Data-Driven Platform Design: Patent Data and Function Network Analysis

2018 ◽  
Vol 141 (2) ◽  
Author(s):  
Binyang Song ◽  
Jianxi Luo ◽  
Kristin Wood

A properly designed product-system platform seeks to reduce the cost and lead time for design and development of the product-system family. A key goal is to achieve a tradeoff between economy of scope from product variety and economy of scale from platform sharing. Traditionally, product platform planning uses heuristic and manual approaches and relies almost solely on expertise and intuition. In this paper, we propose a data-driven method to draw the boundary of a platform-system, complementing the other platform design approaches and assisting designers in the architecting process. The method generates a network of functions through relationships of their co-occurrences in prior designs of a product or systems domain and uses a network analysis algorithm to identify an optimal core–periphery structure. Functions identified in the network core co-occur cohesively and frequently with one another in prior designs, and thus, are suggested for inclusion in the potential platform to be shared across a variety of product-systems with peripheral functions. We apply the method to identify the platform functions for the application domain of spherical rolling robots (SRRs), based on patent data.

Author(s):  
Binyang Song ◽  
Jianxi Luo ◽  
Rajesh Elara Mohan ◽  
Kristin L. Wood

A properly designed product-system platform can reduce the cost and lead-time to design and develop a product family and thus achieve the tradeoff between economy of scope from product variety and economy of scale from platform sharing. Traditionally, product platform planning uses heuristic and manual approaches and relies on expertise and intuition. In this paper, we propose a data-driven method to draw the boundary of a platform, complementing other platform design approaches and assisting designers in the architecting process. The method generates a network of functions through relationships of their co-occurrences in prior designs of a product domain, and uses a network analysis algorithm to identify an optimal core-periphery structure. Functions identified in the network core co-occur cohesively and frequently with one another in prior designs, and thus are suggested for inclusion in the potential platform to be shared across a variety of product-systems with peripheral functions. We apply the method to identifying the platform functions for spherical rolling robots, based on patent data.


Author(s):  
B. V. RAJARAMA BHAT ◽  
R. SRINIVASAN

B. Tsirelson constructed an uncountable family of type III product systems of Hilbert spaces through the theory of Gaussian spaces, measure type spaces and "slightly colored noises", using techniques from probability theory. Here we take a purely functional analytic approach and try to have a better understanding of Tsireleson's construction and his examples. We prove an extension of Shale's theorem connecting symplectic group and Weyl representation. We show that the "Shale map" respects compositions (this settles an old conjecture of K. R. Parthasarathy8). Using this we associate a product system to a sum system. This construction includes the exponential product system of Arveson, as a trivial case, and the type III examples of Tsirelson. By associating a von Neumann algebra to every "elementary set" in [0, 1], in a much simpler and direct way, we arrive at the invariants of the product system introduced by Tsirelson, given in terms of the sum system. Then we introduce a notion of divisibility for a sum system, and prove that the examples of Tsirelson are divisible. It is shown that only type I and type III product systems arise out of divisible sum systems. Finally, we give a sufficient condition for a divisible sum system to give rise to a unitless (type III) product system.


Author(s):  
Anders V. Warell

Abstract In this paper it is argued that methods are needed for the design of a larger variety of product aspects than is feasible with mechanical engineering design methodology of today. Design methods found within the European schools of design are inadequate for the design of products other than machine systems of transforming character. The reason for this is that the underlying theories only describe the nature of ‘operand-transforming’ technical systems, and that the description of the process and function systems are too narrowly defined to be useful for the design of ‘non-transforming’ products, or for products where the human is involved as an active user. The paper takes as the standpoint that the functional language, in accordance with established foundation in engineering design theory, is a successful means to treat usability aspects of human-product systems. An extended process modeling view based on product life-phase thinking including a ‘use-process’ is presented, focusing the attention towards the use, and not merely the workings, of the product. Also, extended definitions of a number of concepts are proposed, and function-classes of the human-product system, leading to a more generally applicable use of functions as a modeling tool when describing products, is introduced. The proposed functional language is illustrated in a product case example.


Author(s):  
Alexander Mielke ◽  
Bridget M. Waller ◽  
Claire Pérez ◽  
Alan V. Rincon ◽  
Julie Duboscq ◽  
...  

AbstractUnderstanding facial signals in humans and other species is crucial for understanding the evolution, complexity, and function of the face as a communication tool. The Facial Action Coding System (FACS) enables researchers to measure facial movements accurately, but we currently lack tools to reliably analyse data and efficiently communicate results. Network analysis can provide a way to use the information encoded in FACS datasets: by treating individual AUs (the smallest units of facial movements) as nodes in a network and their co-occurrence as connections, we can analyse and visualise differences in the use of combinations of AUs in different conditions. Here, we present ‘NetFACS’, a statistical package that uses occurrence probabilities and resampling methods to answer questions about the use of AUs, AU combinations, and the facial communication system as a whole in humans and non-human animals. Using highly stereotyped facial signals as an example, we illustrate some of the current functionalities of NetFACS. We show that very few AUs are specific to certain stereotypical contexts; that AUs are not used independently from each other; that graph-level properties of stereotypical signals differ; and that clusters of AUs allow us to reconstruct facial signals, even when blind to the underlying conditions. The flexibility and widespread use of network analysis allows us to move away from studying facial signals as stereotyped expressions, and towards a dynamic and differentiated approach to facial communication.


1995 ◽  
Vol 52 (2) ◽  
pp. 317-326 ◽  
Author(s):  
Marcelo Laca

The spectral C*-algebra of the discrete product systems of H.T. Dinh is shown to be a twisted semigroup crossed product whenever the product system has a twisted unit. The covariant representations of the corresponding dynamical system are always faithful, implying the simplicity of these crossed products; an application of a recent theorem of G.J. Murphy gives their nuclearity. Furthermore, a semigroup of endomorphisms of B(H) having an intertwining projective semigroup of isometries can be extended to a group of automorphisms of a larger Type I factor.


Author(s):  
Gad Allon ◽  
Jan Van Mieghem ◽  
Ilya Kolesov

HP sells configure-to-order products. With millions of part combinations going into an order, the challenge is deciding which parts to keep in the portfolio to balance costs with revenues. The case explains how one would approach this problem before product introduction, but focuses on managing the existing portfolio.Students will develop a systematic, data-driven approach to decide on the best product portfolio to sell for a configure-to-order business. Which SKUs are candidates for a “global core” product offering? For an extended offering? For elimination?


Author(s):  
María Rodríguez-Madrid ◽  
María del Río-Lozano ◽  
Rosario Fernandez-Peña ◽  
Jaime Jiménez-Pernett ◽  
Leticia García-Mochón ◽  
...  

Social support is an important predictor of the health of a population. Few studies have analyzed the influence of caregivers’ personal networks from a gender perspective. The aim of this study was to analyze the composition, structure, and function of informal caregiver support networks and to examine gender differences. It also aimed to explore the association between different network characteristics and self-perceived health among caregivers. We performed a social network analysis study using a convenience sample of 25 female and 25 male caregivers. A descriptive analysis of the caregivers and bivariate analyses for associations with self-perceived health were performed. The structural metrics analyzed were density; degree centrality mean; betweenness centrality mean; and number of cliques, components, and isolates. The variability observed in the structure of the networks was not explained by gender. Some significant differences between men and women were observed for network composition and function. Women received help mainly from women with a similar profile to them. Men’s networks were broader and more diverse and they had more help from outside family circles, although these outcomes were not statistically significant. Our results indicate the need to develop strategies that do not reinforce traditional gender roles, but rather encourage a greater sharing of responsibility among all parties.


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