Semantic Data Store Temporal Binding for Past State Queries
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Solution Overview
Problem
Graph-based data stores fail to maintain and query information about the lifetimes of facts, leading to invalidated or incomplete query results over time, as changes in the data are not effectively tracked or supported, especially after facts are 'deleted'.
Innovation Solution
Implementing a semantic data store that maintains lifetime information for facts, even after logical deletion, using valid-from and valid-to time values, allowing for time-specific queries and preserving records to ensure consistent query results across different times.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Quantity of substance
If facts are physically deleted from the semantic store, then storage space is freed and data is cleaned, but query results become invalidated and incomplete
Solution Approach 1:
The patent creates a copy of the deleted fact record with a valid-to timestamp set to the deletion time. This copy is stored in the same table but marked as invalid through the timestamp range. The copy preserves the fact's data for historical queries while the original active record is removed from current view, thus maintaining query reliability without permanently occupying storage space.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces dynamic validity tracking through valid-from and valid-to timestamp columns. Facts transition from active (unbounded valid-to) to invalid (bounded valid-to) states based on deletion events. This dynamic state management allows the system to distinguish between currently valid facts and historically valid but now-deleted facts, resolving the contradiction between data cleanup and query reliability.
2Reliability
If facts are logically deleted, then data integrity is maintained, but query results at different times may not be identical
Solution Approach 1:
The patent performs preliminary action by capturing the deletion event and immediately creating an invalid fact record with the valid-to timestamp set to the deletion time. This preliminary capture ensures that when queries are executed at any future time, the system can reconstruct the state of facts as they were at the query time, guaranteeing result consistency while maintaining data integrity through the logical deletion process.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements feedback by tracking the deletion event and recording it in the fact table with appropriate timestamp boundaries. This feedback mechanism allows the system to remember what changes occurred and use that information to ensure queries reflect the correct historical state, thereby maintaining both data integrity and query result consistency across different execution times.
3Measurement precision
If lifetime information is maintained for deleted facts, then temporal queries become accurate, but storage requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies discarding and recovering by discarding the active status of deleted facts (removing them from current view) while recovering their historical information through the creation of invalid fact records with timestamp boundaries. The lifetime information is recovered and stored in the same table structure, enabling accurate temporal queries without requiring separate storage for historical data, thus balancing precision with storage efficiency.
Data Source
AI summary
Described are techniques to facilitate temporal features in a semantic data store. Information about lifetimes of facts in a semantic store is maintained. Even when a fact is logically deleted, a physical record is kept available. The record of a logically deleted or invalid fact has associated lifetime information. For example, valid-from and valid-to time values. The record of a fact not yet deleted may have a valid-from time value indicating when it was created, became valid, etc. Queries against the semantic store may specify a timeslice (a point in time or a time range). The lifetime information can be used to satisfy such time-specific queries. Because records are maintained after they are logically deleted, it is also possible to accurately query a past state of the semantic store. Even if such a query is run at different times, same results may be obtained.