Server-Based Software Module Host Configuration Synchronization
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current systems lack an efficient method for synchronizing configurations between different software module hosts, such as web pages and toolbars, leading to inconsistencies and user dissatisfaction in customized icon displays across various platforms.
Innovation Solution
A server-based system that receives user requests to configure software module hosts, transmitting instructions to add, remove, or adjust software modules and their content across associated hosts, ensuring synchronized layouts and content between first and second software module hosts, like web pages and toolbars, through a network communication.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of time
If manual configuration of software modules is performed separately on each host, then configuration flexibility is maintained, but configuration time and user effort increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The system segments the configuration process into two distinct layers: a control interface for user interaction and configuration management, and multiple software module hosts for content display. This segmentation allows centralized configuration commands to be issued from the control interface and automatically propagated to all hosts, eliminating the need for manual configuration on each host while maintaining operational simplicity.
Solution Approach 2:
The system introduces a server as an intermediary between the user's configuration requests and the multiple software module hosts. The server receives configuration requests, processes them centrally, and automatically distributes the configured software modules to all hosts. This intermediary mechanism resolves the contradiction by handling the complexity of multi-host synchronization transparently, reducing both configuration time and user effort.
2Reliability
If software modules are customized for each specific host, then host-specific optimization is achieved, but configuration consistency across hosts deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The system implements a universal configuration model where a single software module configuration can serve multiple hosts simultaneously. The control interface allows users to configure software modules once, and this configuration is automatically applied across all software module hosts. This universal approach ensures configuration consistency while the system maintains adaptability by allowing users to selectively enable or disable specific modules on individual hosts based on their needs.
Solution Approach 2:
The system employs feedback mechanisms where the server continuously monitors the configuration state of all software module hosts and automatically synchronizes them. When a configuration change is made at the control interface, the server detects this change and propagates it to all hosts, ensuring that configuration consistency is maintained across the entire system while still allowing for host-specific adaptations through selective module activation.
3Reliability
If configuration synchronization is implemented across all hosts, then configuration consistency is improved, but system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The server acts as a centralized intermediary that manages configuration synchronization across all software module hosts. Instead of implementing complex peer-to-peer synchronization protocols between hosts, the server receives configuration requests, processes them centrally, and distributes the configured modules to all hosts. This intermediary approach simplifies the overall system architecture by centralizing the synchronization logic and reducing the complexity of inter-host communication.
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses a copying mechanism where the configured software module from the control interface is automatically replicated and distributed to all software module hosts. This copying approach ensures configuration consistency across all hosts without requiring complex synchronization protocols, as each host receives an identical copy of the configured module from the server, thereby maintaining reliability while minimizing system complexity.
Data Source
AI summary
Disclosed is a method and apparatus that receives, over a network from a computing device being used by a user, a request to configure a first software module host with respect to a software module, the first software module host associated with the user. The apparatus transmits over the network to the computing device instructions to configure, for display by the computing device, the first software module host in accordance with the request. The apparatus computer transmits over the network to the computing device instructions to apply the same configuration with respect to the software module to a second software module host, the second software module host also associated with the user.