Architecture Diagram Conversion for Secure Multi-Format Access
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing architecture diagram tools within organizations often become unlicensed, sunset, or fail to meet security policies, leading to inaccessibility and loss of diagrams across different teams and departments.
Innovation Solution
A system utilizing machine learning models to convert and store diagrams in a format preferred by the organization, allowing access and editing in various formats while enforcing security and privacy policies, and generating diagrams from user inputs.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If diagrams are stored in proprietary formats of specific tools, then the diagrams can be created and edited using those tools, but the diagrams become inaccessible when the tools are sunset, unlicensed, or no longer meet security policies
Solution Approach 1:
The patent converts diagrams from proprietary tool formats into a universal intermediate format (such as SVG, PNG, or XML-based representations) that can be stored independently of any specific tool. This creates a copy that preserves the diagram's visual and structural information while eliminating dependency on the original proprietary format, ensuring long-term accessibility even when tools are sunset or unlicensed.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces an intermediate representation layer between the proprietary tool formats and the storage system. This intermediate format acts as a mediator that can be generated from various tool formats and subsequently rendered back into multiple formats as needed, providing format compatibility and independence from any single tool's proprietary format.
2Adaptability or versatility
If multiple diagram formats are supported across different teams, then each team can use their preferred tool, but the organization loses control over security and privacy policies
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a universal intermediate format that serves multiple functions: it preserves diagram content, enables secure centralized storage, and allows controlled conversion back to various tool-specific formats. This single standardized representation can be used across all teams and tools, providing format flexibility while maintaining centralized security and privacy controls.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent establishes a feedback mechanism where diagrams converted to the universal format are stored centrally with enforced security and privacy policies. When teams need to access or edit diagrams, the system converts the universal format back to the appropriate tool-specific format, ensuring that security policies are consistently applied while still allowing teams to use their preferred tools.
3Reliability
If diagrams are converted to a standardized format, then accessibility and security are improved, but time is required for conversion and reconstruction
Solution Approach 1:
The patent performs diagram conversion to the universal intermediate format at the time of creation or import, rather than waiting for later access needs. This preliminary conversion action ensures that diagrams are already in the secure, accessible universal format when stored, eliminating the need for conversion at access time and reducing delays when teams need to retrieve or edit diagrams.
Data Source
AI summary
A system to receive diagrams associated with an organization. The system may be configured to convert the diagrams into diagram data or code that may be stored at a location designated by the organization to allow other users of the organization to access the diagram. In some cases, the system may be configured to provide the diagram data to the other users of the organization in a format requested by each of the other users.