Container Image Repository Inside Databases for Secure Code Execution

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Solution Overview

Problem

Traditional database management systems require significant capital investment in hardware and infrastructure, are susceptible to data loss during disasters, and have limited scalability and efficiency in data access and retrieval.

Innovation Solution

A network-based database system utilizing a compute service manager to manage and optimize database operations, including micro-partitioning and metadata organization, which enables efficient query processing and dynamic scaling across distributed systems.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If traditional database management systems are used, then data storage and access are provided, but significant capital investment in hardware and infrastructure is required

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedata storage reliabilityVSAvoidcapital investment in hardware

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSQuantity of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements container images as portable, copyable units that encapsulate database software, configuration, and data. These images can be replicated across multiple cloud instances without requiring physical hardware copying, thereby reducing capital investment while maintaining data storage reliability through virtualization.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #26Copying

Solution Approach 2:

The patent replaces traditional mechanical hardware-based database systems with a software-defined approach using containerization and cloud infrastructure. This substitution eliminates the need for significant physical hardware investment while maintaining reliable data storage through virtualized environments and managed cloud services.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

2Reliability

If traditional database systems are deployed, then data storage is achieved, but they are susceptible to data loss during power outage or disaster situations

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedata storage capabilityVSAvoiddata loss susceptibility

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements automated backup and disaster recovery mechanisms through container image versioning and cloud-based replication. Multiple copies of database states are maintained in advance across distributed cloud infrastructure, providing cushioning against data loss from power outages or disasters before they occur.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #11Beforehand cushioning (Prior cushioning)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces cloud-based storage and container orchestration platforms as intermediaries between the database system and physical hardware. These intermediaries abstract away hardware failure risks and provide automated data protection, reducing susceptibility to data loss during disasters while maintaining reliable data storage.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Adaptability or versatility

If traditional relational database management systems are used, then data can be stored across multiple computing devices, but extensive computing and storage resources are required

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedistributed data storage capabilityVSAvoidcomputing and storage resources

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSQuantity of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments the database system into independent container images that can be distributed across multiple computing devices. Each container encapsulates specific database functions or data sets, allowing selective deployment and scaling. This segmentation enables distributed data storage capability while reducing total computing and storage resources through efficient resource utilization and elimination of redundancy.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

4Ease of operation

If traditional database systems are implemented, then data access is provided, but limited scalability is achieved

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedata access efficiencyVSAvoidscalability

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements dynamic scalability through container orchestration that automatically adjusts database instance replication and resource allocation based on demand. The system can dynamically scale data access capacity by spinning up additional container instances across the cloud infrastructure, maintaining ease of operation while achieving enhanced scalability compared to traditional static database systems.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Data Source

PatentUS20250371081A1Container image storage inside database for secured and optimized code execution

Publication Date: 2025.12.04 SNOWFLAKE INC

AI summary

The subject technology receives a first set of statements to create an image repository, the first set of statements comprising a set of Structured Query Language (SQL) statements. The subject technology creates the image repository, the creating including generating a uniform resource locator (URL), the URL associated with a location for storing data. The subject technology performs a domain name service (DNS) mapping of the URL to an image registry service. The subject technology receives a first command to tag a container image to an alias corresponding to the URL. The subject technology assigns the alias to the container image. The subject technology receives a second command to push the tagged container image to the image repository. The subject technology sends the tagged container image to the location to store the tagged container image.