Dynamic Electronic Form State Persistence via Delta Overlay
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing methods fail to preserve the complete state of dynamic electronic forms, including user-specific changes and overridden values, when loading previously saved forms, as they distinguish between templates and content, leading to loss of session information and increased complexity in data management.
Innovation Solution
A system utilizing a delta repository to store session-related data as 'delta objects' within a delta DOM, which are merged with the template and user data to restore the electronic form state, ensuring that changes and overridden values are preserved across sessions without polluting the application data.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the template and content are stored separately in an architecture that distinguishes between electronic form template and electronic form content, then the template purity and data integrity are improved, but the session state information is lost between sessions
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the form data into three distinct components: template (structure and rules), content (application data), and delta (session-specific state changes). This segmentation allows each component to be stored and managed separately, preserving template purity while capturing session state in the delta component that can be overlaid when reloading forms.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a delta repository as an intermediary layer between the template and content. This delta repository stores session-specific changes and acts as a mediator that preserves transient state information without contaminating the permanent template or application data, enabling state restoration on form reload.
2Reliability
If scripts are added to the template to restore form state, then the form state persistence is improved, but the template complexity and design difficulty increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the state restoration logic from the template and relocates it to a separate delta repository system. Instead of embedding complex restoration scripts within the template, the template simply references the delta repository, which handles all state restoration operations automatically when the form is loaded.
Solution Approach 2:
The delta repository implements self-service functionality by automatically detecting, storing, and restoring form state changes without requiring manual script execution or complex template logic. The system self-manages the persistence and restoration of session state through automated overlay operations when forms are reloaded.
3Reliability
If extra data values are saved to capture session information, then the form state persistence is improved, but the application data purity is compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments data storage into distinct repositories: the application data repository for permanent business data, and the delta repository for transient session state. This segmentation ensures that session-specific delta values are captured and preserved without being mixed with or contaminating the pure application data, maintaining data integrity while enabling state persistence.
Solution Approach 2:
The delta repository serves as an intermediary storage layer that captures session state information without directly modifying application data. It acts as a buffer that holds transient values separately, allowing the system to restore session state through overlay operations without polluting the permanent application data repository.
Data Source
AI summary
A system, to persist state in a dynamic electronic form, may include a communications module to receive a request to load an electronic form, a merge module to merge a template associated with the electronic form and data values associated with the electronic form, a delta extractor to access delta data associated with the electronic form, and an overlay module to overlay the delta data onto the electronic form. The delta data, in an example embodiment, includes attributes and properties associated with the electronic form that are being designated to persist between editing sessions of the electronic form.