Financial Data Concurrent Editing via Segmented File Copies
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Solution Overview
Problem
Financial data management software often faces issues with data corruption due to simultaneous user interactions and lacks effective methods for reviewing changes, making it difficult to detect and identify mistakes.
Innovation Solution
A system that allows simultaneous modifications by creating a copy of a financial data file, dividing it into editable subsets based on a division date, enabling multiple users to edit different subsets while preventing conflicts, and merging changes into the original file with conflict resolution and backup features.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the financial-data file is locked to prevent data corruption, then data integrity is improved, but user productivity deteriorates because other users cannot access the file
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the financial-data file into multiple subsets based on a division date, allowing different users to access and modify specific subsets simultaneously. The first user can modify data with dates later than the division date, while the second user can modify data with dates prior to or equal to the division date, eliminating the need for complete file locking while maintaining data integrity.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a change file as an intermediary mechanism. Instead of directly modifying the original financial-data file, users modify a copy or subset, and the changes are then merged into the original file through a controlled merging process that detects and resolves conflicts, ensuring data integrity without preventing concurrent access.
2Reliability
If the financial-data file is locked for editing, then data corruption is prevented, but access time deteriorates as users must wait for the lock to be released
Solution Approach 1:
By segmenting the financial-data file into time-based subsets (before and after the division date), the system allows concurrent access to different segments simultaneously. This eliminates the sequential waiting time that would occur with traditional file locking, as both users can access and modify their respective subsets at the same time.
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs preliminary actions by creating a copy of the financial-data file and dividing it into subsets before users begin editing. This preparation enables simultaneous access without risk of corruption, as each user works on a predetermined subset that is already isolated from the other user's modifications.
3Device complexity
If no change review method is implemented, then system complexity is reduced, but mistake detection capability deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The change file serves as an intermediary that captures all modifications made by users. When merging changes back into the original financial-data file, the system compares the change file with the original data, automatically detecting conflicts and mistakes. This provides mistake detection capability without requiring complex real-time monitoring during the editing process.
Solution Approach 2:
The merging process provides feedback by detecting conflicts between the change file and the original financial-data file. When conflicts are detected, the system notifies users and prevents automatic merging, allowing users to review and correct mistakes before finalizing the changes. This feedback mechanism improves mistake detection while adding only minimal complexity to the system.
Data Source
AI summary
One embodiment of the present invention provides a system that facilitates simultaneous modifications to financial-data by a first user and a second user. During operation, the system creates a copy of a financial-data file. The system then allows the first user to modify the financial-data file. The system also sends the copy of the financial-data file to the second user, thereby enabling the second user to modify the financial-data file to create a change file. Next, the system receives the change file from the second user, wherein the change file includes modifications to financial-data within the financial-data file. Finally, the system merges the change file into the financial-data file.