Conversation Data Synchronization via Tree Structure Segmentation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Synchronizing full e-mail conversations between a client and a server can be inefficient, requiring the transmission of complete message copies even when only a portion of the conversation is updated, which burdens both client and server resources.
Innovation Solution
A method and system for synchronizing communication data that involves generating a tree structure with nodes containing conversation and message identifiers, encoding this structure as a binary large object, and transferring only the necessary information between client and server to minimize data transfer and optimize resource usage.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If full conversation data is synchronized between client and server, then data consistency is ensured, but network bandwidth and server resources are excessively consumed
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the conversation data into individual message nodes within a tree structure, allowing the server to identify and transmit only the specific message nodes that have changed since the last synchronization, rather than transmitting the entire conversation tree. This segmentation enables partial updates that maintain data consistency while reducing network bandwidth consumption.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent extracts only the necessary subset of conversation data (specific message nodes that have been modified) from the complete conversation tree and transmits them to the client. The server compares the client's current tree structure with the server's authoritative tree, identifies the differences, and extracts only those message nodes that require synchronization, thereby minimizing data transmission while ensuring consistency.
2Measurement precision
If complete message copies are transmitted during synchronization, then data accuracy is maintained, but transmission time and server processing load increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies partial action by transmitting only the specific message nodes that have changed since the last synchronization, rather than transmitting complete copies of all messages in the conversation. The server performs a differential comparison between the client's tree structure and the server's authoritative structure, identifying and transmitting only the necessary updates. This approach maintains data accuracy for the updated portions while significantly reducing transmission time and server processing load.
3Productivity
If tree structure with message identifiers is used for synchronization, then data transfer efficiency is improved, but client device memory requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses a lightweight copy approach where the client stores a simplified tree structure containing only message identifiers and minimal metadata rather than complete message content. This copied structure serves as an index or map that enables efficient identification of which messages need synchronization. The actual message content is retrieved from the server only when necessary, reducing the memory footprint on the client device while maintaining synchronization efficiency.
Data Source
AI summary
Systems and methods for synchronizing conversation data between a client and a server in a networked computing environment. A data structure associated with an e-mail conversation is encoded and shuttled between the client and the server. When received at the server, the data structure is analyzed to determine changes within the e-mail conversation. The data structure is subsequently modified to reflect or include only those changes to minimize the amount of information transferred between the server and client.