Heartbeat Sending Nodes Combining Leader Heartbeats to Reduce Traffic

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Solution Overview

Problem

In distributed database systems, the sending of heartbeat information to all nodes, including both leader and non-leader data blocks, results in a significant increase in useless heartbeat information, affecting system performance due to unnecessary communication.

Innovation Solution

The method involves sending heartbeat information with data block group identifiers to identify the leader data block's location, allowing follower data blocks to update their node identifiers accordingly, ensuring they receive and respond to relevant heartbeat information.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If a node sends heartbeat information to all other nodes that include the same data block, then all follower data blocks can potentially receive heartbeat information, but the quantity of heartbeat information increases significantly due to inclusion of useless heartbeat information from non-leader data blocks

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveheartbeat information deliveryVSAvoidquantity of heartbeat information
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSQuantity of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments the data blocks into leader data blocks and non-leader data blocks. Only heartbeat information from leader data blocks is sent to other nodes, while heartbeat information from non-leader data blocks is filtered out. This segmentation resolves the contradiction by delivering necessary heartbeat information reliably while reducing the total quantity by excluding useless information from non-leader blocks.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent extracts and sends only the useful portion of heartbeat information (from leader data blocks) while leaving out the useless portion (from non-leader data blocks). The node identifies which data blocks are leaders and selectively includes only those heartbeat information in transmissions, thereby maintaining reliability for critical updates while reducing overall information volume.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

2Loss of information

If combined heartbeat information from all data blocks is sent to other nodes, then comprehensive status information is provided, but system performance is affected due to processing and transmitting large quantities of useless information

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvestatus information completenessVSAvoidsystem performance
Core Design Contradiction:
Loss of informationVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments heartbeat information by data block leadership status. It identifies leader data blocks and separates their heartbeat information from non-leader data blocks. Only the segmented leader heartbeat information is transmitted, ensuring that critical status information is preserved while eliminating processing overhead from non-essential information, thus improving system performance.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

Instead of transmitting complete heartbeat information from all data blocks (excessive action), the patent transmits only the partial information necessary from leader data blocks. This partial action is sufficient to maintain system consistency and performance without the burden of processing excessive useless information from non-leader blocks.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #16Partial or excessive action

3Reliability

If follower data blocks use node identifiers to identify leader locations, then they can respond to heartbeat information, but follower data blocks become isolated when leader data blocks change nodes because the node identifier does not update

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvefollower data block responseVSAvoidleader change adaptation
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements a feedback mechanism where the leader data block's node identifier is explicitly included in the heartbeat information it sends. When follower data blocks receive heartbeat information, they extract the leader's node identifier from this feedback and update their records accordingly. This ensures that when leaders change nodes, followers automatically adapt and remain connected, resolving the isolation problem.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

Data Source

PatentEP4221130B1Heartbeat information sending method and apparatus, and heartbeat sending node
Publication Date: 2025.07.02 HUAWEI TECH CO LTD
  • EP4221130B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP4221130B1 patent drawingFigure 3~4
  • EP4221130B1 patent drawingFigure 5

AI summary

The present invention provides a heartbeat information sending method and apparatus and a heartbeat sending node. The method includes: determining heartbeat receiving nodes in which at least two follower data blocks corresponding to at least two leader data blocks in the heartbeat sending node are located; and when the heartbeat receiving nodes are a same node, sending heartbeat information of the heartbeat sending node to the heartbeat receiving node, where the heartbeat information of the heartbeat sending node is heartbeat information obtained after respective heartbeat information of the at least two leader data blocks are combined.