Connectivity Management Layer for Diverse Data Connections

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Solution Overview

Problem

The complexity of diverse connectivity types and programming models in computing platforms leads to increased complexity in application integration and connectivity administration, requiring frequent rewriting of application logic and APIs to support new data connection types.

Innovation Solution

A Computing Platform with a Quality of Services and Management Layer that provides common services such as error handling, monitoring, and asynchronous handling for diverse data connections, including a common entry point, message assembler modules, and semantic addressing to manage and assemble data across different connectivity types, eliminating the need for customizing applications for each connectivity type.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If diverse connectivity types and programming models are supported, then application integration capability is improved, but system complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveapplication integration capabilityVSAvoidsystem complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces a connectivity framework as an intermediary layer between applications and diverse data connections. This framework provides standardized interfaces and translation mechanisms that mediate between different connectivity types (HTTP, Web Services, OData, SAP RFC, etc.), allowing applications to integrate with multiple connection types without directly handling their complexities.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The connectivity framework implements universal interfaces that can handle multiple connectivity types through a common programming model. The framework provides unified configuration, runtime execution, monitoring, and error handling capabilities that work across different connection types, eliminating the need for separate handling logic for each connectivity type.

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

2Adaptability or versatility

If multiple data connection types are supported, then application versatility is improved, but ease of operation deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveapplication versatilityVSAvoidconnectivity administration
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The framework provides a universal programming model that uniformly handles configuration, runtime execution, monitoring, and error handling for all connectivity types. Application developers interact with a single standardized interface regardless of the underlying connection type, significantly improving ease of operation.

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

Solution Approach 2:

The patent merges the management of diverse connectivity types into a single unified framework. Previously separate handling mechanisms for different connection types are consolidated into common configuration files, runtime environments, and monitoring systems, simplifying connectivity administration.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

3Adaptability or versatility

If new data connection types are added, then application adaptability is improved, but productivity deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveapplication adaptabilityVSAvoiddevelopment efficiency
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The framework's universal programming model allows new connectivity types to be added without requiring changes to existing application logic. The standardized interfaces and common handling mechanisms mean that supporting additional connection types becomes a matter of configuration rather than code rewriting, maintaining high development productivity.

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

Solution Approach 2:

The patent segments the connectivity handling into distinct layers: the connectivity-specific implementation details are separated from the application logic through the framework's abstraction layer. This segmentation allows new connection types to be implemented in isolation without affecting existing applications, improving both adaptability and productivity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Data Source

PatentEP2747382B1Services and management layer for diverse data connections
Publication Date: 2016.12.21 SAP SE
  • EP2747382B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP2747382B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP2747382B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

A method relates to quality of services and management of diverse data connections to and from an application launched on a computing platform. The diverse types of data connections to and from the application may include, for example, one or more of HTTP, Web Services, OData/REST, OData/HTTP, SAP RFC, and SAP ALE types of data connections. The method includes providing a layer, in the computing platform, for quality of services and management of diverse types of data connections to and from the application and providing a common entry point to receive data destined for external receivers over the diverse types of data connections to and from the application.