Reservation System Traffic Routing for Performance Optimization
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Computerized reservation systems face performance degradation due to high message rates from users who are only searching, rather than booking, which affects users who actually want to make reservations.
Innovation Solution
A method and system that identifies preferred users based on message traffic patterns, routing them directly to the reservation system while non-preferred users are sent through a limiting component to slow down their access, thereby managing inbound traffic and improving system performance.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If all user messages are allowed to access the reservation system without differentiation, then system accessibility is maintained for all users, but system performance degrades due to excessive message rates from non-booking users
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments user traffic into different categories (preferred users vs. other users) based on their booking behavior patterns. Preferred users who have historically made bookings are identified and routed through a direct path to the reservation system, while other users are routed through a limiting component that slows their message rate. This segmentation resolves the contradiction by allowing high-performance access for productive users while controlling overall system load.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces an intermediary component (the limiting component) that mediates between non-preferred users and the reservation system. This intermediary slows down messages from non-preferred users, effectively reducing their impact on system performance without completely blocking their access. The routing component acts as another intermediary that directs different user types to different paths, resolving the performance-complexity contradiction.
2Productivity
If a limiting component is introduced to slow down non-preferred users, then system performance is improved by reducing load, but user experience degradation occurs for non-preferred users
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by providing different levels of service quality to different user segments. Preferred users (those with booking history) receive high-quality fast access directly to the reservation system, while non-preferred users receive lower-quality slowed access through the limiting component. This differential treatment improves overall system performance while minimizing the impact on the majority of users who are less likely to book.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the parameter of message transmission speed based on user classification. For non-preferred users, the message rate parameter is reduced by the limiting component, which slows down their access to the reservation system. This parameter change allows the system to maintain performance by reducing the volume of non-booking traffic while still allowing these users to access the system at a reduced rate.
3Productivity
If preferred users are routed directly to the reservation system, then booking conversion is improved, but system load increases from concentrated traffic
Solution Approach 1:
The routing component segments user traffic into two distinct paths: preferred users are routed directly to the reservation system to improve their booking conversion rate, while non-preferred users are routed through the limiting component. This segmentation allows the system to prioritize booking-generating traffic while using the limiting component as a buffer to prevent concentrated traffic from overwhelming the system and causing instability.
Data Source
AI summary
A method for managing inbound user traffic to a reservation system. The method includes receiving messages from one or more users and determining, by one or more computer processors, at least one of the one or more users is not a preferred user, based on the messages received. The method further includes sending the messages from the at least one user to a limiting component, wherein the limiting component slows the messages from the at least one of the one or more users to the reservation system.