Pluggable Software Modules With Virtual Sockets
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
In software engineering, managing complex software applications with millions of lines of code is challenging due to difficulties in tracking dependencies and understanding the effects of changes across disparate codebases, leading to issues like spaghetti code and high maintenance costs.
Innovation Solution
The development of pluggable software modules with virtual sockets, similar to physical components, that can be easily assembled and disassembled, allowing for automated creation and management of communication code between modules, reducing the need for manual implementation and minimizing error-prone dependencies.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If software applications are organized into modules, then code reusability and manageability are improved, but tracking dependencies and managing communication interfaces between modules becomes complex
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a module registry as an intermediary component that automatically manages module dependencies and communication interfaces. The registry serves as a central repository where modules register themselves and their dependencies, eliminating the need for manual dependency tracking. The system automatically generates communication code between modules based on their registered interfaces, resolving the complexity of interface management.
Solution Approach 2:
Modules are designed to self-register with the module registry, automatically declaring their dependencies and communication interfaces. The system performs self-service by automatically generating the communication code required between modules without manual intervention. This self-organizing capability reduces the complexity of managing module interactions while maintaining code reusability.
2Reliability
If manual communication code is implemented between modules, then collaboration between modules is achieved, but development time and error-proneness increase
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary action by automatically generating communication code between modules before runtime. Based on the module interfaces registered with the module registry, the system pre-generates the necessary communication code, eliminating the need for manual implementation. This preliminary code generation reduces development time while ensuring reliable module collaboration through systematically generated communication protocols.
3Adaptability or versatility
If modules are redesigned or replaced, then functionality can be updated, but extensive testing is required due to unknown effects on other parts
Solution Approach 1:
The system implements clear segmentation between modules through standardized interfaces registered with the module registry. Each module's dependencies and interfaces are explicitly declared and isolated, creating well-defined boundaries. When a module is redesigned or replaced, the segmentation ensures that changes are contained within that module's interface contract, reducing the ripple effect on other modules and minimizing the testing required to validate system-wide compatibility.
Data Source
AI summary
One of the useful things having proven track record for increasing manual productivity is a very specific kind of parts, which can be assembled and disassembled, particularly in the context of CBD/CBE (Component-Based Design, or Engineering) of physical products such as cars, computers, or cell-phones. Such very specific kind of parts (that are assembled and disassembled) are widely known as components, particularly in the context of the CBD/CBE of the physical products. It is desirable to build software applications by using software parts (or components) that can be plugged-in and unplugged, for example, by transforming (e.g. by designing or redesigning) certain existing kinds of software components or parts into a virtual pluggable module, which is designed to be plugged-in and unplugged. Creating and using such a new kind of pluggable modules for building software applications requires inventing enabling tools, mechanisms, processes, and/or methods to facilitate virtual plugging in and unplugging of each of said new kind of pluggable modules.