Image Providing Device Reducing Redundant Transfers via Composite Segmentation

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Solution Overview

Problem

In the transfer and display of images using CSS sprites, common images are redundantly transferred across web pages, wasting network resources and causing delays due to unnecessary session occupancy and re-transfer of already used images.

Innovation Solution

An image providing device and method that outputs composite images specific to each web page, using determination mechanisms to ensure common images are only transferred once and re-used across pages, reducing redundant transfers and improving efficiency.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If one composite image is prepared for each web page containing common images, then each page can be displayed independently, but the common image is transferred redundantly across multiple pages

Engineering Contradiction:
ImproveIndependent page display capabilityVSAvoidNetwork resource waste due to redundant image transfer
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSLoss of energy

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments images into common images (shared across multiple pages) and page-specific images (unique to each page). Common images are extracted and stored separately in a common image storage area, while only page-specific images are included in individual composite images. This segmentation eliminates redundant transfers of common images while maintaining independent page display capability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent creates a universal common image storage area that serves multiple web pages. Instead of duplicating common images in each page's composite image, the system uses a single shared storage location that can be referenced by multiple pages, reducing network bandwidth consumption and improving overall system efficiency.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

2Productivity

If common images are included in each page's composite image, then each page can be displayed without additional transfers, but session occupancy time increases and display processing is delayed

Engineering Contradiction:
ImprovePage display speedVSAvoidSession occupancy time and display processing delay
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent performs preliminary action by pre-transferring common images to the client terminal through the first web page. The system determines which images are common across multiple pages and transfers them once in advance. Subsequent pages that use these common images can display without requiring additional transfers, thus improving display speed while avoiding extended session occupancy.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The patent implements dynamic image transfer strategy by determining, for each web page, whether images are common or page-specific. The system dynamically adjusts what content to transfer based on the specific page being accessed, transferring only necessary page-specific images in composite images while relying on previously transferred common images from the shared storage area.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

3Quantity of substance

If the number of HTTP sessions is limited, then server resource usage is controlled, but further image transfers must wait for available sessions

Engineering Contradiction:
ImproveNumber of HTTP sessionsVSAvoidImage transfer speed
Core Design Contradiction:
Quantity of substanceVSSpeed

Solution Approach 1:

The patent merges common images into a shared storage area that can be accessed by multiple web pages. Instead of creating separate HTTP sessions for transferring the same common image to each page, the system combines these transfers into a single transfer operation. The common image is transferred once and made available to all pages that need it, significantly reducing the total number of HTTP sessions required and improving transfer speed within the server's session capacity limits.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Data Source

PatentEP2631809B1Image-providing device, image-providing method, image-providing program and computer-readable recording medium recording said program
Publication Date: 2016.04.06 RAKUTEN GROUP INC
  • EP2631809B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP2631809B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP2631809B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

An image providing device includes a page information transmission unit that outputs a first page to be displayed on a client terminal and an image output unit that outputs images contained in the first page to the client terminal and then outputs a second composite image combining images, other than the images contained in the first page, of a plurality of images contained in a second page to the client terminal. This avoids that an image contained in common in the first page and the second page is redundantly output to the client terminal. This thus reduces the number of transfers of images.