Peer-to-Peer Message Chaining for Server Notification Cost Reduction
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing network communication methods for sending notifications to multiple devices are costly due to the need for each message to be separately charged, especially when using mobile devices, which can lead to high expenses for data providers.
Innovation Solution
A system where a server sends a notification to a first device, which then relays further notifications to subsequent devices in a sequence, using hidden message mechanisms like SMS, IM, or MMS, allowing peer devices to send notifications to each other, thereby reducing the number of messages sent from the server and lowering costs.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the server sends notifications directly to each device in a sequence, then all devices receive the notification reliably, but the cost for data providers increases significantly due to multiple separate message charges
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces intermediary devices (peer devices in the sequence) that relay notifications from one device to the next. Instead of the server directly communicating with each device, the notification passes through intermediate devices that forward it along the sequence, reducing the number of direct server-to-device messages and associated costs
Solution Approach 2:
The notification message is copied and forwarded from one device to the next in the sequence. Each device receives a copy of the notification and passes it to the next device, allowing the same information to be propagated through multiple devices without requiring the server to send separate original messages to each one
2Loss of energy
If the server sends fewer notifications by using peer devices to relay, then costs are reduced, but the complexity of the notification system increases
Solution Approach 1:
Devices in the sequence automatically perform the relaying function without requiring complex server-side coordination. Each device receives the notification and autonomously forwards it to the next device in the sequence, simplifying the server's role while distributing the relaying task across multiple peer devices
Solution Approach 2:
The notification delivery process is segmented into discrete steps where each device in the sequence handles a specific segment of the overall delivery task. This breaks down the complex task of notifying multiple devices into simpler, manageable segments that can be executed independently by each device
Data Source
AI summary
A system and method are directed towards enabling a server to activate a plurality of peer devices. The server may send a notification to a first peer device and employ subsequent peer devices to send further notifications to other peer devices in a sequence of peer devices, thereby reducing a number of notifications sent by the server. The peer devices may be mobile devices. In one embodiment, the notification indicates that data is available for download to the peer devices. In one embodiment, the sequence is dynamically determined by the server. In one embodiment, an instruction to send a notification to another peer device is provided to a peer device in the sequence along with the downloaded data. In another embodiment, the instruction is provided with the notification. In one embodiment, a notification may be sent using a hidden message mechanism of Short Message Service (SMS), or the like.