When integrating with aiCare, ensuring a seamless experience for real-time communication via Server-Sent Events (SSE) is crucial. However, one common challenge is managing disconnections caused by network limitations or unstable internet connections. These disconnections often occur due to default timeout settings in web servers, with limits ranging from 30 seconds for development to 5 minutes in production. This article outlines best practices to gracefully handle such disruptions and ensure uninterrupted data flow in aiCare-powered applications.

The Challenge of Internet Connectivity in SSE Streams

SSE streams rely on persistent HTTP connections to deliver real-time updates. However, various factors can disrupt these streams, including:

• Timeout Settings: Default server configurations may terminate idle connections after a fixed duration.
• Network Instability: Poor mobile coverage, switching networks, or temporary internet outages can break connections.
• Resource Constraints: Overloaded servers or clients may trigger connection drops.
  For developers integrating with aiCare, handling these disconnections effectively is critical to maintaining a smooth user experience.

Recommended Solution: Session-Based Reconnection

aiCare’s integration framework supports a session-based reconnection strategy to handle disconnections due to timeouts or network issues. Here’s how it works:

Session Continuity

Session ID Tracking:

1. Every SSE connection is linked to a unique session ID. If the connection drops:
2. The client attempts to reconnect using the same session ID.
   aiCare resumes the stream seamlessly if the session is still valid.
3. If the session has expired, a new session is created, and streaming continues.

Automatic Handling:
This approach not only addresses server-imposed timeouts but also covers:

• Temporary loss of internet connectivity (e.g., mobile users moving out of range).
• Sudden network switches (e.g., Wi-Fi to mobile data)

Resilience for Mobile and Web Clients

• Mobile clients often face coverage fluctuations. By re-establishing sessions automatically, aiCare minimizes user disruption.
• Web applications can gracefully recover from brief internet outages without requiring manual intervention.

Solution flow diagram

The diagram describes how an application should handle disconnections during an SSE session and ensure reliable data streaming by managing session IDs, reconnection attempts, and backoff strategies.