Robot Process Orchestration Across Heterogeneous IT Environments

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing technologies lack effective solutions for secure process automation across distributed heterogeneous computing environments, particularly in managing sensitive data and adapting to different hardware and software configurations, leading to inefficiencies and potential security vulnerabilities.

Innovation Solution

A method for automated robot entity-based process execution across distributed heterogeneous environments, which involves initiating processes with defined parameters, evaluating task execution using metrics, storing results, and employing an exception handler to adapt parameters and reconfigure environments for incomplete executions, while ensuring secure data management through certificate-based authentication and authorization.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If robotic process automation is applied across distributed heterogeneous computing environments, then productivity and automation extent are improved, but system complexity and difficulty of managing diverse configurations increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveprocess execution efficiencyVSAvoidsystem configuration complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements a universal process model that can execute across multiple heterogeneous computing environments. The process manager and robot framework are designed to be environment-agnostic, allowing the same automation process to run on different operating systems, hardware configurations, and software versions without modification, thereby achieving multi-functionality across diverse platforms.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces a process manager as an intermediary layer between the robot entities and the heterogeneous computing environments. This mediator handles environment-specific configurations, manages robot deployment across different systems, and abstracts the complexity of diverse environments from the automation processes themselves.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Reliability

If certificate-based authentication is implemented for secure data management, then security and data protection are improved, but processing time and system overhead increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedata securityVSAvoidauthentication processing time
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements preliminary certificate-based authentication and authorization setup before robot entities begin executing processes. Security credentials are pre-configured and validated in advance, allowing robot entities to establish secure connections to target systems without repeated authentication overhead during process execution.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The patent incorporates security evaluation metrics that monitor and assess the effectiveness of certificate-based authentication in real-time. The system collects feedback on authentication success rates, security incidents, and processing times, using this information to optimize security configurations and balance security requirements with performance considerations.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

3Adaptability or versatility

If dynamic environment adaptation is implemented for different hardware and software configurations, then adaptability and process reliability are improved, but system complexity and configuration management difficulty increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveenvironment compatibilityVSAvoidconfiguration management complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements dynamic environment adaptation where the process manager automatically detects and adjusts to different computing environments at runtime. Robot entities can dynamically configure themselves based on the target system's hardware and software characteristics, enabling the same automation process to adapt to varying environments without manual reconfiguration.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The patent utilizes parameter changes to accommodate different computing environments. The system allows process parameters, configuration settings, and execution parameters to be dynamically modified based on the detected environment, enabling the same process model to execute correctly across diverse hardware and software configurations by adjusting relevant parameters.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Data Source

PatentEP4002031B1Model and concept to automate processes across several it systems
Publication Date: 2024.06.26 ROBOCORP TECH INC
  • EP4002031B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4002031B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP4002031B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

The present invention is directed towards a method for automated robot entity based execution of processes across distributed heterogeneous computing environments. The suggested teachings provide means to dynamically assign robots and/ or tasks to well performing environments and may even adapt the configuration of an environment towards proper process execution. The invention is furthermore directed towards a respectively arranged system arrangement along with a computer program product and a computer-readable medium.