Software Function Consolidation Engine
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Solution Overview
Problem
The increasing complexity of software applications due to enhancement packages leads to a decrease in development efficiency and an increase in maintenance demands, making it costly and inefficient to manage and deploy new functionality, with a high risk of interferences between business functions.
Innovation Solution
A system and method for consolidating business functions by dissolving or merging them into a core set of functions, using usage data and categorization to minimize disruption, and implementing a consolidation engine to automate the process, thereby reducing the number of business functions and their combinations, and prioritizing consolidation based on customer usage and potential disruption.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If enhancement packages are continuously added to software applications, then new functionality and adaptability are improved, but system complexity and maintenance demands increase exponentially
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the software system into a core set of stable functions and multiple enhancement packages. Each enhancement package contains specific business functions that can be independently activated or deactivated through switches. This segmentation allows new functionality to be added without increasing the complexity of the core system, as enhancements are isolated in separate, manageable units.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent extracts frequently changing business functions from the core software and places them into separate enhancement packages. By taking out these volatile functions, the core system remains stable and simple, while the extracted functions can be updated, added, or removed without affecting the core. This extraction resolves the contradiction by isolating complexity into manageable, replaceable units.
2Adaptability or versatility
If the number of business functions is increased to meet customer demands, then adaptability is improved, but the risk of interferences between functions and development efficiency decrease
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements dynamic switching mechanisms that allow business functions to be activated or deactivated based on customer needs without requiring code changes. The switch framework enables runtime configuration of function availability, allowing the system to adapt to different customer requirements while maintaining a stable core codebase. This dynamic approach improves productivity by eliminating the need to recompile and retest the entire system when functions are added or removed.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent performs preliminary organization of business functions into enhancement packages with predefined switches and activation logic. By preparing the switching infrastructure and function packaging in advance, the system can quickly adapt to new requirements without ad-hoc development. This preliminary structuring reduces development time and interference risks when new functions need to be deployed.
3Adaptability or versatility
If software functions are made switchable to allow selective activation, then adaptability is improved, but internal complexity and maintenance burden increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a universal switch framework that provides a standardized mechanism for activating and deactivating business functions across the entire software system. Rather than creating custom switching logic for each function, a single multi-functional switch infrastructure handles all activation scenarios. This universal approach reduces complexity by providing a consistent, reusable pattern for function selection throughout the system.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces an intermediary switch layer between the core software functions and their activation state. The switches act as mediators that control function execution without requiring changes to the core function code. This intermediary layer simplifies maintenance by centralizing the activation logic and isolating it from the business function implementations, reducing the overall maintenance burden despite the added flexibility.
4Adaptability or versatility
If enhancement packages are made cumulative to include all previous functions, then functionality completeness is improved, but the exponential growth of functions increases maintenance demands
Solution Approach 1:
The patent structures enhancement packages in a nested hierarchy where each package contains a subset of functions and dependencies on previous packages. Rather than creating a flat cumulative structure, the nested organization allows functions to be grouped logically across multiple packages. This nesting reduces maintenance complexity by allowing selective activation of nested function groups and providing clear dependency boundaries, even as functionality grows.
Data Source
AI summary
Systems and methods that facilitate keeping or improving the current/prior level of complexity in a software package, despite enhancement package additions. To keep the current number of business functions (e.g., some software configuration or functionality), new packages may have to consolidate older ones. Consolidating business functions may include dissolving those functions into the core set of functions (e.g., those functions that are “always on”) or to merge them with other business functions (e.g., to be switched on or off as a set). Additionally, if a function is simply not used, and will never be used again, the function may be dissolved completely. Regardless, disruption to the customer should be minimized by any consolidation of functions. Systems and methods identify functions that can be automatically consolidated, and facilitate the consolidation of any remaining functions.