Portable Software Packages for IT Process Automation
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Solution Overview
Problem
IT departments face challenges in implementing formal IT management processes due to technical and human-related issues, such as lack of infrastructure, learning curves, and duplication of effort, leading to inefficiencies in automating and sharing IT or business processes.
Innovation Solution
The development of portable software packages containing declarative encodings of processes that can be plugged into technology stacks to automate business or IT processes, allowing for separation of process information from underlying technology and enabling efficient sharing and implementation across different IT systems.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Extent of automation
If IT departments implement formal IT management processes from scratch, then process automation capability is improved, but implementation time and complexity increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by pre-packaging IT management processes into portable software packages that include all necessary configurations, workflows, and automation logic before deployment. This allows IT departments to deploy fully-functional automated processes without spending years implementing them from scratch, as the packages are prepared in advance with all required infrastructure and configurations already in place.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent segments IT management processes into independent portable software packages that can be deployed and executed as discrete units. Each package encapsulates a complete process including workflows, configurations, and automation logic, allowing selective deployment of only the necessary process components rather than implementing entire systems from scratch.
2Adaptability or versatility
If IT departments configure technology stacks manually to support new processes, then process customization is improved, but device complexity and configuration effort increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the configuration and customization logic from manual IT department configurations and embeds it directly into the portable software packages. The packages contain pre-configured technology stack settings, workflow definitions, and automation parameters that are extracted from complex manual configuration tasks, allowing process customization without requiring deep technical configuration knowledge.
Solution Approach 2:
The portable software packages are designed to be self-configuring and self-deploying, automatically installing necessary components, configuring technology stacks, and setting up workflows without requiring manual intervention. The packages include built-in configuration management that automatically adapts to the target environment, eliminating the need for complex manual configuration while maintaining full process customization capability.
3Productivity
If IT departments retrain personnel and disseminate information about new processes, then process adoption is improved, but time loss and operational disruption increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses copying by providing portable software packages that replicate proven IT management processes exactly as they should be executed. These packages include embedded documentation, user guides, and configuration instructions that are copied along with the process logic, allowing personnel to understand and implement processes without lengthy training sessions. The packaged information can be distributed and reviewed quickly before deployment.
4Adaptability or versatility
If different IT departments implement the same business process independently, then local customization is improved, but duplication of effort increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent creates universal portable software packages that can be deployed across multiple IT departments and organizations. The packages are designed with universal interfaces and standardized configurations that allow the same process package to be adapted to different local environments through simple parameter configuration rather than complete reimplementation. This enables one package to serve multiple functions across different departments while maintaining local customization capabilities.
Data Source
AI summary
Described are software stacks for accepting and implementing portable packages containing encodings of processes. The packages are portable and distinct from the technology stacks. The packages may be in the form of declarative code for configuring the technology stacks and can be plugged into the technology stacks to allow the technology stack to play the packages, thereby automating the processes encoded by the packages. The technology stacks have components that are declaratively configurable such that they can provide their functionality autonomously and yet can also, as a unit, in performing their respective functions, cooperatively perform the processes encoded by the packages.