AI-Driven Custom Action Creation in Automation Workflows

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current systems for automating workflows between various apps face challenges in increasing system flexibility, reducing operation complexity, and facilitating customization, particularly in creating custom actions based on user natural language requests without coding.

Innovation Solution

A method and system that utilize trained artificial intelligence (AI) models to recommend existing application extensions and associated parameters, allowing users to create custom actions through graphical interfaces, with options for AI-driven suggestions or manual input, and the ability to share and reuse custom actions.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If manual integration of apps is performed, then customization capability is improved, but operation complexity and time consumption increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecustomization capabilityVSAvoidintegration time
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The system pre-generates multiple candidate code snippets with different implementation approaches (synchronous, asynchronous, error handling variants) before the user needs them. When a user selects an action, these pre-prepared snippets are immediately available for selection or modification, eliminating the need for real-time code generation and reducing integration time while maintaining customization options.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The system allows users to customize code snippets by modifying parameters such as authentication methods, data formats, and execution modes rather than requiring complete manual coding. Users can adjust parameters like API endpoints, headers, and response handling to achieve customization without rewriting entire code blocks, thus reducing integration time while preserving adaptability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

2Productivity

If AI models are used to generate code snippets, then productivity is improved, but system complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveaction creation speedVSAvoidsystem architecture complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The system employs a universal template engine that handles multiple code generation scenarios (synchronous operations, asynchronous operations, error handling, authentication) through a single unified framework. This template system can generate different types of code snippets by selecting and parameterizing appropriate templates, improving productivity while avoiding the need for separate complex AI models for each code generation task.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Solution Approach 2:

The system introduces an intermediate layer between user requirements and code generation that uses pattern matching and template selection rather than direct AI model invocation for every request. This intermediary layer analyzes the action type and selects pre-defined templates, reducing system complexity by avoiding direct dependency on complex AI models while maintaining high productivity through intelligent template selection.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Reliability

If comprehensive code snippets with error handling are provided, then reliability is improved, but code snippet length and complexity increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecode robustnessVSAvoidcode snippet complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The system segments code snippets into modular components: core logic section, authentication section, error handling section, and response processing section. Each section can be independently selected or modified by the user. This segmentation allows comprehensive error handling and robust code while keeping individual code blocks manageable and less complex, as users can choose to include or exclude certain segments based on their needs.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The code snippets are designed to be dynamic and adaptive rather than static and comprehensive. The system generates code that automatically adjusts its behavior based on runtime conditions, using patterns like try-catch blocks with specific exception types, conditional error handling, and adaptive retry logic. This dynamic approach provides reliability through automated error management while keeping the apparent code complexity low, as the complexity is encapsulated in reusable patterns rather than explicit detailed code.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Data Source

PatentUS20250094191A1System and method for custom action creation in automation workflows
Publication Date: 2025.03.20 ZAPIER INC
  • US20250094191A1 patent drawing
  • US20250094191A1 patent drawing
  • US20250094191A1 patent drawing

AI summary

A method and system for custom action creation in automation workflows is disclosed. In some embodiments, the method includes receiving a request for creating an application extension from a user, the application extension including at least one custom action. The method includes determining, using one or more trained artificial intelligence (AI) models, one or more existing application extensions and associated parameters from a plurality of connected applications. The method also includes generating one or more first graphical interfaces to present a recommendation to the user, the recommendation including the one or more existing application extensions and associated parameters. The method further includes receiving a selection of the recommendation from the user and, in response to receiving the selection, creating the application extension based at least on the recommended parameters.