Proxy System for Incompatible IT Data Integration
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Incompatible IT systems in industries like insurance often require manual re-keying and reformatting of data due to differing business rules and data models, leading to inefficiencies, errors, and high costs, as existing solutions like integration projects and communication standards are expensive, time-consuming, and difficult to implement.
Innovation Solution
A proxy system, or 'smart bridge,' is placed between client and server applications to prefill web forms with client data, allowing for semi-automatic data submission and modification, thereby addressing data incompatibilities without requiring system upgrades or changes to existing systems.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If integration projects are implemented to connect incompatible systems, then system communication capability is improved, but project cost and time consumption increase substantially
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a web bridge as an intermediary component that sits between incompatible client and server systems. This web bridge translates data formats and business rules automatically, enabling communication without requiring modifications to the underlying incompatible systems. The intermediary handles the complexity of data translation, allowing direct connection while avoiding lengthy integration projects.
Solution Approach 2:
The web bridge creates a virtual copy of the server application interface that presents a standardized web-based interface to clients. Instead of modifying the original server system, the bridge replicates its functionality through web technologies, allowing clients to access data without direct system integration. This copying approach eliminates the need for time-consuming integration projects while maintaining communication capability.
2Adaptability or versatility
If integration projects are implemented to connect incompatible systems, then system communication capability is improved, but implementation cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
The web bridge serves as a cost-effective intermediary that translates between different system protocols and business rules. Rather than expensive point-to-point integration projects, the bridge provides a standardized interface that can connect multiple systems without requiring custom development for each connection, significantly reducing implementation costs.
Solution Approach 2:
The web bridge implements a universal interface that can connect to various different client and server systems through standardized web protocols. This multi-functionality allows a single bridge implementation to handle multiple communication scenarios, eliminating the need for separate integration projects for each system connection and thereby reducing overall implementation cost.
3Adaptability or versatility
If communication standards are adopted to enable system communication, then interoperability is improved, but standard design and maintenance becomes expensive and time-consuming
Solution Approach 1:
The web bridge acts as an intermediary that implements communication standards internally while presenting simplified interfaces to both clients and servers. This allows the bridge to handle standardization complexity internally without requiring users to design or maintain the standards themselves, thereby reducing the time and cost associated with standard design and maintenance.
4Adaptability or versatility
If existing systems are modified to comply with new communication standards, then system compatibility is improved, but modification cost and time increase
Solution Approach 1:
The web bridge serves as an intermediary layer that translates between legacy system formats and new communication standards. This allows existing systems to remain unchanged while still achieving compatibility with modern standards through the bridge's translation capabilities, thereby eliminating the need for time-consuming system modifications.
Solution Approach 2:
The web bridge creates a virtual representation of the server interface that conforms to new standards without modifying the original legacy system. This copying approach allows the bridge to present standardized interfaces to clients while the underlying server remains unchanged, thereby avoiding the time and cost of modifying existing systems to comply with new standards.
5Adaptability or versatility
If manual data re-keying and reformatting is performed to accommodate incompatible systems, then data compatibility is achieved, but productivity decreases and errors increase
Solution Approach 1:
The web bridge acts as an automated intermediary that translates data formats and business rules automatically during data transfer. This eliminates the need for manual re-keying and reformatting operations, thereby maintaining data compatibility while significantly improving productivity and reducing errors associated with manual data handling.
Solution Approach 2:
The web bridge replaces manual mechanical data handling processes with automated computer-based translation. Instead of manual re-keying and reformatting, the bridge automatically transforms data between different formats and business rules, thereby maintaining compatibility while dramatically improving data transfer efficiency and eliminating human errors.
Data Source
AI summary
A proxy for location on a network between one or more client applications and a server application, comprises an input unit for receiving input data from a first client application and from a server application; a modifying unit for modifying server data by insertion of client data; and a handling unit for submitting the modified content data to the client to allow the client to review and further modify the client data within the server data and submit the modified data back to the proxy for subsequent submission to the server. The proxy thus uses client data to prefill web forms, using mapping and the like, which the client can then review and modify before submission to the server, thus avoiding substantial rekeying.