Expression Editor System for Application Action Point Rules
Solution Overview
Problem
Current application development and management tools lack the ability to efficiently modify or create different outcomes for target applications without significant software development efforts, and they do not provide a straightforward way to confirm context and available variables during application execution.
Innovation Solution
An expression editor system that allows users to build rules specifying actions during application execution by using a computer system with a memory to store an expression editor tool, a database to store action point definitions, and a processor to read and execute these definitions, enabling the creation of data field selections and graphical building of expressions and outcomes.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If current application development and management tools are used, then application execution occurs, but users cannot efficiently modify or create different outcomes without expensive software development efforts
Solution Approach 1:
The system segments application modification into discrete action points within the application code. Each action point represents a specific location where rules can be attached to modify behavior. This segmentation allows users to make targeted modifications without redeveloping entire application segments, thereby reducing complexity while improving adaptability.
Solution Approach 2:
The system introduces rules as an intermediary layer between the application code and its execution outcomes. These rules act as mediators that intercept application flow at defined action points and modify behavior based on specified conditions. This intermediary mechanism enables outcome modification without direct code changes, reducing development complexity while enhancing versatility.
2Ease of operation
If users attempt to analyze target application to modify logic, then understanding of application behavior is needed, but available tools do not provide easy way to confirm context and available variables
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary action by automatically analyzing the application code structure and pre-identifying valid action points, their contexts, and available variables before user interaction. This preliminary analysis populates the rule builder with contextual information, eliminating the need for users to manually analyze application behavior and significantly reducing analysis time while improving ease of operation.
Solution Approach 2:
The system provides self-service by automatically gathering and presenting contextual information about action points, including available variables and data fields, without requiring user investigation. The tool autonomously analyzes the application structure and serves the necessary contextual data to users, thereby reducing the time users would otherwise spend analyzing the application while making the process easier.
3Adaptability or versatility
If manual analysis and modification of application logic is performed, then custom outcomes can be created, but considerable time and effort are spent by development professionals
Solution Approach 1:
The system introduces rules as an intermediary mechanism that enables custom outcome creation without direct application code modification. Users can define custom behaviors through rule specifications that intercept and modify application flow at action points. This intermediary approach maintains high adaptability for creating custom outcomes while dramatically reducing the time and effort required compared to manual code analysis and modification.
Solution Approach 2:
The system enables copying of rule patterns and behaviors across different action points. Once a rule is created and tested, it can be replicated and adapted for similar scenarios, reducing the time and effort required to create custom outcomes for multiple locations. This copying capability maintains versatility while improving productivity by eliminating repetitive analysis and modification work.
Data Source
AI summary
An expression editor system allows a user to build an expression specifying an action that may occur during execution of a target application. The expression editor system includes an expression editor tool used to create, manage, and store action point definitions that include an action point identifier that specifies an action point located in target application program code. The expression editor system determines from the action point definition a dataset that is in-context at the action point in the application program code, obtains data field selections from the dataset that is in-context at the action point in the application program code, graphically builds an expression, and an outcome that executes depending the expression, links the outcome and the expression to form an action point rule for the action point, and saves the action point rule in the database for execution when the application program code reaches the action point.