Unified Data Access Interface for Heterogeneous Customer Records

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Solution Overview

Problem

In a customer service environment, service providers face challenges in accessing and consolidating customer data stored across multiple different computer applications and formats, leading to inefficiencies and incomplete data retrieval due to varying parameters for identification.

Innovation Solution

A database system that identifies user information within a request, compares it with stored user identity entries, and queries a backend database using appropriate parameters to retrieve and consolidate data, providing a unified view of customer information.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If multiple different computer applications are used to store and access customer data in different formats, then data storage capacity and format diversity are improved, but data access time and operational complexity increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedata storage capacityVSAvoiddata access time

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces an intermediary layer (unified data access interface/API gateway) that sits between the user and multiple heterogeneous data sources. This intermediary translates unified data requests into application-specific queries, automatically retrieves data from multiple sources, and consolidates results into a single view, thereby eliminating the need for users to manually access multiple applications while preserving data storage diversity

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent creates a universal data access interface that can handle multiple data formats and application types through a single standardized interface. This multi-functional interface supports various data retrieval operations (search, filter, aggregate) across different data sources using consistent methods, reducing operational complexity while maintaining access to diverse data formats

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

2Adaptability or versatility

If multiple different computer applications are used to access customer data, then data format diversity is improved, but ease of operation deteriorates due to requiring multiple applications

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedata format diversityVSAvoidease of operation

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The intermediary layer abstracts the complexity of multiple applications and data formats behind a unified interface. Users interact with a single standardized API or interface that automatically handles format conversion and data consolidation, making the system as easy to operate as a single application while maintaining support for diverse data formats

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent segments the complex multi-application system into two distinct layers: a simplified user-facing interface layer and the underlying heterogeneous data source layer. This segmentation allows the user layer to remain simple and unified while the data layer maintains its diversity, with the segmentation boundary handled by an automatic translation/integration mechanism

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

3Reliability

If different parameters are used for identifying customer data in different applications, then application-specific optimization is improved, but data retrieval completeness deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveapplication-specific optimizationVSAvoiddata retrieval completeness

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSLoss of information

Solution Approach 1:

The patent dynamically changes identification parameters based on the target data source. The unified interface automatically selects and transforms parameters (e.g., converting a unified customer ID into application-specific identifiers like email, phone number, or account number) according to the characteristics of each data source, thereby maintaining application-specific optimization while ensuring complete data retrieval across all sources

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

4Quantity of substance

If multiple different computer applications are used to view customer data, then data comprehensiveness is improved, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedata comprehensivenessVSAvoidsystem complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Quantity of substanceVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent merges multiple data retrieval operations and consolidation processes into a single unified interface. Instead of requiring separate applications for each data source, the system combines access to all data sources through one interface that automatically correlates and consolidates results, reducing system complexity from the user's perspective while maintaining comprehensive data access

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Data Source

PatentUS10671626B2Identity consolidation in heterogeneous data environment

Publication Date: 2020.06.02 SALESFORCE INC

AI summary

In some implementations, a processing system of a database system may identify identification information associated with a user within a request, received from a client device, for data associated with the user, compare the identification information with user identity entries persisting on the memory device, determine, from the comparison, that a user identity entry persisting on the memory device is associated with the user, and query a backend database associated with the client device with one or more parameters included within the user identity entry to obtain the data associated with the user.