Entity-Based Cross-Application Navigation via Bootstrap Code

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing applications face challenges in navigating and integrating with different software, hardware, and networking technologies, requiring specialized knowledge and leading to increased development and maintenance costs due to the need for specific knowledge of application and application environment interfaces.

Innovation Solution

The implementation of entity-based, cross-application navigation methods that provide hypermedia links and bootstrap code to decouple client applications from server-side frameworks, allowing for uniform resource locator (URL) queries using the open data protocol (ODATA) over HTTP, enabling navigation across various application environments without requiring knowledge of the underlying technology stacks.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If applications use different software, hardware, and networking technologies with different standards and protocols, then application functionality and versatility are improved, but interface complexity and maintenance requirements increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveapplication functionalityVSAvoidinterface complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements a universal interface framework that enables applications built on different technology stacks (Java, .NET, PHP, etc.) to communicate through a common set of protocols and standards. This framework provides multi-functional capability to handle various application types while maintaining a consistent interface layer, thereby reducing interface complexity without sacrificing application versatility

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

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces an intermediary interface layer that mediates between applications with different technology stacks. This intermediary translates between various protocols and standards, allowing applications to communicate without direct knowledge of each other's underlying technology, thus reducing the complexity burden on individual application interfaces

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Manufacturing precision

If applications require specific knowledge of called application and application environment interfaces, then integration precision is improved, but developer skill requirements and training costs increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveintegration precisionVSAvoidknowledge requirements
Core Design Contradiction:
Manufacturing precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent establishes homogeneous interface standards and protocols that all applications must adhere to, regardless of their underlying technology stack. This homogenization allows developers to work with a consistent set of interface conventions, reducing the need for specialized knowledge of different application environments while maintaining precise integration through standardized methods

Inventive Principle:
Principle #33Homogeneity

3Adaptability or versatility

If changes are made to called application or application environment, then functionality improvement is achieved, but maintenance overhead and update propagation increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvefunctionality improvementVSAvoidmaintenance time
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments the application ecosystem into independent modules with well-defined interfaces. When changes are needed in one application or environment, only the affected segment requires updating, while other segments remain unaffected. This modular approach isolates changes and reduces the time required for maintenance and update propagation across the entire system

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

4Adaptability or versatility

If specialized knowledge in multiple technologies is required for development and support, then system integration capability is improved, but personnel training costs and hiring difficulty increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveintegration capabilityVSAvoidskill requirements
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent creates a universal interface framework that enables developers with knowledge of a single technology stack to work across multiple application environments. The framework's multi-functional design allows the same interface patterns to be applied regardless of the underlying technology, reducing the need for developers to specialize in multiple technologies while maintaining strong integration capabilities

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

Data Source

PatentUS9524147B2Entity-based cross-application navigation
Publication Date: 2016.12.20 SAP SE
  • US9524147B2 patent drawing
  • US9524147B2 patent drawing
  • US9524147B2 patent drawing

AI summary

The present disclosure describes methods, systems, and computer program products for providing entity-based, cross-application navigation according to an implementation. One computer-implemented method includes receiving a request for data and callable entities associated with a provided entity context, transmitting the data and callable entities, receiving request for bootstrap code associated with a target application, generating bootstrap code containing an application environment runtime detection library and application environment navigation data, and transmitting the bootstrap code.