Attachment Server Network for Portable Device Email Conversion
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing methods for viewing attachments on portable electronic devices are hindered by lengthy conversion processes, leading to delays due to the size and complexity of attachments and server load, which can result in increased processing time and user wait times.
Innovation Solution
A method that directs view requests for email attachments through a network of attachment servers, where the server with the most available processing capacity is selected to search for and convert attachments, with local caching and inter-server communication to minimize redundant conversions and reduce latency.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If attachment conversion is performed on a single server, then conversion processing can be completed, but processing time increases and server load increases causing delays
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the attachment server into multiple server nodes (first server node, second server node, etc.) that can independently process conversion requests. Each node maintains a local cache and can handle conversions simultaneously, segmenting the workload to improve overall processing speed and reduce user wait time.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements pre-conversion of attachments by converting attachments in advance and storing them in local caches on multiple server nodes. When a conversion request arrives, the system can quickly retrieve pre-converted attachments from cache rather than performing real-time conversion, significantly reducing processing time.
2Productivity
If multiple attachment servers are used, then processing load is distributed, but system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple server nodes into a unified attachment server system with shared cache functionality. The servers work cooperatively with a common cache structure, allowing load distribution while maintaining system simplicity through unified cache management and coordinated operation.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates copy relationships between server nodes where conversion results are replicated across multiple servers. When one server converts an attachment, the result is copied to other servers' caches, enabling fast retrieval without redundant conversions and simplifying the system by avoiding repeated processing.
3Reliability
If conversion is performed every time an attachment is accessed, then device-readable format is ensured, but processing time increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary conversion of attachments to device-readable formats and stores them in local caches on multiple server nodes. When access requests occur, pre-converted formats are retrieved from cache rather than re-converting, ensuring format compatibility while eliminating conversion delays for subsequent accesses.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements local caching on each server node that stores conversion results in device-readable formats. Each server maintains its own local cache with converted attachments, allowing fast local retrieval without network delays while ensuring format compatibility is maintained through proper cache management.
Data Source
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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 (80) in response to view requests (66) 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 (74).