Attachment Server Network Caching for Portable Device Email
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Solution Overview
Problem
The existing methods for viewing attachments on portable electronic devices are inefficient due to the lengthy conversion process of attachments at servers, leading to delays in displaying attachments to users, especially when multiple devices request the same attachment.
Innovation Solution
A method and system where a portable electronic device sends a view request to an attachment server network, utilizing a cache-based approach where converted attachments are stored across multiple servers, allowing for quick retrieval and display by minimizing redundant conversion processes through a network of attachment servers that communicate and synchronize cache data.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If attachments are converted at a single server before being sent to portable devices, then the conversion process can be centralized and managed, but the processing time increases and delays occur when multiple devices request the same attachment
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the single-server conversion system into multiple attachment servers distributed across a network. Each server can independently convert attachments, allowing parallel processing when multiple devices request attachments simultaneously. This segmentation eliminates the bottleneck of a single server and reduces overall processing time.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements caching mechanisms where converted attachments are stored in advance on multiple servers. When an attachment is converted by one server, the converted version is cached and made available to other servers. Subsequent requests for the same attachment can be served from the cache without re-conversion, significantly reducing delay.
2Ease of operation
If the same attachment is converted multiple times for different device requests, then each device can receive its attachment independently, but redundant processing increases server load and processing time
Solution Approach 1:
The patent creates copies of converted attachments and distributes them across multiple servers in the network. Once one server converts an attachment, it caches the converted version and can provide copies to other servers upon request. This copying mechanism eliminates redundant conversion operations while ensuring each device can retrieve its attachment independently from any server in the network.
3Productivity
If a network of multiple attachment servers is implemented, then processing capacity increases and redundancy is provided, but system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent designs the attachment servers with universal functionality, where each server can perform both conversion operations and caching operations. Any server in the network can serve as a conversion server or a cache server depending on current load and availability. This multi-functionality simplifies the overall system architecture by eliminating the need for specialized server roles and reducing management complexity.
Data Source
AI summary
An attachment server network including at least two attachment servers in communication with one another, each of the attachment servers for converting email attachments in response to view requests received from portable electronic devices, each of the attachment servers having a respective cache for storing data corresponding to previously converted attachments, the data being available to any of the attachment servers in the attachment server network.