External Function Integration via Entity Search
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Solution Overview
Problem
App developers face challenges in easily integrating external functionalities into their applications, as they often lack knowledge of available apps that provide complementary functions and struggle with systematic ways to connect with other apps, leading to a limited ability to enhance user experience.
Innovation Solution
A system and method that allows app developers to incorporate external functionalities by selecting functions from a data store, generating software objects that interact with a search system to find and integrate relevant apps, and providing user interface elements for seamless access, including installation and navigation to specific app states, with features like entity mapping and monetization options.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If app developers manually search for and integrate external functionalities, then they can access diverse external functions, but the development time and complexity increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces an intermediary system consisting of a data store, search system, and code generation module that mediates between developers and external functionalities. The system automatically searches for relevant external functions based on entity identifiers, retrieves appropriate code, and integrates it into the application, eliminating the need for developers to manually search and integrate external functionalities.
Solution Approach 2:
The system enables self-service by allowing the code generation module to automatically perform the integration of external functionalities without requiring manual intervention from developers. The system retrieves code based on entity identifiers and automatically incorporates it into the application, making the process autonomous and efficient.
2Ease of operation
If app developers systematically connect with other apps, then they can enhance user experience, but the complexity of integration increases
Solution Approach 1:
The intermediary system simplifies integration complexity by handling the systematic connection between applications. The search system automatically finds relevant external functions based on entity identifiers, and the code generation module manages the integration process, reducing the complexity that would otherwise be borne by the developer.
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes the parameter of integration from manual configuration to automated retrieval using entity identifiers. By using standardized identifiers as parameters, the system transforms a complex integration process into a simple lookup and insertion operation, significantly reducing integration complexity.
3Ease of manufacture
If developers focus on one market segment, then they can maintain expertise, but they cannot keep up with applications in other segments
Solution Approach 1:
The system acts as an intermediary that bridges the knowledge gap between developers specializing in one segment and applications in other segments. The search system automatically discovers and retrieves relevant external functionalities from any market segment, allowing developers to access knowledge and functions outside their primary expertise area without needing to manually research them.
Data Source
AI summary
A system stores information identifying functions and corresponding unique identifiers. Each of the functions corresponds to external functionality available from third party applications. An application developer selects one of the functions to supplement functionality of their application. The system provides a software object to the application developer. The software object includes instructions for, in response to user selection of a user interface element, preparing a query wrapper including the corresponding unique identifier of the function and an identifier of a corresponding entity. The instructions transmit the query wrapper to a search system and receive a result set from the search system. An item in the result set includes an access mechanism for a specified state of a target application. The instructions display the result set and, in response to user selection of the item, actuate the access mechanism to open the target application to the specified state.