Semantic Data Framework for Cross-Device UI Consistency

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current service-oriented architecture (SOA) platforms face challenges in providing reusable and portable user interfaces across different devices and technologies, as existing solutions require significant expertise and result in minimal code reuse due to device-specific rendering and limited customization capabilities.

Innovation Solution

A framework for dynamic data access and presentation is introduced, utilizing semantic definitions and relationships to create user experience objects that are agnostic to devices and applications, allowing for consistent user experiences across various technologies and devices. This framework includes semantic data objects enriched with metadata for access and consumption, enabling decoupling of user experience modeling from presentation layers and facilitating quick application construction from reusable UI components.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If device-specific user interfaces are developed separately for each access channel, then each device can be optimized for its specific usage context, but code reuse and development efficiency are significantly reduced

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedevice-specific optimizationVSAvoiddevelopment efficiency
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements a universal user interface framework that can be deployed across multiple access channels (web browser, mobile device, thin client) without requiring separate development for each platform. The framework provides a common set of UI components and services that adapt to different devices, enabling code reuse while maintaining device-specific optimizations through configuration rather than coding.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Solution Approach 2:

The user interface is segmented into independent, reusable components (forms, tables, charts, navigation elements) that can be independently developed and then composed for different access channels. This segmentation allows the core UI logic to be written once and reused across multiple platforms, significantly improving development efficiency while maintaining adaptability to specific device requirements.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

2Ease of manufacture

If user interfaces are designed with fixed content and functionality at design time, then the development process is simplified, but the ability to customize for specific usage contexts is limited

Engineering Contradiction:
ImproveUI development simplicityVSAvoidcontext-specific customization
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of manufactureVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The framework enables dynamic configuration of user interface content and functionality at runtime based on the usage context rather than being fixed at design time. Services and components can be dynamically selected, composed, and configured according to the access channel and user requirements, allowing the same framework to adapt to different contexts without requiring separate fixed designs for each scenario.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The system allows changing parameters such as displayed content, available services, and interaction modes based on the usage context. Instead of hardcoding fixed functionality, the framework uses configurable parameters that can be adjusted at runtime to match specific device capabilities and user needs, maintaining development simplicity while enabling extensive customization.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

3Adaptability or versatility

If data services are accessed through multiple different channels with separate mappings, then each channel can be optimized for its native technology, but the mapping process must be redone for every new target consumer technology

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvemulti-channel supportVSAvoidmapping redone for each technology
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The framework provides a universal service interface layer that maps data services once and reuses the mapping across all access channels. Instead of creating separate service mappings for each technology, the framework establishes a single mapping that serves web browsers, mobile devices, and thin clients, eliminating the need to redone mappings for each new target technology.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Solution Approach 2:

The framework introduces an intermediary layer between the data services and the access channels that handles the mapping and adaptation. This intermediary service layer translates service calls into channel-specific formats automatically, so that when a new access channel is introduced, the framework handles the integration through the intermediary rather than requiring manual mapping redone for each technology.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Data Source

PatentUS8712953B2Data consumption framework for semantic objects
Publication Date: 2014.04.29 SAP SE
  • US8712953B2 patent drawing
  • US8712953B2 patent drawing
  • US8712953B2 patent drawing

AI summary

A data enrichment and consumption framework enables defining data object consumption based on semantic aspects of the data object. Views, contexts, and associations of the data object are defined to dynamically render UI content based on interaction with the data object. Additionally, standard views can be defined to enable rapid development of UIs. The same data content is rendered in consistent ways across different devices and UI technologies.