Scalable database management system

• US 7,065,526 B2
• Filed: 02/21/2002
• Issued: 06/20/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 02/21/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: QuickBase Inc.
• Original Assignee: Intuit, Inc.
• Inventors: Salem, James C., Wissner, Michael J., Rodgers, Arden L.
• Primary Examiner(s): Wassum, Luke S
• Application Number:
  US10/081,525
• Publication Number:
  US 20030158847A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,580 Days
• Field of Search: 707/1.5, 707/10
• US Class Current: 707/770
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/25 Integrating or interfacing systems involving database management systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/1001 for accessing one among a plurality of replicated servers
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/1008 based on parameters of servers, e.g. available memory or workload monitoring of computer activity G06F11/30
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/1014 based on the content of a request
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/1017 based on a round robin mechanism
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/1036 Load balancing of requests to servers for services different from user content provisioning, e.g. load balancing across domain name servers
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/40 for recovering from a failure of a protocol instance or entity, e.g. service redundancy protocols, protocol state redundancy or protocol service redirection management of faults, events, alarms or notifications in data switching networks H04L41/06

Abstract

A database management system is disclosed. One example provides request handler modules through which users interface with the database management system. A master control module assigns database servers to databases. A request handler module receives a database request from a client and sends a database identifier to the master control module, which determines an assigned database server and returns its location to the request handler module. The request handler module then sends the database request to the assigned database server, which handles the database request. The database management system facilitates the addition of database servers without requiring substantial system reconfiguration. It also facilitates migration of database assignments for improved efficiency or other reasons.

Claims

1. A computer implemented method for handling database requests for client systems over a network, the method comprising:

receiving at a master control module from a request handler a database request of a client;

determining by the master control module an assigned database server for handling the database request from a group of available database servers;

prompting by the master control module the assigned database server to load a database corresponding to the database request;

providing by the master control module information regarding the assigned database server to the request handler for the request handler to directly provide the database request to the assigned database server for handling the database request.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein determining by the master control module the assigned database server for handling the database request from the group of available database servers further comprises:

determining that the database request is a request to create a database;

generating a database identifier for the database; and

mapping the database to the assigned database server using the database identifier.

3. The method of claim 2, further comprising:

receiving by the master control module a subsequent database request containing the database identifier;

using by the master control module the database identifier to determine the assigned database server; and

providing by the master control module the subsequent database request to the assigned database server for handling the subsequent database request.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein determining by the master control module the assigned database server for handling the database request from the group of available database servers further comprises:

responsive to determining that there is no database server assigned to handle the database request,

assigning a selected database server from the group of available database servers as the assigned database server; and

updating a mapping of previously created databases to their respective database servers to include the assignment of the selected database server to the database.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

responsive to a failure in the handling of the database request by the assigned database server,

assigning by the master control module the database request to an alternative database server selected from the group of available database servers; and

providing by the master control module the database request to the alternative database server for handling the database request.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

responsive to an elapsed time for the handling of the database request by the assigned database server exceeding a threshold,

instructing by the master control module the assigned database server to terminate the handling of the database request;

assigning by the master control module the database request to an alternative database server selected from the group of available database servers; and

providing by the master control module the database request to the alternative database server for handling the database request.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

maintaining location information for a plurality of request making clients corresponding to a particular database associated with the database request;

assigning by the master control module the database request to an alternative database server selected from the group of available database servers by analyzing the location information for the plurality of request making clients; and

providing by the master control module the database request to the alternative database server for handling the database request.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein the alternative database server is assigned based upon a determination that a substantial number of the request making clients are located closer to the alternative database server than the assigned database server.

9. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

assigning by the master control module the database request to an alternative database server selected from the group of available database servers, based upon a comparison of a first expected load on the assigned database server and a second expected load on the alternative database server.

10. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

assigning by the master control module the database request to an alternative database server selected from the group of available database servers; and

providing by the master control module the database request to the alternative database server for handling the database request.

11. A system for handling database requests for client systems over a network, the system comprising:

a request handling module for receiving from a client a database request;

a plurality of database servers for receiving and handling database requests; and

a master control module, in direct communication with the request handling module and the plurality of database servers, for receiving the database request from the request handling module, determining an assigned database server from the plurality of database servers for handling the database request, prompting the assigned database server to load a database corresponding to the database request, and providing information regarding the assigned database server to the request handling module for the request handling module to directly provide the database request to the assigned database server.

12. The system of claim 11, wherein the master control module is further adapted to determine the assigned database server from the plurality of database servers by determining that the database request is a request to create a database, generating a database identifier for the database, and mapping the database to the assigned database server using the database identifier.

13. The system of claim 12, wherein the master control module is further adapted to receive a subsequent database request containing the database identifier, use the database identifier to determine the assigned database server, and provide the subsequent database request to the assigned database server for handling the subsequent database request.

14. The system of claim 11, wherein the master control module is further adapted to determine the assigned database server from the plurality of database servers by determining that there is no database server assigned to handle the database request, assigning a selected database server from the plurality of database servers as the assigned database server, and updating a mapping of previously created databases to their respective database servers to include the assignment of the selected database server to the database.

15. The system of claim 11, wherein the master control module is further adapted to respond to a failure in handling the database request by the assigned database server by assigning the database request to an alternative database server selected from the plurality of database servers, and identifying the alternative database server to the request handling module responsive to the database request.

16. The system of claim 11, wherein the master control module is further adapted to assign the database request to an alternative database server selected from the plurality of database servers, and to identify the alternative database server to the request handling module responsive to the database request.

