Database Container Reference Identification for Retention Policy

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing data storage systems face challenges in identifying and managing database containers that include references to specific data items, particularly when multiple containers have different retention policies applied to the same data item, leading to potential policy conflicts and inefficient data archiving.

Innovation Solution

A method is developed to determine database containers that include references to a specified data item by querying the database, parsing outlines to identify candidate containers, and setting storage retention policies based on the longest retention period associated with these containers, ensuring consistent data archiving across multiple references.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If multiple containers are assigned different retention policies for the same data item, then data management flexibility is improved, but policy conflict and archiving inconsistency occur

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedata management flexibilityVSAvoidarchiving consistency

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary identification of all containers referencing a data item before applying retention policies. By querying the database to find all containers that include references to the data item, the system can proactively determine the longest retention period among all containers and apply that policy consistently, preventing future policy conflicts.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The system implements feedback by querying the database to identify all containers referencing a data item, then using this information to adjust the retention policy application. The system determines the longest retention period from the identified containers and applies that policy, creating a feedback loop that ensures consistent archiving while maintaining flexibility.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

2Device complexity

If the database structure does not indicate which containers reference data items, then database simplicity is improved, but identifying containers for retention policy application becomes difficult

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedatabase structure simplicityVSAvoidcontainer identification difficulty

Core Design Contradiction:

Device complexityVSDifficulty of detecting and measuring

Solution Approach 1:

The system uses self-service by querying the database to automatically identify containers referencing a data item without requiring complex database modifications. The database structure remains simple, but the system performs the detection task by searching through container references, effectively making the database serve its own identification needs through a straightforward query mechanism.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The system introduces an intermediary querying process that mediates between the simple database structure and the need to identify containers for retention policy application. By using a database query as an intermediary step, the system can determine which containers reference specific data items without modifying the underlying database structure, thus maintaining simplicity while enabling accurate identification.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Productivity

If retention policy is applied without identifying all referencing containers, then processing speed is improved, but data loss or incomplete archiving occurs

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveprocessing speedVSAvoiddata archiving completeness

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSLoss of information

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary identification of all containers referencing the data item before applying retention policies. By querying the database to find all containers that include references to the data item, the system can proactively determine the longest retention period among all containers and apply that policy consistently, preventing future policy conflicts.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

Data Source

PatentUS8095572B1Identifying database containers that reference specified data items

Publication Date: 2012.01.10 COHESITY INC

AI summary

Systems, methods, and computer-readable storage media are disclosed for a computer system determining database containers that include references to one or more specified data items. The computer system may determine, from a plurality of containers in a database, a candidate set of containers, where the database includes a plurality of data items that includes the one or more data items. The computer system, for each of the containers in the candidate set, queries the database to determine whether the container includes a reference to any of the specified one or more data items. The computer system uses results of the querying to determine any containers in the candidate set of containers that include such references. These results may be used, for example, to set storage retention policies.