Distributed Search Index Slot Allocation for Shard Scaling
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Current search engine indexing systems face challenges with shard sizing, leading to decreased query performance when shards grow too large, and dynamic resizing is hindered by extensive resharding, limiting the ability to adjust the number of shards.
Innovation Solution
Implementing a distributed search framework that splits an index into slots based on a slot power value, allowing for dynamic allocation and reallocation of shards to maintain performance and reduce resharding impact, with parameters like minimum and maximum shard sizes to optimize data distribution.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Quantity of substance
If the number of shards is increased to handle larger data volumes, then the storage capacity and scalability are improved, but the query performance deteriorates due to increased data redistribution overhead and complexity
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the index into slots based on a slot power value, creating a hierarchical structure where slots are allocated to shards. This segmentation allows for fine-grained control over data distribution and enables selective resharding of only the affected slots rather than the entire index, thus maintaining query performance while scaling data volume.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces dynamic slot allocation where the slot power value can be adjusted to change the number of slots and their allocation to shards. This dynamic approach allows the system to adapt to changing data volumes and query patterns without requiring complete resharding, thereby maintaining performance while improving scalability.
2Device complexity
If the shard size is increased to reduce the number of shards, then the system complexity is reduced, but the query performance deteriorates when shards exceed optimal size thresholds
Solution Approach 1:
By segmenting the index into slots that can be independently allocated to shards, the system maintains manageable shard sizes even as data volume grows. Each slot represents a manageable unit that can be individually assigned, preventing any single shard from becoming too large and degrading performance.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a new dimension of slot power values that allows control over the granularity of slot allocation. By adjusting the slot power, the system can optimize the balance between the number of slots/shards and their individual sizes, finding an optimal point that reduces complexity while maintaining performance.
3Adaptability or versatility
If the number of shards is changed dynamically, then the scalability is improved, but extensive resharding is required which causes significant data redistribution overhead
Solution Approach 1:
The slot-based segmentation enables incremental resharding where only the slots affected by the shard count change need to be redistributed. Instead of moving entire shards or the complete index, the system can selectively reallocate specific slots to appropriate shards, dramatically reducing data redistribution time while maintaining scalability.
Solution Approach 2:
The system pre-calculates slot allocations based on the desired number of shards using the slot power value. When scaling is needed, the new allocation can be prepared in advance and applied incrementally, reducing the actual data movement time during the scaling operation itself.
4Manufacturing precision
If the slot power value is increased to create more slots, then the allocation precision is improved, but the system complexity increases due to more slots to manage
Solution Approach 1:
The slot power value serves as a single controlling parameter that determines both the number of slots and their allocation characteristics. By adjusting this single parameter, the system can achieve different levels of allocation precision without manually managing each slot, thereby managing complexity through parameterization rather than direct object management.
Data Source
AI summary
Methods and systems for data indexing are disclosed. According to some embodiments, an index is split into a number of slots based on a slot power value. Each of the slots is assigned with a slot number. A first subset of the slots is allocated to a first shard mapped to the index. A second subset of the slots is allocated to a second shard mapped to the index. The first subset and the second subset are respectively allocated to the first shard and the second shard based on a shard-slot mapping.