Composite Task Framework for Distributed Failure Detection and Undo
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Solution Overview
Problem
In distributed computing environments, propagating software tasks to multiple systems for execution is challenging, particularly in detecting and undoing failures, especially when tasks are composed of other tasks or distributed across multiple systems.
Innovation Solution
A task framework is developed that allows for the creation and management of local, distributed, and composite tasks, including mechanisms for validation, execution, and undo operations, using a hierarchical task structure with abstract classes for local and distributed tasks, and a composite task class that manages subtasks, enabling detection and reversal of failures.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If tasks are propagated to a large number of remote systems, then task execution capability is improved, but detecting failure of any one task becomes difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the task management into hierarchical levels (parent tasks and child tasks) where each task maintains independent failure tracking. This segmentation allows failure detection at multiple levels without overwhelming complexity, as each task node independently tracks its own execution status and can report failures upward through the hierarchy.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements feedback mechanisms where tasks report their execution status back to parent tasks. Each task provides feedback about its success or failure, enabling the parent task to detect failures of child tasks. This feedback loop continues through the hierarchical structure, allowing failure detection across distributed systems without requiring centralized monitoring of every individual task.
2Productivity
If tasks are propagated to a large number of remote systems, then task execution capability is improved, but attempting to undo the effects of failed tasks becomes difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the undo operation into individual undo tasks corresponding to each child task. When a parent task needs to be undone, the system generates separate undo operations for each child task that failed or succeeded. This segmentation simplifies the undo process by treating each task independently rather than requiring complex coordination across all distributed tasks.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent prepares undo tasks in advance during the normal task execution phase. Each child task that executes successfully creates a corresponding undo task that is stored and ready to be executed if needed. This preliminary preparation of undo operations eliminates the need for complex real-time undo coordination, as the undo mechanisms are pre-configured and can be executed independently when needed.
3Ease of operation
If a set of tasks needs to be treated as a single task for purposes of undoing, then undo operation simplicity is improved, but task management complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges multiple child tasks into a single parent task for undo purposes. When a parent task is executed, all its child tasks are treated as a unified group, and a single undo operation on the parent task generates coordinated undo operations for all child tasks. This merging simplifies the user interface and operation simplicity while the internal structure maintains the necessary complexity management through hierarchical organization.
Data Source
AI summary
A system, method and media for performing a composite task, comprising: determining an undo task for each subtask in a plurality of subtask for the composite task; performing each one of the plurality of subtasks; performing the associated undo task for each subtask that was performed if the performing of any subtask in the plurality of subtasks fails. This abstract is not intended to be a complete description of, or limit the scope of, the invention. Other features, aspects and objects of the invention can be obtained from a review of the specification, the figures and the claims.