Mobile App Configuration via OData Gateway
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Modifying mobile applications to access centrally stored databases is challenging due to the need for specialized programming skills and significant code changes, making it costly to update user interfaces or perform CRUD operations.
Innovation Solution
A configuration tool that allows for modifying the user interface of mobile apps without changing the application code, dynamically generating CRUD operations, and storing configuration data on an OData gateway, enabling easy customization and updates without programming knowledge.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If custom programming is used to create mobile applications that access centrally stored databases, then the applications can provide full functionality and access to database operations, but the cost and complexity of modifying the application increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The system separates the mobile application into two independent parts: a static application binary that provides the user interface and interaction logic, and a dynamic configuration data set that defines database access parameters, query structures, and CRUD operations. This segmentation allows the configuration to be modified without recompiling or redistributing the application binary, resolving the contradiction between maintaining full database functionality and reducing modification complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements dynamic configuration where the mobile application loads and adapts to configuration data at runtime rather than having fixed, hard-coded database access logic. The configuration data can be updated centrally and pushed to multiple devices, enabling the application behavior to change dynamically without code modifications. This dynamic approach maintains full database access functionality while eliminating the need for complex reprogramming when changes are needed.
2Adaptability or versatility
If specialized programmers are hired to modify mobile applications, then the applications can be updated with new features and interface changes, but the cost becomes prohibitive
Solution Approach 1:
The system enables non-programmer users to customize and modify mobile application behavior through a configuration interface that provides visual, form-based editing of database access parameters, query definitions, and CRUD operations. The configuration tool automatically generates the necessary configuration data files that the mobile application consumes at runtime. This self-service capability allows business users to perform customizations that previously required specialized programmers, dramatically reducing modification costs while maintaining full adaptability.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a configuration data layer as an intermediary between the mobile application and the centrally stored database. This configuration layer acts as a mediator that translates user-friendly configuration parameters into the technical specifications needed for database access. By inserting this intermediary layer, the system decouples the user interface from the database access logic, allowing non-technical users to make changes without needing to understand complex programming concepts or database schemas.
3Ease of operation
If code changes are made to update the mobile application interface, then the user interface can be modified to meet changing requirements, but significant development time and expertise are required
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary configuration setup where all database access parameters, query structures, and CRUD operation definitions are prepared and stored in a centralized configuration repository before being deployed to mobile devices. The mobile application is pre-built with the capability to consume this configuration data at runtime. When interface changes are needed, only the configuration data needs to be updated in the repository, and the changes are automatically available to all devices without requiring compilation, testing, or deployment cycles. This preliminary preparation of configuration templates and structures dramatically reduces implementation time from days or weeks to minutes or hours.
Data Source
AI summary
A system and method are presented that provide a configuration tool on a database gateway. The configuration tool stores configuration data that is used by a mobile app to customize the mobile application user interface. Changes made to the configuration data are accessed by each mobile application to revise the user interface of the mobile application. In one embodiment, the database gateway is an OData gateway that is used by the mobile device to communicate with the database.