Embedded Sandbox UI for Production Feature Simulation

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Solution Overview

Problem

Users are hesitant to enable new software features in a production environment without first trying them out, and existing sandbox environments require users to switch between production and sandbox environments, disrupting the user experience.

Innovation Solution

A simulated sandbox environment is integrated within the production environment, allowing users to access and interact with simulated features directly within the production application without leaving it, using client-side frameworks to manipulate the user interface and provide synthetic data for safe experimentation.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If a separate sandbox environment is provided for testing new features, then production data integrity is protected, but user experience is disrupted due to requiring environment switching

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveproduction data integrityVSAvoiduser experience

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The patent merges the sandbox environment with the production environment by integrating simulated feature access directly into the production application interface. Users can access and test new features through the same UI without switching environments, while synthetic data isolates the testing from actual production data, thus combining the benefits of both separate and integrated approaches.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces an intermediary layer of synthetic data that mediates between the user's testing needs and the production data. This intermediary allows users to interact with feature simulations while preventing direct access to or modification of actual production data, thus protecting data integrity while enabling seamless testing.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Productivity

If new features are enabled directly in the production environment, then user feedback can be collected immediately, but risk of unintended changes to production data increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvefeedback collection speedVSAvoidrisk of unintended changes

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent creates a copy of the production environment's interface and functionality, but with synthetic data instead of real data. This copy allows users to test and provide feedback on new features immediately, while the use of synthetic data ensures that any unintended changes only affect the simulation, not the actual production data.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #26Copying

3Reliability

If a separate sandbox environment is set up, then production environment is protected from unintended changes, but complexity of system architecture increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveproduction environment protectionVSAvoidsystem architecture complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent combines the sandbox and production environments into a single integrated system, eliminating the need for separate infrastructure. The simulated features are delivered through the existing production application interface, reducing architectural complexity while maintaining protection mechanisms through synthetic data isolation.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

4Reliability

If users must switch between production and sandbox environments, then data isolation is maintained, but time required for feature testing increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedata isolationVSAvoidfeature testing time

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent enables continuous feature testing within the production environment by integrating simulated feature access directly into the production application. Users can continuously interact with and test new features without interruption or environment switching, while data isolation is maintained through synthetic data, thus eliminating time loss while preserving data isolation.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #20Continuity of useful action

Data Source

PatentUS20260072816A1Simulated software features in a simulated sandbox within a production environment

Publication Date: 2026.03.12 SALESFORCE INC

AI summary

Implementations(s) for simulated software features are described. Responsive to a request for accessing a first web page, first code for the first web page is caused to be retrieved from a first web application. Responsive to the first code, the first web page is caused to be displayed with an access to a simulation of a feature that may be used in the first web application. Responsive to a user's selection of the access, the first web page is caused to be updated to include a first user interface (UI) component that identifies a second web page; responsive to the updated first web page, second code for the second web page is caused to be retrieved from a second web application; and responsive to the second code, the second web page is caused to be displayed inside the first UI component to allow for the simulation.