Stale Message Detection via Timestamp Exchange
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Solution Overview
Problem
In communication protocols using non-real-time transports, messages can become stale due to significant delays, leading to unsatisfactory user experiences and unnecessary network traffic, as the protocols fail to effectively detect and handle stale messages.
Innovation Solution
Incorporating timestamp information exchange between protocol clients and servers during initial handshaking procedures, allowing for the detection of stale messages by comparing timestamps, and discarding or ignoring them to prevent inaccurate interactions and reduce network traffic.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Quantity of substance
If non-real-time transports are used for message delivery, then network resources are conserved and message queuing is enabled, but significant delays occur causing messages to become stale
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary actions by exchanging timestamp information between protocol clients and servers during initial handshaking procedures. This allows both parties to establish a reference time before actual message communication begins, enabling subsequent stale message detection without requiring real-time synchronization during message delivery.
2Reliability
If stale messages are processed, then protocol completeness is maintained, but unnecessary network traffic and inaccurate user interactions occur
Solution Approach 1:
The system implements feedback mechanisms where protocol clients and servers continuously exchange timestamp information and use it to detect stale messages. The feedback loop allows each party to determine whether received messages are timely or outdated, enabling selective processing that maintains protocol reliability while avoiding unnecessary traffic for obviously stale messages.
3Measurement precision
If timestamp information exchange is implemented, then stale message detection accuracy is improved, but initial handshaking complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system merges the timestamp exchange functionality with existing handshaking procedures between protocol clients and servers. Rather than adding a separate, standalone timestamp synchronization phase, the timestamp exchange is integrated into the initial registration or setup handshake, combining multiple functions into a single procedural flow to minimize added complexity.
Data Source
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AI summary
A system and method for handling stale messages is presented. A first message is transmitted to a peer entity. The first message includes a first timestamp. A second message is received from the peer entity. The second message is related to the first message and includes a second timestamp. A third message is received from the peer entity. The third message includes a third timestamp. A staleness of the third message is determined using the first timestamp, second timestamp, and third timestamp. When the third message is stale, the third message is at least one of ignored and discarded. When the third message is not stale, the third message may be processed.