ZIG Container Format for Real-Time Custom Product Configuration
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current data encapsulation methods for customizable products are inefficient and lack adaptability, particularly in handling complex hierarchies and real-time configuration, leading to challenges in product customization and visualization.
Innovation Solution
The introduction of a ZIG container file format that encapsulates serialized proprietary digital objects, enabling dynamic interactions with data sources for real-time configuration and supporting serialization of complex data structures, including digital images and geometry, to facilitate efficient storage and transmission of customizable product representations.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If current data encapsulation methods are used for customizable products, then basic data storage is possible, but efficiency and adaptability deteriorate when handling complex hierarchies and real-time configuration
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the data encapsulation task by introducing a hierarchical object structure with root objects and child objects. Each object can be independently serialized and deserialized, allowing efficient processing of complex data structures. The segmentation enables modular handling of customization parameters, making the system both efficient and adaptable to various product configurations.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements dynamic data encapsulation through runtime type information and virtual inheritance mechanisms. The system can adapt its serialization behavior based on the actual object types encountered, enabling efficient handling of complex hierarchies while maintaining adaptability. The dynamic deserialization process automatically adjusts to handle different object structures without requiring manual configuration.
2Productivity
If current data encapsulation methods are used, then simple data storage works, but real-time configuration capability is insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The patent performs preliminary actions by pre-defining the hierarchical object structure and serialization formats. The root objects and child objects are prepared with their respective serialization methods before actual configuration occurs. This preliminary setup enables rapid real-time configuration while maintaining accuracy, as the deserialization process simply needs to instantiate pre-defined object types with provided data.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements feedback mechanisms through validation routines that check configuration data against expected types and constraints. The system provides feedback during the deserialization process to ensure configuration accuracy, and can correct or reject invalid configurations. This feedback loop maintains reliability while enabling real-time configuration operations.
3Adaptability or versatility
If existing data encapsulation methods are used, then basic product representation is possible, but visualization and manufacturing integration is inadequate
Solution Approach 1:
The patent creates a universal data encapsulation framework that serves multiple functions: product representation, visualization, and manufacturing integration. The hierarchical object structure can be serialized to various formats (XML, JSON, binary) and instantiated in different programming environments. This multi-functionality reduces device complexity by providing a single unified approach that handles diverse integration requirements without requiring separate specialized systems for each function.
Data Source
AI summary
A computer-implemented method, for generating and using functional data containers (ZIGs) for designing, visualizing, and manufacturing a customizable product is disclosed. In some embodiments, the method comprises: initiating an application for generating functional data containers (ZIGs) and causing reading a list of resources that includes ZIGs and images; generating, using product definition information from each of the sets of product+manufacturing instructions, a proxy representation, of proxies, of each set that defines a transformation translation mechanism; combining the proxies and images into a file and saving the file; in response to determining that the file is used by another software application, opening the file in the another software application to allow editing the proxies, and saving the file with the set of product+manufacturing instructions once editing the proxies is complete.