Method and system for broadcasting and querying a database using a multi-function module

• US 5,530,939 A
• Filed: 09/29/1994
• Issued: 06/25/1996
• Est. Priority Date: 09/29/1994
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: TTI Inventions C LLC (Intellectual Ventures LLC)
• Original Assignee: Bell Communications Research, Inc. (Telefonaktiebolaget LM Ericsson)
• Inventors: Raitaz, John E., Mansfield, William H. Jr.
• Primary Examiner(s): Black, Thomas G.
• Assistant Examiner(s): HOMERE, JEAN RAYMOND
• Application Number:
  US08/314,757
• Time in Patent Office: 635 Days
• Field of Search: 395/600, 364/DIG. 1
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/2456 Join operations
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/28 Databases characterised by their database models, e.g. relational or object models
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99952 Coherency, e.g. same view to multiple users
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99953 Recoverability

Abstract

A broadcast database system module (300) is disclosed having a processor (310) and a memory subsystem (320). The processor (310) and memory subsystem (320) of the broadcast database system module (300) can cooperate to provide all functions of a broadcast database system (200, 400) such as the pump function, data filter function, database mirror function, snapshot function, etc. The memory subsystem (320) can transfer attribute information of broadcasted tuples to the processor (310) and the processor (310) can execute queries against the attribute information of tuples. Alternatively or additionally, the memory subsystem (320) stores all or part of a database and broadcasts all or part of this database information stored therein. Likewise, the processor (310) can maintain a database stored in the memory subsystem (320) according to instructions to add information to, delete information from, or modify information in, the database.

Claims

1. A multi-function database system module for broadcasting database tuples containing attribute information, for maintaining a local copy of such tuples, and for executing queries with respect to such tuples, said module comprising:

a memory subsystem including means for receiving information from a source external to said module, storage means including a buffer memory and a storage memory for storing a local copy of such information, and means for broadcasting such information from said storage means both within the module and external to the module, and

a processor for executing queries directed to such information in said memory system and for determining the function to be performed by the module in response to such queries and wherein

said memory subsystem further comprises

first and second ports connected to said processor, said first and second ports for transferring attribute information to said processor, said second port also receiving said attribute information outputted from said processor,

a third port for receiving externally broadcasted tuples and for transmitting tuples broadcasted from said memory subsystem; and

a local memory which is connected to said second port, for storing information outputted from said processor, and wherein

said storage memory is a first dual port memory connected to said second port and to said third port, for storing tuples and for broadcasting said stored tuples, and

said buffer memory is a second dual port memory connected to said second port and to said third port, for receiving attribute information of said externally broadcasted tuples and said tuples broadcasted from said first dual port memory, and for transferring at least part of the received attribute information to said processor.

2. A multi-function database system module for broadcasting database tuples containing attribute information, for maintaining a local copy of such tuples, and for executing queries with respect to such tuples, said module comprising:

a memory subsystem including means for receiving information from a source external to said module, storage means including a buffer memory and a storage memory for storing a local copy of such information, and means for broadcasting such information from said storage means both within the module and external to the module, and

a processor for executing queries directed to such information in said memory system and for determining the function to be performed by the module in response to such queries and wherein

said memory system further comprises

first and second ports connected to said processor, said first and second ports for transferring attribute information to said processor, said second port also receiving said attribute information outputted from said processor,

a third port for receiving externally broadcasted tuples and for transmitting tuples broadcasted from said memory subsystem, and

loading logic for controlling the receipt of attribute information into said buffer memory in response to said processor, and wherein

said storage memory is a first dual port memory connected to said second port and to said third port, for storing tuples and for broadcasting said stored tuples, and

said buffer memory is a second dual port memory connected to said second port and to said third port, for receiving attribute information of said externally broadcasted tuples and said tuples broadcasted from said first dual port memory, and for transferring at least part of the received attribute information to said processors.

3. The multi-function database system module of claim 2 wherein said loading logic measures characteristics of the transfer and receipt of said attribute information.

4. A multi-function database system module for broadcasting database tuples containing attribute information, for maintaining a local copy of such tuples, and for executing queries with respect to such tuples, said multi-function module comprising:

a memory subsystem including means for receiving information from a source external to said module, storage means including a buffer memory and a storage memory for storing a local copy of such information, and means for broadcasting such information from said storage means both within the module and external to the module,

a processor for executing queries directed to such information in said memory system and for determining which of possible multiple functions is to be performed by the module in response to such queries, and

a sequencer connected to said processor and said memory subsystem for causing said memory subsystem to broadcast tuples from, and to store externally broadcasted tuples in, said memory subsystem in response to instructions received from said processor.

