RPA Session Separation Using IPC for Concurrent User Interaction
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing robotic process automation (RPA) technologies restrict user interaction with computing systems when RPA robots operate in the same session, preventing users from performing other tasks while the robot interacts with the system.
Innovation Solution
Implementing an inter-process communication (IPC) facilitator and an RPA driver in a first session, allowing an RPA robot running in a second session to send messages and control the driver to interact with applications in the first session, enabling simultaneous user interaction and robot operation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If the RPA robot runs in the same session as the user, then the robot can directly control applications through the user interface, but the user is prevented from performing other activities while the robot operates
Solution Approach 1:
The system divides the computing environment into separate sessions: a user session for human interaction and a robot session for automation execution. This segmentation allows the user and robot to operate independently without interfering with each other's activities, resolving the contradiction between user productivity and robot operation.
Solution Approach 2:
An IPC facilitator acts as an intermediary between the robot session and the user session. It receives commands from the robot and translates them into actions within the user session context, enabling communication and coordination between the two separate sessions while maintaining their independence.
2Productivity
If the RPA robot runs in a separate session, then the user can perform other activities simultaneously, but the robot needs complex IPC mechanisms to interact with applications
Solution Approach 1:
The IPC facilitator serves as a mediator that bridges the robot session and user session, handling the complexity of inter-session communication. It receives messages from the robot, processes them through an RPA driver, and executes the appropriate actions in the user session, thereby enabling simultaneous operation while managing the inherent complexity through structured intermediation.
Solution Approach 2:
The system implements a feedback mechanism where the IPC facilitator receives status and control messages from the robot, processes them, and returns appropriate responses. This feedback loop ensures coordinated operation between the robot and user session while maintaining system stability and enabling simultaneous productivity.
Data Source
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AI summary
Automation of a process running in a first session via robotic process automation (RPA) robot(s) running in a second session is disclosed. In some aspects, a form is displayed in a user session, but one or more attended RPA robots that retrieve and/or interact with data for an application in the first session run in one or more other sessions. In this manner, the operation of the RPA robot(s) may not prevent the user from using other applications or instances when the RPA robot(s) are running, but the data modifications made or facilitated by the RPA robot(s) may be visible to the user in the first session window.