Edge Key-Value Store Data Synchronization
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Solution Overview
Problem
In distributed cloud platforms, ensuring that all servers provide the same updated content or services across different network locations is challenging, especially for frequently updated content, as replication becomes complex and prone to inconsistencies.
Innovation Solution
A multi-tenant edge key-value (EKV) store synchronizes data across network locations, allowing updates from any location and ensuring that all servers have the latest data through key-value pairs, which are used to configure services and manage content distribution, thereby maintaining data consistency and reducing latency.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If content and services are replicated to more servers or network locations, then service availability and access speed are improved, but data consistency and version control deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces an intermediary version control mechanism that mediates between multiple servers and the central management system. This intermediary layer tracks version numbers and coordinates updates across the distributed platform, allowing servers to maintain local copies for fast access while ensuring consistency through centralized version management. The intermediary resolves the contradiction by enabling parallel operations without direct conflicts.
2Loss of information
If content is frequently updated across distributed servers, then data freshness is improved, but synchronization complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies parameter changes by using version numbers as a simple, scalable parameter to track content updates. Instead of complex synchronization protocols, the system increments version numbers centrally and propagates these simple numeric parameters to distributed servers. This approach maintains data freshness through frequent updates while keeping synchronization complexity low by using a single, easy-to-manage parameter (version number) rather than complex state synchronization.
3Adaptability or versatility
If any server can update content, then system flexibility and adaptability are improved, but version control and consistency management worsen
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a feedback mechanism where servers report their current version numbers to the central management system, which then determines the latest version and coordinates updates across all servers. This feedback loop enables any server to initiate or receive updates flexibly while maintaining precise version control through centralized coordination. The system accepts updates from any server but uses feedback to ensure only the latest validated version is propagated, resolving the contradiction between flexibility and precision.
Data Source
AI summary
Provided is an edge key value (“EKV”) store for receiving data from any of network location of a distributed platform, and for distributed a synchronized copy of the data to servers at the network locations where the data is requested regardless of where, how, and when the data is updated. The EKV store may receive a first value for a key at a first storage device of the EKV store based on a message issued by a first user through a first network location, may receive a second value for the key at a second storage device of the EKV store based on a message issued by a second user through a second network location, and may store the second value as a current value for the key by forming a consensus across the storage devices that the second value is the most recent value for the key.