Multi-tenant Uniform Access via Service Provider Interface
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional multi-tenant computing systems face challenges in providing uniform access to disparate data sources due to the complexity and scalability issues associated with maintaining multiple application programming interfaces (APIs), which often leads to brittleness and the need for extensive transformation of data.
Innovation Solution
A multi-tenant system is configured with a uniform service provider interface that defines a common format for data access and output, allowing services to operate with minimal modification, and is maintained by their respective development teams, eliminating the need for a large 'glue layer' and enabling seamless integration of new services with minimal modification.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If multiple different APIs are provided for accessing disparate data sources, then each data source can be accessed with its native format and capabilities, but the system complexity increases and scalability deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a data lake as an intermediary layer between disparate data sources and the analytics engine. This data lake provides a unified storage and access mechanism that mediates between multiple different data sources with varying formats and the analytics engine requiring consistent data access patterns, thereby reducing system complexity while maintaining access capability to all data sources
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates a universal data access interface through the data lake that can handle multiple different data sources with a single unified approach. Instead of requiring separate APIs for each data source, the data lake provides a multi-functional access layer that works with various data formats and sources through consistent interfaces, reducing the number of components needed
2Productivity
If multiple different APIs are maintained for different data sources, then each data source can be accessed effectively, but maintenance difficulty increases and reliability decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The data lake serves as a stable intermediary layer that isolates the analytics engine from changes in underlying data sources. When data sources change or are updated, the data lake absorbs these changes without requiring changes to the analytics engine or access patterns, thereby maintaining system reliability while preserving data access efficiency
Solution Approach 2:
The data lake provides a buffer or cushioning layer that protects the system from disruptions caused by changes in data sources. By pre-establishing this intermediary layer, the system is cushioned against the negative effects of data source changes, preventing them from propagating to the analytics engine and maintaining reliable operation
3Ease of operation
If a large glue layer is implemented to integrate multiple services, then uniform access can be achieved, but the system becomes difficult to maintain and scale
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the integration logic from a complex glue layer and consolidates it into a data lake. Instead of having distributed integration code across multiple services (glue layer), the data lake centralizes the integration functionality, providing uniform access to services while reducing overall system complexity and making the system easier to maintain and scale
Data Source
AI summary
Receive, by a central controller engine, a user request to perform one or more operations associated with user data, wherein the user data includes first data and second data. Select, by the central controller engine based on the user request, a first service provider interface (SPI) integrated into a first service, the first SPI being configured to operate on the first data in a first datastore associated with the first service. The first SPI including a first service interface component configured based on a uniform access specification. Obtain, by the first SPI, the first data, the first data being formatted according to a first service data specification. Transform, by the first SPI based on the uniform access specification, the first data, thereby generating transformed first data formatted according to the uniform access specification. Provide, by the first SPI, the transformed first data to a target service.