API Transaction Management via User-Computed Task Offloading

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Solution Overview

Problem

API service providers face high transactional costs and processing demands due to high-volume requests from end-users, necessitating a cost-effective mechanism to manage and maintain services, especially during peak processing times.

Innovation Solution

A method and system that require users to perform transaction processing tasks in exchange for access to API services, delegating computing tasks to user devices and managing task distribution to ensure only capable users access the services, thereby reducing the burden on service providers and preventing fraud.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If API service providers provide services to users, then user access to services is improved, but processing power consumption and transactional costs increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveuser access to servicesVSAvoidprocessing power consumption

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments the processing workload into discrete task units that can be independently assigned and executed by users. Instead of processing all requests centrally, the system divides complex transactions into smaller units that users can complete with their computing resources, reducing the provider's processing burden while maintaining service access.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

Users perform computational tasks using their own devices and resources to access services. The system enables users to execute transactions and processing operations independently rather than relying solely on provider infrastructure, thereby reducing centralized processing power consumption while maintaining service availability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

2Productivity

If API service providers handle high-volume requests from end-users, then service availability is improved, but transactional costs and processing demands increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveservice availabilityVSAvoidtransactional costs

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces task units as intermediary elements between service requests and processing execution. These task units act as mediators that can be assigned to users for execution, reducing the direct processing burden on the provider's infrastructure while maintaining service availability and reducing transactional costs.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

By segmenting high-volume requests into discrete task units that can be distributed to multiple users, the system maintains service availability without concentrating all processing demands on the provider's infrastructure, thereby reducing transactional costs and processing complexity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

3Stability of the object's composition

If API service providers process transactions during peak demand, then service continuity is improved, but computing processing resources are depleted

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveservice continuityVSAvoidcomputing processing resources

Core Design Contradiction:

Stability of the object's compositionVSPower

Solution Approach 1:

The system assigns task units to users in advance during lower-demand periods, allowing users to prepare and execute processing operations before peak demand occurs. This preliminary action distributes the processing load over time, maintaining service continuity while preventing resource depletion during peak periods.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

By segmenting processing tasks into discrete units that can be executed by multiple users across different time periods, the system maintains service continuity during peak demand without concentrating all computing processing resources on a single provider infrastructure, thereby preventing resource depletion.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

4Adaptability or versatility

If API service providers offer services to all users, then accessibility is improved, but fraudulent access increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveservice accessibilityVSAvoidfraudulent access

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The system implements feedback mechanisms to verify that users actually perform the assigned task units before granting service access. This feedback loop allows the system to maintain broad accessibility while detecting and preventing fraudulent access patterns, as users must demonstrate actual computation rather than simply requesting services.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

Solution Approach 2:

Users must perform computational tasks using their own devices to access services, creating a self-verification mechanism that distinguishes legitimate users from fraudsters. This self-service approach maintains service accessibility while inherently preventing fraudulent access, as the computing task itself serves as authentication.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

Data Source

PatentUS11882055B1Computer resource-based API transaction method and system

Publication Date: 2024.01.23 UNITED SERVICES AUTOMOBILE ASSOCIATION (USAA)

AI summary

A transactional method and system of managing access to API services based on the performance of computational tasks by an end-user is disclosed. The system and method are configured to identify requests from an end-user to an API for services that are associated with a transactional cost. This cost is passed on to the end-user by generation of a computational task assignment to be completed by the client computing system. Once the assignment has been performed, the end-user may be granted access to the requested service.