Automated Portlet Wizard for Web Service Integration

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Solution Overview

Problem

Interfacing web applications with web services is a cumbersome process due to the need for developers to possess expertise in web service protocols and XML descriptors, diverting time and effort away from application development.

Innovation Solution

An automated system, including a wizard-style interface and code generation, facilitates the setup of portlets and display of web service content, allowing developers to interact with web services without manual configuration of lower-level tasks.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If developers manually configure web service interfaces and XML descriptors, then customization and control are improved, but development time and complexity increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveease of web service integrationVSAvoiddevelopment time
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary actions by automatically generating portlet code and configuration files before the developer needs to use the web service. The wizard creates all necessary XML descriptors, Java code, and HTML templates in advance, eliminating the need for developers to manually perform these time-consuming tasks during development.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The system enables self-service by allowing the portlet generation tool to automatically create and configure web service interfaces without requiring developer expertise in XML descriptors or web service protocols. The tool serves itself by generating all necessary configuration files and code structures, freeing developers from low-level technical tasks.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

2Adaptability or versatility

If developers learn web service protocols and XML descriptors, then integration capability is improved, but expertise requirement increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveweb service integration capabilityVSAvoiddeveloper expertise requirement
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The system introduces an intermediary layer in the form of an automated portlet generation tool that translates high-level developer intentions into low-level web service configurations. This intermediary handles the complex XML descriptor generation and protocol configuration, shielding developers from the complexity while maintaining full integration capability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The system replaces the mechanical process of manual XML configuration and protocol setup with an automated software system. Instead of developers mechanically writing and configuring XML descriptors, the system automatically generates these configurations through programmed templates and transformations, eliminating the need for manual expertise.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

3Ease of manufacture

If manual portlet creation is used, then customization control is improved, but development efficiency decreases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveportlet creation efficiencyVSAvoidapplication development efficiency
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of manufactureVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary actions by pre-generating portlet code, XML configurations, and HTML templates before the developer needs them. This eliminates the need for developers to create these components from scratch during development, significantly improving productivity while maintaining customization through configurable templates.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The system uses copying by providing templates and stubs that developers can accept as-is or modify. Rather than creating everything from scratch, developers copy and adapt pre-generated code structures, configuration files, and UI templates, which dramatically increases development efficiency while still allowing necessary customization.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #26Copying

Data Source

PatentUS7725560B2Web service-enabled portlet wizard
Publication Date: 2010.05.25 ORACLE INT CORP
  • US7725560B2 patent drawing
  • US7725560B2 patent drawing
  • US7725560B2 patent drawing

AI summary

A web service user interface can be automatically generated, thus simplifying development of web applications. Web service configuration data can be received and proxies to access the web service can be automatically generated. Communication code can also be automatically generated to facilitate communicate with said web service using the proxies. Display code can be automatically generated to display content provided by a web service. In one example, the web service user interface is a portlet.