Multitenant Prior Period Adjustment via Calculation Database

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Solution Overview

Problem

Prior period adjustment (PPA) in multitenant accounting systems is resource and time-intensive, often locking customers out of their data for extended periods due to the need for accurate and extensive data processing, which is exacerbated by the complexity of handling multiple tenants and changing data requirements.

Innovation Solution

Implementing a method that identifies a working subset of data from the production database, copies it to a calculation database with a different schema, performs PPA in the calculation database while allowing tenants to access and modify their data, and uses a replay log to ensure data consistency and accuracy across all time periods.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Measurement precision

If prior period adjustment processing is performed on the production database, then data accuracy is improved, but tenant data access speed deteriorates due to system locking

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedata accuracyVSAvoidtenant data access speed

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSSpeed

Solution Approach 1:

The patent divides the database into two separate databases: a production database for tenant data access and a calculation database for PPA processing. This segmentation allows independent operation of data access and data processing functions, eliminating the conflict between tenant access and PPA processing that causes system locking.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces a calculation database as an intermediary between the production database and PPA processing. This intermediary receives data copies from the production database, performs all necessary adjustments and calculations, then syncs results back without blocking access to the original production database.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Measurement precision

If complete tenant data is copied for PPA processing, then processing accuracy is improved, but processing time increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveprocessing accuracyVSAvoidprocessing time

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts only the necessary subset of data required for PPA processing from the complete tenant data in the production database. By identifying and copying only the specific data elements needed for the adjustment calculation, the system maintains processing accuracy while significantly reducing the volume of data to be processed.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent applies partial action by copying and processing only the portion of data necessary for PPA rather than the entire dataset. This selective approach processes exactly what is needed (no less) while avoiding unnecessary processing of extraneous data, optimizing the balance between completeness and efficiency.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #16Partial or excessive action

3Reliability

If PPA processing is performed on all tenant data, then comprehensive accuracy is improved, but system resources are overwhelmed

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecomprehensive accuracyVSAvoidsystem resource demand

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments the system into distinct functional components: production database for data storage and access, calculation database for processing, and a synchronization mechanism. This segmentation distributes system resource demands across multiple independent components rather than overwhelming a single system, while maintaining comprehensive data accuracy through the complete data copy process.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

4Stability of the object's composition

If data is locked during PPA processing, then data consistency is improved, but tenant productivity decreases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedata consistencyVSAvoidtenant productivity

Core Design Contradiction:

Stability of the object's compositionVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent creates a copy of the necessary production database data in the calculation database for PPA processing. This copying approach allows the original production database to remain accessible to tenants without locking, while the calculation database maintains a consistent snapshot for processing. Data consistency is ensured through the copy operation and subsequent synchronization of results.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #26Copying

Data Source

PatentUS11327954B2Multitenant architecture for prior period adjustment processing

Publication Date: 2022.05.10 XACTLY CORP

AI summary

A data processing method comprises receiving a request to perform a prior period adjustment (PPA) for a tenant in which data values applicable to a time period earlier than a current time period will be modified, in response to the request, identifying a working subset of data from tenant data in the production database and copying the working subset to a calculation database separate from the production database, performing the PPA, using the working subset in the calculation database, to result in creating and storing a plurality of result data, receiving, while performing the PPA, an additional request using the tenant data in the production database, performing the additional request using the tenant data in the production database while performing the PPA and updating the replay log, after completing the PPA and using the replay log, transferring the plurality of results to the production database.