Instance Data Service Bulk Update Coordination

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Solution Overview

Problem

As network computing and storage resources become increasingly complex, managing instance data across multiple virtual instances is challenging, requiring efficient methods to update, add, delete, or manipulate data in a centralized and addressable manner without individual alteration of each instance.

Innovation Solution

The implementation of an instance data service that allows customers to update instance data related to arbitrarily defined groups of virtual instances using tags or common identifiers, enabling coordinated management and synchronization of instance data across multiple instances, even when operational states change, such as suspension or rebooting.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If instance data is managed individually for each virtual instance, then data consistency across instances can be maintained, but the complexity and time required for management operations increases significantly

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedata consistencyVSAvoidmanagement operation time
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments instance data management into two levels: individual instance data storage and centralized management operations. The system divides the management task by allowing bulk operations to be segmented and distributed to individual instances while maintaining centralized coordination through the instance data service.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The instance data service acts as an intermediary between customers and virtual instances. It receives management operations, processes them centrally, and distributes them to appropriate instances, thereby reducing the time customers would otherwise spend managing each instance individually while maintaining data consistency through coordinated updates.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Productivity

If centralized instance data management is implemented, then management efficiency improves, but system complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvemanagement efficiencyVSAvoidsystem complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The instance data service provides multiple functions within a single centralized system: storing instance data, processing management operations, distributing updates to instances, and maintaining consistency across the fleet. This multi-functional approach improves productivity while consolidating complexity into a manageable service rather than distributing it across multiple components.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Solution Approach 2:

The system implements self-service mechanisms where the instance data service automatically handles data synchronization, update distribution, and consistency maintenance without requiring manual intervention. Instances can autonomously receive and apply updates from the centralized service, reducing operational complexity while improving management efficiency.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

3Manufacturing precision

If individual instance updates are performed, then data accuracy for each instance is ensured, but the scalability of management operations is limited

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedata accuracyVSAvoidscalability
Core Design Contradiction:
Manufacturing precisionVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The patent merges individual instance update operations into a single centralized management operation. The instance data service combines multiple update tasks into bulk operations that can be executed simultaneously across numerous instances, maintaining data accuracy through centralized coordination while achieving scalability through parallel processing.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The system performs preliminary actions by pre-processing management operations at the centralized instance data service before distribution. This includes validating data, preparing update packages, and organizing operations for efficient parallel execution across instances, thereby ensuring accuracy while enabling scalable deployment to large fleets.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Data Source

PatentUS10846115B1Techniques for managing virtual instance data in multitenant environments
Publication Date: 2020.11.24 AMAZON TECH INC
  • US10846115B1 patent drawing
  • US10846115B1 patent drawing
  • US10846115B1 patent drawing

AI summary

Techniques described and suggested herein include systems and methods for updating, adding, deleting, managing, and otherwise manipulating instance data across multiple virtual instances in an addressable fashion. For example, a customer may control or otherwise be associated with a fleet of virtual instances running on one or more hosts of a computing resource service provider. The described techniques enable customers, or other entities, to update instance data related to arbitrarily defined groups of the fleet using, e.g., tags or other common identifiers, so as to, e.g., alter operational characteristics of some or all of a given fleet of virtual instances without necessitating individual alteration of each instance.