External Change Detection With OData Tracking Tokens
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing software systems require copying and transforming data from external systems for change detection, which is resource-intensive and compromises data security and privacy.
Innovation Solution
Implementing a system that uses a tracking token from the OData protocol to detect and process changes in external data objects without copying, allowing direct write-back to the external system.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If data is copied from external system to software system for change detection, then change detection capability is improved, but storage cost and network bandwidth usage increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts only the essential change information (change tokens, change descriptors) from the external system rather than copying entire data sets. The external system generates change tokens that represent specific data changes, and these minimal tokens are transmitted to the software system for detection, eliminating the need to store or process full data copies.
Solution Approach 2:
The change detection mechanism segments the data synchronization process into discrete change events. Instead of transferring and storing complete data sets, the system segments changes into individual change tokens that represent specific modifications (insertions, updates, deletions). Each token contains only the necessary information to detect and process that particular change.
2Adaptability or versatility
If data is transformed into different format for software system, then data compatibility is improved, but computational resources and processing time increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces change tokens as an intermediary representation between the external system and the software system. These tokens serve as a standardized intermediate format that conveys change information without requiring full data format transformation. The tokens contain structured information (change type, data path, old value, new value) that can be universally processed regardless of the source data format.
3Adaptability or versatility
If data is stored in two separate systems by different entities, then system independence is improved, but data security and privacy decrease
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts only the minimal necessary information (change tokens) from the external system rather than duplicating full data sets. This extraction approach maintains system independence while significantly reducing the attack surface and data exposure risk. The software system receives and processes only change metadata, not the actual sensitive data values.
4Measurement precision
If complete data sets are transmitted for change detection, then detection accuracy is improved, but network bandwidth usage increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments change detection into discrete, granular change tokens that represent individual data modifications. Each token contains only the specific change information needed (change type, data path, values), eliminating the need to transmit entire data sets. This segmentation maintains detection accuracy for each change while dramatically reducing overall network bandwidth consumption.
Data Source
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AI summary
Disclosed herein are system, method, and computer program product embodiments for performing external change detection without copying data from an external system. An embodiment operates by transmitting a registration request comprising data selection criteria to a data service at an external system. The external system generates a tracking token representing a transaction state of a data object satisfying the data selection criteria. The embodiment receives the tracking token. The embodiment detects a change to the data object in the external system using the tracking token. The embodiment receives the change to the data object from the external system based on the detecting. The embodiment then processes the change to the data object.