Browser Postage Caching for Latency Reduction
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Solution Overview
Problem
Client-server systems for generating and printing postage indicia face latency issues due to the need for multiple server calls, which can be time-consuming and inefficient, especially when updating functional objects or verifying transaction accuracy.
Innovation Solution
Implementing localized functionality by caching functional objects, such as script files, on the client-side, allowing access through server calls with unique resource identifiers, and verifying results through server validation to ensure accuracy and security.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If multiple server calls are made to complete postage transactions, then centralized functionality and software update management are facilitated, but latency and processing time increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by caching functional objects (scripts, databases, classes) on the client side before they are needed for transaction processing. This allows the client to have local copies of essential functionality, reducing the need for repeated server calls during actual transactions and thereby reducing latency while maintaining centralized update capabilities.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a caching mechanism as an intermediary between the client and server. This cache stores functional objects locally on the client side, acting as a mediator that reduces direct communication overhead with the server while ensuring that updated functionality can still be obtained from the server when necessary.
2Productivity
If functional objects are cached on the client side, then latency is reduced and processing speed improves, but ensuring accuracy and security of cached objects becomes more complex
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements feedback mechanisms where the client validates cached functional objects against server-provided checksums or version identifiers. This ensures that cached objects remain accurate and secure by detecting any modifications or outdated versions, maintaining reliability while benefiting from local caching performance.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies preliminary anti-action by pre-validating cached functional objects using checksums or digital signatures before execution. This preventive measure ensures that potentially corrupted or unauthorized modifications to cached objects are detected and rejected before they can compromise transaction accuracy or security.
3Ease of manufacture
If a thin client architecture is used to facilitate widespread distribution, then ease of deployment improves, but the client requires frequent server communication which increases latency
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by pre-loading and caching essential functional objects on the thin client during initial deployment or idle periods. This allows the thin client to operate with reduced server dependency for routine transactions, maintaining its ease of deployment while reducing communication overhead and latency for actual postage operations.
Data Source
AI summary
Systems and methods which implement localized functionality in a client server system using a technique of caching one or more functional objects for access in response to an appropriate server call are shown. Embodiments provide a browser based postage indicia generation and printing solution in which a browser upon which a postage client is operable is controlled to cache one or more functional objects in the form of script files. Various functional objects may be optimized for caching by clients such as postal rating scripts, postal insurance rating scripts, address verification scripts, etc. Security and/or accuracy verification may be implemented by a server to independently verify the results of use of functional objects by a client.