Field-Level Data Lineage Tracking From Code Repositories

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative Solutions
Generate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Current data governance systems lack effective methods to analyze the complete data flow direction, particularly in determining the association relationship between data, also known as data lineage, which is crucial for ensuring data security, accuracy, and usability.

Innovation Solution

A code analysis-based field lineage analysis scheme is employed to create field query databases from code repositories of nodes, enabling the tracking of data flow by querying for associated fields and determining the flow direction of target data types through syntax trees and database queries.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Measurement precision

If code analysis-based field lineage analysis is implemented to track data flow with field granularity, then measurement precision of data flow direction is improved, but device complexity increases due to creating and querying multiple field query databases from code repositories

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedata flow direction tracking precisionVSAvoidsystem complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary actions by creating field query databases from code repositories in advance, before actual data flow tracking is needed. This pre-processing allows the system to have ready-to-use databases that contain field-level information from source code, enabling precise data flow tracking without performing complex code analysis in real-time.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces field query databases as intermediary structures between the code repositories and the data flow analysis system. These databases serve as a mediator that stores pre-extracted field information, allowing the system to query data flow directions without directly analyzing source code each time, thus reducing the complexity of real-time analysis.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Loss of information

If field query databases are created from code repositories of multiple downstream nodes, then completeness of data lineage information is improved, but loss of time increases due to the extensive querying process across multiple databases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedata lineage information completenessVSAvoidquerying time
Core Design Contradiction:
Loss of informationVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The system pre-creates field query databases from code repositories of all downstream nodes before data flow analysis is needed. This preliminary action ensures that all necessary field-level information is already extracted and stored, eliminating the need for time-consuming code parsing during actual tracking operations.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The patent prepares field query databases in advance as a cushioning measure, so that when data flow tracking is required, the system can quickly query pre-existing databases rather than performing extensive code analysis. This beforehand preparation cushions against time losses during critical tracking operations.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #11Beforehand cushioning (Prior cushioning)

3Reliability

If comprehensive data flow tracking is implemented across the entire system, then reliability of data governance is improved, but device complexity increases due to the need to analyze complete data flow directions through multiple nodes

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedata governance reliabilityVSAvoidsystem complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments the data flow analysis problem into field-level units by creating separate field query databases for different data fields and nodes. Instead of analyzing entire data flows at once, the system breaks down the analysis into manageable field-specific queries, making the complex task of tracking data across multiple nodes more tractable while maintaining comprehensive coverage.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The field query databases act as intermediary structures that simplify the complexity of comprehensive data flow tracking. Rather than directly analyzing complex inter-node data flows, the system uses these databases as mediators to store and retrieve field-level flow information, reducing the computational complexity while ensuring complete data lineage tracking.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Data Source

PatentEP4636607A1Data analysis method, apparatus, device, and storage medium
Publication Date: 2025.10.22 LEMON INC(GB)
  • EP4636607A1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4636607A1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP4636607A1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

Embodiments of the disclosure provide a method, apparatus, device and computer readable storage medium for data analysis. In the method, based on respective code repositories of a plurality of nodes downstream of a first node, a plurality of respective field query databases are created, wherein data of a target type flows through the first node; a query is made for a field associated with the data of the target type in the plurality of field query databases; and based on a result of the querying, a flow direction of the data of the target type from the first node to the plurality of nodes is determined. In this way, the data of the target type can be effectively tracked from an overall perspective.