Gateway Framework for External Service Integration

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing information processing systems face challenges in efficiently adding or changing external services, as authentication and data collaboration means are frequently scattered throughout the system, requiring extensive modifications whenever an external service is added or changed.

Innovation Solution

An information processing system with a centralized external storage common framework and collaboration API allows for seamless addition or change of external storage services without affecting the entire system, using a proxy conversion information table to manage requests and authentication information setup processes.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If authentication and data collaboration means are scattered throughout the system, then system security and functionality are maintained, but system complexity increases and adaptability decreases when adding or changing external services

Engineering Contradiction:
ImproveadaptabilityVSAvoidsystem complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces a gateway as an intermediary component that centralizes authentication and data collaboration functions. The gateway acts as a mediator between external services and the information processing system, consolidating scattered authentication modules and data collaboration mechanisms into a single manageable interface. This resolves the contradiction by improving adaptability through standardized access while controlling system complexity through centralization.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent segments the system into distinct functional modules: external services, gateway, and information processing system. By separating authentication and data collaboration functions into the gateway layer, the patent enables independent modification of external services without affecting the core system, thus improving adaptability while managing complexity through modular architecture.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

2Productivity

If authentication modules and data collaboration means are distributed across the entire system, then comprehensive security coverage is achieved, but development time and effort increase when adding new external services

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedevelopment efficiencyVSAvoidsecurity coverage
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent merges authentication and data collaboration functions into a unified gateway component. This consolidation maintains comprehensive security coverage by centralizing security checks in one location, while simultaneously improving development efficiency by requiring modifications only in the gateway rather than across multiple system components when adding external services.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The gateway is designed as a universal component that handles multiple functions including authentication, authorization, and data collaboration for various external services. This multi-functionality maintains comprehensive security coverage across all services while improving productivity by providing a standardized interface that reduces development effort for integrating new external services.

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

3Adaptability or versatility

If the system is modified every time an external service is added or changed, then the system remains adaptable to new services, but system stability decreases and development effort increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveservice adaptabilityVSAvoidsystem stability
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSStability of the object's composition

Solution Approach 1:

The gateway serves as a stable intermediary layer that absorbs the complexity of service additions and changes. External services can be added or modified without affecting the core information processing system, as the gateway mediates all interactions. This maintains system stability while preserving service adaptability through the gateway's standardized interface.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent segments the system architecture into external services, gateway, and core system components. This segmentation allows external services to be added or changed independently without modifying the stable core system, thus maintaining system stability while achieving service adaptability through the isolated gateway layer.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Data Source

PatentEP2950230B1Information processing system, method of processing information, information processing apparatus, and program
Publication Date: 2019.03.06 RICOH CO LTD
  • EP2950230B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP2950230B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP2950230B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

An information processing system includes at least one information processing apparatus; a receiving unit which receives a first processing request to at least one external service unit performing a process in collaboration with a first program that is operated in the at least information processing apparatus; and a processing request unit which performs, when the first processing request is received by the receiving unit, a second processing request to the at least one external service unit based on the first processing request through an interface unit among a plurality of interface units commonly used for the at least one external service unit, the interface unit being used by the external service unit corresponding to identification information of the at least one external service unit included in the first processing request.