Real-Time Accessibility Compliance for Software Modules

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Solution Overview

Problem

The process of redeveloping software applications to comply with accessibility standards is laborious and inefficient, as existing methods require manual testing and redevelopment of each component, lacking real-time assessment and conformity to accessibility guidelines.

Innovation Solution

A system and method for automatically assessing and conforming software development modules to accessibility guidelines in real-time by identifying relevant compliance provisions, assigning test tools, calculating scores, and identifying modules needing improvement, allowing for real-time testing and redevelopment of software components.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If manual testing and redeveloping of each software component is performed to comply with accessibility standards, then accessibility compliance is achieved, but the development process becomes laborious and inefficient

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveaccessibility complianceVSAvoiddevelopment efficiency

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary accessibility compliance testing during the software development process rather than after completion. Test tools are integrated into the development environment to assess compliance provisions in real-time as code is written, allowing developers to identify and fix accessibility issues before they become entrenched in the final product.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The system provides continuous feedback to developers about accessibility compliance status. Test tools generate compliance scores and identify specific provisions that need improvement, enabling developers to make targeted adjustments. This feedback loop maintains accessibility compliance throughout the development process without requiring complete retesting.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

Solution Approach 3:

The system enables developers to perform self-testing of their own code for accessibility compliance. By integrating test tools directly into the development environment, developers can independently assess their code against accessibility standards without requiring external manual testing, thereby improving efficiency while maintaining compliance reliability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

2Reliability

If comprehensive accessibility testing is performed on all software modules, then accessibility compliance is ensured, but the testing process becomes time-consuming

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveaccessibility complianceVSAvoidtesting duration

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The system segments the software application into individual modules and tests each module independently for accessibility compliance. This modular approach allows testing to be performed on discrete units rather than the entire application at once, reducing the time required for comprehensive testing while ensuring all modules meet accessibility standards.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The system performs accessibility testing continuously throughout the development process rather than as a separate, time-consuming phase. By integrating test tools into the development workflow, compliance assessment occurs continuously as code is written and modified, eliminating the need for lengthy post-development testing cycles.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #20Continuity of useful action

3Productivity

If real-time accessibility compliance assessment is implemented, then development efficiency is improved, but system complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedevelopment efficiencyVSAvoidsystem complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The system uses universal test tools that can assess multiple accessibility compliance provisions across different software modules simultaneously. These multi-functional test tools reduce system complexity by consolidating various testing capabilities into integrated components rather than requiring separate specialized tools for each accessibility requirement.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Solution Approach 2:

The system introduces an intermediary compliance assessment layer between the developer's code and the final product. This intermediary layer automatically evaluates accessibility compliance without requiring direct complex interactions between multiple testing systems, simplifying the overall architecture while enabling real-time assessment.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Data Source

PatentUS11544176B1Systems and methods for automatically assessing and conforming software development modules to accessibility guidelines in real-time

Publication Date: 2023.01.03 ALLSTATE INSURANCE COMPANY

AI summary

Systems and methods are disclosed for automatically assessing and conforming software development modules to accessibility guidelines in real-time. The systems may facilitate an incremental development of applications. One or more modules or base codes of the application, as they are developed, may be tested for compliance to various accessibility standards (e.g., Web Content Accessibility Guidelines 2.0). If a module or base does not meet a specific threshold of compliance, systems and methods allow for an automatic modification of the module or base code to make it more compliant to the accessibility standards.