Web-Enabled Mainframe Translation Interface
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing mainframes are inaccessible remotely and present data in a rudimentary format, failing to provide user-friendly access and maintaining platform-specific or proprietary formats.
Innovation Solution
A web-enabled mainframe system that allows remote access through a network, using a data sources interface to translate web-based transaction requests into native mainframe formats and vice versa, presenting data in a user-friendly format on the front-end while maintaining proprietary formats on the back-end.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If mainframes use platform-specific or proprietary formats for data input and output, then the mainframe can maintain compatibility with legacy applications and systems, but the user interface becomes rudimentary and inaccessible to remote users
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a translation layer that acts as an intermediary between the web-based user interface and the mainframe's native proprietary format. This translation layer converts web-based transaction requests into mainframe-native instructions and transforms mainframe output into web-compatible data sources, enabling remote web access while maintaining compatibility with legacy mainframe applications and data formats
2Device complexity
If mainframes require direct connection via green screen terminal, then the system maintains simple architecture and direct control, but remote access is not possible and user interaction is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the mainframe system into distinct functional layers: a web interface layer for user interaction, a translation layer for format conversion, and the core mainframe layer for legacy application execution. This segmentation allows the system to maintain the simplicity and reliability of the core mainframe while adding remote web accessibility through separate, modular components
3Reliability
If mainframes present data in native proprietary format, then the data maintains platform-specific compatibility, but the presentation format is rudimentary and not user-friendly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies different data formats to different parts of the system: the user-facing web interface receives data in web-compatible formats (XML, JSON, HTML) for optimal display and interaction, while the internal mainframe operations continue to use native proprietary formats to ensure compatibility with legacy applications and maintain data integrity
Data Source
AI summary
According to one embodiment, a data sources interface of a mainframe receives a transaction request from a user terminal communicating through a network. The transaction request is formatted in a web-based format. A data sources function is called to instruct a mainframe application to perform the requested transaction, and the instruction to the mainframe is formatted in the native format of the mainframe. A transaction result formatted in the native format of the mainframe is received from the mainframe application. The transaction result is modified according to the web-based format to yield a data source, and the data source is sent to the user terminal.