Tagged User Interface Service Integration

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Solution Overview

Problem

The construction and maintenance of user interfaces in large, complex systems are impeded by their inflexibility and inability to adapt to evolving business needs, leading to user overwhelm and the need for more intuitive and customizable interfaces.

Innovation Solution

A service-enabled tagged user interface system that associates user interface elements with semantic identifiers, allowing placeholders in URLs to be replaced with values from these tags, enabling calls to services such as web or enterprise services, thereby enhancing user interface functionality and adaptability.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If traditional user interfaces are used in large complex systems, then the interface structure is stable and maintainable, but the interface becomes inflexible and cannot adapt to evolving business needs

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveinterface adaptabilityVSAvoidinterface complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The user interface is segmented into modular components with distinct responsibilities. Service tags are separated from core UI logic, allowing independent development and adaptation. The interface is divided into presentation layer (UI elements), data layer (tags), and service layer (external services), enabling flexible reconfiguration without affecting the entire system.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

Service tags provide universal functionality across different UI elements and services. A single tag mechanism can bind any UI element to any external service, creating a multi-functional framework that adapts to various business needs without requiring custom integration code for each scenario.

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

2Ease of operation

If more services and functionalities are integrated into the user interface, then the interface becomes more capable and intuitive, but the interface becomes overwhelming with more commands and options

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveinterface usabilityVSAvoidinterface complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

Complex service integration logic is extracted from the user interface and placed in external services. The UI only needs to define simple tags that reference these services, while the actual service orchestration, authentication, and data processing occur externally. This reduces the number of commands and options visible to users while maintaining advanced functionality.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

Service tags act as intermediaries between UI elements and external services. Instead of users directly interacting with complex service configurations, the tag mechanism mediates the interaction by automatically binding UI elements to appropriate services based on tag attributes, simplifying the user experience while enabling sophisticated service integration.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Adaptability or versatility

If the user interface is made more flexible and customizable, then the interface can be tailored to user needs, but the construction and maintenance of the interface becomes more difficult

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveinterface customizationVSAvoidinterface construction and maintenance
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

Service configurations and bindings are predetermined through tag definitions during the design phase. The tag mechanism pre-establishes the relationships between UI elements and services, including authentication methods, data formats, and service parameters. This preliminary configuration simplifies construction by eliminating the need for complex runtime negotiations and reduces maintenance overhead through centralized service definitions.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

Interface customization is achieved through parameter-based tag configurations rather than structural modifications. By changing tag attributes (service identifiers, parameters, data formats), the interface can be customized for different users and scenarios without altering the underlying code structure, making construction and maintenance more manageable.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Data Source

PatentUS8060556B2Service enabled tagged user interfaces
Publication Date: 2011.11.15 SAP SE
  • US8060556B2 patent drawing
  • US8060556B2 patent drawing
  • US8060556B2 patent drawing

AI summary

In one aspect, in a computer-implemented method it is determined whether a placeholder corresponding to a service includes an identifier similar to a tag associated with an element of a user interface. The placeholder is replaced with a value of the element associated with the tag based on the results of the determining step. The service is called using the value. Information is received from the called service, the information corresponding to the element of user interface. Related systems, apparatus, methods, and/or articles are also described.