Template Engine for API Mashup Data Integration

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current methods for creating mashups of data from various sources are cumbersome, requiring custom coding and limiting data sources to HTML-based sources, while not allowing for easy modification or combination of data from alternative sources like Microsoft Excel or PST files.

Innovation Solution

A system and method for building templates to combine and format data from multiple sources, including non-HTML sources, and publishing a custom resource that can be accessed downstream, allowing for flexible data manipulation and presentation.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If custom coding is used to retrieve and parse data from multiple APIs, then data combination capability is achieved, but development complexity and time requirements increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedata combination capabilityVSAvoiddevelopment complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces a template engine as an intermediary component that sits between data retrieval operations and final data combination. This template engine automatically processes data from multiple APIs, applies user-defined templates, and generates combined results without requiring custom coding for each combination scenario. The template engine handles the complexity of data parsing, transformation, and integration automatically.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent enables flexible data combination by allowing users to modify template parameters and configurations rather than writing custom code. Users can change data sources, transformation rules, and output formats through parameter adjustments in the template system, eliminating the need to rewrite code when combining different API data sources.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

2Adaptability or versatility

If HTML data sources are limited for mashup creation, then system simplicity is maintained, but data source versatility is reduced

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedata source versatilityVSAvoidsystem complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent creates a universal template engine that can handle multiple data source formats (HTML, XML, JSON, CSV, and other structured formats) through a single unified system. The template engine provides universal data parsing and processing capabilities that work across different data formats, allowing users to combine data from diverse sources without needing separate processing systems for each format.

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

Solution Approach 2:

The patent uses template copying mechanisms where users can create, clone, and modify existing templates to handle different data sources. Instead of building custom processing logic for each data format, users copy and adapt proven templates, reducing system complexity while maintaining versatility across multiple data source types.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #26Copying

3Ease of operation

If data rendering modification is not allowed in mashup systems, then system simplicity is preserved, but user flexibility and customization are limited

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveuser flexibilityVSAvoidsystem complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements dynamic template rendering that allows users to modify data presentation in real-time without system reconfiguration. The template engine supports dynamic adjustments to data sorting, filtering, formatting, and layout based on user needs, enabling flexible customization while maintaining a simplified interface through parameter-based control rather than complex configuration systems.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Data Source

PatentUS9026608B1Methods and systems for application programming interface mashups
Publication Date: 2015.05.05 CBS INTERACTIVE INC
  • US9026608B1 patent drawing
  • US9026608B1 patent drawing
  • US9026608B1 patent drawing

AI summary

Methods, systems, and computer-readable media for providing customized content delivery from one or more data sources include receiving a selection of one or more base requests for content; receiving a selection of a custom request for content; receiving a mapping of the custom request to at least one of the base requests; building an output template including the custom request mapped to the at least one of the base requests; and publishing a resource based on the output template.