Source Metadata Tagger for Automated Software Documentation Routing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current software documentation systems rely on manual processes for feedback and quality assurance, which are error-prone and inefficient, as the original source information of content is lost during compilation, making it difficult to automate issue reporting and routing to the correct teams.
Innovation Solution
A system and method that uses a source metadata tagger and document compiler to add metadata to the final output document, allowing identification of source files, which is then used by a ticketing/notification system to create work items for the appropriate developers, eliminating the need for human intervention in determining the source file.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If manual processes are used for feedback and quality assurance on documentation, then human review can identify issues, but the process becomes slow, error-prone, and requires multiple intermediaries to correlate information
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by embedding source metadata tags in source files before compilation. This allows the system to automatically track and identify the origin of each documentation snippet throughout the compilation process, eliminating the need for manual tracing later. The metadata is prepared in advance, enabling automated routing of feedback to the correct source files without human intervention.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces an intermediary mechanism in the form of source metadata tags and a compiler that automatically correlates documentation snippets with their source files. This intermediary system acts as a bridge between the final documentation and original sources, enabling automated issue tracking without requiring human intermediaries to manually correlate information.
2Adaptability or versatility
If source information is embedded in various software pieces and compiled into final documents, then documentation can be aggregated from multiple sources, but information about the original source is lost during compilation
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies the nested doll principle by embedding source metadata tags within source files, which are then nested within the compiled documentation structure. Each documentation snippet contains nested metadata that preserves the original source file location information, allowing the system to maintain traceability through multiple levels of compilation and aggregation.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses copying by creating and embedding metadata copies of source file location information within each documentation snippet. This metadata copy travels through the compilation process alongside the actual content, ensuring that source information is preserved and can be retrieved later without requiring access to the original source files.
3Extent of automation
If automated reporting is attempted without source metadata, then feedback processing can be automated, but the system cannot determine which source file is being reviewed or flagged
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies a metaphorical version of color changes by using distinctive metadata tags that act as unique identifiers for each source file. These metadata tags are embedded in the documentation and allow the automated system to easily identify and distinguish between different source files, enabling automated routing of feedback to the correct sources without manual intervention.
Data Source
AI summary
A system and method for simplifying the creation of documentation, and especially software documentation. A software application, referred to as a source metadata tagger and document compiler is used to add metadata to a final output document. This metadata contains identifiers that are associated with various source files. In this way, the system can easily determine which source file is being reviewed and/or flagged by the reviewer. This information can be used by the ticketing/notification system to create a work item for the appropriate developer or development group. This is vastly simpler than the current system, where human intervention is required to determine which source file is being flagged.