Thin Locator Records for Distributed Inventory Query Optimization
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current systems lack efficient methods for selecting alternatives and generating compound price quotes for vehicles, particularly in determining availability and pricing across different geographic regions, which complicates customer purchasing decisions due to varying dealer inventory terms and lack of transparency in available options.
Innovation Solution
A system and method that utilize distributed computing agents to generate thin locator style records for full database records, allowing for standardized query execution and providing complete inventory records to requestors, enabling timely, accurate, and detailed price quotes for alternatives that meet customer specifications.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of information
If complete inventory records are stored and transmitted for all vehicles, then information completeness and accuracy are improved, but data transmission time and system resource consumption increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments inventory records into two types: thin locator records (containing only essential identifiers and location information) and full detailed records (containing complete vehicle specifications and pricing). The system stores only thin records in the distributed database, retrieving full records on-demand when needed, thus reducing routine data transmission while maintaining information completeness when required.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent extracts only the essential locator information (vehicle identifier, dealer location, basic status) from complete inventory records and stores this extracted subset in the distributed database. Full vehicle details, pricing, and specifications are kept separate and retrieved only when a vehicle is selected or queried, eliminating unnecessary data transmission for inventory tracking.
2Adaptability or versatility
If distributed computing agents are deployed across multiple remote systems, then system scalability and coverage are improved, but system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a universal thin record format that can represent any vehicle inventory item across different dealers and regions using the same data structure. This standardized format allows the distributed system to handle diverse inventory data uniformly, simplifying the architecture despite geographic distribution. The same locator record structure works across all remote computing systems without requiring system-specific adaptations.
3Productivity
If thin locator style records are used instead of complete records, then data storage efficiency and query speed are improved, but information detail and completeness deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The patent performs preliminary indexing by creating thin locator records that contain essential search criteria (vehicle type, location, availability status) before actual queries are executed. This preliminary organization allows rapid filtering and selection of candidate vehicles, with detailed information retrieved only for vehicles that pass the initial query filters, optimizing both speed and information completeness.
Data Source
AI summary
Systems and methods of database optimization and distributed computing using thin locator style records are described herein. In some embodiments, a method includes distributing remote agents to a plurality of remote computing systems, generating standardized inventory records received via the remote agents, generating a database of available inventory that comprises complete standardized inventory records, generating thin locator style records for the complete standardized inventory records, the thin locator style records comprising key record identifiers receiving a query, the query comprising a price quote request, generating a standardized query based on the received query; selecting the thin locator style records in response to the standardized query; obtaining the complete standardized inventory records corresponding to the thin locator style records of the key record identifiers included in the price quote request; and providing the complete inventory records to a requestor.