DB Update Limiter for Database Concurrency Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Concurrent updates to databases can lead to data corruption, loss, and performance degradation due to overloading of locking mechanisms, which are not effectively managed by existing technologies.
Innovation Solution
Implementing a DB update limiter that uses access counters to limit concurrent updates by checking a threshold value associated with each database segment, allowing updates only when the counter is below a certain threshold and blocking updates when it reaches the threshold, thereby preventing overload of the locking mechanism.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If concurrent update accesses to database segments are allowed without limitation, then database productivity and responsiveness are improved, but data integrity and reliability deteriorate due to corruption and loss from overload
Solution Approach 1:
The patent checks the access counter before allowing an update operation to proceed. This preliminary check prevents excessive concurrent updates from overwhelming the locking mechanism, thereby maintaining data integrity while still allowing a controlled level of concurrency. The counter is checked in advance (before the update) to determine whether to permit the operation.
2Reliability
If access counters are checked for every update access, then data reliability is improved by preventing overload, but device complexity increases due to additional monitoring and control mechanisms
Solution Approach 1:
The access counter serves multiple functions: it tracks the number of concurrent updates, determines whether to permit new updates, and provides a simple metric for controlling system load. This single counter mechanism handles multiple aspects of update management, reducing the need for separate complex monitoring and control systems.
3Reliability
If the access counter threshold is set low to prevent overload, then data protection is improved, but productivity decreases due to blocked update accesses
Solution Approach 1:
The patent allows the access counter threshold to be adjusted dynamically based on system conditions, database segment characteristics, and operational requirements. This dynamic adjustment enables the system to optimize between protection and productivity by setting appropriate thresholds for different scenarios, rather than using a fixed conservative limit.
Data Source
AI summary
Disclosed herein is a method of limiting concurrent updates in a database, comprising adapting each of plurality of computing devices executing one or more applications capable of updating data in one or more databases accessible by a plurality of applications to execute a DB update limiter. The DP update limiter is configured for each update access of the one or more applications to the database(s), identify a DB segment identifier of a destination segment of the database targeted by the respective update access, check an access counter associated with the identified DB segment identifier which is indicative of a number of update accesses currently in progress to the destination segment, enable the respective update access responsive to determining that the access counter is smaller than a certain threshold, and prevent the respective update access responsive to determining that the access counter equals the certain threshold.