File System Directory Reverse Lookup Using Embedded Key Hash
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Reverse lookups in file system associative data structures, such as hashmaps, are inefficient due to the need for exhaustive traversal through all buckets, leading to increased computational overhead and slower retrieval times.
Innovation Solution
Embedding the key hash of a key-value pair within the value data allows direct mapping to the bucket containing the key, eliminating the need for exhaustive traversals and reducing latency in reverse lookups.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If exhaustive traversal through all buckets is used for reverse lookups, then the data structure remains simple, but retrieval time increases and computational overhead increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by pre-computing and storing the key hash within the value data structure during the initial insertion operation. This advance preparation enables O(1) reverse lookup performance by eliminating the need for exhaustive traversal during lookup operations, thus resolving the contradiction between structural simplicity and retrieval time.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces an intermediary mechanism by embedding the key hash as an additional field within the value data structure. This intermediary element serves as a direct bridge between the value and its corresponding bucket location, enabling efficient reverse lookup without requiring complex traversal algorithms, thereby balancing simplicity and performance.
2Ease of manufacture
If exhaustive traversal through all buckets is used for reverse lookups, then the implementation remains straightforward, but computational overhead increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by pre-computing the key hash during insertion and storing it within the value structure. This advance computation shifts the computational work from the lookup phase (where it would require traversing all buckets) to the insertion phase (where it is performed once and reused), significantly reducing computational overhead during reverse lookups while maintaining implementation simplicity.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces an intermediary field (key hash) within the value data structure that acts as a mediator between the value and its bucket location. This intermediary eliminates the need for exhaustive traversal by providing a direct computational shortcut, thereby reducing computational overhead without requiring complex implementation changes.
3Productivity
If key hash is embedded in value data, then reverse lookup efficiency improves, but storage space requirement increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies parameter changes by modifying the value data structure to include an additional field for storing the key hash. This parameter modification transforms the value from a simple pointer to a structured object containing lookup information, enabling efficient reverse lookup performance. The trade-off in storage space is justified by the significant performance improvement in reverse lookup operations.
Data Source
AI summary
Techniques are disclosed for efficient file system directory reverse name lookup. An example method includes storing, at one or more of a plurality of storage locations of a key map, a file system directory including one or more key-value pairs, wherein each key-value pair of the file system directory maps a respective object identifier to corresponding object metadata; and in response to detecting an indication of a file system event for a file: storing, to a storage location of the key map, a key-value pair that maps an object identifier of the file to object metadata of the file; generating, based on the object identifier, an indication of the storage location; including, by the data platform, the indication of the storage location in the object metadata; and storing, by the data platform, the object metadata to a data store.