Offline REST Response Mocking via Payload Shredding
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing software applications face challenges in handling intermittent network connectivity, particularly in mobile and enterprise applications, where cached data is limited and reconnecting to the network can be time-consuming, hindering efficient operation.
Innovation Solution
The method involves selectively shredding and unshredding message payloads to facilitate offline operation by intercepting and parsing REST responses, storing them in a structured format, and generating mock responses when offline, allowing the client to operate as if always online.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If conventional browser caching is used to store data locally, then some data availability is improved during offline periods, but the cached data is of limited use for needed software operations and functions
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the cached data into structured components using a shredding mechanism that breaks down response payloads into organized data elements. This segmentation allows the cached data to be more easily accessed and utilized for various software operations, transforming limited cached data into versatile, operation-ready information that can support multiple functions beyond the original cached page.
2Measurement precision
If the mobile application waits for network reconnection to access additional links or data, then data accuracy is improved, but time is lost and productivity decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements preliminary action by pre-processing and structuring data during online periods through the shredding mechanism, organizing response payloads into reusable components. This preliminary structuring allows the application to quickly assemble and use cached data during offline periods without waiting for network reconnection, maintaining data accuracy while eliminating productivity loss during reconnection wait times.
3Ease of operation
If structured data formats are used to organize cached response payloads, then data accessibility and reuse are improved for offline operations, but system complexity increases due to shredding and unshredding mechanisms
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies universality by designing the shredding and unshredding mechanisms to handle multiple data types and operation scenarios through a unified approach. The structured data format and processing mechanisms are created to serve multiple functions: enabling offline access, supporting various software operations, and facilitating data reconstruction. This multi-functionality justifies the added complexity by providing a versatile framework that handles diverse offline data needs through a single systematic approach.
Data Source
AI summary
An example system and method facilitates operation of a networked software application during periods of intermittent network connectivity, by selectively intercepting and shredding and/or unshredding service response messages. In a specific embodiment, the example system includes one or more pluggable shredders and unshredders to explode a payload into its constituent structured primitive objects for ease of consumption by the User Interface (UI) of the client application. The exploded payloads are stored in local cache, where the cached data is structured as compared to the received payload. One or more unshredders selectively reconstruct one or more response message payloads if client reissues the corresponding request message while offline. The client may operate as if it is online, and the system will provide one or more mock responses containing the last known data set for the scenario wherein the server cannot be reached.