Level of Invention
Level of Invention (or
Degree of Inventiveness, or
Level of solution, or
Rank of solution, or
Rank of invention) is a
relative degree of changes to the previous
system (or solution) in the result of solution of
inventive problem (one containing a
contradiction). Term was defined and introduced by
TRIZ author
G. S. Altshuller.
After initially reviewing 200,000
patent abstracts, Altshuller selected 40,000 as representatives of high level inventive solutions. The remainder involved direct improvements easily recognized within the specialty of the system.
Altshuller separated the patents' different degrees of
inventiveness into five levels:
* Level 1 - Routine design problems solved by methods well known within the specialty. Usually no invention needed. :example: use of
coal for writing
* Level 2 - Minor improvements to an existing system using methods known within the industry. :example: graphite
pencil (wrapped coal stick)
* Level 3 - Fundamental improvement to an existing system using methods known outside the industry. :example: ink
pen (ink instead of coal)
* Level 4 - A new generation of a system that entails a new principle for performing the system's primary functions. Solutions are found more often in science than technology. :example:
printer (another whole system for writing)
* Level 5 - A rare scientific discovery or pioneering invention of an essentially a new system. :example: electronic pen&paper (see
Anoto)
It should be noted that these Levels of Invention are applied to solutions rather than problems requiring a system of solution.
Also
level of invention and the
potential for innovation in any nation, geographical area or economic activity is as measurement in the concept of
innovative capacity originally introduced by Prof. Suarez-Villa in
1990 (see
Publications)
*
Inventive step and non-obviousness*
Novelty (patent)*
Levels of Solutions (with examples) By Kalevi Rantanen
*
Introduction to Basic I-TRIZ Levels of Invention
*
Maturity Mapping of DVD Technology By Sanjana Vijayakumar
*
Introduction of the Innovation Patent Australian Government response to the Recommendations of the Advisory Council on Industrial Property (ACIP) Report "Review of the Petty Patent System"
*
What is innovative capacity? by Luis Suarez-Villa
*
ideas21 - do You have an idea that can change the future?
