Rewriting Inequality Queries via Auxiliary Attributes
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Solution Overview
Problem
Cloud-based distributed systems impose restrictions on query complexity and result ordering, limiting the number of logical expressions and disallowing queries with inequality expressions or ordering by attributes in inequality expressions, which restricts query flexibility and performance.
Innovation Solution
A system transforms inequality queries into equivalent queries with a bounded number of equality expressions using auxiliary attributes and query rewriting, allowing execution in cloud-based systems that restrict query complexity and result ordering.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If cloud-based systems limit the number of logical expressions in a query to ensure performance guarantees, then query processing speed and system scalability are improved, but query flexibility and expressiveness deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments an inequality query into multiple equality queries by introducing auxiliary attributes that represent different parts of the inequality condition. Each equality query is processed separately within system limits, and results are combined to produce the final inequality query result, thereby maintaining both performance guarantees and query expressiveness
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces auxiliary attributes as intermediary elements between the original inequality query and the cloud-based system's equality-query-only interface. These auxiliary attributes act as mediators that translate inequality conditions into equivalent equality conditions, allowing the system to process complex queries while adhering to performance constraints
2Reliability
If cloud-based systems forbid ordering query results by attributes of inequality expressions, then system consistency and performance guarantees are maintained, but query functionality and user control deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the ordering operation from the inequality condition by using auxiliary attributes. The query is divided into selection conditions (inequality expressions) and ordering conditions (separate attribute references), allowing the system to maintain consistency while providing full ordering functionality through the rewritten equality-based queries
3Productivity
If cloud-based systems limit the number of logical expressions in a query, then horizontal scaling and availability are improved, but the ability to execute complex queries deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments complex inequality queries into multiple simpler equality queries using auxiliary attributes, allowing each segment to be processed independently within system expression limits. This segmentation enables horizontal scaling while maintaining the ability to execute complex queries through combination of results
Solution Approach 2:
The patent adds a new dimension to query processing by introducing auxiliary attributes that exist in a different logical space than the original data attributes. This dimensional transformation allows inequality conditions to be expressed as equality conditions in the auxiliary attribute space, bypassing system expression limits while preserving query complexity
Data Source
AI summary
Methods, systems, and apparatus, including computer programs encoded on computer storage media, for expressing inequality expressions as a bounded number of equality expressions. One of the methods includes receiving an original query having an inequality expression for an original attribute. A new query that replaces the inequality expression with a bounded number of equality expressions is generated, wherein each equality expression references a respective auxiliary attribute, each auxiliary attribute representing intervals of values for the original attribute. The new query having the bounded number of equality expressions is provided to a database system instead of the original query. Query results that satisfy the inequality expression for the original attribute are received from the database system.