File Distribution via Chunk-Based Differential Updates
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing methods for distributing digital files over networks are inefficient, leading to high network traffic and long download times, especially when updating files, which increases costs and resource usage.
Innovation Solution
The method involves identifying unique chunks in a digital file, generating and storing recompilation information for both identical and different chunks between file versions, and transmitting only the manifest and unique chunks from the second version, allowing remote users to recompile the file efficiently with reduced network traffic.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If complete digital files are transmitted over the network, then the receiver is guaranteed to have the complete file, but the network becomes bogged down and download time increases significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides digital files into smaller chunks or blocks, allowing selective transmission of only those chunks that are different between versions. This segmentation enables the system to transmit partial file updates rather than complete files, significantly reducing network traffic and download time while maintaining reliability through version comparison mechanisms.
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs preliminary actions by comparing file versions before transmission to identify which chunks have changed. This pre-analysis allows the network to transmit only the necessary differential data rather than complete files, reducing download time while ensuring the receiver gets the complete updated file through intelligent selective transmission.
2Productivity
If quality of service schemes prioritize other network traffic, then network resource allocation improves, but file downloading takes even longer
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies partial action by transmitting only the necessary portion of file data (changed chunks) rather than complete files. This reduces the total network traffic volume, allowing quality of service schemes to allocate network resources more efficiently to other tasks while the file update completes in acceptable time using the reduced data transmission.
3Reliability
If large files are transmitted over the network, then complete file delivery is ensured, but bandwidth usage increases and costs increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts and transmits only the changed portions (chunks) of files rather than complete files. This extraction approach ensures that the receiver obtains complete updated files while minimizing bandwidth consumption, as only the differential data between versions is transmitted across the network.
4Loss of energy
If selective chunk transmission is implemented, then network traffic is reduced, but the complexity of file version comparison and chunk identification increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments files into standardized chunks with unique identifiers, creating a structured approach to file comparison. This segmentation reduces the complexity of version comparison by breaking down large files into manageable, identifiable units that can be systematically compared and tracked across different versions.
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses chunk identifiers and version metadata as parameters to simplify the comparison process. By changing the approach from comparing entire file contents to comparing chunk identifiers and version information, the patent reduces the computational complexity of file version comparison while enabling selective chunk transmission.
Data Source
AI summary
Methods and systems relating to a file distribution scheme in a computer network are disclosed that distributes files in an efficient manner that reduces, among other things, network traffic. In an embodiment of the invention, a method for updating a file is disclosed. In such a method, unique chunks in a first version of a digital file are identified. For a second version of the digital file, chunks that are the same as in the first version are identified. Recompilation information is generated and stored for these identified chunks. Also, for the second version of the digital file, chunks in the second version that are different from chunks in the first version are identified. Recompilation information is generated and stored for these identified chunks. With this information, the second version of the digital file is completely defined and can be efficiently stored.