Unified Input Validation Rules for Data Integrity

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Inconsistent input validation across multiple components of a system leads to inefficiencies and user experience issues, as validation rules are independently implemented, causing delays and inconsistencies in error notification and data integrity.

Innovation Solution

Implementing a unified set of input validation rules that can be applied across different components and technologies, allowing for local and remote validation, with API-driven validation rules that can be executed in various programming languages, ensuring consistent validation across interactive and non-interactive inputs.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If input validation rules are independently implemented across multiple components, then each component can validate input according to its own requirements, but inconsistencies in validation and delays in error notification occur

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedata integrityVSAvoidvalidation delay

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The validation process is segmented into client-side validation (providing immediate feedback) and server-side validation (ensuring data integrity). The API receives input values, validates them according to defined rules, and returns results to the user interface, allowing each layer to handle validation independently while maintaining consistency through the unified rule set.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

Validation rules are defined and configured in advance before input is received. The system pre-establishes validation criteria for different input types (string, numeric, date, etc.), allowing immediate validation upon receipt without delay. Error messages are also prepared in advance for quick display to users.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

2Reliability

If multiple independent validation methods are used across components, then comprehensive validation coverage is achieved, but validation inconsistencies and user experience issues arise

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvevalidation consistencyVSAvoiduser experience

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

A universal validation framework is implemented that works across all components and input types. The same validation rules and error message templates are applied consistently whether validation occurs at the user interface, API layer, or database level. This ensures uniform validation behavior while maintaining ease of use through standardized error feedback.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

3Reliability

If validation is performed at multiple levels (client and server), then data integrity is improved, but network communication latency increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedata integrityVSAvoidnetwork latency

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

Validation is segmented into immediate client-side checks using predefined rules and patterns, providing instant feedback without network communication. Only after client-side validation passes does the system perform server-side validation, ensuring data integrity while minimizing network round-trips by filtering invalid input early.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Data Source

PatentUS10915702B2Methods and systems for validating multiple methods of input using a unified rule set

Publication Date: 2021.02.09 CITRIX SYSTEMS INC

AI summary

A system and methods for validating input data acquired through an interactive or non-interactive source. The system includes a common definition of input validation rules, and the capability of validating input without committing the input to the system.