5. The multi-function database system module of claim 4 wherein said memory subsystem further comprises loading logic for measuring characteristics of a transfer of attribute information of tuples broadcasted from said memory subsystem to said processor and for transmitting a signal to said sequencer depending on the measured characteristics for adjusting the rate at which said tuples are broadcasted.

6. A broadcast database system module comprising:

a processor for executing queries against attribute information of broadcasted tuples, and

a memory subsystem for transferring said attribute information of said broadcasted tuples to said processor,

said memory subsystem including means for decoupling the time intervals during which said tuples are broadcasted from the per tuple query execution time of said processor, and

wherein said memory subsystem receives each of said broadcasted tuples in fixed length time intervals and transfers attribute information of said tuples to said processor in variable length time intervals, said variable length time intervals being on average less than or equal to said fixed length time intervals.

7. A broadcast database system comprising:

a shared distribution medium, and

a plurality of multi-function broadcast database system modules connected to said shared distribution medium, each of said multi-function broadcast database system modules comprising

a processor, and

a memory subsystem for transferring attribute information of broadcasted tuples to said processor, said memory subsystem including means for storing a copy of one or more of said broadcasted tuples and for cyclically broadcasting particular ones of the stored tuples, and

wherein at least one of said broadcast database system modules is a pump module and at least one of said broadcast database system modules is a database mirror module, wherein said tuples broadcasted from said at least one pump module are received at said memory system of said at least one database mirror module and wherein said memory subsystem of said at least one database mirror module includes storing means for maintaining an up-to-date copy of the broadcasted tuples, said memory subsystem of said at least one base mirror module broadcasting said tuples of said copy if said at least one pump module fails.

8. A broadcast database system comprising:

a shared distribution medium, and

a plurality of multi-function broadcast database system modules connected to said shared distribution medium, each of said multi-function broadcast database system modules comprising

a processor, and

a memory subsystem for transferring attribute information of broadcasted tuples to said processor, said memory subsystem including means for storing a copy of one or more of said broadcasted tuples and for cyclically broadcasting particular ones of the stored tuples, and

wherein at least one of said broadcast database system modules is a pump module and at least one of said broadcast database system modules is a data access manager module, wherein said tuples broadcasted from said at least one pump module are received at said one at least data access manager module, wherein said processor of said database access manager module executes queries against attribute information of said broadcasted tuples transferred from said memory subsystem of said database access manager module, and wherein the memory subsystem of said at least one data access manager module includes means for receiving and storing a snapshot of at least part of the tuples broadcasted thereto and means for locally broadcasting said snapshot within said memory system of said database access manager module.

9. A multi-function database system module comprising:

processing means for executing queries against attribute information of tuples, when said module functions as a data access manager, for maintaining a database, when said module functions as a pump, and for determining the function to be performed by said module, and

memory means for storing said database maintained by said processing means and for cyclically broadcasting tuples of said stored database, when said module functions as a pump, and for transferring attribute information of broadcasted tuples to said processing means when said module functions as a data access manager,

said memory means further comprising means for decoupling the fixed length time intervals in which said tuples are broadcasted from the per tuple query execution time of said processing means.

10. A method of operating a multi-function database system module to execute queries, said module including a memory subsystem and a processor, said method comprising the steps of:

using said processor, partitioning broadcasted tuples into sets by hashing a key attribute for each tuple,

using said memory subsystem, transferring attribute information of said broadcasted tuples to said processor,

using said processor, executing a query against attribute information of the partitioned broadcasted tuples, and

using said processor, determining from said hashed key attribute value whether or not to execute a trigger procedure.

11. A multi-function database system module for broadcasting database tuples containing attribute information, for maintaining a local copy of such tuples, and for executing queries with respect to such tuples to perform one or more of a pump function, a data filter function, a database mirror function, and a snapshot function, said module comprising:

a memory subsystem including means for receiving information from a source external to said module, storage means including a buffer memory and a storage memory for storing a local copy of said information, and means for broadcasting such information from said storage means both within the module and external to the module, and

a processor for executing queries directed to such information in said memory system and for determining which of said functions is to be performed by the module in response to such queries,

said memory means further comprising means for decoupling the fixed length time intervals in which said tuples are broadcast from the per tuple query execution time of said processor.

12. A method of operating a multi-function database system module to execute queries, said module including a memory subsystem and a processor, said method comprising the steps of:

using said processor, partitioning broadcasted tuples into sets by hashing a key attribute for each tuple,

using said memory subsystem, transferring attribute information of said broadcasted tuples to said processor, and

using said processor, executing a query against attribute information of the partitioned, broadcasted tuples, and

wherein said query is a join operation and said step of partitioning said tuples into sets by hashing occurs during a first pass, the method further comprising

using said processor, selecting attribute information of said tuples partitioned and into said sets of a resultant joined relation during a second pass.