Screen Transition Detection for Legacy Terminal Automation
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Legacy screen-based terminal protocols, such as the 3270 protocol, transmit entire screens without context, making it difficult to interface with modern technologies and automate interactions due to the challenge of mapping events to specific pages, especially when screens from the same page have different text representations.
Innovation Solution
A method that identifies common parts of consecutive screen outputs and clusters them based on a threshold distance, allowing for automated interactions with remote computer systems by merging screens with similar context or function.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of information
If screen-based terminal protocols transmit entire screens at once, then complete screen information is transmitted, but context information and functional information are lost
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the screen output into multiple components including common parts (unchanged elements), unique parts (changed elements), and context information. By dividing the screen transmission into these segments, the system preserves contextual information while reducing redundant data transmission, thereby resolving the contradiction between complete information transmission and information loss.
2Extent of automation
If automation scripts map events to specific pages, then automated interactions can be implemented, but it becomes difficult when screens from the same page have different text representations
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces an intermediary layer that analyzes screen outputs by identifying common parts and unique parts, then uses this analysis to determine page transitions and automate interactions. This intermediary analysis mechanism allows the automation system to handle screens with different text representations from the same page, resolving the contradiction between automation capability and adaptability to screen variations.
3Ease of manufacture
If the entire screen is transmitted without context, then transmission is simplified, but modern technologies cannot effectively interface with legacy systems
Solution Approach 1:
The patent adds a new dimension of analysis by examining the differences between consecutive screen outputs. Instead of treating screens as static images, the system analyzes the temporal dimension of screen changes, identifying patterns in what changes and what remains constant. This dimensional approach enables modern technologies to effectively interface with legacy systems while maintaining transmission simplicity.
Data Source
AI summary
Automation methods and systems include identifying common parts of consecutive pairs of consecutive screen outputs. The consecutive screen outputs are clustered responsive to a determination that a distance between the common parts of the consecutive pairs is lower than a threshold distance value. Interactions with a remote computer system are automated based on the clustered consecutive screen outputs.