Multi-level UI Theming Engine Reduces Software Complexity

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Solution Overview

Problem

Web-based applications often require time-consuming and expensive software development and testing to implement theming changes across multiple architectural levels, leading to increased total cost of ownership and potential abandonment of re-theming efforts.

Innovation Solution

A multi-level user interface theming engine that allows for flexible and efficient theming changes by providing different levels of theming control, from quick and high-coverage settings to sophisticated changes, enabling users to modify UI components and controls without extensive software development or testing.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If web-based applications are designed to support future theming changes, then adaptability is improved, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvetheming adaptabilityVSAvoidsoftware architecture complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The theming system is segmented into multiple hierarchical levels (global theme level, application level, and component level), allowing independent modification at each level without affecting the entire system. This segmentation enables adaptability while managing complexity by localizing changes to specific layers.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The application pre-loads and caches theme data before runtime, establishing a ready-to-use theming infrastructure in advance. This preliminary action eliminates the need for complex runtime theme processing and reduces the complexity burden during actual theming operations.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

2Manufacturing precision

If theming changes are implemented across multiple architectural levels, then theming completeness is improved, but loss of time increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvetheming consistencyVSAvoidsoftware development and testing time

Core Design Contradiction:

Manufacturing precisionVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The system creates and manages theme copies at different hierarchical levels, allowing modifications to be made to theme instances without affecting the original master theme. This copying mechanism enables parallel development and testing of multiple theme variations simultaneously, reducing the time required for comprehensive theming changes.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #26Copying

Solution Approach 2:

The manual process of coordinating theming changes across multiple architectural levels is replaced by an automated theming engine that propagates theme definitions through the hierarchy. This substitution eliminates time-consuming manual updates and testing coordination while maintaining theming consistency across all levels.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

3Reliability

If extensive software development and testing is performed for theming changes, then theming reliability is improved, but total cost of ownership increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvetheming functionality reliabilityVSAvoidcost of theming implementation

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The theming engine is designed as a universal multi-functional system that handles theme loading, parsing, caching, and propagation across multiple architectural levels. This universal system can be reused for all theming operations without requiring separate development and testing processes for each theming change, thereby maintaining reliability while reducing overall costs.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Data Source

PatentUS9158438B2Multi-level user interface theming engine

Publication Date: 2015.10.13 SAP SE

AI summary

The present disclosure describes methods, systems, and computer program products for providing a multi-level user interface theming engine. One computer-implemented method includes initiating a start of a user interface following receipt of a theming request, requesting available themes for presentation in the user interface, receiving a request to access an existing theme, receiving theming data responsive to a generated request to load the existing theme, and receiving a request to publish modified theming data.