Macro Service Interface for Cross-Application Translation
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing systems for executing and managing macros lack the ability to seamlessly share and execute macros across multiple applications and services, particularly in a hosted computing environment, leading to complexities in communication and security, as well as inefficient quota management.
Innovation Solution
A hosted computing system that allows macros to be stored and executed on a macro server subsystem, enabling sharing and access from various locations, with a service interface that translates commands and data between different languages, provides security wrappers, and enforces quotas to prevent misuse, and uses Java objects to abstract service access.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If macros are stored and executed on a hosted computer system, then macro sharing and accessibility across multiple locations is improved, but system complexity and security management become worse
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a service interface as an intermediary layer between macros and the hosted computer system. This service interface handles the complexity of communication, translation, and coordination between different components, allowing macros to be shared and executed across multiple locations without directly exposing the underlying system complexity to users.
2Ease of operation
If a service interface translates commands between macro language and service language, then ease of use for macro programmers is improved, but processing time and system overhead increase
Solution Approach 1:
The service interface performs preliminary actions by pre-compiling and caching translation rules between macro language and service language. When a macro is executed, the interface uses these pre-prepared translation mappings to quickly convert commands without performing complex real-time translation, thus reducing processing time while maintaining ease of use for programmers.
3Reliability
If security wrappers are added to protect system resources, then system security is improved, but macro execution performance deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The security wrappers implement partial security checks by applying security validation only to specific high-risk operations within macro execution, rather than checking every single operation. This selective approach provides adequate security protection for critical system resources while minimizing the performance overhead associated with comprehensive security checking.
4Reliability
If quota enforcing layers are implemented to prevent misuse, then system reliability is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the quota enforcing layer with the existing service interface and security wrapper infrastructure. By integrating quota management functionality into the already-present translation and security layers, the system achieves reliable quota control without adding separate complex architectural components, thus improving reliability while minimizing additional complexity.
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3A
AI summary
A computer-implemented method of managing computer macros is discussed. This method includes identifying a macro stored at a hosted computer system, executing the macro by traversing lines of commands in the macro, and identifying one of a plurality of different services that are responsive to macros. The method also includes converting a command in the macro from a format associated with a macro language in which the macro is authored, to a command format associated with the identified one of the plurality of different services and providing information received from the one of a plurality of different services to the macro or an application corresponding to the macro, after converting the information into a format usable by the macro or the application corresponding to the macro.