Distributed Payment Settlement Error Recovery
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing ecommerce financial transaction processing systems face challenges with scalability and reliability due to reliance on expensive, single-point machines that can cause transaction processing to halt if they fail, and are difficult to scale without additional costly equipment.
Innovation Solution
A distributed computer system is implemented to process settlement transactions, using a request handler module, batch handler module, and vendor communication module to manage settlement data and vendor files across multiple conventional computers, allowing for increased processing capacity and error detection and rectification.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a single expensive and highly-reliable machine is used to batch and submit settlement requests, then transaction processing reliability is improved, but the system becomes vulnerable to single-point failure and scaling becomes difficult without additional costly equipment
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the settlement processing system into multiple independent computing devices (first computing device, second computing device, third computing device) that each handle portions of the settlement workflow. The settlement data is segmented into vendor files distributed across these devices, eliminating the single-point failure vulnerability while maintaining processing reliability through distributed architecture.
2Adaptability or versatility
If multiple conventional computers are used to distribute the workload, then system scalability and flexibility are improved, but the potential for errors and system unreliability increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a status field mechanism that tracks the state of settlement requests and vendor files across the distributed system. This feedback system allows the batch handler module to monitor processing states, detect errors, and coordinate recovery actions across multiple computing devices, thereby maintaining reliability while enabling distributed scalability.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent stores complete settlement data including vendor file information in a settlement storage accessible by all computing devices before processing begins. This preparatory storage of all necessary information allows any computing device to recover and continue processing from any failure point, cushioning against the unreliability of individual components in the distributed system.
3Productivity
If settlement data is distributed across multiple vendor files on different computing devices, then processing bandwidth and scalability are improved, but the complexity of managing and tracking settlement requests increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent creates a universal settlement storage structure that can be accessed by all computing devices in the distributed system. The batch handler module performs multiple functions: creating vendor files, updating status fields, tracking settlement requests, and coordinating between devices. This multi-functional approach simplifies management despite the distributed architecture by providing a common interface and centralized coordination mechanism.
Data Source
AI summary
Settlement transactions are processed on a distributed computer system. Settlement data describing a settlement request are received and stored in a settlement storage. The storage includes a request status field with a value describing the status of the settlement request. The settlement data are stored in a vendor file responsive to the value of the request status field. Data describing the vendor file are stored in a vendor file information storage. The vendor file information storage includes a file status field with a value describing the status of the vendor file. The vendor file is provided to a vendor for settlement processing responsive to the value of the file status field. The distributed computer system is able to detect and rectify errors in the distributed computer system by using the request status and file status fields, which allows the distributed computer system to be comprised of conventional computers.