Workflow Server for Unified Security System Automation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Managing multiple devices within a security ecosystem is time-consuming and requires in-depth knowledge of each system, leading to a burden on administrators due to the lack of continuity across systems, making it difficult to configure and automate workflows effectively.
Innovation Solution
A computing device, such as a workflow server, monitors triggers across differing systems and devices, providing a user-friendly interface to configure and automate workflows, allowing administrators to detect triggers and take actions by communicating with communication devices to enhance efficiency and response times.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If administrators configure workflows by directly accessing each security system (access control system, video security system), then the systems can be configured to provide notifications, but the administrative burden increases due to requiring in-depth knowledge of multiple systems
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a workflow server as an intermediary component that sits between administrators and multiple security systems. The workflow server provides a unified interface for configuring workflows, translating high-level workflow definitions into system-specific configurations. This mediator approach allows administrators to manage workflows without needing deep knowledge of each individual security system, while still achieving reliable workflow configuration across all systems.
2Productivity
If multiple security systems are configured separately to implement workflows, then each system can be optimized independently, but the time required to configure and manage workflows increases significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the configuration of multiple security systems into a single unified workflow management interface provided by the workflow server. Instead of administrators separately configuring access control systems, video security systems, and other security subsystems, the workflow server consolidates these configurations into one integrated platform. This merging dramatically reduces the time required to configure and manage workflows across multiple systems while maintaining the ability to optimize each system independently through the unified interface.
3Ease of operation
If a unified workflow management interface is introduced, then administrative efficiency improves, but system complexity increases due to the need for integration across multiple systems
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the system architecture into distinct functional components: the workflow server that handles high-level workflow definition and coordination, and individual security systems that handle their specific functions. This segmentation allows the unified workflow management interface to operate independently from the complexity of individual security systems. The workflow server translates high-level workflow definitions into system-specific configurations, effectively isolating the complexity of system integration from the administrator using the unified interface.
Data Source
AI summary
A device monitors execution of a safety workflow, the safety workflow comprising one or more triggers and one or more responsive actions. The device provides, at a display screen, an indication of the safety workflow and respective visual indications of: a physical sensor that generated sensor data of a trigger of the safety workflow; and a communication device associated with a responsive action to the trigger. The device detects, via an input device, an interaction with one or more of the respective visual indications to interact with one or more of the physical sensor and the communication device. Based on the interaction, the device one or more of: initiates communication with the communication device; and sends the sensor data to the communication device.