Cloud Workflow Input Timeout Handling for Complete Data Processing
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
The MPEG NBMP standard lacks the ability to measure the quality of dividing workflows among network entities, sources, or sinks, and fails to clearly associate workflow inputs and outputs with specific function instances, leading to ambiguity and inefficiencies in media processing.
Innovation Solution
Implement a method and apparatus that include determining timeouts for task and workflow inputs, associating inputs and outputs with functions, and applying updates based on input availability, using computer program code to manage states and associations in network-based media processing.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If timeout mechanisms and input completeness detection are implemented in NBMP workflows, then media processing efficiency and resource management improve, but system complexity and implementation overhead increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by pre-defining timeout values and input completeness criteria in the workflow configuration before execution. The system pre-establishes monitoring mechanisms for input data streams, setting thresholds and expectations in advance. This allows the workflow engine to automatically detect incomplete inputs or timeouts without requiring complex real-time analysis, thereby improving processing efficiency while keeping the added complexity manageable through configuration rather than runtime computation.
2Reliability
If detailed input-output association tracking is implemented across workflow functions, then data flow accuracy and processing reliability improve, but network overhead and computational burden increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies copying by creating lightweight metadata representations of input-output associations rather than duplicating actual data streams. The system generates simplified tracking records that reference workflow function inputs and outputs, maintaining data flow accuracy through these metadata copies. This approach ensures reliable tracking of data provenance and transformation while minimizing network overhead, as the metadata structures are compact and can be processed locally without transmitting actual media data.
3Reliability
If timeout detection and input completeness verification are added to NBMP tasks, then workflow state management and error handling improve, but processing time and computational resources increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies skipping by implementing efficient timeout detection that can quickly determine input completeness without exhaustive verification. The system uses predefined timeout thresholds and sampling mechanisms to rapidly assess whether inputs are complete, allowing workflows to proceed without unnecessary delays. This approach improves workflow state management by providing reliable timeout detection while minimizing processing time through optimized verification algorithms that skip unnecessary checks once completeness is established.
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3
AI summary
There is included a method and apparatus comprising computer code configured to cause a processor or processors to perform obtaining an input of at least one of a task and a workflow, setting a timeout for the input of the at least one of the task and the workflow, determining whether the at least one of the task and the workflow observes a lack of data of the input for a duration equal to the timeout, determining, in response to determining that the at least one of the task and the workflow observed the lack of data of the input for the duration equal to the timeout, an unavailability of further data of the input, applying an update to the at least one of the task and the workflow based on determining the unavailability, and processing the at least one of the task and the workflow.