Declarative Connector and Schema Management Across Cloud Clusters

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing technologies face challenges in efficiently managing connectors and schemas in distributed computing environments, particularly in cloud-based systems, leading to increased setup time and complexity.

Innovation Solution

A declarative API is used to manage connectors and schemas on container management systems like Kubernetes, allowing users to define a desired state, which is automatically managed by the API, reducing setup time and complexity.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Loss of time

If manual configuration methods are used for connectors and schemas, then flexibility and control are maintained, but setup time and complexity increase significantly

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesetup timeVSAvoidoperation complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Loss of timeVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The system enables self-service through declarative API specifications that automatically generate connector and schema configurations. Users define desired states in YAML files, and the system autonomously provisions resources, manages configurations, and handles deployments without manual intervention, significantly reducing setup time and operational complexity

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The declarative API approach allows preliminary definition of connector and schema configurations in YAML specification files before actual deployment. This pre-definition phase enables automated processing, validation, and generation of implementation artifacts, reducing on-demand setup time and complexity during production deployments

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

2Productivity

If automated deployment tools are implemented, then setup time is reduced, but system complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedeployment efficiencyVSAvoidsystem complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The declarative API specification format acts as an intermediary layer between user intent and system implementation. Users provide high-level declarative specifications in YAML files, and the system automatically translates these into detailed configuration artifacts, deployment manifests, and operational parameters, maintaining simplicity while enabling automation

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The declarative API framework provides universal functionality for managing diverse connectors and schemas across multiple clusters. A single YAML specification format can define various connector types (JDBC, Kafka, S3, etc.) and schema configurations, enabling unified automated deployment across heterogeneous environments without increasing per-instance complexity

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

3Ease of operation

If manual management of connectors across multiple clusters is performed, then control over each instance is maintained, but time and effort requirements increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvemanagement effortVSAvoidmanagement time
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The declarative API approach enables copying and reuse of connector and schema configurations across multiple clusters through YAML specification files. A single validated configuration can be replicated and applied to numerous clusters simultaneously, maintaining consistency and reducing repetitive manual management efforts while preserving control through declarative definitions

Inventive Principle:
Principle #26Copying

Data Source

PatentUS20260056753A1Declarative API for managing connectors and schemas
Publication Date: 2026.02.26 INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINE CORPORATION
  • US20260056753A1 patent drawing
  • US20260056753A1 patent drawing
  • US20260056753A1 patent drawing

AI summary

A request to configure a connect cluster including one or more connectors for a cloud computing system is received. The request include a desired connector state. A connector specification file is automatically generated based on the desired connector state for the connect cluster via a declarative application programming interface (API). Application resources associated with the connect cluster are automatically configured based on the specification file.