Geographically Partitioned Database System for Data Localization Compliance
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Centralized database systems face challenges in complying with data localization laws, which require data to be stored in specific geographical locations, as existing solutions often require significant changes to applications and can lead to performance issues and scalability problems due to the need for partitioning data and managing shard keys.
Innovation Solution
A method that allows documents in a centralized database system to be stored based on geographical data localization by using a database manager to determine the geographical location of documents and create remote copies in compliant locations, without requiring changes to existing applications, by adding location information to each document and managing it separately from application data.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If data is stored in a centralized physical location, then system simplicity and ease of management are improved, but compliance with data localization laws deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments data storage by creating multiple data centers in different geographical locations, each capable of storing copies of the same data. This segmentation allows the system to comply with data localization laws by ensuring data is physically present in required jurisdictions while maintaining centralized management through virtualization technologies that present a unified interface to users.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces an intermediary layer (virtualization infrastructure) between the physical data storage locations and the users. This intermediary manages the complexity of multi-location storage by handling data replication, synchronization, and access routing automatically, thereby maintaining system simplicity for users while enabling geographical distribution for compliance.
2Adaptability or versatility
If data is partitioned across multiple locations to comply with localization laws, then compliance is improved, but system complexity and difficulty of management increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a universal data management platform that can operate across multiple geographical locations with different localization requirements. This multi-functional system handles diverse compliance scenarios through a single unified interface, managing data replication, access control, and synchronization across all locations without requiring location-specific management procedures.
Solution Approach 2:
The system employs automated self-service mechanisms including intelligent data routing that automatically directs data to appropriate geographical locations based on localization requirements, automated replication that maintains data consistency across centers, and self-monitoring that tracks compliance status. These self-service features eliminate manual intervention complexity while ensuring ongoing compliance.
3Adaptability or versatility
If applications are modified to manage distributed data storage, then data localization compliance is improved, but application development time and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the complexity of distributed data management from applications by providing a transparent virtualized storage layer. Applications continue to interact with data through standard interfaces without needing to know about geographical distribution or replication mechanisms. The compliance logic is extracted and embedded in the infrastructure layer, allowing applications to remain unchanged while achieving localization compliance.
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs preliminary actions by pre-configuring multiple data centers with appropriate geographical locations and establishing data replication policies in advance. This preliminary setup creates a ready-to-use compliant infrastructure that applications can immediately utilize without modification, as the compliance framework is already in place and automatically applied to all data operations.
Data Source
AI summary
A computer-implemented method for storing documents in a centralized database system based on geographical data localization includes receiving, by a database manager, a request to update a document according to a data localization criterion, the document stored in a local storage device of the centralized database system. The method further includes determining, by the database manager, a geographical location for a local copy of the document based on an attribute of the document matching the localization criterion. The method further includes creating, by the database manager, a remote copy of the document on a storage device that is physically located in the geographical location. The method further includes modifying, by the database manager, the local copy of the document to include a location information of the remote copy.