Time-Stamped Data Versioning for Point-In-Time Retrieval
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing data storage systems lack the capability to efficiently manage and retrieve point-in-time data without restoring the entire dataset, limiting the ability to run analytical workloads directly on historical data.
Innovation Solution
A data processing system that stores incremental data versions with associated time information, allowing users to create, manage, and merge data versions, and accept writes to point-in-time data, while maintaining metadata to track dependencies and support pruning of unnecessary branches.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of time
If traditional data storage systems are used to store and retrieve historical data versions, then the entire dataset must be restored to access point-in-time data, but this process consumes excessive time and computational resources
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the data storage system into immutable committed data versions and mutable candidate data versions. This segmentation allows the system to store historical data in discrete, time-stamped versions that can be directly accessed without restoring the entire dataset, thereby reducing data retrieval time and enabling efficient analytical workloads on historical data.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent performs preliminary actions by pre-establishing the dependency relationships between data versions and organizing them in an immutable structure. This preliminary organization allows the system to directly retrieve specific point-in-time data versions without needing to process or restore subsequent versions, significantly reducing retrieval time.
2Adaptability or versatility
If revision control systems are used to track changes to files, then all versions of files are maintained and can be retrieved, but the system complexity and storage requirements increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces dynamic elements by allowing candidate data versions to be created, modified, and merged with committed versions. This dynamic structure enables flexible data version management where the system can adapt to different retrieval needs by selecting from multiple candidate versions before committing a new version, thereby maintaining versatility while managing complexity through structured dynamics.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces candidate data versions as intermediaries between the immutable committed versions and new data modifications. These candidate versions serve as a buffer that allows the system to evaluate and manage changes before permanently committing them, simplifying the overall system structure by providing a clear separation between stable historical data and evolving current data.
3Loss of time
If incremental data versions are stored with metadata tracking dependencies, then data retrieval efficiency is improved, but the metadata management and storage overhead increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts only the essential dependency information into metadata, storing specifically the version identifier and dependency relationships needed for efficient retrieval. By taking out only the critical metadata elements rather than storing complete data copies or extensive version histories, the system achieves fast retrieval while minimizing metadata storage overhead.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses lightweight copying of dependency metadata rather than copying entire data versions. Each data version stores only the necessary pointer or reference information to its parent version, enabling the system to reconstruct or retrieve data versions efficiently without duplicating the actual data content, thereby reducing metadata storage volume while maintaining retrieval speed.
Data Source
AI summary
Embodiments disclosed herein provide systems, methods, and computer readable media to enhance the organization, storage, and retrieval of data. In a particular embodiment, a method provides storing a plurality of incremental data versions in a data repository and maintaining first time information for data items in each of the incremental data versions. The method further provides identifying a first data version of the plurality of incremental data versions and writing data in the data repository to create a second data version based the first data version. The method then provides second time information associated with the creation of the second data and creation of the first data version.