Database Structural Change Automation via Self-Service Engine

Solution Overview

Problem

Manual modifications to both master and replicate databases, along with changes to the data replication process, are time-consuming and prone to errors when structural changes are made in the master database, leading to issues with updating the replicate database due to structural data storage mismatches.

Innovation Solution

The Structure Change Adoption Engine (SCAE) identifies structural changes in the master database, generates a data representation of these changes, and replicates them to the replicate database, automating the process to ensure seamless updates.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If manual modifications are made to master and replicate databases along with changes to the data replication process, then structural changes can be implemented, but the process becomes time-consuming and error-prone

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveability to handle structural changesVSAvoidtime required for manual modifications

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The system enables self-service by automatically detecting structural changes in the master database and replicating them to the replicate database without requiring manual intervention. The structural change detector monitors database schema modifications and the replication process automatically applies these changes, allowing the system to maintain itself without human assistance.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The system implements feedback mechanisms where the structural change detector continuously monitors the master database schema and provides feedback to the replication process. This feedback loop ensures that any structural changes are automatically detected and propagated to the replicate database, maintaining synchronization without manual intervention.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

2Adaptability or versatility

If manual modifications are made to master and replicate databases, then structural changes can be implemented, but the process becomes expensive and error-prone

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveability to handle structural changesVSAvoidaccuracy of structural change replication

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The system enables self-service by automatically detecting structural changes in the master database and replicating them to the replicate database without requiring manual intervention. The structural change detector monitors database schema modifications and the replication process automatically applies these changes, allowing the system to maintain itself without human assistance.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The system implements feedback mechanisms where the structural change detector continuously monitors the master database schema and provides feedback to the replication process. This feedback loop ensures that any structural changes are automatically detected and propagated to the replicate database, maintaining synchronization without manual intervention.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

3Speed

If a replicate database is added to reduce database latency, then data access speed improves, but structural data storage mismatches occur when master database is structurally changed

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedata access speedVSAvoidcompatibility between master and replicate databases

Core Design Contradiction:

SpeedVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary action by detecting structural changes in the master database before they affect the replicate database. The structural change detector identifies schema modifications and triggers the replication process in advance, ensuring that the replicate database is updated before any data access operations occur, thus maintaining compatibility and preventing mismatches.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The system implements feedback mechanisms where the structural change detector continuously monitors the master database schema and provides feedback to the replication process. This feedback loop ensures that any structural changes are automatically detected and propagated to the replicate database, maintaining synchronization without manual intervention.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

Data Source

PatentUS9720994B2Replicated database structural change management

Publication Date: 2017.08.01 SAP SE

AI summary

The various embodiments herein include at least one of systems, methods, and software that operate to replicate structural changes made to a master database to a replicate database. In some such embodiments, changes made to a master database are identified and a representation thereof is provided to a process that implements such changes in the replicate database. The structural changes are then replicated in the replicate database.