Mainframe Data Flow Optimization Framework
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Current systems in retail environments require multiple, often incompatible, computer platforms for managing various business aspects, leading to complex file transfer tasks such as developing mainframe jobs, testing, and job scheduling, which are inefficient and labor-intensive.
Innovation Solution
A mainframe data flow optimization framework that uses a structured model driven by configuration files to automatically transfer files from mainframes to external systems, comprising a file process module, an average time calculation module, and a configuration updater module, which prepares file lists, identifies newly created data files, generates trigger files, and pushes them to external systems.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If manual file transfer processes are used with multiple computer platforms, then file transfers can be performed between different systems, but the process requires extensive manual effort including developing mainframe jobs, testing, and job scheduling
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces an intermediary component (file transfer agent or gateway) that mediates between the mainframe system and external systems. This intermediary handles the complex tasks of job development, testing, and scheduling automatically, transforming manual multi-platform file transfers into an automated process while maintaining compatibility across different computer platforms
Solution Approach 2:
The system enables self-service automation where the file transfer process automatically identifies newly created files, generates appropriate mainframe jobs, schedules them, and monitors execution without manual intervention. The system serves itself by automatically managing the entire file transfer workflow from file creation to successful transmission across different platforms
2Productivity
If automated file transfer is implemented, then manual effort is reduced, but the system requires sophisticated automation framework with multiple modules
Solution Approach 1:
The automation framework is segmented into distinct functional modules: a file monitor module that detects new files, a job generation module that creates mainframe jobs, a scheduling module that manages execution timing, and a monitoring module that tracks job completion. This segmentation allows each module to perform its specific function efficiently while working together as an integrated automated system
Solution Approach 2:
The automation framework is designed as a universal system that can handle multiple file transfer scenarios across different computer platforms through a single integrated architecture. The system performs multiple functions including file detection, job creation, scheduling, and monitoring within one cohesive framework, eliminating the need for separate manual processes for each task
3Reliability
If individual monitoring is used for each job on different platforms, then job status can be tracked, but separate periodic job summaries and displays are required for management
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges individual job monitoring across multiple different computer platforms into a single unified monitoring interface. The system combines status information from various platforms and presents it through one centralized display, allowing management to view all job statuses and receive integrated summaries without needing to access separate monitoring systems for each platform
Data Source
AI summary
Systems, methods, and machine readable media are provided for mainframe data flow optimization and integration. The system includes a computing device configured to execute a file process module, an average time calculation module, and a configuration updater module. The file process module when executed prepares a file list for a lookup, calls a workflow scheduler for a jobs list based on the file list for lookup, identifies newly created data files from a plurality of different systems from the jobs list, generates a trigger file for each newly created data file for every external system that requires the newly created file, and processes each trigger file and pushes the newly created files to an external system.