Rules Engine for Core System Customization Tracking

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Solution Overview

Problem

Organizations face challenges in maintaining accurate records of customizations applied to core computing systems, which can lead to performance issues, maintainability problems, and compliance risks, as the number of customizations increases, making it difficult for administrators to manage and track these changes effectively.

Innovation Solution

A system that uses a rules engine to compare the current source code of a core computing system to an initial template, identifying customizations and quantifying their impact, allowing for the tracking and monitoring of modifications, and generating reports to help determine whether issues are related to customizations, thereby enabling organizations to mitigate compliance risks and improve upgradability and performance.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If organizations apply customizations to core computing systems to meet customer needs, then adaptability and versatility improve, but device complexity and difficulty of detecting and measuring customizations increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveability to meet customer needsVSAvoidcomplexity of managing customizations

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces a rules engine as an intermediary between the core computing system and customizations. This rules engine automatically detects, tracks, and manages customizations by comparing current system state against defined rules, eliminating the need for manual tracking while maintaining adaptability. The rules engine serves as a mediator that handles the complexity of customization management automatically.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The system implements continuous feedback loops where the rules engine periodically scans the computing system, detects customizations, and generates reports. This feedback mechanism ensures that customizations are automatically tracked and monitored without increasing manual workload, resolving the contradiction between maintaining adaptability and managing complexity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

2Measurement precision

If administrators manually track customizations, then measurement precision improves, but loss of time and productivity decrease

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveaccuracy of customization recordsVSAvoidtime spent managing customizations

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The rules engine performs self-service by automatically detecting and tracking customizations without requiring administrator intervention. The system scans itself, compares its state against the rules engine definitions, and generates customization reports autonomously, eliminating time-consuming manual tracking while maintaining accurate records.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The patent replaces the mechanical process of manual tracking with an automated electronic system. The rules engine uses computer-based automation to detect, record, and report customizations, substituting human administrative work with automated processing that is both more accurate and time-efficient.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

3Adaptability or versatility

If increasing number of customizations are applied to meet customer requirements, then adaptability improves, but reliability and compliance risks worsen

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveability to provide variety of servicesVSAvoidsystem stability and compliance

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The rules engine acts as a mediator that monitors customizations to ensure they meet compliance requirements. By automatically detecting and reporting customizations, the system maintains visibility into system modifications, allowing organizations to balance adaptability with reliability and compliance through automated oversight rather than manual control.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Data Source

PatentUS12112161B1Systems and methods for managing and tracking customizations

Publication Date: 2024.10.08 UNITED SERVICES AUTOMOBILE ASSOCIATION (USAA)

AI summary

A system includes a rules engine comprising a template indicative of an initial source code of a core computing system, a processor, and memory storing instructions. The instructions are configured to cause the processor to retrieve data indicative of a current source code for the core computing system, and compare the data indicative of the current source code to the template indicative of the initial source code of the core computing system. The processor may then identify one or more customizations in the current source code of the core computing system based on comparing the data to the template and quantify an amount of customization applied to the core computing system based on identifying the one or more customizations.