RPA Form-Filling Strategy Fallback for Changing Interfaces
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional robotic process automation (RPA) robots face challenges in efficiently filling out diverse forms and adapting to changes in user interfaces, leading to maintenance costs and productivity losses. Additionally, the complexity of software tasks requires advanced programming skills, limiting the reach of RPA technology to 'citizen developers'.
Innovation Solution
A method employing a hardware processor to retrieve a strategy indicator from a database based on a target user interface identifier, which identifies multiple alternative RPA strategies for filling in a form field. If initial strategies fail, the system receives user input to determine a successful sequence of actions, which is then used to create a new RPA strategy and update the database.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If conventional RPA robots are used to fill forms, then automation is achieved, but the system lacks adaptability to interface changes and diverse form types
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements dynamic strategy selection where the RPA robot can switch between multiple pre-defined strategies based on the actual form characteristics encountered at runtime. The system retrieves strategy indicators from a database, attempts strategies in sequence, and adapts its behavior dynamically rather than following a fixed automation path. This resolves the contradiction by making the automation reliable through multiple fallback options while maintaining adaptability to different form types and interface changes.
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes the parameter of strategy selection by retrieving strategy indicators from a database and attempting multiple strategies with different parameters (click-and-type, structured input, cascading forms handling). When interface changes occur, the system can try different strategy parameters until one succeeds, thereby maintaining both adaptability to changes and reliability of automation through systematic parameter exploration.
2Adaptability or versatility
If multiple alternative RPA strategies are implemented, then adaptability improves, but system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by pre-defining multiple RPA strategies and storing their indicators in a database before runtime. The system prepares various approach templates (click-and-type, structured input, cascading forms) in advance, so when a form needs to be filled, the robot can quickly retrieve and attempt pre-prepared strategies without complex real-time decision logic. This reduces runtime complexity while maintaining high adaptability.
Solution Approach 2:
The system introduces an intermediary layer (strategy indicator database and retrieval mechanism) between the RPA robot and the diverse form types. Instead of directly handling the complexity of multiple form types, the robot interacts with the simplified intermediary that provides strategy indicators. This intermediary absorbs the complexity of managing multiple strategies, presenting a clean interface to the robot while enabling adaptability to various form-filling scenarios.
3Reliability
If RPA automation is made robust to handle diverse forms, then reliability improves, but ease of operation deteriorates due to required programming expertise
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements self-service by enabling the RPA system to automatically retrieve strategy indicators from a database and attempt multiple strategies without human intervention. The system serves itself by autonomously selecting and executing appropriate form-filling strategies based on retrieved indicators, maintaining robustness while reducing the need for users to have programming expertise. Citizen developers can benefit from this automated strategy selection without needing to manually program complex form-handling logic.
4Ease of manufacture
If conventional RPA strategies are used, then development time is reduced, but productivity decreases due to frequent maintenance
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by pre-defining multiple RPA strategies and storing them in a database during the development phase. This allows rapid deployment of automations with built-in adaptability, reducing both initial development time and future maintenance time. The pre-prepared strategies act as templates that can handle various form types out-of-the-box, eliminating the need for extensive customization and frequent maintenance updates.
Solution Approach 2:
The system provides beforehand cushioning by implementing multiple alternative strategies that serve as fallback options. When interface changes occur or forms vary from expectations, the cushioning effect of having pre-prepared alternative strategies prevents automation failure and maintains productivity. This prior cushioning against potential failures reduces the need for reactive maintenance and keeps productivity high over time.
Data Source
AI summary
Some embodiments improve the autonomy of a form-filling RPA robot by supplying it with a strategy indicator identifying multiple alternative strategies for filling in a target form field, so that when one strategy fails, the RPA robot may fall back on an alternative strategy. When none of the respective alternative strategies is successful, some embodiments invite a user to manually fill in the target form field. Data extracted from the user's input is then used to automatically construct a new strategy for filling in the target form field, and the strategy indicator is updated to include the new strategy. The updated strategy indicator is made available to other RPA robots and automations targeting the respective user interface.