API Gateway Environment Mapping via Endpoint String Routing

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing computing systems struggle to efficiently manage service calls between applications across different environments, leading to data mismatches and prolonged testing and deployment processes.

Innovation Solution

An environment selection software agent is introduced to automatically configure target environments for applications at an API gateway, enabling developers to select preferred environments and generate endpoint strings for service calls, thereby allowing 'hot swapping' of application environments.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Manufacturing precision

If manual configuration of target environments is used, then environment mapping accuracy is improved, but time consumption and operational complexity increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveenvironment mapping accuracyVSAvoidtime consumption

Core Design Contradiction:

Manufacturing precisionVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The system automatically generates endpoint strings and configures environment mappings without manual intervention. The environment selection agent autonomously retrieves endpoint information, generates the appropriate endpoint string, and sends it to the API gateway, enabling the system to configure itself and eliminate time-consuming manual operations while maintaining accuracy

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The endpoint information is pre-stored in a structured data store before runtime. By preparing and organizing endpoint data in advance, the system can quickly retrieve and utilize this information during environment configuration, reducing the time required for manual setup while ensuring accurate mapping

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

2Adaptability or versatility

If multiple duplicate test environments are created, then data scenario accessibility is improved, but system complexity and resource requirements increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedata scenario accessibilityVSAvoidsystem complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

A single target environment can serve multiple source environments through the API gateway's routing capability. The endpoint string enables one target application instance to receive service calls from multiple different source environments, eliminating the need to create duplicate environments for each source and reducing overall system complexity while maintaining broad accessibility

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Solution Approach 2:

The API gateway acts as an intermediary between source environments and target environments. It uses the endpoint string to intelligently route service calls from multiple source environments to the appropriate target environment, allowing diverse data scenarios to be accessed without creating duplicate target environments for each source

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Manufacturing precision

If environment switching is performed manually, then configuration accuracy is improved, but operational efficiency decreases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveconfiguration accuracyVSAvoidoperational efficiency

Core Design Contradiction:

Manufacturing precisionVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The manual mechanical process of environment switching is replaced with an automated software-based system. The environment selection agent automatically generates endpoint strings and the API gateway automatically routes service calls based on this configuration, eliminating manual operations while maintaining precise control over environment mapping

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

The environment configuration becomes dynamic and adaptable rather than static. The system can quickly switch between different target environments by generating new endpoint strings and updating the API gateway configuration, enabling rapid response to changing testing requirements without the delays of manual reconfiguration

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Data Source

PatentUS20250199819A1Configuration of target application environment

Publication Date: 2025.06.19 WELLS FARGO BANK NA

AI summary

Techniques are described for automatically configuring a target environment for a particular application or application service at an API gateway. According to the techniques, a computing device generates data representative of a user interface for display and receives a selection of a target environment for a target application from the user interface. The computing device then generates an endpoint string for service calls for the target application that indicates a route to an instance of the target application executing in the target environment. The computing devices sends a message including the endpoint string to an API gateway, wherein the message instructs the API gateway to modify an environment mapping for the target application in accordance with the endpoint string such that the environment mapping causes the API gateway to send the service calls for the target application to the instance of the target application executing in the target environment.