Message Before Image for Distributed Data Consistency
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Solution Overview
Problem
In a distributed data management environment, inconsistencies arise when data is sent to multiple destinations, as the target device may receive incomplete updates, leading to discrepancies between source and target devices, especially when messages from multiple sources are involved.
Innovation Solution
A method and system that create a 'before image' of a message by comparing it with a stored message in a database, combining this with transaction data to identify the actual message to be updated, which is then sent to a distribution engine to ensure accurate updates across target devices.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of information
If the server sends only the updated fields in the message to the target device, then the message size is reduced and transmission efficiency is improved, but the target device may miss deletion instructions leading to data inconsistency
Solution Approach 1:
The server performs preliminary analysis of the message changes by comparing the incoming message with the stored copy, identifying all fields that have changed (both additions and deletions) before constructing the update message. This preliminary action ensures that the target device receives complete update instructions without needing to perform complex differential analysis itself.
Solution Approach 2:
The server acts as an intermediary between the source device and target device, analyzing the message differences and constructing the appropriate update instructions. The server mediates the data synchronization process by determining which fields need to be added, modified, or deleted, and sending only the necessary update instructions to the target device, thus maintaining data consistency while reducing transmission overhead.
2Reliability
If the server sends complete update instructions including deletions, then data consistency is maintained, but the message becomes more complex and larger in size
Solution Approach 1:
The server extracts only the specific fields that have changed in the message by comparing the incoming message with the stored copy. Instead of sending the entire message or complete update instructions for all fields, the server extracts and sends only the necessary update instructions for changed fields, reducing message size while maintaining data accuracy.
Solution Approach 2:
The server changes the parameter representation of message updates by sending structured update instructions that specify field-level changes (additions, modifications, deletions) rather than transmitting complete messages. This parameter transformation allows efficient transmission of only the necessary changes while maintaining complete update capability at the target device.
3Loss of information
If the server stores complete copies of all messages in the message database, then data consistency can be maintained, but the memory usage increases
Solution Approach 1:
The server creates and maintains a copy of the last known message in the message database for each target device. This copy serves as a reference for detecting changes in incoming messages. By storing only the previous message copy rather than all historical messages, the server enables change detection while minimizing memory usage.
Data Source
AI summary
Disclosed is a method and system for receiving a first message and creating a before image of the first message by comparing the first message with a second message stored in a message database. An actual message to be updated in a target device is identified by combining a transaction data and the before image of the first message.