Dynamic Runtime ETL Tool Dataflow Segmentation
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Solution Overview
Problem
ETL tools like Apache NiFi face challenges in dataflow organization and user access management, as they lack the ability to segregate dataflows into separate files and restrict user access to only permitted dataflows, leading to a cluttered and difficult-to-navigate environment in multi-user setups.
Innovation Solution
An integrated analytics server platform is combined with a dynamic runtime ETL tool to provide a user interface that allows users to access and manage dataflows through separate file containers, enabling organization and permission-based access, with the analytics server platform tracking and storing dataflow actions and permissions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If all dataflows are added to the same NiFi canvas, then the ETL tool can manage all dataflows in a single environment, but the organization and navigation of dataflows becomes difficult and cluttered
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the single NiFi canvas into multiple separate files, allowing dataflows to be organized into distinct file containers. Each file can contain one or more dataflows, and users can navigate between files to access different dataflows. This segmentation resolves the contradiction by maintaining the ability to manage all dataflows while improving organization and navigation through file-based separation.
2Ease of operation
If all users login to the same NiFi canvas, then users can access the ETL tool environment, but users cannot be restricted to seeing and working with only their permitted dataflows
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements file-based segmentation where each user is assigned specific files they can access. The NiFi canvas is divided into multiple files, and user permissions are configured at the file level. This allows users to login to the same ETL tool environment while being restricted to only viewing and working with dataflows in their authorized files, thus preventing unauthorized access while maintaining ease of operation.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a file container as an intermediary layer between users and dataflows. Instead of direct user-to-dataflow access, users interact with files that contain dataflows, and permission management is handled at the file level. This intermediary structure enables controlled access where users can authenticate to the ETL tool but are mediated by file permissions before accessing specific dataflows, resolving the contradiction between ease of access and security.
3Ease of operation
If processor components are placed into processor groups, then some organization is achieved, but dataflows cannot be segregated into separate files
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extends the segmentation concept from processor groups to file-level segmentation. While processor groups organize components within a dataflow, the patent introduces files as containers that can hold multiple dataflows. This hierarchical segmentation (files containing dataflows containing processor groups) provides both the organization of processor components and the segregation of dataflows into separate files, resolving the contradiction between these two organizational needs.
Data Source
AI summary
One embodiment comprises a method in which an integrated multi-user analytics server platform is integrated with a dynamic runtime ETL tool to allow dataflows created or developed in a dynamic runtime environment provided by the ETL tool to be saved in a novel dataflow file container. The method includes: presenting a user interface for an analytics server platform; receiving user input via this user interface indicating an action to be performed as to a first dataflow; the analytics server platform accessing a first file container corresponding to the first dataflow, where the first file container is stored in a data store connected to the analytics server platform; in response to receiving the user input, the analytics server platform accessing APIs of the dynamic runtime ETL tool to initiate the ETL tool, which then performs the action with respect to the first dataflow.