Automated Data Injection via Label Matching

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative Solutions
Generate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Software testers face inefficiencies and errors when manually entering data into software applications during testing, leading to unreliable test results and reduced data scenarios, which affects the quality of the software application.

Innovation Solution

An automated data injection system that uses a probability-based algorithm to match user interface labels with controls, allowing data from various sources (like Excel, CSV, XML, and databases) to be seamlessly injected into software applications, with customizable injection processes and graphical animation for visualization.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If manual data entry is used during software testing, then testers can complete forms with various data, but the process becomes tedious, time-consuming, and error-prone

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvetest result reliabilityVSAvoiddata entry efficiency
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The system enables self-service data injection by automatically matching data source fields with application form fields based on label similarity algorithms, allowing the testing system to populate forms autonomously without manual intervention while maintaining high reliability through probabilistic matching confidence thresholds

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The patent replaces the mechanical manual data entry process with an automated computational system that uses probability-based algorithms to match and inject data into application forms, eliminating manual typing errors and significantly improving both productivity and test result reliability

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

2Productivity

If manual data entry is used, then testers can enter data into forms, but the process is tedious and time-consuming

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvetesting throughputVSAvoiddata entry time
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary actions by pre-processing data sources to extract field labels and pre-establishing matching rules before actual testing begins, enabling rapid data injection during test execution without time-consuming manual entry operations

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The patent substitutes the time-consuming manual data entry mechanics with an automated system that uses algorithmic field matching and programmatic data injection, reducing data entry time from minutes per form to seconds while increasing testing throughput

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

3Reliability

If manual data entry is used, then testers can fill forms with various data, but errors occur and test results become unreliable

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvetest result reliabilityVSAvoiddata injection system complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces an intermediary layer consisting of probability-based matching algorithms that act as mediators between data sources and application forms, automatically resolving field correspondences through label similarity calculations and confidence threshold evaluations, thereby eliminating manual errors without requiring complex manual configuration procedures

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

4Productivity

If automated data injection is implemented, then manual effort is reduced and errors are minimized, but system complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvetesting efficiencyVSAvoidinjection system complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The automated injection system performs self-service by autonomously matching data fields with application form fields using probability-based algorithms, automatically injecting data without manual intervention, and self-adjusting through confidence threshold evaluations, thereby achieving high testing efficiency while keeping the system architecture relatively simple and maintainable

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

Data Source

PatentUS9104812B2Injection of data into a software application
Publication Date: 2015.08.11 MICRO FOCUS LLC
  • US9104812B2 patent drawing
  • US9104812B2 patent drawing
  • US9104812B2 patent drawing

AI summary

One embodiment is a method for injecting data into a software application. The method displays a plurality of different controls of a software application and receives a single selection of data stored in a data source. In response to this selection, the method injects the data from the data source into the plurality of different controls of the software application.