Stream Processing Operator Speed Synchronization

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Solution Overview

Problem

Stream processing applications face inefficiencies due to bottlenecks caused by uneven processing speeds among operators, which can lead to either lagging or shutdowns, and are unable to dynamically adapt to changes in data flow characteristics during runtime.

Innovation Solution

A system that monitors runtime performance and dynamically adjusts the processing speed of operators within a pipeline to synchronize their speeds, implementing upper and lower limits to maintain optimal data flow and prevent bottlenecks or shutdowns.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If the processing speed of operators is increased to improve productivity, then data transfer velocity increases, but bottlenecks occur when operator speeds are uneven causing system shutdowns

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedata transfer velocityVSAvoidsystem stability

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The system dynamically adjusts the processing speed of individual operators based on real-time performance monitoring. Each operator's speed is made variable rather than fixed, allowing the system to adapt to changing conditions and prevent bottlenecks by slowing down fast operators or speeding up slow operators, thus maintaining both high productivity and system stability

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The system implements continuous monitoring of operator performance metrics and uses this feedback to automatically adjust processing speeds. The feedback loop compares actual operator speeds against target speeds and triggers speed adjustments when deviations are detected, ensuring the pipeline maintains optimal flow without bottlenecks or shutdowns

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

2Productivity

If the processing speed is uniformly increased across all operators, then overall throughput improves, but uneven operator speeds create bottlenecks reducing efficiency

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveoverall throughputVSAvoidpipeline coordination complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

Instead of applying a uniform speed increase to all operators, the system applies localized speed adjustments to individual operators based on their specific performance characteristics. Each operator receives tailored speed control instructions, allowing the pipeline to maintain high throughput while avoiding bottlenecks by addressing each operator's unique processing capabilities

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

Solution Approach 2:

The system changes the processing speed parameter of individual operators dynamically based on monitored performance data. By adjusting this key parameter locally for each operator rather than globally, the system optimizes overall throughput while managing the complexity of coordinating multiple operators with different processing requirements

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

3Productivity

If data enters the pipeline too fast to maximize productivity, then data transfer volume increases, but the stream processing application shuts down due to overwhelming load

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedata transfer volumeVSAvoidapplication continuity

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary speed adjustment on operators before data overload occurs by continuously monitoring pipeline conditions. When the data source is about to overwhelm the pipeline, the system proactively slows down upstream operators or speeds up downstream operators to prevent shutdown, maintaining both high data transfer volume and application continuity

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The system makes the data flow dynamic by continuously adjusting operator speeds in response to real-time pipeline conditions. Rather than maintaining a fixed high-speed data flow that risks overwhelming the system, the flow rate becomes adaptive, increasing productivity while preventing shutdowns through dynamic speed modulation

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Data Source

PatentUS10542086B2Dynamic flow control for stream processing

Publication Date: 2020.01.21 GE DIGITAL HLDG LLC

AI summary

The example embodiments are directed to a system and method for dynamically controlling a flow of a stream processing application. The method may include executing the application which reads data from a data source and writes data to a target destination, and which includes a pipeline of operators which perform different operations on the data, determining a runtime performance of the pipeline of operators included in the stream processing application, and dynamically synchronizing the runtime performance of each of the operators in the pipeline of operators of the stream processing application by changing a processing speed of at least one operator. By changing the speed of the at least one operator a performance of all operators can be synchronized to accommodate dynamic characteristics of the processing environment such as target database conditions, operator processing performance, and the like, which can change during runtime.