System for efficient processing of transaction requests related to an account in a database

• US 10,579,973 B2
• Filed: 01/15/2016
• Issued: 03/03/2020
• Est. Priority Date: 01/19/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Advanced Nova Technologies Holding Pte Limited
• Original Assignee: Alibaba Group Holding Ltd.
• Inventors: Zhu, Chunmao
• Primary Examiner(s): Vyas, Abhishek
• Assistant Examiner(s): Bianco, Dario
• Application Number:
  US14/997,331
• Publication Number:
  US 20160210597A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,509 Days
• Field of Search: None
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/10 specially adapted for electronic funds transfer [EFT] systems; specially adapted for home banking systems
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/26 Debit schemes, e.g. "pay now"
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/3221 Access to banking information through M-devices

Abstract

One embodiment provides a system that facilitates efficient processing of requests related to a database. During operation, the system receives, by a server, a request to transfer an amount in to an account of a user, wherein the account is visible to the user and corresponds to a record in a database. The system selects one of a plurality of shadow accounts that correspond to the account, wherein a shadow account is not visible to the user. The system locks the selected shadow account, which prevents any changes to be made to the corresponding record in the database. The system modifies a balance of the selected shadow account by adding the amount to be transferred in to a current balance of the selected shadow account.

Claims

1. A computer system for efficiently processing requests related to a database, the system comprising:

a processor; and

a memory coupled to the processor and storing instructions, which when executed by the processor causes the processor to perform a method, the method comprising;

determining, by a server, a number of shadow accounts in a plurality of shadow accounts, wherein the plurality of shadow accounts correspond to an account of a user, wherein the number is greater than one and is determined based on an amount of time spent to complete a transaction request on the account of the user, wherein the user account is visible to the user and corresponds to a record in a database, and wherein each shadow account from the plurality of shadow accounts is not visible to the user;

creating the plurality of shadow accounts having the determined number of shadow accounts;

distributing, by the server, an entirety of a balance of the user account to the created plurality of shadow accounts;

receiving, by the server, a request to transfer a first amount into the user account;

selecting one shadow account from the plurality of shadow accounts that correspond to the user account;

locking the selected shadow account, which prevents any concurrent database record changes to be made to a corresponding record for the selected shadow account in the database; and

modifying a balance of the selected shadow account by adding the first amount to a current balance of the selected shadow account,

whereby the system continues to process requests related to the user account based on a remainder of the shadow accounts that correspond to the user account.

2. The computer system of claim 1, wherein the database includes a mapping between the user account and the corresponding shadow accounts.

3. The computer system of claim 1, wherein the method further comprises:

generating a record of the request that indicates the user account, the selected shadow account, and the first amount.

4. The computer system of claim 1, wherein the method further comprises:

unlocking the selected shadow account.

5. A computer system for efficiently processing requests related to a database, the system comprising:

a processor; and

a memory coupled to the processor and storing instructions, which when executed by the processor causes the processor to perform a method, the method comprising;

determining, by a server, a number of shadow accounts in a plurality of shadow accounts, wherein the plurality of shadow accounts correspond to an account of a user, wherein the number is greater than one and is determined based on an amount of time spent to complete a transaction request on the account of the user, wherein the user account is visible to the user and corresponds to a record in a database, and wherein each shadow account from the plurality of shadow accounts is not visible to the user;

creating the plurality of shadow accounts having the determined number of shadow accounts;

distributing, by the server, an entirety of a balance of the user account to the created plurality of shadow accounts;

receiving, by the server, a request to transfer a first amount out of the user account;

selecting one shadow account from the plurality of shadow accounts that correspond to the user account;

locking the selected shadow account, which prevents any concurrent database record changes to be made to a corresponding record for the selected shadow account in the database; and

in response to determining that a balance of the selected shadow account is less than the first amount;

setting a balance of the user account to a first combined balance of the shadow accounts;

setting a balance of each shadow account to zero;

executing the request by one of;

in response to determining that a negative balance is allowed on the user account or that the first combined balance is greater than the first amount, executing the request on the user account; and

prior to executing the request on the selected shadow account, transferring a second amount from the user account to the selected shadow account; and

distributing a third amount equal to an entirety of the balance of the user account from the user account to the shadow accounts,

whereby the system continues to process requests related to the user account based on a remainder of the shadow accounts that correspond to the user account.

6. The computer system of claim 5, wherein the database includes a mapping between the user account and the corresponding shadow accounts.

7. The computer system of claim 5, wherein executing the request on the user account further comprises:

unlocking the selected shadow account;

locking the user account; and

modifying the balance on the user account by subtracting the first amount from a current balance of the user account.

8. The computer system of claim 5, wherein executing the request on the selected shadow account further comprises:

wherein the second amount is of a value greater than or equal to the first amount,

modifying the balance on the selected shadow account by subtracting the first amount from a current balance of the selected shadow account.

