Token-Based Transaction Manager Discovery
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Solution Overview
Problem
Distributed transaction management systems face performance overhead due to increased storage requirements and linear execution time, particularly in commit tree protocols where all transaction managers need to be registered and communicate serially, leading to inefficiencies even in local transactions.
Innovation Solution
A method for discovering and managing transaction managers that limits participation to only those necessary, using a token-based system where local transaction managers register with a distributed transaction manager and create tokens to identify the originator, allowing for autonomous propagation and engagement of distributed transaction managers only when needed, thereby reducing unnecessary communication and storage overhead.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If all transaction managers are registered and communicate serially in a commit tree protocol, then transaction atomicity and coordination are ensured, but storage overhead and linear execution time increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the essential coordination function from the full commit tree protocol by introducing a token-based mechanism. Instead of all transaction managers participating in every transaction, only the necessary participants join the coordination process through token propagation, reducing storage overhead while maintaining atomicity for active transactions
Solution Approach 2:
The patent segments the transaction manager hierarchy into local and distributed roles. Local transaction managers handle transactions independently using tokens, while distributed transaction managers coordinate across machines. This segmentation allows selective participation and reduces the complexity of full commit tree protocols
2Reliability
If all transaction managers communicate serially in a commit tree protocol, then transaction coordination is comprehensive, but linear execution time increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces dynamic participation in transaction coordination. Instead of fixed serial communication among all transaction managers, the system dynamically activates only the necessary participants through token propagation. This allows local transactions to proceed quickly without waiting for distant transaction managers, reducing execution time while maintaining coordination where needed
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements preliminary token generation and caching by local transaction managers. Tokens are prepared in advance and cached locally, allowing immediate propagation to relevant transaction managers without waiting for centralized coordination, thereby reducing the time required for transaction coordination
3Extent of automation
If a distributed transaction manager manages all transactions including local ones, then centralized control is maintained, but performance penalty increases due to unnecessary involvement
Solution Approach 1:
The patent enables local transaction managers to autonomously manage local transactions using cached tokens without requiring continuous involvement of the distributed transaction manager. Local transaction managers self-coordinate through token propagation to relevant participants, maintaining performance while the distributed transaction manager provides centralized control only when necessary for cross-machine transactions
Data Source
AI summary
Discovering transaction managers participating in a transaction. A method may be practiced, for example, in a commit tree topology including a number of transaction managers to manage transactions. The transactions include a set of operations that are all performed if a transaction is completed or all aborted if a transaction is not completed. The transaction managers store transaction result information to allow recovery of a transaction in case of system failure. The method includes receiving at a first transaction manager, a token from a second transaction manager on a machine external to the first transaction manager. The token specifies that the first transaction manager is the originator of the token. The token is associated with a transaction. The first transaction manager identifies that it has not previously participated in the transaction associated with the token. A transaction manager is identified that is participating in the transaction associated with the token.