Partial Refund API Processing for Network Load Reduction
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Solution Overview
Problem
As the number of systems and transactions increases in computer networks, the network load grows exponentially due to API calls, leading to strain and reduced scalability, especially when handling millions of users or transactions per day.
Innovation Solution
A computer-implemented system and method for processing partial refunds without receiving an item, which involves receiving an API call, validating the request, determining defective items, calculating a refund, updating database records, and transmitting notifications, while optimizing network load by identifying subsets of requests for streamlined processing.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If the same set of API calls is applied for each transaction involving multiple systems and subsystems, then transaction processing can be completed, but network load increases exponentially with the number of users and transactions
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the monolithic transaction processing into modular microservices that can be independently deployed, scaled, and managed. Each microservice handles a specific function (e.g., order processing, payment, inventory), allowing the system to process transactions efficiently while reducing unnecessary API calls and network load across the entire system.
2Productivity
If more systems and subsystems are added to specialize in certain tasks, then transaction processing efficiency improves, but the number of API calls and network complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements an API gateway that serves as a central entry point, standardizing and simplifying access to multiple microservices. This gateway layer abstracts the underlying system complexity, providing a uniform interface for clients while maintaining the specialized functionality of individual microservices, thereby reducing the perceived complexity without sacrificing processing efficiency.
3Adaptability or versatility
If API calls are optimized to reduce network load, then scalability improves, but the complexity of managing different processing paths increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs circuit breakers and rate limiters that are pre-configured with thresholds and rules. These components automatically monitor API call patterns and enforce optimization strategies without requiring complex real-time decision-making logic. The preliminary configuration of these safety mechanisms allows the system to scale efficiently while keeping the management complexity low through rule-based automation.
Data Source
AI summary
A computer-implemented system for processing a return without receiving an item to minimize network load is disclosed. The system may be configured to receive a return application programming interface (API) call from a user device requesting a return of a returned item; validate the return API call against data records of a networked database; determine that the returned item comprises a plurality of individual items; analyze a return code of the return API call to determine whether a subset of the individual items is defective; determine a portion of a price of the returned item corresponding to the subset of the individual items; generate a refund API call to issue the portion of the price of the returned item as a refund; update the data records of the networked database to record the refund; and transmit a notification to the user device regarding an approval of the return API call.