API Recipe Cloning for Third-Party Integration

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Solution Overview

Problem

Integrating third-party applications is complex, time-consuming, and costly, making it difficult for small to mid-sized businesses to automate workflows due to the constant changes in APIs, leading to unreliable custom software solutions.

Innovation Solution

A platform that provides discovery, curation, execution, and sharing tools for software recipes, enabling users to clone, modify, and execute API recipes across multiple applications, simplifying integration through a cloud-based service and drag-and-drop interfaces, while maintaining a community for recipe sharing and adaptation.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of manufacture

If custom software is developed for integrating third-party applications, then integration functionality is achieved, but development cost and time increase significantly

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveintegration functionalityVSAvoiddevelopment time
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of manufactureVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements recipe cloning functionality that allows users to copy existing integration recipes and adapt them to new use cases. The system retrieves the original recipe definition, copies its structure and configuration, and allows modification for the target user's needs, eliminating the need to build integration logic from scratch.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #26Copying

Solution Approach 2:

The patent employs pre-built integration recipes that are prepared in advance by the system administrator or community members. These recipes contain pre-configured mappings, transformations, and integration logic that can be directly applied or slightly modified, eliminating the need for time-consuming custom development.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

2Ease of manufacture

If custom software is developed for integrating third-party applications, then integration functionality is achieved, but development cost increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveintegration functionalityVSAvoiddevelopment cost
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of manufactureVSQuantity of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The system allows copying of integration recipes between users and organizations. When a recipe is cloned, the target user receives a free copy of the integration logic, avoiding the need to pay for custom development or licensing fees associated with building the same functionality independently.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #26Copying

Solution Approach 2:

The patent creates universal integration recipes that can serve multiple users and use cases. A single recipe definition can be instantiated by multiple users with different credentials and configurations, making the integration capability universally applicable and eliminating redundant development costs across the organization.

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

3Reliability

If standard authentication routines are used for third-party APIs, then security is maintained, but integration complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
ImprovesecurityVSAvoidintegration complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces an intermediary layer (the integration recipe system) that manages authentication credentials and API interactions. Instead of users directly handling complex authentication routines, the recipe system acts as a mediator that automatically manages security protocols, token generation, and credential storage, simplifying the integration process while maintaining security standards.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

4Adaptability or versatility

If third-party applications are integrated manually, then customization is possible, but time and resources are consumed excessively

Engineering Contradiction:
ImprovecustomizationVSAvoidintegration speed
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The system enables rapid customization by copying proven integration patterns from existing recipes. Users can start with a cloned recipe that already contains validated logic and make targeted modifications, achieving both customization and speed by leveraging existing work rather than building from scratch.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #26Copying

Solution Approach 2:

The patent implements dynamic recipe configuration that allows users to adapt cloned recipes to their specific needs through parameter modification, field mapping adjustments, and conditional logic updates. This dynamic adaptability enables customization without requiring complete redesign, maintaining productivity while achieving versatility.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Data Source

PatentUS9811394B1Application programming interface recipe cloning
Publication Date: 2017.11.07 WORKATO INC
  • US9811394B1 patent drawing
  • US9811394B1 patent drawing
  • US9811394B1 patent drawing

AI summary

The present disclosure relates to a technology for generating, executing, cloning, and managing application programming interface recipes. A software recipe comprises code including a trigger and one or more executable actions. The system implements a method for cloning software recipes by receiving a software recipe clone request from a user device and responsive to receiving the software clone request, computing requirements of the software recipe. The method involves retrieving input schema and output schema for the trigger and each of the one or more actions. The method involves saving a new instance of the software recipe with updated schema. The method further involves verifying whether the computed requirements are satisfied by the new instance of the software recipe.