ENTRY_HASH Cache Removal for Selective Database Management

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Solution Overview

Problem

Managing large database caches efficiently is challenging due to resource-intensive processing requirements when subsequent queries perform data manipulation operations on cached query results, necessitating a method to selectively remove specific cache entries without affecting others.

Innovation Solution

Introduce a Selective Cache Entry Removal feature using an ENTRY_HASH column in the cache entry system view to identify and remove specific cache entries through an SQL statement, ensuring efficient and user-friendly management of cache resources.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If query results are cached to save computing resources, then query execution efficiency is improved, but memory consumption increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvequery execution efficiencyVSAvoidmemory consumption
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSQuantity of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces an ENTRY_HASH column that changes the identification parameter of cache entries from generic indexing to hash-based identification. This enables selective removal of specific cache entries by their hash value, allowing the system to maintain cache size within memory constraints while preserving query execution efficiency through targeted cache management.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

2Ease of operation

If selective cache entry removal is implemented without ENTRY_HASH, then cache management complexity is reduced, but the ability to remove specific entries is lost

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecache management simplicityVSAvoidcache entry identification structure
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The ENTRY_HASH column acts as an intermediary between the cache management system and individual cache entries. It provides a unique identifier that mediates the removal process, allowing selective deletion of specific entries without requiring complex search or identification mechanisms. This intermediary simplifies the removal operation while enabling precise cache entry targeting.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Adaptability or versatility

If data manipulation operations are performed on cached query results, then query flexibility is improved, but additional processing resources are consumed

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvequery flexibilityVSAvoidprocessing resources
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements preliminary identification of cache entries using ENTRY_HASH values before removal operations. This preliminary action allows the system to quickly locate and remove only the specific cache entries that are no longer needed, preventing unnecessary processing and resource consumption. The hash-based identification enables the system to act beforehand in identifying target entries, reducing the computational overhead of cache management operations.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Data Source

PatentEP4614344A1Selective cache entry removal feature
Publication Date: 2025.09.10 SAP SE
  • EP4614344A1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4614344A1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP4614344A1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

A database management system generates a cache entry system view of a database cache. Also, a new column is generated for the cache entry system view, where the new column is an ENTRY_HASH column to identify each entry of the database cache. In an example, the database management system detects a request to remove a given entry of the database cache, where the request includes a given ENTRY_HASH value to locate the given entry of the database cache. In response to receiving the request, the database management system identifies the given entry of the database cache based on the given ENTRY_HASH value. Then, the database management system removes the given entry of the database cache. Also, the database management system notifies a cache manager that the given entry has been removed.