Application-Level Acknowledgements for Data Packet Processing Verification
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current communication systems lack the ability to verify that data packets are not only received but also successfully processed by the intended application on receiving devices, leading to inefficiencies in data management across networked devices.
Innovation Solution
Implementing application-level acknowledgements, where devices send acknowledgments not only upon receipt but also upon successful processing of data packets by the application, allowing for better management of communications and retransmissions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If standard acknowledgements are used to verify data packet receipt, then transmission reliability is improved, but application-level processing verification is lost
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the acknowledgement mechanism into two distinct types: transmission-level acknowledgements that confirm packet receipt, and application-level acknowledgements that confirm successful processing. This segmentation allows each layer to provide specific verification information without conflating the two functions, thereby maintaining both delivery reliability and processing status information.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements a feedback mechanism where the receiving device sends application-level acknowledgements back to the sending device after the application successfully processes the data packet. This feedback loop provides end-to-end verification that the data not only reached the destination but was also correctly processed by the intended application, preventing information loss about processing status.
2Reliability
If application-level acknowledgements are implemented to verify processing, then communication reliability is improved, but communication complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent designs the application-level acknowledgement mechanism to be universally applicable across different applications and data types. The same acknowledgement framework can be used regardless of the specific application processing the data, reducing the need for application-specific custom protocols and thereby limiting the increase in overall system complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces an intermediary acknowledgement message that mediates between the transmission layer and the application layer. This intermediary mechanism simplifies the interaction by providing a standardized way for applications to signal successful processing without requiring complex direct communication protocols between all components, thus managing complexity while maintaining reliability.
3Loss of energy
If only receipt acknowledgements are sent, then communication overhead is reduced, but data processing verification is insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies partial action by sending application-level acknowledgements only when necessary - specifically when the application has successfully processed the data packet. This selective approach avoids the excessive overhead of sending acknowledgements for every single transmission event, while still providing verification when it matters most for reliability.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the parameter of acknowledgement timing from immediate (upon receipt) to delayed (upon processing completion). This parameter change allows the system to reduce communication overhead by batching or selectively sending acknowledgements only when processing is complete, rather than for every intermediate step, thus balancing overhead with verification reliability.
Data Source
AI summary
Application-level acknowledgements may be used to verify that a data packet has not only been received, but has been successfully processed by the appropriate application operating on a device that received the data packet. For example, in one embodiment, two devices may be registered with an identity service that enables security and push messaging. A first device may communicate a data packet to another device that is associated with the same identity account through the identity service. The device receiving the data packet may send an acknowledgement verifying receipt of the data packet. After an application has processed the data packet, an acknowledgement that the data packet was processed may also be send from the second device to the first device.