Web-Based RPA Designer for Compliant Cloud Automation

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current robotic process automation (RPA) technologies are limited by requiring desktop installations and local processing, which can be restrictive due to compliance policies and lack of centralized management, leading to maintenance and upgrade challenges.

Innovation Solution

A web-based RPA designer system that allows developers to create and execute RPA workflows through a cloud-based environment, eliminating the need for local installations and enabling centralized management and updates, with RPA robots running in operating system sessions, VMs, or containers.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If RPA development software is installed locally on user computing systems, then developers can create and execute RPA workflows, but compliance policies restrict software installation and upgrading

Engineering Contradiction:
ImproveRPA development capabilityVSAvoidCompliance adherence
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

A web-based RPA designer application serves as an intermediary between the developer's computing system and the RPA execution environment. The application runs in a web browser without requiring local software installation, while still providing full RPA development capabilities through cloud-based processing and execution.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Adaptability or versatility

If new RPA software versions or capabilities are released, then functionality is improved, but centralized approval and rollout processes delay updates

Engineering Contradiction:
ImproveRPA functionalityVSAvoidUpdate deployment time
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The web-based RPA designer application is pre-configured with the latest RPA capabilities and software versions hosted on the server. When new features or versions are released, they are automatically made available to all users through the web interface without requiring local installation or manual update processes.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

3Reliability

If RPA software is centralized on a server, then compliance and management are improved, but local processing capabilities are reduced

Engineering Contradiction:
ImproveCentralized managementVSAvoidLocal processing efficiency
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The system transitions from local processing to cloud-based processing by moving RPA workflow creation, validation, and execution to a server environment. Developers access the RPA designer through web browsers, enabling centralized management while maintaining full processing capabilities on the server side.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

4Extent of automation

If desktop RPA tools are used, then automation capabilities are provided, but software installation and maintenance become complex

Engineering Contradiction:
ImproveRPA automation capabilityVSAvoidSoftware installation and maintenance
Core Design Contradiction:
Extent of automationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The RPA designer application is extracted from the local computing environment and relocated to a web-based platform. This eliminates the need for local software installation, configuration, and maintenance while preserving all RPA automation capabilities through cloud-based execution.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Data Source

PatentUS12067407B2Web-based robotic process automation designer systems and automations for virtual machines, sessions, and containers
Publication Date: 2024.08.20 UIPATH INC
  • US12067407B2 patent drawing
  • US12067407B2 patent drawing
  • US12067407B2 patent drawing

AI summary

Web-based robotic process automation (RPA) designer systems that allow RPA developers to design and implement web serverless automations, user interface (UI) automations, and other automations are disclosed. Such web-based RPA designer systems may allow a developer to sign in through the cloud and obtain a list of template projects, developer-designed projects, services, activities, etc. Thus, RPA development may be centralized and cloud-based, reducing the local processing and memory requirements on a user's computing system and centralizing RPA designer functionality, enabling better compliance. Automations generated by the web-based RPA designer systems may be deployed and executed in virtual machines (VMs), containers, or operating system sessions.