Browser RPA Bridge Module for Cross-Platform Automation
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Current robotic process automation (RPA) technologies face challenges in extending their reach to a broad audience of developers and industries across multiple hardware and software platforms, particularly in effectively automating tasks within web browsers.
Innovation Solution
A method employing a hardware processor to execute an RPA driver and a bridge module, which sets up a communication channel between the RPA driver and a web browser application, allowing the RPA driver to detect user inputs and transmit target identification data to perform RPA activities within the browser, thereby enabling the design and execution of RPA robots across various platforms.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If RPA technology is extended to web browsers across multiple platforms, then accessibility and versatility are improved, but system complexity increases due to the need for cross-platform compatibility and browser integration
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a bridge module as an intermediary component that connects the RPA driver to the web browser application. This bridge module handles the complexity of cross-platform communication protocols and browser-specific implementations, allowing the RPA system to access multiple browser platforms without requiring complex platform-specific code in the core RPA engine. The bridge module absorbs the complexity of platform adaptation, thereby improving versatility while managing system complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The RPA system is segmented into distinct modular components: the RPA driver, the bridge module, and the web browser application. This segmentation allows each component to be developed, maintained, and adapted independently. The driver handles core RPA functionality, the bridge handles platform-specific integration, and the browser handles UI rendering. This modular architecture improves adaptability across platforms while keeping each segment's complexity manageable.
2Measurement precision
If an RPA driver executes outside the web browser to detect user inputs, then detection accuracy is improved, but communication overhead increases due to the need for inter-process communication
Solution Approach 1:
The bridge module serves as an intermediary that establishes and manages the communication channel between the RPA driver (executing outside the browser) and the web browser application. It handles the complexity of inter-process communication by providing standardized interfaces and protocols, thereby reducing the communication overhead for individual RPA operations while maintaining the driver's external execution position for accurate input detection.
Data Source
AI summary
In some embodiments, a robotic process automation (RPA) agent executing within a browser window/tab interacts with an RPA driver executing outside of the browser. A bridge module establishes a communication channel between the RPA agent and the RPA driver. In one exemplary use case, the RPA agent exposes a robot design interface, while the RPA driver detects interactions of a user with a target user interface (e.g., an instance of a spreadsheet application, an email program, etc.) and transmits data characterizing the interactions to the RPA agent for constructing a robot specification.