XML-Based Configurator Automation for Software-Hardware Integration
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Solution Overview
Problem
The process of developing and testing configurators for complex software/hardware inter-relationships is labor-intensive and costly, requiring highly trained developers and manual testing methods, which can take thousands of man-hours and lacks efficiency.
Innovation Solution
The use of Extensible Markup Language (XML) as an object-oriented, event-driven data manipulation language for specifying user interfaces and bill of materials, allowing for robotic simulation and automated test case generation, reducing the need for manual coding and increasing computational efficiency.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If manual coding and testing methods are used to develop configurators, then the configurator can be created with traditional approaches, but the process takes thousands of man-hours and is highly costly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses XML documents as templates that represent configurator specifications. These XML templates serve as copyable blueprints that can be reused and modified to create different configurator implementations, eliminating the need to manually code each configurator from scratch and dramatically reducing development time
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces manual mechanical coding processes with automated XML-based specification systems. Instead of developers manually writing code, the system uses XML documents combined with automated generation tools to create configurator models, substituting the mechanical act of coding with an automated information processing approach
2Reliability
If highly trained developers are used to code configurators, then the configurator can be developed with proper expertise, but the cost increases significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The XML-based specification system is designed to be self-descriptive and self-validating. The XML documents contain all necessary configuration information in a structured format that can be automatically processed and validated, reducing the need for highly trained developers to manually interpret and code specifications while maintaining accuracy
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates a universal XML-based specification framework that can handle multiple configurator types and complexities through a single standardized approach. This universal system eliminates the need for specialized developers for each different configurator type, as the same XML framework can accommodate various configurations, thereby reducing overall development costs
3Manufacturing precision
If manual testing methods are used to validate configurators, then testing can be performed with traditional approaches, but the process is labor-intensive and inefficient
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces manual testing mechanics with automated simulation systems. The XML-based configurator simulator automatically generates and executes test cases, substituting the manual mechanical process of testers clicking through configurations with an automated system that can rapidly validate thousands of configuration scenarios, thereby improving both efficiency and coverage
4Adaptability or versatility
If complex coding processes are used to create configurators, then the configurator can handle complex software/hardware inter-relationships, but the automation effort increases by 25-35%
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the configurator specification into distinct XML elements that represent different software and hardware components and their inter-relationships. This segmentation allows complex systems to be described through modular, hierarchical XML structures that can be independently validated and processed, handling complexity through organization rather than computational complexity
Data Source
AI summary
A software-controlled computational component for processing input data is provided that includes a control program 148 for controlling the operation of a first computational component, an input for input data, and an output for output data. Each of the machine code for the control program, the input data, and the output data are expressed in a markup language, such as Extensible Markup Language.