Productivity Plugin UI for Single-Click RPA in Spreadsheets
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Solution Overview
Problem
Automating tasks within productivity programs like spreadsheets is cumbersome and inefficient in conventional robotic process automation systems, requiring simplification to enhance processing speed and efficiency.
Innovation Solution
A plugin program is introduced within the productivity program to initiate RPA tasks with a single user action, allowing data automation by specifying a software robot to perform tasks on data within the spreadsheet, with results received from a control room server and provided back to the user within the productivity file.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Extent of automation
If conventional RPA systems are used to automate tasks within productivity programs, then automation capability is provided, but the automation process becomes cumbersome and inefficient
Solution Approach 1:
The patent embeds an automation user interface directly within the productivity program interface, creating a nested structure where the RPA functionality is contained within the familiar productivity environment. This allows users to access automation capabilities without leaving the productivity application, eliminating the need to switch between systems and reducing operational complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces an automation user interface as an intermediary layer between the user and the RPA system. This intermediary provides a simplified interface that translates user-friendly automation requests into RPA commands, shielding users from the complexity of conventional RPA operations while maintaining full automation capability.
2Extent of automation
If conventional RPA systems are used to automate tasks within productivity programs, then automation functionality is achieved, but processing speed and efficiency are reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent enables users to initiate automation tasks with a single click or action within the productivity program, performing the automation trigger in advance without requiring complex setup or configuration steps. This preliminary action approach allows automation to start immediately when needed, improving processing speed.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements a feedback mechanism where the automation user interface receives results from the RPA system and displays them back within the productivity program context. This closed-loop feedback enables users to monitor automation progress and results in real-time, improving overall efficiency by eliminating the need to check external systems for task status.
Data Source
AI summary
Robotic process automation (RPA) tasks for operating on data within a productivity program may be initiated by single user action from within the productivity program. A user device is provided with a plugin program that provides an automation user interface within the productivity program. A request to perform an automation task on data in a productivity file is received along with identification of a software robot to perform the automation task. The request also specifies data from the productivity file. The request is provided to a control room server that controls execution of a plurality of different automation tasks by a plurality of different software robots. Results of the automation task are received from the control room server and are provided to the plugin program, which provides the results of the automation task to the user within a productivity file accessible by the user.