Transfer Control Unit for Enabler Availability
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Solution Overview
Problem
In B2B2X business models, applications cooperating with multiple external services face low overall availability due to varying load and response times among enablers, leading to poor performance and service disruptions when an enabler's service is suspended or specifications change, requiring modifications to the application side to maintain functionality.
Innovation Solution
A transfer control apparatus dynamically switches requests to alternative enablers with similar functions if the primary enabler is busy or unavailable, using a registration unit, monitoring unit, and transfer control unit to automatically reroute requests and convert API methods, ensuring seamless operation without modifying the application.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If an application cooperates with multiple external services (enablers), then the application can provide comprehensive functionality, but the overall availability decreases due to varying load and response times among enablers
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a transfer control apparatus as an intermediary between the application and multiple enablers. This mediator monitors the status of enablers and automatically transfers requests to alternative enablers when the primary enabler is unavailable or overloaded, thereby maintaining application availability without requiring changes to the application itself
Solution Approach 2:
The system dynamically changes the selection parameter of enablers based on their current status (availability, load, response time). When the primary enabler's parameters indicate poor performance or unavailability, the system switches to an alternative enabler with better parameters, thus maintaining overall application availability
2Reliability
If the service of an enabler is suspended or specifications are changed, then the enabler cannot be used normally, but modifications to the application side are required to maintain functionality
Solution Approach 1:
The transfer control apparatus acts as a buffer between the application and enablers. When enabler specifications change or service is suspended, the intermediary absorbs these changes and automatically switches to alternative enablers, preventing the need for application modifications and maintaining service continuity
Solution Approach 2:
The system pre-registers multiple alternative enablers with similar functions before any service disruption occurs. When the primary enabler becomes unavailable, the system can immediately switch to a pre-identified alternative without requiring real-time search or application modification, thus maintaining continuity
3Productivity
If load balancing is implemented among multiple enablers, then resource utilization improves, but the system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The transfer control apparatus centralizes the load balancing logic in a single intermediary component rather than distributing complexity across multiple enablers or the application. This intermediary monitors enabler status and distributes requests appropriately, improving resource utilization while containing system complexity in one manageable location
Data Source
AI summary
To provide a transfer control apparatus, a transfer control method, and a transfer control program, by which it is possible to improve availability without modifying an application side. The transfer control apparatus 1 is an apparatus for dynamically switching enablers 2, and includes a registration unit 11 that registers enablers 2 having a similar function, in an identical genre, a monitoring unit 12 that monitors states of the enablers 2, and a transfer control unit 13 that transfers a request to an alternative enabler 2 registered in a genre identical to each of the enablers 2 to automatically switch a request destination if the enabler 2 is in a predetermined busy state upon calling the enabler 2.