Functional Extensibility Framework Run-Time Type Safety

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing systems lack robust safeguards for ensuring data type safety during run-time loading of code modules, leading to potential misinterpretation and system failures, especially in environments with different plug-in languages and new type definitions, and they do not provide integrated caching support.

Innovation Solution

The Functional Extensibility Framework (FEF) enables strong typing and data type safety by allowing the assembly and invocation of processing modules at run-time based on defined input/output data dependencies, with integrated caching to optimize performance and minimize system failures.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If run-time loading of code modules is supported, then system adaptability and productivity are improved, but data type safety and system reliability deteriorate due to lack of compile-time checking

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesystem adaptabilityVSAvoiddata type safety
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces an intermediary type-checking mechanism that operates at run-time to verify data type compatibility between code modules. This mediator layer validates interfaces and data exchanges without requiring full re-compilation of the entire system, thus maintaining adaptability while restoring reliability through automated type verification.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent implements preliminary registration and declaration of code modules with their interfaces and data types before run-time execution. This preliminary action allows the system to establish type safety contracts in advance, enabling both run-time loading capability and compile-time level type checking without requiring actual re-compilation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

2Reliability

If type checking is implemented by compiling stubs with linked modules, then data type safety is improved, but system availability deteriorates due to required re-compilation in production environment

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedata type safetyVSAvoidsystem availability
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent performs all necessary type checking and stub compilation in advance during module registration, before the production system goes live. This preliminary action ensures type safety is established upfront without requiring any re-compilation or system downtime during production operations.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The patent enables dynamic loading and type verification of code modules at run-time without requiring the system to be taken offline. The type checking mechanism operates dynamically during module instantiation, allowing continuous system availability while maintaining data type safety.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

3Ease of manufacture

If plug-ins use fixed data structures and database schema changes, then ease of manufacture is improved, but manufacturing precision deteriorates due to lack of type checking and potential data misinterpretation

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveplug-in implementation easeVSAvoiddata interpretation accuracy
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of manufactureVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces an intermediary type-checking layer that automatically validates data structures and schema definitions during plug-in implementation. This mediator verifies data type compatibility and prevents misinterpretation errors without adding complexity to the plug-in development process, thus maintaining ease of manufacture while improving precision.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Data Source

PatentUS7590980B1System and method for a functional extensibility framework
Publication Date: 2009.09.15 NETCRACKER TECH SOLUTIONS
  • US7590980B1 patent drawing
  • US7590980B1 patent drawing
  • US7590980B1 patent drawing

AI summary

There is disclosed a framework which utilizes contemporaneous assembly of processing modules, strong typing, and integrated caching to assemble processing elements from different sources robustly and minimize system failures as software modules are upgraded.