Message-Based Interface for Heterogeneous Business Objects

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current business interfaces are not consistent across industries and departments, leading to difficulties in exchanging information between heterogeneous business entities due to differences in semantics, formatting, and programming systems, requiring human intervention and lacking standardization.

Innovation Solution

A message-based interface system derived from a common business object model, enabling the exchange of consistent information by unpacking and processing messages hierarchically, using a service registry to provide consistent semantics across heterogeneous applications.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If heterogeneous business entities use their own proprietary programs and semantics for information exchange, then each business entity can maintain its own business logic and data formats, but information exchange between different business entities becomes difficult and requires human intervention

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvebusiness entity autonomyVSAvoidinformation exchange

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces a message-based interface as an intermediary layer between heterogeneous business entities. This interface uses standardized message packages containing business objects that translate and bridge different business entity semantics and data formats, enabling automated information exchange without human intervention while preserving each entity's proprietary programs

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent creates a universal message-based interface framework that can handle multiple types of business information exchange across different industries and departments. The standardized message packages and business objects provide a multi-functional solution that works across heterogeneous systems while maintaining adaptability to specific business requirements

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

2Adaptability or versatility

If different business entities use different data formats, semantics, and programming systems, then each entity can optimize for its specific business needs, but standardization and consistency across the business transaction network are lost

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvebusiness entity customizationVSAvoidinformation consistency

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The message-based interface acts as a mediator that standardizes information representation through unified message packages and business objects. This intermediary layer ensures consistent data formats, semantics, and structure across all business entities while allowing each entity to maintain its proprietary programs and optimization strategies

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent enforces homogeneity in the representation of business information through standardized message packages and business objects. All business entities exchange information using the same data formats, semantic structures, and message protocols, ensuring consistency and reliability across the entire business transaction network

Inventive Principle:

Principle #33Homogeneity

3Ease of operation

If human interaction is required to facilitate transactions between heterogeneous businesses, then information exchange can be customized and negotiated, but transaction speed and automation are reduced

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvetransaction flexibilityVSAvoidtransaction speed

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The message-based interface enables self-service automated transactions between business entities. The standardized message packages and business objects allow systems to autonomously exchange information and complete transactions without human intervention, dramatically increasing transaction speed and productivity while maintaining the flexibility to handle complex business logic

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

Data Source

PatentUS8417588B2Managing consistent interfaces for goods tag, production bill of material hierarchy, and release order template business objects across heterogeneous systems

Publication Date: 2013.04.09 SAP SE

AI summary

A business object model, which reflects data that is used during a given business transaction, is utilized to generate interfaces. This business object model facilitates commercial transactions by providing consistent interfaces that are suitable for use across industries, across businesses, and across different departments within a business during a business transaction. In some operations, software creates, updates, or otherwise processes information related to a goods tag, a production bill of material hierarchy, and/or a release order template business object.