UTC Data Storage with Time Zone Map Table
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current computing systems face inefficiencies in processing and storing time zone-based data, requiring significant manual intervention and resource burdens due to redundant information and complex data conversions, especially with factors like Daylight Saving Time (DST) and varying time zone applications.
Innovation Solution
Implementing a data management paradigm that stores both detail and aggregate data in Coordinated Universal Time (UTC) and converts it to any other time zone using a time zone map table, reducing storage and processing demands by utilizing a TIMEZONEKEY, DATEKEY, INTERVALKEY, and UTCDATEKEY to facilitate efficient data access and reporting.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If all time zones are stored in a single record, then data storage is simplified, but storage demand increases significantly for data that is rarely accessed
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts only the essential time zone identification element (time zone key) from complete time zone data, storing merely the reference identifier in each record while keeping the full time zone definitions in a separate lookup table. This extraction approach simplifies the main data structure while minimizing storage demand for rarely accessed time zone information.
2Quantity of substance
If data is stored in a designated time zone such as UTC, then storage efficiency improves, but processor burden increases due to conversion requirements
Solution Approach 1:
The patent performs preliminary action by pre-calculating and pre-storing conversion relationships between UTC and various time zones in a lookup table during system initialization or data loading. This preliminary preparation eliminates the need for complex real-time conversion calculations during data processing, thereby reducing processor burden while maintaining storage efficiency.
3Ease of operation
If data is stored with redundant information to accommodate time zone variations, then data accessibility improves, but processing resources are burdened
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a time zone key as an intermediary element that links data records to their corresponding time zone definitions. Instead of storing redundant time zone information directly in each record or performing complex real-time conversions, the time zone key serves as a mediator that enables efficient data accessibility while minimizing processing resource consumption through simple lookup operations.
4Measurement precision
If manual intervention is used to update data for time zone changes, then data accuracy is maintained, but operational efficiency decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements self-service by enabling the system to automatically update and manage time zone information through programmatic access to the time zone lookup table. Instead of requiring manual DBA intervention for each time zone change or daylight saving time adjustment, the system can self-update by loading new time zone data from external sources or generating conversions algorithmically, thereby maintaining data accuracy while dramatically improving operational efficiency.
Data Source
AI summary
Even with modern high-speed processors and bandwidth, many systems implement intensive data reporting components that tax resources. Even very small improvements in reporting efficiencies can result in significant cost and resource savings, as well as improvements in the performance of such resources. Recording facts (e.g., events) with a standardized time and time interval based upon a universal reference, such as Coordinated Universal Time (UTC), and reporting based upon local time and local intervals improves data processing throughput with limited report granularity. For example, since forty-eight intervals comprise most of the world's time zones, reports simply designating facts as occurring within one of the forty-eight intervals and one of the thirty-minute intervals greatly improves operability and throughput.