Component Management Platform for Software Reuse

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Solution Overview

Problem

Traditional integrated development environments (IDEs) lack support for an integrated and standardized application development process, fail to provide a feedback mechanism for code improvement within a community, leading to the creation of buggy or low-quality applications.

Innovation Solution

A platform for managing software component development that allows for the storage, updating, and testing of software components, enabling their rapid evolution and reuse across applications, with features like backward compatibility verification and community-driven feedback mechanisms.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If traditional IDEs are used for software development, then developers can write and build code using available tools, but the IDEs fail to support an integrated and standardized application development process and lack feedback mechanisms for code improvement

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesupport for integrated and standardized application development processVSAvoidincompatibility of tools and lack of integration
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments the software development process into distinct phases (development, testing, review, approval) and assigns specific tools and responsibilities to each phase. This segmentation allows each tool to specialize in its function while the overall system provides integrated management through the platform's workflow orchestration capabilities.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent creates a universal platform that manages multiple tools, components, and workflows through a common interface. The platform serves multiple functions: component repository management, workflow orchestration, quality gate enforcement, and community feedback collection, replacing the need for multiple separate traditional IDEs.

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

2Reliability

If traditional IDEs without feedback mechanisms are used, then development can proceed independently, but code quality deteriorates due to lack of community review and improvement opportunities

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecode qualityVSAvoidtime for community review and feedback
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements a structured feedback mechanism where community members can review code, report issues, and suggest improvements through the platform. Automated testing provides immediate feedback on code quality, and the system tracks feedback throughout the development lifecycle to ensure continuous improvement.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

Solution Approach 2:

The patent performs preliminary actions by implementing automated testing, static code analysis, and quality gate checks before code reaches human reviewers. This preliminary automated filtering reduces the burden on community members and accelerates the feedback loop by pre-identifying obvious issues.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

3Productivity

If software components are updated without verification, then development speed increases, but compatibility and quality control deteriorate

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvespeed of component updatesVSAvoidbackward compatibility
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent changes the parameters of component updates by requiring version numbering, compatibility declarations, and automated test results before updates are deployed. These parameter changes ensure that speed gains do not compromise reliability, as each update must meet defined quality thresholds.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The patent implements self-service through automated testing and quality verification systems that automatically check component compatibility and generate test results. This self-service approach maintains high update speeds by eliminating manual verification bottlenecks while ensuring reliability through consistent automated checks.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

Data Source

PatentEP3438813B1Component management platform
Publication Date: 2022.05.04 ACCENTURE GLOBAL SOLUTIONS LTD
  • EP3438813B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3438813B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3438813B1 patent drawingFigure 3A~3B

AI summary

A component management platform includes a component library that stores software components to be incorporated into applications, such as components that have been optimized for efficient performance, reliability, and/or other aspects. The platform also provides a workspace that is accessed to create an application that includes component(s) stored in the component library. In some instances, a developer modifies component when incorporating the component into their application. The platform enables the developer to upload the modified version of the component., which is stored in the component library and published, through the platform, to enable others to incorporate the modified version of the component into their application projects. In some implementations, the modified version is tested for backward compatibility with previous versions of the component, and to verify that the modified version does not include any bugs.