In this related page http://www.triz-journal.com/archives/what_is_triz/ they write that "Somebody someplace has already solved this problem (or one very similar to it.); Creativity is now finding that solution and adapting it to this particular problem."

I think this is a good method. See for instance this book From steam engine to search engine http://www.amazon.com/They-Made-America-Centuries-Innovators... listing 2 centuries of innovations.