Distributed RPA Task Download to Reduce Server Bottlenecks
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional robotic process automation (RPA) systems face significant server processing power and network bandwidth loads due to large software robots, which can lead to decreased performance and availability, especially in large deployments and during network downtime.
Innovation Solution
A distributed RPA system that stores task processing instructions and work items across multiple nodes, allowing nodes to query and share automation tasks, reducing the load on the server and enabling efficient task distribution and availability, even in case of server unavailability.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If software robots are provided centrally from the RPA server to multiple devices, then all devices can access the latest version of automation tasks, but the server processing power and network bandwidth are overwhelmed
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the centralized automation task distribution into multiple distributed peer nodes. Instead of one server providing tasks to all devices, each peer node stores copies of automation tasks and can serve other nodes directly. This segmentation distributes the processing load and network bandwidth requirements across multiple nodes, resolving the contradiction between maintaining task availability and reducing server overload.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent merges the roles of task consumer and task provider into the same peer nodes. Each node both downloads automation tasks when needed and uploads/caches them for other nodes. This combining of functions allows the system to maintain centralized consistency (all nodes have the same task versions) while distributing the actual data transfer load, reducing the burden on any single server.
2Productivity
If more virtual devices are deployed to increase scalability, then the RPA system can handle more work items, but the load on the RPA server and network increases further
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements self-service among peer nodes where each node automatically downloads, caches, and shares automation tasks with other nodes without requiring direct server intervention for each transfer. When a new virtual device joins the network, it can obtain automation tasks from existing peer nodes rather than solely from the central server, enabling the system to scale while maintaining manageable server and network loads.
3Reliability
If the complete automation task package is re-downloaded due to corruption, then data integrity is ensured, but significant time is lost during re-download
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the automation task package into multiple smaller files distributed across the network. When corruption is detected, only the specific corrupted file segment needs to be re-downloaded from any peer node that has an intact copy, rather than re-downloading the entire package. This segmentation maintains data integrity through verification while dramatically reducing recovery time by limiting the scope of re-downloads to only affected segments.
Data Source
AI summary
A server responds to a request to perform a first automation task to process a work item from the plurality of work items, on a first computing device that is separate and independent from the server. The server receives a request from the first computing device to download the first automation task and queries a distribution information file to identify one or more other computing devices that have a copy of the first automation task. The server provides to the first computing device, an identifier for each of one or more other computing devices that has a copy of the first automation task. If the distribution information file does not contain an identification of any other device that has a copy of the first automation task, then the server processor causes the first automation task to be retrieved and to be provided to the first computing device.