Protocol Translation Engine for Persistent WebSocket Sessions
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Solution Overview
Problem
Business applications using stateless half-duplex request-response protocols, such as HTTPS, require frequent polling for real-time status updates from storage arrays, leading to inefficient communication bandwidth and resource usage due to complex session management and fragile token-based security.
Innovation Solution
Implementing a communication engine that intercepts and converts request-response protocol messages into fire-and-forget protocol messages, establishing a persistent WebSocket communication session to enable real-time, stateful messaging between clients and servers, allowing for efficient data access and status updates.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If request-response protocol (HTTPS) is used for communication between client and server, then security and simplicity of implementation are improved, but communication efficiency and resource utilization deteriorate due to frequent polling requirements
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a protocol translation layer that acts as an intermediary between the request-response protocol client and the fire-and-forget protocol server. This intermediary translates HTTPS requests into WebSocket messages, enabling the client to maintain simple secure communication while the server achieves efficient persistent connections. The translation layer handles protocol conversion without requiring changes to either the client or server endpoints.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the communication protocol parameters from stateless request-response to stateful fire-and-forget. By transforming the communication model from HTTP to WebSocket, the system achieves persistent full-duplex connections that eliminate frequent polling, thereby improving communication efficiency while maintaining security through the translation layer.
2Speed
If frequent polling is implemented to achieve real-time status updates, then real-time communication capability is improved, but bandwidth consumption and resource usage worsen
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements continuous useful action by establishing persistent WebSocket connections that maintain open communication channels between clients and servers. Instead of repeatedly opening and closing HTTP connections through polling, the persistent connection allows real-time status updates to flow continuously without the overhead of repeated connection establishment and teardown, eliminating wasted bandwidth.
3Ease of manufacture
If stateless request-response protocol is used, then implementation simplicity is improved, but session management complexity and security fragility worsen
Solution Approach 1:
The protocol translation layer serves as an intermediary that absorbs the complexity of session management and token-based security. The client continues to use simple stateless HTTPS requests, while the translation layer handles WebSocket session establishment, maintenance, and security token management on the server side, effectively hiding the complexity from the client implementation.
Data Source
AI summary
One or more aspects of the present disclosure relate to tunneling messages corresponding to a first protocol through a second protocol. In embodiments, a communication engine can be provided to a client. The communication engine can intercept a first communication message directed to a server on a client. For example, the first communication message can correspond to the first protocol. Additionally, the first communication message can be converted into a second communication message corresponding to a second protocol. Further, a persistent second protocol communication session can be initiated between the client and server by transmitting the second protocol message. In embodiments, the first protocol can correspond to a Hypertext Transfer Protocol Secure (HTTPS), and the second protocol can correspond to a WebSocket protocol.