HTTP Recorder Workflow Generation for Legacy RPA Automation

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional UI automations face challenges in detecting and replacing elements in legacy applications, leading to reduced reliability and speed, especially in contact centers, and require third-party tools for analyzing HTTP requests, impacting the viability of RPA solutions.

Innovation Solution

A robotic process automation workflow designer application with a hypertext transfer protocol recorder feature that filters, records, and converts HTTP requests into activities, enabling efficient automation with minimal code enhancements.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Extent of automation

If conventional UI automations are used to detect elements in legacy applications, then automation capability is provided, but detection difficulty and reliability decrease

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveautomation capabilityVSAvoidelement detection difficulty

Core Design Contradiction:

Extent of automationVSDifficulty of detecting and measuring

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces conventional UI automation mechanisms (which interact with graphical interfaces) with HTTP request analysis mechanisms. Instead of using UI automation tools to detect elements through visual interfaces, the system directly analyzes HTTP requests and responses to extract process information, thereby avoiding the detection difficulties inherent in legacy application UIs.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

2Extent of automation

If conventional UI automations are used, then automation is provided, but speed and reliability deteriorate in time-sensitive environments

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveautomation capabilityVSAvoidprocessing speed

Core Design Contradiction:

Extent of automationVSSpeed

Solution Approach 1:

The system substitutes slow UI automation interactions with direct HTTP request analysis, which operates at the protocol level and bypasses the time-consuming graphical interface layer. This enables much faster processing speeds suitable for contact centers and other time-sensitive environments.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces an HTTP recorder and analyzer as an intermediary layer between the automation system and the application being automated. This intermediary captures and analyzes HTTP traffic directly, providing a faster and more reliable pathway for extracting process information compared to traditional UI automation methods.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Loss of information

If HTTP requests are analyzed using conventional methods, then process information can be extracted, but development time increases and effectiveness decreases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveprocess information extractionVSAvoiddevelopment speed

Core Design Contradiction:

Loss of informationVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The HTTP recorder automatically captures and analyzes HTTP requests without requiring manual intervention or third-party tools. The system self-services by extracting process information directly from the recorded HTTP traffic, eliminating the need for developers to manually analyze requests and significantly reducing development time.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The patent performs preliminary action by recording HTTP requests in advance and preparing them for analysis. The HTTP recorder captures requests as they occur, pre-processing and organizing the data before it needs to be analyzed, which streamlines the subsequent extraction process and accelerates development.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

4Difficulty of detecting and measuring

If third party tools are used for HTTP analysis, then HTTP request analysis capability is provided, but device complexity and cost increase

Engineering Contradiction:

ImproveHTTP analysis capabilityVSAvoidsystem complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Difficulty of detecting and measuringVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent merges the HTTP recording, analysis, and automation workflow generation capabilities into a single integrated RPA workflow designer application. By combining these functions that would otherwise require separate third-party tools, the system reduces overall complexity and eliminates the need for additional external software.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The RPA workflow designer application is designed with multi-functionality, serving both as a workflow design tool and an HTTP recorder/analyzer. This universal approach allows the same application to perform multiple functions that would traditionally require separate specialized tools, thereby reducing system complexity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Data Source

PatentUS12613678B2Hypertext transfer protocol recorder of a robotic process automation workflow designer application

Publication Date: 2026.04.28 UIPATH INC

AI summary

A method is provided. The method is implemented by a robotic process automation workflow designer application that includes a hypertext transfer protocol recorder feature. The robotic process automation workflow designer application is embodied in software stored on a memory and executed by a processor. The method includes filtering hypertext transfer protocol requests to provide filtered hypertext transfer protocol requests. The method includes recording the filtered hypertext transfer protocol request to provide recorded hypertext transfer protocol requests. The method includes converting the recorded hypertext transfer protocol requests into hypertext transfer protocol request activities. The method includes generating a sequence from the hypertext transfer protocol request activities.