Relay Device Update Notification via History Comparison
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Solution Overview
Problem
File servers experience increased load due to frequent polling for update checks and notifications, while relay servers do not initiate history update checks, leading to delayed notifications of file updates to clients.
Innovation Solution
A relay device is introduced between terminal devices and file devices, equipped with a storage unit for change history, a communication unit for data transmission, and a computation processing unit that notifies clients of file changes by comparing data versions, thereby eliminating the need for polling and initiating update notifications.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If each file server performs update check processing by polling, then the file server can notify clients of updates, but the load on the file server increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a relay server as an intermediary between the file server and clients. The relay server performs update check processing on behalf of clients, receiving update information from the file server and forwarding it to clients. This mediator approach transfers the polling load from multiple file servers to a single relay server, reducing the overall system load while maintaining reliable update notifications.
2Device complexity
If the relay server does not perform history update check processing on its own initiative, then the relay server structure is simple, but the relay server cannot notify clients of updates proactively
Solution Approach 1:
The relay server performs preliminary update check processing by proactively polling the file server for updates before clients request them. The relay server accumulates update history information in advance, so when a client requests an update check, the relay server can immediately provide the information without waiting for the client to initiate the check. This preliminary action eliminates update notification delays while maintaining relatively simple relay server structure.
Data Source
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AI summary
A relay device, which is arranged between a plurality of terminal devices and a file device and relays data communication between the terminal device and the file device, including: a storage unit configured to store a change history of each piece of data acquired from the file device by a request from the terminal device; a communication unit configured to perform transmission or reception of data with the plurality of terminal devices and the file device; and a computation processing unit configured to, in a case where a change history of first data acquired from the file device by a request from a first terminal device of the plurality of terminal devices is different from a change history of second data having the same file name as the first data acquired from the file device after acquisition of the first data by the first terminal device by a request from a second terminal device of the plurality of terminal devices, control and cause the communication unit to notify the first terminal device that the first data is changed to the second data, is provided.