Database Metadata Segmentation for Multi-Unit Stability
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Solution Overview
Problem
Database systems with multiple processing units face challenges in accessing metadata without external sources, which can lead to potential system hangs, OS crashes, and security risks, especially in 'share nothing' architectures where direct data access is not permissible.
Innovation Solution
Providing metadata to multiple processing units using local storages accessible only to each unit, allowing them to access their own copies of metadata without external access, and distributing metadata through a designated master processing unit that broadcasts registration operations to all units for local storage.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If multiple processing units access external metadata sources, then metadata can be shared across units, but system stability deteriorates due to potential hangs and crashes
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the centralized metadata storage into separate local storage copies distributed across multiple processing units. Each processing unit maintains its own local copy of metadata in its local storage, eliminating the need to access external metadata sources and preventing system hangs and crashes associated with external access.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates and distributes copies of metadata to each processing unit's local storage. A master processing unit receives metadata registration operations and broadcasts them to slave processing units, which store local copies. This copying approach enables metadata accessibility while maintaining isolation and stability.
2Adaptability or versatility
If processing units access external metadata sources, then metadata availability is improved, but security deteriorates due to external access risks
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the metadata storage architecture into isolated local storage units, where each processing unit has dedicated access only to its own local storage. This segmentation prevents unauthorized external access and eliminates security vulnerabilities associated with external metadata sources while maintaining full metadata functionality.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a master processing unit as an intermediary that receives metadata registration operations and distributes them to slave processing units. This intermediary layer provides controlled access to metadata, preventing direct external access to slave units' local storage and maintaining security while enabling metadata availability.
3Ease of manufacture
If external metadata sources are used, then metadata updates can be centralized, but system complexity increases due to external dependency management
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the metadata management architecture into autonomous processing units with local storage, eliminating external dependencies. Each unit manages its own local metadata copy independently, simplifying the system by removing the complexity of external source management, network access control, and external dependency tracking.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent enables each processing unit to serve itself with metadata from its own local storage without requiring external sources. Processing units independently access and use metadata from their local copies, eliminating the need for complex external source management and reducing system complexity while maintaining metadata update capabilities through the master unit's broadcast mechanism.
Data Source
AI summary
Metadata can be provided to multiple processing units of a database system by using local storages respectively provided for the processing units, such that a local storage is accessible only to its respective processing unit. As a result, processing units can access metadata when needed (e.g., when needed to process a database request at runtime) without having to access a source external to the database system. In addition, metadata (e.g., an XML object, XML schema, XSLT stylesheets, XQuery modules) can be provided using a database request or command, for example, by using a register statement.