9. The computer system of claim 5, wherein the method further comprises:

generating a record of the request that indicates the user account, the selected shadow account, and the first amount.

10. The computer system of claim 5, wherein in response to determining that a balance of the selected shadow account is not less than the first amount, the method further comprises:

modifying the balance on the selected shadow account by subtracting the first amount from a current balance of the selected shadow account.

11. The computer system of claim 5, wherein distributing the third amount or the entirety of the balance of the user account is based on one or more of:

a random distribution of the third amount or the entirety of the balance of the user account from the user account to the shadow accounts;

an equal distribution of the third amount or the entirety of the balance of the user account from the user account to the shadow accounts, wherein an amount distributed into each of the shadow accounts is based on an average of the third amount or the entirety of the balance of the user account divided by the determined number of shadow accounts; and

a predetermined rule for distributing the third amount or the entirety of the balance of the user account from the user account to the shadow accounts.

12. The computer system of claim 5, wherein the database includes one or more of:

an account number that corresponds to the user account;

a balance that indicates a current balance of the user account;

an account creation time that indicates when the user account was created;

an account modification time that indicates when the user account was last modified; and

a flag that indicates if a given account is a shadow account.

13. A computer system for efficiently processing requests related to a database, the system comprising:

a processor; and

a memory coupled to the processor and storing instructions, which when executed by the processor causes the processor to perform a method, the method comprising;

determining, by a server, a number of shadow accounts in a plurality of shadow accounts, wherein the plurality of shadow accounts correspond to an account of a user, wherein the number is greater than one and is determined based on an amount of time spent to complete a transaction request on the account of the user, wherein the user account is visible to the user and corresponds to a record in a database, and wherein each shadow account from the plurality of shadow accounts is not visible to the user;

creating the plurality of shadow accounts having the determined number of shadow accounts;

distributing, by the server, an entirety of a balance of the user account to the created plurality of shadow accounts;

receiving, by the server, a request to transfer a first amount out of the user account;

selecting one shadow account from the plurality of shadow accounts that correspond to the user account;

locking the selected shadow account, which prevents any concurrent database record changes to be made to a corresponding record for the selected shadow account in the database; and

in response to identifying no shadow accounts with a balance greater than or equal to the first amount;

setting a balance of the user account to a first combined balance of the shadow accounts;

setting a balance of each shadow account to zero;

executing the request by one of;

in response to determining that a negative balance is allowed on the user account or that the first combined balance is greater than the first amount, executing the request on the user account; and

prior to executing the request on the selected shadow account, transferring a second amount from the user account to the selected shadow account; and

distributing a third amount equal to an entirety of the balance of the user account from the user account to the created plurality of shadow accounts,

whereby the system continues to process requests related to the user account based on a remainder of the plurality of shadow accounts that correspond to the user account.

14. The computer system of claim 13, wherein the database includes a mapping between the user account and the corresponding shadow accounts.

15. The computer system of claim 13, wherein executing the request on the user account further comprises:

locking the user account; and

modifying the balance on the user account by subtracting the first amount from a current balance of the user account.

16. The computer system of claim 13, wherein executing the request on the selected shadow account further comprises:

selecting the shadow account to which the second amount is transferred, wherein the second amount is of a value greater than or equal to the first amount; and

modifying the balance on the selected shadow account by subtracting the first amount from a current balance of the selected shadow account.

17. The computer system of claim 13, wherein the method further comprises:

generating a record of the request that indicates one or more of the user account, the selected shadow account, and the first amount.

18. The computer system of claim 13, wherein in response to identifying one or more shadow accounts with a balance greater than or equal to the first amount:

selecting one of the identified shadow accounts;

locking the selected shadow account, which prevents any concurrent database record changes to be made to the corresponding record in the database; and

modifying the balance on the selected shadow account by subtracting the first amount from a current balance of the selected shadow account.

19. The computer system of claim 13, wherein distributing the third amount or the entirety of the balance of the user account is based on one or more of:

a random distribution of the third amount or the entirety of the balance of the user account from the user account to the shadow accounts;

an equal distribution of the third amount or the entirety of the balance of the user account from the user account to the shadow accounts, wherein an amount distributed into each of the shadow accounts is based on an average of the third amount or the entirety of the balance of the user account divided by the determined number of shadow accounts; and

a predetermined rule for distributing the third amount or the entirety of the balance of the user account from the user account to the shadow accounts.

20. The computer system of claim 13, wherein the database includes one or more of:

an account number that corresponds to the user account;

a balance that indicates a current balance of the user account;

an account creation time that indicates when the user account was created;

an account modification time that indicates when the user account was last modified; and

a flag that indicates if a given account is a shadow account.

