Unified Interface Layer for Business Data Query Format Conversion

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Solution Overview

Problem

Business organizations face challenges in querying and retrieving data from diverse data sources due to the need for multiple software applications to be configured and trained for each interface implementation, leading to complexity and inefficiency.

Innovation Solution

A unified interface layer that converts generic queries into interface-specific formats and results back into a generic format, allowing a single client application to interface with multiple data sources without needing to be encoded for each implementation, using technologies like BICS and MDX for query execution and data retrieval.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If multiple computer software applications are configured to execute queries for different interface implementations, then data accessibility across diverse data sources is improved, but system complexity and configuration effort increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedata accessibilityVSAvoidsystem complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements a universal query interface that can handle multiple interface implementations (BICS, MDX, and other analytical query interfaces) through a single standardized query format. This allows the system to access diverse data sources without requiring separate software applications for each interface type, thereby improving data accessibility while reducing system complexity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces an intermediary layer (query interface implementation) that translates between the standardized query format and interface-specific formats. This mediator handles the complexity of different interface implementations internally, allowing users to interact with a simplified interface while the intermediary manages the diversity of underlying data source interfaces.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Adaptability or versatility

If multiple computer software applications are configured for different interface implementations, then support for diverse data sources is improved, but configuration and training requirements increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveinterface compatibilityVSAvoidconfiguration effort

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The system provides a single software application with universal query capabilities that supports multiple interface implementations through a standardized query format. This eliminates the need to configure and train on multiple separate applications, reducing configuration effort while maintaining broad interface compatibility.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Solution Approach 2:

Instead of requiring each interface implementation to have its own dedicated application, the patent inverts the approach by creating a single application that can handle multiple interfaces through translation layers. This inversion simplifies configuration and training requirements while maintaining support for diverse data sources.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #13The other way round (Inversion)

3Measurement precision

If queries are executed using interface-specific formats for each data source, then data retrieval accuracy is improved, but query processing time and complexity increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedata retrieval accuracyVSAvoidquery processing time

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent establishes a standardized query format that is prepared in advance and can be uniformly applied across different interface implementations. This preliminary standardization eliminates the need to manually convert queries for each interface type, reducing query processing time while maintaining data retrieval accuracy through automated translation to interface-specific formats when needed.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Data Source

PatentUS9159052B2Generalizing formats of business data queries and results

Publication Date: 2015.10.13 SAP SE

AI summary

Methods, systems, and apparatus, including computer programs encoded on a computer storage medium, for adapting formats of data queries into a generic format. A query requesting data stored in a business objects data source is received. The query has a generic format and includes parameters that describe a computer interface implementation configured to execute the query to identify the requested data. Based on the one or more parameters, the computer software interface implementation is identified. The interface implementation specifies an interface-specific query format. The query is converted from the generic query format into the interface-specific query format, and provided to the computer software interface implementation. The interface implementation executes the interface-specific query and obtains the requested data in an interface-specific results format. This data is converted into a generic results format, and provided in response to receiving the query.