Application Extension for Software Configuration Segmentation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Large computing networks face challenges in servicing diverse constituencies within an organization due to differing processes and schedules for software operation and upgrading, leading to over-configured and hard-to-maintain applications that erode initial time-to-value benefits.
Innovation Solution
The implementation of application extension, which allows for the generation of child applications based on a parent application using a platform instance, enabling multiple configurations within a single instance while preserving the parent application's pristine state, thereby supporting various use cases without complicating the parent application.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If a single application instance is used to serve multiple diverse constituencies, then resource sharing and centralized management are improved, but the application becomes over-configured and difficult to maintain
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the application configuration into parent and child application layers. The parent application contains the core configuration, while child applications represent specific constituency variations. This segmentation allows the system to serve diverse constituencies through multiple child applications rather than over-configuring a single application, thereby reducing overall configuration complexity while maintaining adaptability.
Solution Approach 2:
The parent application serves as a universal template that can generate multiple child applications for different constituencies. This multi-functionality allows a single parent application to serve diverse purposes through configuration inheritance and extension, eliminating the need for separate fully-configured applications for each constituency while maintaining the ability to customize for specific needs.
2Adaptability or versatility
If custom configurations are created for each subgroup, then specific needs are met, but maintenance and upgrading become difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the common configuration elements into a single parent application that is maintained and upgraded centrally. Child applications inherit from this parent, so when the parent is updated, all children automatically receive the updates. This merging approach maintains customization capability through child-specific configurations while dramatically improving ease of maintenance and upgrading compared to managing completely separate custom applications for each subgroup.
Solution Approach 2:
The system creates child applications by copying the parent application configuration and then applying specific customizations. This copying mechanism allows rapid deployment of customized applications while maintaining a single source of truth in the parent application. When maintenance or upgrades are needed, changes are made to the parent copy, and all child copies automatically benefit from these updates.
3Adaptability or versatility
If the parent application is modified to meet specific needs, then functionality is improved, but the parent application's pristine state is lost
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the customization needs from the parent application and places them in separate child applications. This extraction allows the parent application to remain in its pristine, unmodified state while still providing the required functionality through child applications that inherit from and extend the parent. The customization is taken out of the parent structure, preserving its integrity while achieving the desired adaptability.
Data Source
AI summary
Systems and methods are disclosed for providing customized applications from platform software using application extension. For example, methods may include transmitting to a client device an application customization interface for presentation to a user; receiving one or more configuration commands from the client device, where the one or more configuration commands have been generated by the user using the application customization interface; based on the one or more configuration commands, generating a child application based on a parent application, where a configuration of the child application includes objects derived from the parent application via application extension; and invoking the child application using a platform instance to access customer data stored by the platform instance.