Interoperability Layers for Host-Target Application Messaging
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing application interface technologies, such as Component Object Model (COM), are complex and difficult for non-programmers to use, especially when creating interoperable software applications, and declarative application development environments are limited in interoperability with other software.
Innovation Solution
Embedding a target application within a host application using interoperability layers that facilitate communication and data exchange, allowing the target application to expose properties, events, and functions to the host application, and interact with the host entity to handle events, enabling parameter passing and data exchange between the host and target applications.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If COM technology is used to enable interoperability between software applications, then interoperability capability is improved, but device complexity and difficulty of operation increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces an intermediary layer (web browser, web server, and standardized web protocols) between the host application and target application. This intermediary translates complex COM interactions into simplified web-based communication, allowing declarative applications to interoperate with host applications without directly implementing complex interface technologies.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the mechanical COM component model with a web-based architecture using HTML, CSS, and JavaScript. This substitution allows declarative applications to achieve interoperability through web standards rather than complex object interfaces, significantly reducing the complexity barrier for non-programmers.
2Adaptability or versatility
If COM components are used to enable interoperability, then interoperability capability is improved, but ease of manufacture deteriorates due to programming difficulty
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the need to program COM components with declarative web-based development. Non-programmers can create interoperable applications using drag-and-drop operations and declarative syntax in web environments, eliminating the need to learn complex COM programming interfaces.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates a universal web-based interface layer that works across different host applications and target applications. This universal approach allows a single declarative application to interoperate with multiple different hosts without requiring application-specific programming, greatly simplifying the creation process.
3Ease of operation
If declarative application development environments are used, then ease of operation is improved, but interoperability with other software deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent enables declarative applications to universally interact with host applications through standardized web protocols. The same declarative application can be embedded in different host environments (desktop, web, mobile) and maintain full interoperability capabilities without losing ease of operation.
Solution Approach 2:
The web browser and web server act as intermediaries that preserve the simplicity of declarative development while enabling full interoperability. The intermediary layer handles the complexity of host application integration, allowing the declarative application to remain simple while achieving versatile interoperability.
Data Source
AI summary
An integrated application environment includes a host web application executed in a browser, and a target application embedded in a container of the host web application. Interoperability layers facilitate messaging between the host web application and a host entity object of the target application in the container according to multiple communication protocols.