Database Alternate Scenario Querying via Dataset Combination

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Solution Overview

Problem

Processing data in production databases for analysis puts additional load, slowing performance, and existing solutions like database copies fail to capture ongoing changes.

Innovation Solution

A system allows users to define alternate scenarios in a database, creating an alternate dataset with specified field values independent of the production dataset, enabling queries to analyze 'what-if' scenarios by combining data from both datasets.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If data in production database is processed for analysis, then analysis capability is improved, but system performance deteriorates due to additional load

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveanalysis capabilityVSAvoidsystem performance

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent creates a copy of the production database to enable analysis operations. This copy allows users to perform what-if analysis and data processing without affecting the performance of the original production database, thus resolving the contradiction between analysis capability and system performance.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #26Copying

Solution Approach 2:

The patent segments the database into a production database and an analysis database (copy). This segmentation allows independent operation of analysis operations on the copy while the production database continues to serve operational needs, maintaining system performance while enabling analysis capability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

2Adaptability or versatility

If a copy of production database is made for analysis, then analysis independence is improved, but data currency deteriorates since copy does not capture ongoing changes

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveanalysis independenceVSAvoiddata currency

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSLoss of information

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements continuous data synchronization from the production database to the analysis database copy. This ensures that the copy remains current with ongoing changes while maintaining independence for analysis operations, resolving the contradiction between analysis independence and data currency.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #20Continuity of useful action

Solution Approach 2:

The system establishes a feedback mechanism where changes in the production database are continuously detected and propagated to the analysis database copy. This feedback loop ensures the copy remains synchronized with the latest data while allowing independent analysis operations.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

Data Source

PatentUS20250328531A1Storing and querying alternate scenarios of data in a database

Publication Date: 2025.10.23 GOLDMAN SACHS & CO LLC

AI summary

A system allows users to define alternate scenarios in a database to allow users to analyze the data to determine what happens if certain values of some of the fields were different from the values stored in the database during its actual operation. The system stores a source dataset representing data of a source database, for example, a production database. The system receives an alternate scenario specification that includes instructions for determining alternate values for a portion of the database. The system determines an alternate dataset comprising alternate values for a portion of the database as defined by the alternate scenario specification. The system receives requests to process database queries for one or more alternate scenarios. The system combines data from the source dataset and the alternate datasets corresponding to the alternate scenarios specified by the request to process database queries.