Universal Connector for Endpoint Management

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Solution Overview

Problem

The cost of supporting new managed endpoint types in enterprise software environments is high due to the need for additional coding and the use of endpoint-specific connectors and protocols, which can be impractical in time-constrained situations like sales proof of concept (POC).

Innovation Solution

A universal connector system that records and analyzes network traffic between clients and endpoints, determines message structures based on commonalities, and generates requests without prior knowledge of specific protocols or connectors, allowing for the addition of new endpoint types without additional coding or endpoint-specific protocols.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If endpoint-specific connectors and protocols are used for each managed endpoint type, then communication reliability with specific endpoints is improved, but device complexity and support costs increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecommunication reliabilityVSAvoidconnector complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements a universal connector that can communicate with multiple different endpoint types without requiring endpoint-specific connectors. The connector achieves this by dynamically determining message structures based on commonalities among messages from different endpoints, allowing a single connector to perform multiple functions that previously required separate endpoint-specific connectors.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Solution Approach 2:

The connector changes its communication parameters dynamically by determining message structures based on analyzed commonalities from recorded messages. Instead of using fixed endpoint-specific protocols, the connector adapts its message format parameters based on the target endpoint's characteristics, enabling reliable communication without pre-configured endpoint-specific settings.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

2Adaptability or versatility

If additional coding is performed to support new endpoint types, then adaptability to new endpoints is improved, but loss of time and productivity decrease

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveendpoint type adaptabilityVSAvoidimplementation time

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary actions by recording and analyzing messages from endpoints before actual communication is needed. This advance analysis establishes message structure templates that can be reused, eliminating the need for time-consuming coding when new endpoint types need to be supported.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The connector creates message structure templates by copying and generalizing patterns from analyzed endpoint messages. These templates serve as reusable blueprints that can be applied to new endpoint types without requiring additional coding, significantly reducing implementation time while maintaining adaptability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #26Copying

3Measurement precision

If endpoint-specific protocols are implemented for each connector, then communication precision with specific endpoints is improved, but device complexity and maintenance difficulty increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvemessage structure precisionVSAvoidconnector ease of implementation

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts the essential message structure patterns from specific endpoint protocols and separates them from endpoint-specific details. By taking out only the common structural elements and creating universal templates, the system achieves precise message formatting without requiring implementation of complete endpoint-specific protocols, reducing complexity while maintaining precision.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

4Reliability

If multiple endpoint-specific connectors are maintained, then reliability of communication with various endpoints is improved, but ease of repair and maintenance decrease

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecommunication reliabilityVSAvoidconnector maintenance ease

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSEase of repair

Solution Approach 1:

The patent merges multiple endpoint-specific connectors into a single universal connector that handles communication with various endpoint types. By combining the functionality of multiple specialized connectors into one generalized connector with adaptive message structure determination, the system maintains reliable communication while significantly improving ease of maintenance through reduced complexity and unified management.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Data Source

PatentUS10089384B2Machine learning-derived universal connector

Publication Date: 2018.10.02 CA TECH INC

AI summary

In a computer-implemented method for endpoint management, a plurality of messages communicated between a target endpoint and a client are recorded, in a computer-readable memory. Ones of the messages are clustered into respective groups, where the respective groups correspond to respective operation types of the ones of the messages included therein. For the respective operation types, respective message structures used by the target endpoint are determined based on commonalities among the ones of the messages of the respective groups corresponding to the operation types. For one of the respective operation types, a request to the target endpoint is generated in accordance with a corresponding one of the respective message structures used by the target endpoint. Related computer systems and computer program products are also discussed.