ZIG Product Containers for Real-Time Custom Configuration
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Current data encapsulation methods for customizable products are inefficient and lack flexibility, failing to support serialization of complex object hierarchies and dynamic interaction with external data sources, leading to reduced adaptability and scalability in product customization systems.
Innovation Solution
A novel container file format, the ZIG container, encapsulates serialized proprietary digital objects containing both data and functions, enabling dynamic interactions with data sources for real-time configuration and supporting serialization of complex data structures for customizable products.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If current data encapsulation methods are used for customizable products, then basic data storage is achieved, but efficiency and flexibility are reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments product data into distinct hierarchical components including product templates, customization parameters, and configuration data. Each component is independently structured and can be manipulated separately, enabling efficient data encapsulation while maintaining flexibility for various customization scenarios.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements dynamic data structures that can adapt to different product types and customization requirements. The hierarchical object structure allows for runtime configuration and dynamic addition/removal of customization parameters, providing both efficiency through structured storage and flexibility through dynamic adaptability.
2Loss of information
If complex object hierarchies are serialized for product customization, then complete product representations are captured, but data handling complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent creates a universal hierarchical data structure that can represent multiple product types and customization scenarios through a common framework. This universal structure reduces data handling complexity by providing consistent methods for serialization, deserialization, and manipulation across different product domains while maintaining complete product representations.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces intermediary data structures and abstraction layers that simplify the handling of complex object hierarchies. These intermediaries manage the serialization and deserialization processes, shielding users from the underlying complexity while ensuring complete and accurate product data representation.
3Speed
If real-time configuration is implemented for customizable products, then user interaction responsiveness is improved, but data processing requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent performs preliminary data preparation and validation during product template definition and initial configuration. Data structures are pre-validated and organized in advance, enabling rapid real-time configuration updates without intensive processing during user interaction, thus reducing instantaneous data processing load while maintaining responsiveness.
Data Source
AI summary
A computer-implemented method for using containers to manage, visualize and manufacture customizable physical and digital products is presented. In some embodiments, the method comprises receiving, by a computer system, a functional data container (ZIG) file containing serialized objects representing a customizable product; deserializing the serialized objects to instantiate a hierarchical object structure comprising a root object and a plurality of child objects, wherein each child object is capable of containing further child objects; accessing, by the computer system, a database to retrieve real-time configuration data corresponding to the customizable product; binding, by the computer system, key/value pairs to the hierarchical object structure, wherein the keys are attributes of the objects and the values are selected from the group consisting of literal data and references to external or embedded objects; generating, by the computer system, a visual representation of the customizable product based on the bound key/value pairs.