Self-Describing Reusable Software Components Metadata Integration

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Solution Overview

Problem

Non-programmer software developers face difficulties in understanding and integrating reusable software components due to lack of clear capabilities and integration mechanisms, making it challenging to utilize and combine these components effectively.

Innovation Solution

Generating and publishing metadata with reusable software components that describes their capabilities, integration affinities, and mechanisms, allowing for automated or semi-automated integration, and enabling users to provide feedback and additional metadata for improved usability.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If detailed technical documentation is provided with reusable software components, then understanding and integration capability is improved, but complexity of the component package increases

Engineering Contradiction:

ImproveEase of understanding and integrating software componentsVSAvoidComplexity of component package

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments the documentation into structured metadata fields (capability metadata, affinity metadata, integration metadata) that can be independently processed. This segmentation allows the system to present only relevant information to users based on their specific needs, reducing perceived complexity while maintaining comprehensive documentation.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces an intermediary metadata layer that sits between the software component and the user. This metadata acts as a mediator that translates complex technical details into structured, machine-readable information that can be automatically processed, thereby improving ease of operation without requiring the user to directly engage with the underlying complexity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Productivity

If automated integration mechanisms are implemented, then integration speed and efficiency are improved, but flexibility and user control are reduced

Engineering Contradiction:

ImproveIntegration speed and efficiencyVSAvoidUser control over integration process

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements a dynamic integration approach where the system can automatically execute integration based on metadata, but also allows users to intervene and modify the process when needed. The integration mechanism transitions between fully automated and user-controlled modes based on the specific situation, maintaining both speed and flexibility.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The patent incorporates feedback mechanisms where the automated integration system monitors the integration process and can solicit user input when ambiguous situations arise. This feedback loop allows the system to maintain high automation while preserving user control when adaptability is required.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

3Difficulty of detecting and measuring

If comprehensive metadata is published with each component, then discoverability and compatibility are improved, but information overload and processing complexity increase

Engineering Contradiction:

ImproveDifficulty of discovering and assessing component compatibilityVSAvoidInformation overload

Core Design Contradiction:

Difficulty of detecting and measuringVSLoss of information

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts only the essential compatibility and capability information into standardized metadata fields, separating this critical information from the full component documentation. This extraction allows the system to process and compare components based on key attributes without being burdened by comprehensive technical details, thereby improving discoverability while managing information load.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent transforms unstructured component information into structured metadata with standardized parameters and formats. This parameter transformation enables systematic processing and comparison of components, making it easier to assess compatibility without overwhelming users with unorganized information.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

4Loss of time

If metadata enables fully automated integration, then time required for integration is reduced, but reliability and accuracy of integration may be compromised

Engineering Contradiction:

ImproveTime required for integrationVSAvoidAccuracy of integration

Core Design Contradiction:

Loss of timeVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent performs preliminary validation and verification of metadata during the component publication and registration process. By pre-checking the accuracy and completeness of integration metadata before automated integration occurs, the system reduces the need for post-integration corrections while maintaining efficient automated processing.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Data Source

PatentUS8359572B2Self-describing re-usable software components

Publication Date: 2013.01.22 MICROSOFT TECHNOLOGY LICENSING LLC

AI summary

Technologies are presented herein for self-describing re-usable software components. Metadata is generated and published with a re-usable software component that identifies the capabilities of the software component, identifies other software components that the re-usable software component may be integrated with, and identifies mechanisms for integrating the re-usable software component with other software components. The metadata can then be used to discover re-usable software components and to integrate the re-usable software components with other software components.