Survey Data Synchronization via Intermediary Server
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Solution Overview
Problem
The manual process of data synchronization between survey devices and surveying office applications is inefficient and prone to errors, especially when multiple devices are involved, leading to data consistency issues and challenges in determining the correct version of data.
Innovation Solution
A system and method for synchronizing survey data between survey devices and a surveying office application, which includes managing a database for storing surveying data, detecting changes, and updating affected files on devices to ensure consistency, and resolving data inconsistencies by comparing subsets of data and identifying the proper data subset.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If manual data synchronization process is used between survey devices and surveying office application, then device complexity is reduced, but data consistency and reliability deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a synchronization server as an intermediary component that mediates data exchange between survey devices and the surveying office application. The server receives data from survey devices, processes it through change detection mechanisms, and distributes updated data back to relevant devices, thereby ensuring data consistency without requiring complex peer-to-peer synchronization protocols between devices themselves.
Solution Approach 2:
The system implements feedback mechanisms where the synchronization server continuously monitors for data changes in the surveying office application and automatically detects which survey devices are affected. When changes are detected, the server initiates targeted data pushes to specific devices, creating a closed-loop feedback system that maintains data consistency across the network without requiring manual intervention.
2Productivity
If multiple survey devices are used for a single project, then productivity is improved, but data consistency and error rate worsen
Solution Approach 1:
The synchronization server provides universal data management services that serve multiple survey devices simultaneously. It implements a unified change detection mechanism that can identify data changes affecting any number of devices, and distributes updates to all relevant devices in a standardized manner, enabling the system to scale from one to many devices without compromising data consistency.
Solution Approach 2:
By positioning the synchronization server as a central intermediary, the patent enables multiple survey devices to participate in a single project while maintaining data consistency. The server manages all data exchange routes, ensuring that each device receives the correct subset of data changes based on its specific needs, thereby coordinating multiple devices without requiring they directly communicate with each other.
3Reliability
If automated change detection and data push mechanism is implemented, then data consistency is improved, but device complexity and processing requirements worsen
Solution Approach 1:
The surveying office application and survey devices are designed to autonomously interact with the synchronization server without requiring complex local synchronization logic. The application automatically notifies the server of data changes, and devices automatically receive and process pushed data, eliminating the need for devices to implement sophisticated change detection or conflict resolution algorithms themselves.
Solution Approach 2:
The system employs feedback loops where the synchronization server actively monitors for changes in the surveying office application and automatically initiates data push operations when changes are detected. This centralized feedback mechanism simplifies device architecture by removing the need for devices to continuously poll for changes or implement complex event-driven synchronization logic locally.
4Productivity
If manual data communication process is used, then device complexity is minimized, but time consumption and efficiency worsen
Solution Approach 1:
The synchronization server pre-establishes communication channels and data routing configurations for all survey devices before data exchange begins. It maintains ready-to-use connection information and change detection subscriptions, so that when data changes occur, the server can immediately push updates without requiring devices to initiate complex connection or negotiation sequences, thereby accelerating synchronization while keeping device logic simple.
Data Source
AI summary
Tools for synchronizing survey data between one or more survey devices and a surveying office application. The disclosed tools can help to ensure that each of the devices, and the office application, have consistent data. An exemplary tool might detect a change to data in an office application, identify any affected files on one or more survey devices, and ensure that the affected files are updated with the appropriate information. Conversely, in other aspects, a data inconsistency (which might be caused by a data change in the office application and/or on one or more of the survey devices) might be detected, and tools might be provided to enable a user to ensure that the correct version of the data is maintained by the system.