Asynchronous Content Request Mechanism for Latency Reduction
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing online content delivery systems experience delays when serving video advertisements, as users' devices must sequentially request content items from multiple providers, leading to user frustration due to prolonged wait times for available ads.
Innovation Solution
Implementing an asynchronous content request method where a user device receives a content management response with links to multiple providers, generates and transmits simultaneous or nearly simultaneous content request messages based on transmission rules, and displays the first received content item, reducing wait times by transmitting all requests within a defined time-out period.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of time
If sequential content requests are transmitted to multiple content providers, then system complexity is reduced and ease of operation is maintained, but content delivery latency increases significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary actions by generating and transmitting content requests to multiple content providers simultaneously or in parallel before the actual content delivery is needed. This allows the requests to be processed in advance, reducing the waiting time for content delivery while managing complexity through structured request generation and response handling.
Solution Approach 2:
The content delivery process is segmented into independent parallel requests sent to different content providers. Each request is handled independently, allowing simultaneous processing without requiring complex coordination between providers. The system divides the single sequential request into multiple parallel requests, each with its own response handling.
2Speed
If multiple content requests are transmitted simultaneously to reduce latency, then content delivery speed improves, but the complexity of managing multiple responses increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system implements feedback mechanisms to manage multiple responses efficiently. Each content provider's response is tracked and processed based on predefined criteria, allowing the system to handle multiple parallel responses without increasing complexity. The feedback loop includes monitoring response status, selecting appropriate content based on response quality, and managing timeout scenarios.
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes parameters such as request timing, provider selection criteria, and response evaluation metrics to optimize content delivery speed while managing complexity. By adjusting these parameters based on system state and performance requirements, the system can balance speed improvements with manageable complexity levels.
3Productivity
If asynchronous content requests are implemented, then user engagement is maintained through reduced wait times, but the reliability of content delivery becomes more challenging to ensure
Solution Approach 1:
The system prepares for potential delivery failures by implementing timeout mechanisms, fallback content providers, and retry logic before actual delivery issues occur. This cushioning approach ensures that if one content provider fails to respond or provides unsuitable content, the system can reliably fall back to alternative sources, maintaining both user engagement and delivery reliability.
4Adaptability or versatility
If content requests are sent to multiple providers to ensure content availability, then content selection quality improves, but the time required to receive and evaluate responses increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system applies partial action by sending requests to a prioritized list of content providers and stopping evaluation once sufficient content options are received. Rather than evaluating all possible providers, the system receives responses from multiple providers but only processes enough to make a quality selection, reducing response evaluation time while maintaining content selection flexibility through the prioritized approach.
Data Source
AI summary
A computer-based method for asynchronously requesting content items to a user computing device is described. The method is implemented using a user computing device in communication with a memory. The method includes receiving a content management response, generating a plurality of content request messages for requesting at least one content item from a plurality of content providers based on the plurality of links, asynchronously transmitting a first content request message to a first content provider and a second content request message to a second content provider where the first and second content request messages are transmitted based on the at least one transmission rule, receiving a content response message including a content item from at least one of the first and the second content provider, determining the content item to display on the user computing device, and displaying the determined online content item on the user computing device.