Syndication Aggregation Server Pushing Optimized Data
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current methods for retrieving and processing syndication information on mobile devices are inefficient, leading to increased wireless traffic, reduced performance, and shorter battery life due to unnecessary polling of multiple web sites and the need to parse and display varying XML formats, which also result in excessive data downloads.
Innovation Solution
A news aggregation server independently polls syndication servers for updates, parses the information, and pushes only necessary updates to the mobile device in a customizable format, reducing bandwidth and processing requirements.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If the mobile device polls multiple web sites to check for content updates, then the user can receive syndication information from multiple sources, but wireless traffic increases and mobile device performance and battery life are reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a server as an intermediary between the mobile device and multiple syndication sources. The server consolidates content from multiple web sites and pushes updates to the mobile device, eliminating the need for the device to poll each source individually. This reduces wireless traffic and energy consumption while maintaining the ability to receive information from multiple sources.
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of the mobile device actively polling for updates (pull model), the server actively pushes updates to the mobile device (push model). This inversion of the information retrieval approach significantly reduces the computational and network overhead on the mobile device, thereby extending battery life.
2Loss of information
If the mobile device downloads complete XML syndication documents, then all syndication information is available, but data volume increases wireless traffic and processing requirements
Solution Approach 1:
The server extracts and pushes only the specific syndication elements that users need (such as titles, authors, and brief descriptions) while leaving out unnecessary XML metadata and full content. This extraction approach maintains information completeness for user needs while significantly reducing data volume and wireless traffic.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies different levels of data detail to different elements based on user needs. Critical information like titles and authors are included in full, while less critical information is summarized or omitted. This local quality approach optimizes data volume while preserving essential information.
3Ease of operation
If the mobile device parses XML syndication documents using reader software, then syndication information can be displayed, but computation burden increases processing requirements and battery consumption
Solution Approach 1:
The server performs XML parsing and data formatting in advance before pushing content to the mobile device. By completing the computationally intensive parsing operation beforehand on the server, the mobile device receives pre-processed, ready-to-display data, significantly reducing its processing energy requirements.
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of transferring and parsing complete XML documents on the mobile device, the server creates simplified copies of the syndication data in a mobile-optimized format. These copied data structures are easier and faster for the mobile device to process and display, reducing computational burden.
4Adaptability or versatility
If the mobile device supports multiple syndication formats, then compatibility with different sources is improved, but device complexity and processing requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The server implements universal parsing capabilities to handle multiple syndication formats (RSS, Atom, RDF) and converts them into a unified data structure for push delivery. This multi-functional approach at the server level eliminates the need for the mobile device to support multiple format-specific parsers, reducing device complexity while maintaining broad format compatibility.
Data Source
AI summary
A system and method for processing syndication information for a mobile device that includes: identifying a plurality of syndication servers to which a user of the mobile device subscribes; polling, at a first predetermined interval, the plurality of syndication servers to determine if syndication information on each the syndication server has been updated; if the syndication information has been updated, requesting and receiving updated syndication information; adapting the updated syndication information into a predetermined format, and sending the adapted syndication information to the mobile device. The sending of the adapted syndication information may also be performed at a predetermined interval. The predetermined format preferably uses less data and requires less processing than the original format.