Bandwidth-Aware File Transfer Control System

Solution Overview

Problem

Uncontrolled file transfer over varying network connections with unknown bandwidths leads to excessive transfer times, costing users and service providers due to inefficient use of bandwidth, especially when large files are transferred over low-bandwidth connections.

Innovation Solution

Automatically measuring network bandwidth, comparing it to predefined parameters, and either preventing file transfers if bandwidth is too low, offering users the option to transfer if bandwidth is acceptable but not optimal, or allowing automatic transfers when bandwidth is sufficient.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If file transfer is performed without bandwidth detection, then transfer operation is simple and quick to initiate, but transfer time becomes extremely long and server resources are wasted when bandwidth is low

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvefile transfer speedVSAvoidtransfer time

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs bandwidth detection before initiating file transfer operations. This preliminary action allows the system to assess network conditions in advance and make informed decisions about whether to proceed with transfers, select appropriate transfer sizes, or queue transfers for later when bandwidth is available.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The system continuously monitors bandwidth conditions and uses this feedback to dynamically adjust transfer parameters. Based on real-time bandwidth measurements, the system can modify transfer speeds, pause transfers when bandwidth is insufficient, or prioritize certain transfers over others to optimize overall system performance.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

2Ease of operation

If file transfer is performed without bandwidth detection, then system complexity is low, but server processes are tied up for extreme lengths of time reducing availability to other clients

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesystem simplicityVSAvoidserver availability

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs bandwidth detection before initiating file transfer operations. This preliminary action allows the system to assess network conditions in advance and make informed decisions about whether to proceed with transfers, select appropriate transfer sizes, or queue transfers for later when bandwidth is available.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The system continuously monitors bandwidth conditions and uses this feedback to dynamically adjust transfer parameters. Based on real-time bandwidth measurements, the system can modify transfer speeds, pause transfers when bandwidth is insufficient, or prioritize certain transfers over others to optimize overall system performance.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

3Ease of operation

If file transfer is performed without bandwidth detection, then transfer initiation is straightforward, but user costs increase due to paying for connection time on dial-up connections

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvetransfer initiation easeVSAvoidconnection cost

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSLoss of energy

Solution Approach 1:

The system continuously monitors bandwidth conditions and uses this feedback to dynamically adjust transfer parameters. Based on real-time bandwidth measurements, the system can modify transfer speeds, pause transfers when bandwidth is insufficient, or prioritize certain transfers over others to optimize overall system performance.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

Solution Approach 2:

The system automatically performs bandwidth detection and makes intelligent decisions about file transfers without requiring user intervention. Users simply initiate transfers as usual, and the system autonomously assesses bandwidth conditions, adjusts transfer parameters, and manages the transfer process to optimize cost and performance.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

Data Source

PatentUS7630400B2Controlling software distribution or file transfer

Publication Date: 2009.12.08 GOOGLE LLC

AI summary

An example of a solution provided here comprises automatically measuring bandwidth of a network connection; comparing results of the measuring, with bandwidth parameters; preventing a transfer of a file via the network connection, if measured bandwidth is less than a minimum acceptable value; providing to an end user an option of transferring a file via the network connection, if measured bandwidth is not less than a minimum acceptable value, but is less than an optimal value; and automatically transferring a file via the network connection, if measured bandwidth is greater than or equal to an optimal value.