Database Query Routing in Telecommunication Systems

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Solution Overview

Problem

UMTS networks face processing load issues due to increasing data demands, leading to potential data inconsistencies and high network traffic when synchronizing databases across multiple mobile devices, which can result in inefficient query handling and battery drain.

Innovation Solution

A telecommunication method that determines whether database queries can be executed using replicate data elements on slave nodes, allowing for load balancing between master and slave nodes by executing queries on the node with the appropriate data version, and automatically updating slave nodes with necessary data elements to ensure consistent processing.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If database content is copied from master database to slave databases to balance workload, then processing capacity is improved, but data inconsistencies occur between master and slave databases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveprocessing capacityVSAvoiddata consistency
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The database system is segmented into master database and multiple slave databases, each handling specific queries. The master database retains full data while slave databases hold replicated subsets, allowing workload distribution while maintaining data integrity through selective replication.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

A query evaluation mechanism acts as an intermediary between incoming queries and database nodes. This intermediary evaluates query characteristics and determines whether slave databases have the necessary replicated data to handle the query, preventing data inconsistency by routing queries appropriately.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Reliability

If database synchronization is performed frequently to maintain data consistency, then data reliability is improved, but network traffic increases and battery lifetime decreases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedata consistencyVSAvoidbattery lifetime
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSLoss of energy

Solution Approach 1:

Instead of fully synchronizing all database content between master and slave databases, only necessary data subsets are replicated to slave databases. This partial replication reduces synchronization frequency and intensity, thereby reducing network traffic and energy consumption while maintaining sufficient data consistency for query handling.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #16Partial or excessive action

3Measurement precision

If all database queries are executed on the master node to ensure data accuracy, then result accuracy is improved, but processing load on the master node increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveresult accuracyVSAvoidprocessing load
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

Different database nodes are assigned different qualities or capabilities based on their data replication status. Slave databases with replicated data can locally execute queries requiring only that replicated data, while the master database handles queries requiring full data accuracy. This local quality differentiation distributes processing load while maintaining result accuracy where applicable.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

Data Source

PatentEP3076308B1Telecommunication method for handling a database query in a telecommunication system
Publication Date: 2017.11.29 SAP SE
  • EP3076308B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3076308B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3076308B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

The invention relates to a telecommunication method for handling a database query in a telecommunication system (100), the telecommunication system (100) comprising a master node (102) and at least one slave node (104), wherein the master node (102) comprises a first central processing unit (112) and a first main memory (114), the first main memory (114) comprising data elements (116), wherein the slave node (104) comprises a second central processing unit (118) and a second main memory (120), the second main memory (120) comprising a replicate version of a first set of the data elements (116), the method comprising: - receiving the database query at the telecommunication system (100) via a telecommunication network (100), the database query requiring accessing a second set of the data elements (116), - determining whether the database query may be executed using replicate versions of data elements (116), - in case the database query may be executed using replicate versions of data elements (116), executing the database query on the slave node (104) in-memory using the second central data processing unit (118) and second main memory (120), in case the database query may not be executed using replicate versions of data elements (116), executing the database query on the master node (102) in-memory using the first central data processing unit (112) and first main memory (114).