21. A computer-implemented method for efficiently processing requests related to a database, the method comprising:

determining, by a server, a number of shadow accounts in a plurality of shadow accounts, wherein the plurality of shadow accounts correspond to an account of a user, wherein the number is greater than one and is determined based on an amount of time spent to complete a transaction request on the account of the user, wherein the user account is visible to the user and corresponds to a record in a database, and wherein each shadow account from the plurality of shadow accounts is not visible to the user;

creating the plurality of shadow accounts having the determined number of shadow accounts;

distributing, by the server, an entirety of a balance of the user account to the created plurality of shadow accounts;

receiving, by the server, a request to transfer a first amount into the user account;

selecting one shadow account from the plurality of shadow accounts that correspond to the user account;

locking the selected shadow account, which prevents any concurrent database record changes to be made to a corresponding record for the selected shadow account in the database;

modifying a balance of the selected shadow account by adding the first amount to a current balance of the selected shadow account,

whereby the server continues to process requests related to the user account based on a remainder of the shadow accounts that correspond to the user account.

22. A computer-implemented method for efficiently processing requests related to a database, the method comprising:

determining, by a server, a number of shadow accounts in a plurality of shadow accounts, wherein the plurality of shadow accounts correspond to an account of a user, wherein the number is greater than one and is determined based on an amount of time spent to complete a transaction request on the account of the user, wherein the user account is visible to the user and corresponds to a record in a database, and wherein each shadow account from the plurality of shadow accounts is not visible to the user;

creating the plurality of shadow accounts having the determined number of shadow accounts;

distributing, by the server, an entirety of a balance of the user account to the created plurality of shadow accounts;

receiving, by the server, a request to transfer a first amount out of the user account;

selecting one shadow account from the plurality of shadow accounts that correspond to the user account;

locking the selected shadow account, which prevents any concurrent database changes to be made to a corresponding record for the selected shadow account in the database; and

in response to determining that a balance of the selected shadow account is less than the first amount;

setting a balance of the user account to a first combined balance of the shadow accounts;

setting a balance of each shadow account to zero;

executing the request by one of;

in response to determining that a negative balance is allowed on the user account or that the first combined balance is greater than the first amount, executing the request on the user account; and

prior to executing the request on the selected shadow account, transferring a second amount from the user account to the selected shadow account; and

distributing a third amount equal to an entirety of the balance of the user account from the user account to the shadow accounts,

whereby the server continues to process requests related to the user account based on a remainder of the shadow accounts that correspond to the user account.

23. The method of claim 22, wherein executing the request on the user account further comprises:

unlocking the selected shadow account;

locking the user account; and

modifying the balance on the user account by subtracting the first amount from a current balance of the user account.

24. The method of claim 22, wherein executing the request on the selected shadow account further comprises:

wherein the second amount is of a value greater than or equal to the first amount,

modifying the balance on the selected shadow account by subtracting the first amount from a current balance of the selected shadow account.

25. A computer-implemented method for efficiently processing requests related to a database, the method comprising:

determining, by a server, a number of shadow accounts in a plurality of shadow accounts, wherein the plurality of shadow accounts correspond to an account of a user, wherein the number is greater than one and is determined based on an amount of time spent to complete a transaction request on the account of the user, wherein the user account is visible to the user and corresponds to a record in a database, and wherein each shadow account from the plurality of shadow accounts is not visible to the user;

creating the plurality of shadow accounts having the determined number of shadow accounts;

distributing, by the server, an entirety of a balance of the user account to the created plurality of shadow accounts;

receiving, by the server, a request to transfer a first amount out of the user account;

selecting one shadow account from the plurality of shadow accounts that correspond to the user account;

locking the selected shadow account, which prevents any concurrent database record changes to be made to a corresponding record for the selected shadow account in the database; and

in response to identifying no shadow accounts with a balance greater than or equal to the first amount;

setting a balance of the user account to a first combined balance of the shadow accounts;

setting a balance of each shadow account to zero;

executing the request by one of;

in response to determining that a negative balance is allowed on the user account or that the first combined balance is greater than the first amount, executing the request on the user account; and

prior to executing the request on the selected shadow account, transferring a second amount from the user account to the selected shadow account; and

distributing a third amount equal to an entirety of the balance of the user account from the user account to the created plurality of shadow accounts,

whereby the server continues to process requests related to the user account based on a remainder of the shadow accounts that correspond to the user account.

26. The method of claim 25, wherein executing the request on the user account further comprises:

locking the user account; and

modifying the balance on the user account by subtracting the first amount from a current balance of the user account.

27. The method of claim 25, wherein executing the request on the selected shadow account further comprises:

selecting the shadow account to which the second amount is transferred;

wherein the second amount is of a value greater than or equal to the first amount; and

modifying the balance on the selected shadow account by subtracting the first amount from a current balance of the selected shadow account.

28. The method of claim 25, wherein in response to identifying one or more shadow accounts with a balance greater than or equal to the first amount:

selecting one of the identified shadow accounts;

locking the selected shadow account, which prevents any concurrent database record changes to be made to the corresponding record in the database; and

modifying the balance on the selected shadow account by subtracting the first amount from a current balance of the selected shadow account.