Automated Composite Application Assembly via Dynamic Component Discovery

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Solution Overview

Problem

The manual process of developing and assembling composite applications in a networked environment is time-consuming and requires significant skill, as it involves individually selecting and integrating components from different vendors, with updates posing additional challenges in ensuring compatibility and functionality.

Innovation Solution

A method for automatically assisted generation of composite applications, involving dynamic component discovery and deployment using meta-data, where a templating application infrastructure manages templates and a composite application infrastructure handles instances, enabling automated assembly and version management.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If manual process is used for developing and assembling composite applications, then flexibility in selecting and integrating components from different vendors is achieved, but the process becomes time-consuming and requires significant skill

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveflexibility in selecting componentsVSAvoidtime-consuming development process

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The system enables self-service through automated component discovery and assembly. The composite application infrastructure automatically discovers available components, matches them with template requirements, and assembles the application without requiring manual intervention, thereby reducing time loss while maintaining flexibility through configurable templates

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

Templates define the structure, components, and configuration requirements in advance before actual application assembly. This preliminary definition of component relationships and integration patterns allows the system to automatically assemble applications without time-consuming manual configuration, while still providing flexibility through customizable template designs

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

2Manufacturing precision

If manual assembly of composite applications is performed, then precise control over component integration is achieved, but the process requires significant skill and expertise

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveprecision of component integrationVSAvoidskill requirement

Core Design Contradiction:

Manufacturing precisionVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The composite application infrastructure acts as an intermediary between templates and component assemblies. It automatically discovers components, matches them with template specifications, and handles the complex integration logic, thereby maintaining precise control over component integration while eliminating the need for manual assembly expertise

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The system separates template definition from application assembly. Templates define the desired structure and component requirements independently, while the infrastructure handles the actual assembly process. This segmentation allows precise control through template specifications without requiring operators to have assembly expertise

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

3Adaptability or versatility

If updates are applied to composite applications, then new functionality and improvements are achieved, but compatibility and functionality must be manually verified

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveability to apply updatesVSAvoidcomplexity of update verification

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The system implements feedback mechanisms where the composite application infrastructure automatically verifies update compatibility by checking component interfaces, data flow requirements, and template specifications. This automated feedback loop ensures compatibility and functionality are maintained without requiring manual verification complexity

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

Data Source

PatentUS10416969B2System for the discovery and provisioning of artifacts and composites

Publication Date: 2019.09.17 INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINE CORPORATION

AI summary

A system for automatically assisted generation of composite applications composed of instantiable components performs the steps of:a) dynamically accessing a data source of one or more components being potentially suitable for being used within the composite application,b) parsing the data source for a predetermined searched component according to a predetermined functionality specification standard,c) ranking found components according to predetermined ranking criteria,d) defining a list of selected usable components from the ranking,e) storing at least a subset of the selected components locally, andf) automatically deploying the composite application from the selected components.