Distributed Data Management via Consistency Zones

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Solution Overview

Problem

Distributed systems face inefficiencies in data management due to the computational costs associated with processing data across multiple zones that are time-independent, leading to inconsistent results when querying data from different points in time.

Innovation Solution

A data management system is implemented with consistency zones that manage data independently, utilizing cross-zone references and just-in-time calculation functionality to reduce computational load by only referencing relevant events, thereby ensuring consistent results across zones.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If data is processed across multiple time-independent zones in a distributed system, then data accessibility and distribution are improved, but computational costs increase and result consistency deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedata accessibilityVSAvoidcomputational costs
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSLoss of energy

Solution Approach 1:

The system segments the distributed system into multiple time-independent consistency zones, each managing its own data independently. This segmentation allows zones to process data locally without requiring coordination with other zones, reducing computational overhead while maintaining data accessibility across the distributed system.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The system introduces an intermediary mechanism that manages cross-zone references and coordinates data access between consistency zones. This intermediary handles the complexity of inter-zone data access, allowing zones to remain independent while still enabling controlled data sharing and reducing overall system computational costs.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Productivity

If data is processed across multiple time-independent zones, then data distribution efficiency is improved, but result consistency deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedata distribution efficiencyVSAvoidresult consistency
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

By dividing the system into separate consistency zones with independent data management, each zone can process and distribute data efficiently without being constrained by other zones. The segmentation ensures that consistency is maintained within each zone while allowing independent operation, thus improving data distribution efficiency while preserving result consistency through zone-boundary enforcement.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The system performs preliminary actions by pre-establishing consistency rules and reference management mechanisms within each zone before data processing occurs. This preliminary setup ensures that data consistency requirements are built into the zone structure, allowing efficient data distribution while maintaining reliability through pre-defined consistency protocols.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

3Reliability

If all zones reference all events for data consistency, then result consistency is improved, but computational load increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveresult consistencyVSAvoidcomputational load
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

Each consistency zone is granted local quality of autonomy to manage its own data and events independently. Zones only reference and process events relevant to their specific data scope rather than all system-wide events. This local quality approach maintains result consistency within each zone while dramatically reducing computational load by eliminating unnecessary cross-zone event processing.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

Solution Approach 2:

The system extracts and isolates event processing to only those events that are relevant to each specific consistency zone. By taking out and removing irrelevant events from each zone's processing scope, the system maintains result consistency for zone-specific data while reducing overall computational load across the distributed system.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Data Source

PatentEP3757864B1Method and system for performing computations in a distributed system
Publication Date: 2024.02.14 ANAPLAN INC
  • EP3757864B1 patent drawingFigure 1.1
  • EP3757864B1 patent drawingFigure 1.2
  • EP3757864B1 patent drawingFigure 1.3~1.5

AI summary

A data management system includes a first consistency zone, a second consistency zone, and a repository manager. The repository manager identifies a calculation event for a derived object of the second consistency zone, the derived object includes a cross-zone reference to the first consistency zone; and in response to identifying the calculation event: identifies an object in the first consistency zone associated with the cross-zone reference; sends a remote object request, to the first consistency zone, for the object with reference to an event of the first consistency zone specified by the cross-zone reference; obtains the object after sending the remote object request; and obtains a derived object instance based, at least in part, on a computation specification of the derived object and the object.