Service-Oriented UI Integration Bus for Cross-Platform Interoperability

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional user interface integration technologies are technology-dependent and lack interoperability, making it difficult to integrate disparate systems and applications, particularly in initiatives like the Smart Grid, which requires a common platform for real-time monitoring and control.

Innovation Solution

A service-oriented user interface integration bus system that enables interoperability between disparate technologies by providing a common platform for integrating user-interface applications, using a module manager to match UI services across different application frameworks and platforms, and employing platform adapters to ensure technological neutrality.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If conventional UI integration technologies (ActiveX, OSGi) are used, then component integration capability is provided, but technology neutrality and interoperability are lost

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvetechnology neutralityVSAvoidintegration complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces a UI integration bus as an intermediary layer between disparate UI technologies and applications. This bus provides standardized service interfaces that mediate communication between different UI frameworks (Windows Forms, WPF, Web, etc.) and legacy applications, enabling technology-neutral integration without requiring direct complex point-to-point connections between incompatible systems

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The UI integration bus implements universal service interfaces that can handle multiple UI technologies and application types through common methods (Invoke, CreateInstance, QueryInterface). This multi-functional approach allows the same integration infrastructure to support diverse UI frameworks and application protocols, achieving technology neutrality while maintaining simplified integration processes

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

2Adaptability or versatility

If conventional UI integration technologies are used, then component-level integration is achieved, but application-level integration capability is insufficient

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveapplication integration capabilityVSAvoidsystems integration efficiency
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments the integration architecture into distinct layers: the UI integration bus layer that handles application-level service orchestration, and lower-level component interfaces. This segmentation allows application-level integration to be handled independently through standardized service calls, while component integration occurs at lower layers, enabling parallel development and improved systems integration efficiency

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The integration bus acts as an application-level intermediary that orchestrates service calls between modern applications and legacy systems. It provides high-level service interfaces (Invoke, CreateInstance) that enable application-level integration without requiring direct access to underlying component implementations, thereby improving productivity through abstracted, standardized interaction patterns

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Adaptability or versatility

If technology-specific UI integration is implemented, then platform compatibility is maintained, but interoperability between different platforms is limited

Engineering Contradiction:
ImproveinteroperabilityVSAvoidredesign effort
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The integration bus implements universal service interfaces that work across multiple UI platforms (Windows Forms, WPF, Web, XAML). These interfaces provide platform-agnostic methods for creating instances, invoking methods, and querying interfaces, enabling interoperability between different technologies without requiring platform-specific redesign of the integration logic

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

Solution Approach 2:

The integration bus serves as a platform-independent intermediary that translates between various UI framework-specific protocols and standardized service calls. This mediation layer enables interoperability between different platforms while maintaining ease of operation, as the bus handles platform-specific adaptations internally without requiring external redesign efforts

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Data Source

PatentEP2328083B1Systems and methods for providing a service-oriented user interface integration bus
Publication Date: 2020.02.19 GENERAL ELECTRIC CO
  • EP2328083B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP2328083B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP2328083B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

Embodiments of the invention can provide systems and methods for providing a service-oriented user interface integration bus. According to one embodiment, a system (100) can be provided having a memory for storing computer executable instructions and a processor in communication with the memory via a computer interface. The processor can be adapted to execute computer executable instructions and configured to receive (505) a user interface service request from an application module (112, 114, 116, 118) associated with a first platform. The processor can also be adapted to transform (510) the user interface service request from the application module (112, 114, 116, 118) to a user interface service request for a host platform. The processor can also be adapted to match (515) the transformed user interface service request (126, 128, 130) to a platform service (110) to provide a visual interface with the application module (112, 114, 116, 118) to a user on the host platform.