composition

If the system suppresses unnecessary operation shifts and handles branching conditions, then the consistency of workflow execution is improved, but the complexity of control logic increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveconsistency of workflow executionVSAvoidcomplexity of control logic

Core Design Contradiction:

Stability of the object's compositionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent employs dynamic control logic that adapts to the current workflow state. Rather than using rigid, static control structures, the system dynamically determines which operations to suppress or execute based on real-time conditions and the defined operation procedure. This dynamic approach maintains execution consistency while avoiding the need for overly complex static control logic.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The patent applies different control rules to different operations based on their local characteristics and states. Instead of using a single uniform control mechanism for all operations, the system tailors the control logic to each operation's specific context, allowing suppression of unnecessary shifts and handling of branching conditions with simpler, localized rules rather than complex global logic.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

Data Source

PatentUS8996390B2Computer readable medium, operation controlling method, and operation control system

Publication Date: 2015.03.31 FUJIFILM BUSINESS INNOVATION CORP

AI summary

A computer readable medium storing a program causing a computer to execute a process for controlling a plurality of operations, the process including: accepting a change request to change an operation result of an operation executed prior to a current execution-permitted operation which an execution is permitted based on an operation procedure for the operations; assuming an operation for which the change request is accepted in the accepting step as a starting point; and identifying an operation permitted to be executed with reference to the starting point based on the operation procedure.