Timestamp Alignment Across Distributed Computing Devices
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Solution Overview
Problem
Timestamps recorded across multiple computing devices are often inconsistent due to network latency and non-synchronized server clocks, leading to inaccurate transaction time evaluations.
Innovation Solution
A method and system for aligning timestamps by creating a data structure that matches identifiers and associates timestamps across multiple servers, using a management server to aggregate transaction fragments and align timestamps based on activity identifiers and communication types, with adjustments for clock misalignments and network latency.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If timestamps are recorded independently on each server, then each server can track its own transaction activities, but the timestamps become inconsistent across multiple servers due to network latency and non-synchronized clocks
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a management server as an intermediary that receives transaction fragments from multiple computing devices, aligns timestamps using activity identifiers and communication types, and creates a unified data structure. This mediator resolves the timestamp inconsistency problem by centralizing the alignment process while preserving the distributed nature of transaction processing.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent segments transactions into transaction fragments that are distributed across multiple computing devices, each maintaining local timestamp records. By dividing the transaction into manageable fragments with activity identifiers, the system enables subsequent alignment of timestamps from different sources while maintaining the benefits of distributed processing.
2Reliability
If a centralized system aligns timestamps from multiple servers, then timestamp consistency is improved, but system complexity increases due to additional processing and coordination requirements
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by embedding activity identifiers and communication type information in transaction fragments before they are processed by the management server. This pre-preparation of alignment data reduces the complexity of the timestamp alignment process, as the management server receives pre-structured information that facilitates automated alignment without requiring complex real-time coordination.
3Loss of information
If transaction fragments are aggregated from multiple sources, then comprehensive transaction tracking is achieved, but data processing time increases due to matching and alignment operations
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the parameter of transaction fragment structure by incorporating activity identifiers and communication type metadata. This parameter change enables efficient matching and alignment operations, as the management server can use these identifiers to quickly correlate fragments from different sources without requiring exhaustive comparison of all transaction data, thereby reducing processing time while maintaining completeness.
Data Source
AI summary
Methods, systems, and computer program products are included for aligning timestamps of activities. A method includes receiving a first entry from a first server, the first entry corresponding to an activity, wherein the first entry includes a first timestamp corresponding to the activity. The method further includes receiving a second entry from a second serve, the second entry including a second entry corresponding to the activity, wherein the second entry includes a second timestamp corresponding to the activity. The method further includes determining an aligned timestamp of the activity by adjusting the first timestamp or the second timestamp by an offset.