Actor-Based Data Mediation for Multi-Format Information Access
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Solution Overview
Problem
Accessing information across different formats in information systems is challenging due to variations in formatting, currency types, and data structures, making it difficult for consumers to aggregate and utilize the information effectively.
Innovation Solution
An actor-based integration system transforms information from a first format to a second format usable by the requesting application, facilitating easier access and processing by identifying and transforming the requested information using an actor model programming paradigm.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If information is stored in multiple formats to accommodate different organizations and locations, then the system can serve diverse data sources, but the complexity of accessing and aggregating information increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces an intermediary layer between data sources and consumers that automatically handles format transformation. This mediator receives data in various source formats, transforms it into a standardized internal format for storage, and then converts it to the required consumer format, thereby resolving the contradiction between supporting diverse sources and maintaining access simplicity
Solution Approach 2:
The system dynamically changes data parameters (formats) based on the operational context. When data is ingested, it is transformed to a standardized internal representation; when consumed, it is transformed to the required external format. This parameter transformation capability allows the system to maintain versatility while simplifying access through automatic format adaptation
2Ease of operation
If the system transforms information from multiple formats into a single standardized format, then access and aggregation become easier, but the processing time and computational resources increase
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs format transformation in advance during the data ingestion phase, converting all incoming data to a standardized internal format before storage. This preliminary action eliminates the need for transformation at the time of access, significantly reducing operational processing time while maintaining ease of data aggregation
Solution Approach 2:
The transformation process is segmented into distinct phases: ingestion transformation (converting source formats to internal format) and consumption transformation (converting internal format to required output format). By separating these operations, the system optimizes both processing efficiency and operational ease without unnecessary computational overhead
3Reliability
If multiple organizations control different formats of information, then each organization maintains control over its data, but the number of formats that must be managed increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system introduces a central intermediary that acts as a format translation layer between organizations and consumers. Each organization maintains control over its data in its native format, but the intermediary translates all data to a unified internal representation, thereby reducing the number of formats to manage while preserving organizational data control and integrity
Data Source
AI summary
A method for accessing information. A computer system receives a request for a piece of the information stored in a location between client computer systems and sources of the information. The information has formats for the information in the location. The formats for the information are controlled by the sources of the information. Each of the sources is assigned to control a group of portions of the information in the location. The computer system identifies the piece of the information corresponding to the request. The computer system returns a response to the request for the piece of the information, enabling simplifying access to the information in different formats.