Mobile Web Conversation Update Mechanism
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Solution Overview
Problem
Updating conversations on mobile devices is inefficient due to the transfer of entire conversations, which consumes bandwidth, battery life, and time, especially over wireless networks, and requires multiple update requests for each conversation.
Innovation Solution
A method and system that send a request from a mobile device to a server with a conversation identifier, first message identifier, last message identifier, and conversation metric, allowing the server to send only new messages to update the conversation, reducing data transfer and using a single request to update multiple conversations.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If entire conversations are transferred to the mobile device, then the conversation is fully updated, but bandwidth consumption increases and transfer time increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts only the essential update information (new message identifiers and conversation metrics) from the server and transfers minimal data to the mobile device. Instead of transferring entire conversations, the system sends only the differential changes needed to update the local cache, thereby reducing bandwidth consumption while maintaining update completeness.
Solution Approach 2:
The conversation update process is segmented into two parts: (1) transferring minimal metadata (message identifiers and metrics) to identify what needs updating, and (2) selectively retrieving only the specific new messages needed. This segmentation allows the system to update conversations efficiently without transferring unnecessary data.
2Reliability
If entire conversations are transferred to the mobile device, then the conversation is fully updated, but transfer time increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts only the essential update information (new message identifiers and conversation metrics) from the server and transfers minimal data to the mobile device. Instead of transferring entire conversations, the system sends only the differential changes needed to update the local cache, thereby reducing transfer time while maintaining update completeness.
Solution Approach 2:
The mobile device maintains a local cache of existing conversation data and message identifiers beforehand. When an update is needed, the device compares the cached data with server data to determine what needs updating, then retrieves only those specific new messages. This preliminary caching action significantly reduces update transfer time.
3Ease of operation
If separate update requests are sent for each conversation, then each conversation can be updated individually, but battery power consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges multiple conversation update operations into a single batched update request. The mobile device can request updates for multiple conversations simultaneously, and the server processes them in one operation, thereby reducing the number of separate network transactions and lowering battery power consumption while still allowing individual conversation tracking.
4Ease of operation
If separate update requests are sent for each conversation, then each conversation can be updated individually, but bandwidth usage increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges multiple conversation update operations into a single batched update request. The mobile device can request updates for multiple conversations simultaneously, and the server processes them in one operation, thereby reducing the number of separate network transactions and lowering bandwidth usage while still allowing individual conversation tracking.
Data Source
AI summary
A request to update a list of conversations is sent to a server. At least a portion of each conversation in the list of conversations is stored on the client. A plurality of updates is received form the server. The plurality of updates includes messages corresponding to respective conversations in the list of conversations.