Identity Primary Key Replication Without Range Restrictions
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Solution Overview
Problem
In industrial process control and automation systems, the replication of identity-derived primary keys requires manual range management, limiting the number of unique values available to participants and increasing administrative complexity as the number of publishers and subscribers grows, leading to inefficiencies and higher operational costs.
Innovation Solution
A method and apparatus that maintain a data table with a unique value associated with every record, allowing the publisher system to define a primary key without range restrictions, enabling each participant to utilize the full set of unique values afforded by the integer-derived data type, eliminating the need for manual range management and enhancing data replication efficiency.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If manual range management is used for identity-derived primary keys, then participants can be assigned specific value ranges, but the number of unique values available to each participant is limited and administrative complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the range management complexity from the primary key mechanism by introducing a separate global identifier column (PK-g) that handles the range assignment administratively, while the local primary key (PK-i) maintains full versatility without range restrictions. This separation allows the data table to achieve both high adaptability and reduced complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The primary key is segmented into two independent components: a global identifier (PK-g) that manages the range assignment and a local identifier (PK-i) that provides unique values without range constraints. This segmentation enables each component to optimize its function independently, resolving the contradiction between versatility and complexity.
2Productivity
If manual range management is implemented, then participants can be controlled, but the system efficiency decreases and operational costs increase
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs self-service by automatically generating unique primary keys through the combination of the global identifier (PK-g) and local identifier (PK-i). The publisher system automatically manages the replication process without requiring manual range assignment or administrative intervention, thereby improving efficiency and reducing operational complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The global identifier (PK-g) acts as an intermediary that mediates between the administrative control needs and the data replication process. It provides a mechanism for controlling participants while allowing the system to operate efficiently without direct manual intervention in the replication process.
3Reliability
If identity attribute is removed from data table, then security is improved, but primary key functionality must be maintained through alternative means
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a global identifier (PK-g) as an intermediary that enables secure primary key functionality without using traditional identity attributes. This intermediary provides a mechanism for maintaining primary key uniqueness and replication functionality while removing sensitive identity information from the data table, thereby improving security without sacrificing ease of implementation.
Data Source
Figure 1
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AI summary
This disclosure provides an apparatus and method for replication of identity-derived primary keys without range restrictions, including but not limited to in industrial control systems (100) and other systems. A method includes maintaining (302), by a publisher system (202), a data table (208) associated with a primary key PK-i. The method includes adding (306), by the publisher system (202), a unique value PK-g associated with every record of the data table (208). The method includes defining (308), by the publisher system (202), a primary key PK based on PK-i and PK-g. The method includes publishing (312) records from the data table (208), including the primary key PK, by the publisher system (202), to at least one subscriber system.