Intermediation Server API Compatibility Timestamp Management

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative Solutions
Generate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Existing communication systems between multi-function devices and cloud servers face challenges in efficiently managing data communication due to compatibility issues with different APIs, leading to inefficiencies in data transfer and potential errors from timestamp discrepancies.

Innovation Solution

An intermediation server is introduced to prepare and supply demand-creation data with appropriate timing information, enabling multi-function devices to communicate effectively with cloud servers by converting requests into compatible formats for various APIs and managing timestamp validity.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If an intermediation server prepares multiple demand-creation data simultaneously, then data transfer efficiency improves, but timestamp errors occur causing communication failures

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedata transfer efficiencyVSAvoidcommunication reliability
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The intermediation server performs preliminary actions by preparing demand-creation data sequentially rather than simultaneously. Each demand-creation data is prepared only after the previous one has been successfully transmitted, ensuring that timing information remains valid while maintaining efficient data transfer through continuous processing.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

2Measurement precision

If the intermediation server waits for communication completion before preparing next demand-creation data, then timestamp accuracy improves, but data transfer speed decreases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvetiming information accuracyVSAvoiddata transfer speed
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSSpeed

Solution Approach 1:

The intermediation server maintains continuous useful action by preparing the next demand-creation data immediately after the current one is transmitted, rather than waiting for full communication completion. This continuous preparation process ensures timing accuracy is maintained while maximizing data transfer speed through uninterrupted processing.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #20Continuity of useful action

3Adaptability or versatility

If the system supports multiple APIs with different formats, then compatibility improves, but system complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
ImproveAPI compatibilityVSAvoidintermediation server complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The intermediation server acts as an intermediary between communication devices and cloud servers, handling the complexity of multiple API formats. It receives notifications, converts them into appropriate demand-creation data formats based on the target API requirements, and manages the communication protocol differences, thereby providing compatibility without requiring changes to the endpoint devices.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Data Source

PatentEP2597563B1Intermediation server and communication device
Publication Date: 2015.06.17 BROTHER KOGYO KK
  • EP2597563B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP2597563B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP2597563B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

An intermediation server (50) may receive one notification from a communication device (10). The one notification may include a plurality of identification information for identifying a plurality of target data to be communicated between the communication device (10) and a specific server (100). The intermediation server (50) may prepare a plurality of demand-creation data corresponding to the plurality of target data, and supply the plurality of demand-creation data to the communication device (10). Each of the plurality of demand-creation data may be necessary for the communication device (10) to create one communication demand, and include timing information related to a timing at which the demand-creation data has been prepared. The intermediation server (50) may prepare first demand-creation data, and then prepare second demand-creation data under a condition that the communication device (10) has created a first communication demand by using the first demand-creation data and has sent the first communication demand to the specific server (100).