Distributed Data Store Auto-Sharding and Failover

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Solution Overview

Problem

Managing vast amounts of data in NoSQL databases requires efficient automatic cluster management, including fail-over and dynamic capacity scaling, which existing technologies struggle to address effectively.

Innovation Solution

The scaleDB framework implements a distributed data store system with auto-sharding and fail-over mechanisms, utilizing a master-slave partition structure and daemons to manage data across multiple nodes, ensuring data availability and scalability.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If a traditional relational database management system is used, then data consistency and reliability are maintained through ACID properties, but performance and scalability are significantly reduced

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedata consistencyVSAvoidperformance
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments the database into multiple independent partitions distributed across different nodes in a cluster. Each partition can be independently managed and scaled, allowing the system to achieve both reliability through distribution and performance through parallel processing. The segmentation enables horizontal scaling without compromising data consistency within each partition.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

2Quantity of substance

If the database scales out to handle vast amounts of data, then capacity increases, but manual management complexity and operational difficulty increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedata capacityVSAvoidmanagement complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Quantity of substanceVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements self-service mechanisms through automated daemon processes that perform partition assignment, data redistribution, and failover management without human intervention. The system automatically detects node failures, promotes slave partitions to master status, and redistributes data across the cluster, eliminating the need for manual management even as the system scales to handle vast amounts of data.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

3Extent of automation

If manual cluster management is used, then control over fail-over and capacity scaling is maintained, but response time and system availability are reduced

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecontrol precisionVSAvoidresponse time
Core Design Contradiction:
Extent of automationVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements preliminary action by maintaining slave partitions that are pre-synchronized and ready to immediately assume master status upon failure detection. The daemon processes continuously monitor node health and have pre-configured knowledge of which slave partitions should promote to master status, enabling automatic failover within seconds rather than requiring manual intervention and extensive reconfiguration time.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

4Reliability

If a master-slave partition structure is implemented, then data availability through fail-over is improved, but system complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedata availabilityVSAvoidsystem architecture
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies universality by designing slave partitions that can serve dual purposes: normally acting as read replicas to distribute query load, and simultaneously serving as backup masters ready for failover. This multi-functionality reduces the need for dedicated backup infrastructure and simplifies the overall system architecture while maintaining high data availability through the master-slave structure.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Data Source

PatentUS10747714B2Scalable distributed data store
Publication Date: 2020.08.18 INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINE CORPORATION
  • US10747714B2 patent drawing
  • US10747714B2 patent drawing
  • US10747714B2 patent drawing

AI summary

Described is a framework that manages a clustered, distributed NoSQL data store across multiple server nodes. The framework may include daemons running on every server node, providing auto-sharding and unified data service such that user data can be stored and retrieved consistently from any node. The framework may further provide capabilities such as automatic fail-over and dynamic capacity scaling.