Memory Management Module for Data Analytics Systems

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative Solutions
Generate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Data analytics platforms face performance bottlenecks and delays when processing large data sets due to insufficient working memory and slow data access from secondary storage, leading to inefficiencies in data processing and analysis.

Innovation Solution

The implementation of a memory management module that optimally allocates and manages memory between primary and secondary storage, using compression techniques to efficiently utilize primary memory and transfer data between storage types, ensuring timely data access and processing.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Quantity of substance

If data is stored in secondary storage, then storage capacity is sufficient, but data access speed is slow causing processing delays

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvestorage capacityVSAvoiddata access speed
Core Design Contradiction:
Quantity of substanceVSSpeed

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments data into hot data (frequently accessed) and cold data (infrequently accessed), storing hot data in primary memory and cold data in secondary storage. This segmentation allows the system to maintain sufficient total storage capacity while ensuring that frequently needed data is quickly accessible in primary memory, thus resolving the contradiction between storage capacity and data access speed.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces a new dimension of data classification based on access frequency, creating a multi-layered storage architecture. By adding the dimension of data热度 (hotness) classification, the system can optimize storage allocation across different memory levels, achieving both adequate storage capacity and fast access speeds for critical data.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

2Speed

If more data is loaded into primary memory, then data access speed improves, but memory capacity is exceeded causing overflow

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedata access speedVSAvoidmemory capacity
Core Design Contradiction:
SpeedVSQuantity of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies local quality by treating different data differently based on their access characteristics. Frequently accessed data receives premium placement in primary memory for fast access, while infrequently accessed data is relegated to secondary storage. This localized optimization ensures that primary memory is used efficiently for data that truly requires fast access, preventing overflow while maintaining high access speeds for critical operations.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

Solution Approach 2:

The patent implements dynamic data movement between primary and secondary memory based on real-time access patterns. Data that becomes frequently accessed is automatically loaded into primary memory, while data that becomes infrequently accessed is moved to secondary storage. This dynamic adaptation allows the system to maintain optimal data access speed without permanently overloading primary memory capacity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

3Quantity of substance

If data is compressed, then storage efficiency improves, but decompression time increases causing processing delays

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvestorage efficiencyVSAvoiddecompression time
Core Design Contradiction:
Quantity of substanceVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies partial compression selectively to cold data in secondary storage rather than compressing all data. Hot data in primary memory remains uncompressed for immediate access, while only cold data undergoes compression. This partial application of compression achieves storage efficiency gains without incurring decompression time penalties for frequently accessed data, thus resolving the contradiction between storage efficiency and processing time.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #16Partial or excessive action

4Quantity of substance

If compression is applied to data, then primary memory utilization improves, but processing time increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvememory utilizationVSAvoidprocessing throughput
Core Design Contradiction:
Quantity of substanceVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies compression locally and selectively based on data location and access patterns. Data in primary memory that requires fast processing remains uncompressed to maintain high processing throughput. Data in secondary storage that is accessed infrequently is compressed to improve memory utilization. This localized quality differentiation allows the system to achieve both improved memory utilization and maintained processing productivity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

Data Source

PatentEP3698254B1Memory allocation in a data analytics system
Publication Date: 2023.02.22 ALTERYX INC
  • EP3698254B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3698254B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3698254B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

A module manages memory in a computer. The module monitors usage of a primary memory associated with the computer. The primary memory stores memory blocks in a ready state. In response to primary memory usage by the memory blocks in the ready state exceeding a ready state threshold, the module compresses at least some of the memory blocks in the ready state to form memory blocks in a ready and compressed state. In response to primary memory usage by the memory blocks in the ready and compressed state exceeding a release threshold, the module releases at least some of the memory blocks in the ready and compressed state. In response to primary memory usage by the memory blocks in the compressed state exceeding a compressed threshold, the module transfers at least some memory blocks in the compressed state to a secondary memory associated with the computer.