Distributed Data Processing Task Allocation via Completion Time Estimation

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative Solutions
Generate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

The sheer volume of generated data makes it infeasible to analyze or process it in a timely manner, as loading all data into memory or processing it all at once is impractical and time-consuming.

Innovation Solution

A distributed data storage and processing system that processes data in meaningful chunks, using a chunking attribute to determine importance and a data item completion time attribute to distribute tasks evenly across processing units.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If all source data is loaded into memory at once for processing, then complete data analysis can be performed, but the system becomes infeasible due to enormous data volume and excessive processing time

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedata processing throughputVSAvoidprocessing time
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent divides the enormous source data into manageable chunks based on a chunking attribute (such as time-based partitions or data category divisions). This segmentation allows the system to process data in smaller, memory-friendly portions rather than attempting to load all data simultaneously, thereby making the processing feasible and reducing memory requirements while maintaining overall processing capability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The system performs preliminary sorting and prioritization of data chunks before processing based on a chunking attribute that reflects presumed importance to consumer clients. By pre-organizing data into priority-based chunks, the system can process high-value data first, delivering meaningful results sooner without waiting to process all data, thus reducing effective processing time for critical information.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

2Loss of time

If data is processed in chunks based on presumed importance, then relevant data can be delivered to consumers sooner, but the processing order becomes complex requiring sophisticated task allocation

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedata delivery time to consumersVSAvoidtask allocation complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Loss of timeVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

Each processing unit autonomously determines its own task allocation by evaluating the completion time attribute of available data items. Instead of requiring a centralized complex scheduling system, processing units independently select their next task based on current system state, simplifying the overall control architecture while achieving balanced load distribution and prioritized processing.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The task allocation system dynamically adjusts to changing conditions by continuously monitoring completion time attributes and reassigning tasks based on current processing unit availability and workload. This dynamic approach allows the system to adapt to varying data priorities and processing speeds without requiring static, pre-configured complex scheduling rules.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

3Productivity

If data items are assigned to processing units using completion time as a proxy, then task distribution becomes more even across units, but requires additional computational overhead to estimate completion times

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveprocessor utilization efficiencyVSAvoidtask allocation mechanism complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The system uses the completion time attribute as a simplified proxy metric to represent the expected processing duration of each data item. By transforming the complex multidimensional characteristics of data items into a single completion time parameter, the system achieves effective task distribution without requiring complex evaluation models, balancing processor utilization while minimizing computational overhead for task allocation decisions.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Data Source

PatentUS12333345B2Task allocation across processing units of a distributed system
Publication Date: 2025.06.17 GOLDMAN SACHS & CO LLC
  • US12333345B2 patent drawing
  • US12333345B2 patent drawing

AI summary

An organization's distributed data storage and processing system produces an enormous volume of source data (such as log files or other statistics). The organization uses a data item processing system to process the source data in prioritized chunks, and to further assign the data items within the chunks to different processing units based on estimates of processing completion time. In this way, it becomes feasible to process the source data for analysis by consumer clients within a reasonable amount of time, and the aggregate use of the processing units is made more efficient.