Central Server Mediating Simultaneous TCP Connections
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing systems with multiple devices networked via TCP to a target device experience slow performance due to network traffic and congestion caused by multiple devices repeatedly polling the TCP server, as they can only support one TCP connection at a time, leading to bottlenecks and inefficiencies.
Innovation Solution
A system with a central server capable of establishing multiple TCP connections with both third-party devices and a point-to-point receiver, allowing simultaneous communication with a target device, thereby reducing network traffic and maintaining connections persistently until no longer needed.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If multiple third-party devices establish separate TCP connections to communicate with the target device, then each device can access the target device, but the TCP point-to-point receiver creates a bottleneck and limits connection to only one device at a time
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a server as an intermediary between multiple third-party devices and the target device. The server establishes a single TCP connection to the target device while maintaining multiple TCP connections with third-party devices, effectively mediating all communication requests. This resolves the contradiction by allowing multiple devices to access the target device through the intermediary server without requiring multiple direct connections to the target device.
2Loss of information
If devices repeatedly poll the TCP server for information, then they can obtain data from the target device, but network traffic and congestion increase causing slow performance
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a push-based communication model where the server maintains continuous monitoring of the target device and automatically pushes data to connected third-party devices as soon as it becomes available. This eliminates the need for repeated polling actions while ensuring continuous data availability, thereby resolving the contradiction between information availability and system performance.
3Reliability
If the retry method is implemented for connection attempts, then devices can eventually connect to receive data, but it generates extra network traffic and congestion
Solution Approach 1:
The patent establishes TCP connections in advance before data transmission is needed. Third-party devices connect to the server beforehand, and the server maintains these persistent connections ready for immediate data push. This preliminary connection establishment eliminates the need for repeated retry attempts, ensuring connection reliability while avoiding the network traffic and energy waste associated with multiple connection attempts.
Data Source
AI summary
A central server communicates requests from the at least one third-party device, in a plurality of third-party devices having a TCP connection with the central server, to a target device using the TCP connection established between the central server and a point-to-point receiver. The central server receives data from the target device using the TCP connection established between the central server and the point-to-point receiver. The central server delivers data to all of the plurality of third-party devices using the TCP connections established between the central server and each of the plurality of third-party devices.