17. The system of claim 11, wherein the request handling module is further adapted to respond to an elapsed time for handling the database request by the assigned database server exceeding a threshold by instructing the assigned database server to terminate the handling of the database request, and wherein the master control module is adapted to then assign the database request to an alternative database server selected from the plurality of database servers.

18. The system of claim 11, wherein the master control module is further adapted to maintain location information for a plurality of request making clients corresponding to a particular database associated with the database request, and to assign the database request to an alternative database server selected from the plurality of database servers by analyzing the location information for the plurality of request making clients.

19. The system of claim 18, wherein the alternative database server is assigned based upon a determination that a substantial number of the request making clients are located closer to the alternative database server than the assigned database server.

20. The system of claim 11, wherein the master control module is further adapted to assign the database request to an alternative database server selected from the plurality of database servers, based upon a comparison of a first expected load on the assigned database server and a second expected load on the alternative database server.

21. A method for handling database requests for client systems over a network, the method comprising:

communicating by a master control module directly with a plurality of database servers, for prompting the database servers to load databases the master control module assigning a previously existing database to an assigned database server selected from the plurality of database servers;

receiving by the master control module a set of information about a database request from a request handler;

determining by the master control module from the set of information that the assigned database server corresponds to the database request; and

sending by the master control module an identification of the assigned database server to the request handler.

22. The method of claim 21, wherein the set of information about the database request includes a database identifier for the previously existing database, and the database identifier is used to determine that the previously existing database corresponds to the assigned database server.

23. The method of claim 21, wherein assigning the databases to the database servers farther comprises:

responsive to determining that the previously existing database is not currently assigned to a database server,

assigning a selected database server from the plurality of database servers as the assigned database server; and

updating a mapping that correlates previously created databases to their respective database servers to include the assignment of the selected database server to the previously existing database.

24. The method of claim 21, further comprising:

assigning by the master control module the database request to an alternative database server selected from the plurality of database servers; and

identifying by the master control module the alternative database server to the request handler.

25. The method of claim 21, further comprising:

maintaining location information for a plurality of request making clients corresponding to the previously existing database; and

assigning by the master control module the database request to an alternative database server selected from the plurality of database servers by analyzing the location information for the plurality of request making clients.

26. The method of claim 25, wherein the alternative database server is assigned based upon a determination that a substantial number of the plurality of request making clients are located closer to the alternative database server than the assigned database server.

27. The method of claim 21, further comprising:

assigning by the master control module the database request to an alternative database server selected from the plurality of database servers, based upon a comparison of a first expected load on the assigned database server and a second expected load on the alternative database server.

28. An apparatus for handling database requests for client systems over a network, the apparatus comprising:

a plurality of database servers;

a database server managing module, adapted to communicate directly with the plurality of database servers, for prompting the database servers to load databases, the database server managing module further adapted to assign a previously existing database to an assigned database server selected from the plurality of database servers and to determine that the assigned database server corresponds to a database request by examining a set of information about the database request; and

a request handler communications module, for receiving the set of information about the database request from a request handler, and sending an identification of the assigned database server to the request handler.

29. The apparatus of claim 28, wherein the set of information about the database request includes a database identifier for the previously existing database, and the database server managing module is further adapted to use the database identifier to determine that the previously existing database corresponds to the assigned database server.

30. The apparatus of claim 28, wherein the database server managing module is further adapted to assign the databases to the database servers by determining that the previously existing database is not currently assigned to a database server, assigning a selected database server from the plurality of database servers as the assigned database server, and updating a set of database identifiers that;

correlate previously created databases to their respective database servers to include the assignment of the selected database server to the previously existing database.

31. The apparatus of claim 28, wherein the database server managing module is further adapted to assign the database request to an alternative database server selected from the plurality of database servers, and wherein the request handler communications module is further adapted to identify the alternative database server to the request handler.

32. The apparatus of claim 28, further comprising:

a database assignment module, in communication with the database server managing module, for maintaining location information for a plurality of request making clients corresponding to a particular database, and assigning the database request to an alternative database server selected from the plurality of database servers by analyzing the location information for the plurality of request making clients.

33. The apparatus of claim 32, wherein the alternative database server is assigned based upon a determination that a substantial number of the request making clients are located closer to the alternative database server than the assigned database server.

34. The apparatus of claim 28, further comprising:

a database assignment module, in communication with the database server managing module, for assigning the database request to an alternative database server selected from the plurality of database servers, based upon a comparison of a first expected load on the assigned database server and a second expected load on the alternative database server.

35. A computer program product for a master control module, for handling database requests for client systems over a network, the computer program product stored on a computer readable medium and adapted to perform operations comprising:

communicating by the master control module directly with a plurality of database servers, for prompting the database servers to load databases the master control module assigning a previously existing database to an assigned database server selected from the plurality of database servers;

receiving by the master control module a set of information about a database request from a request handler;

determining by the master control module from the set of information tat the assigned database server corresponds to the database request; and

sending by the master control module an identification of the assigned database server to the request handler.

36. The computer program product of claim 35, wherein the set of information about the database request includes a database identifier for the previously existing database, and the database identifier is used to determine that the previously existing database corresponds to the assigned database server.

37. The computer program product of claim 35, wherein assigning the databases to the database servers further comprises:

responsive to determining that the previously existing database is not currently assigned to a database server,

assigning a selected database server from the plurality of database servers as the assigned database server; and

updating a persistent set of database identifiers that correlate previously created databases to their respective database servers to include the assignment of the selected database server to the previously existing database.

38. The computer program product of claim 35, wherein the operations further comprise:

assigning by the master control module the database request to an alternative database server selected from the plurality of database servers and

identifying by the master control module the alternative database server to the request handler.

39. The computer program product of claim 35, wherein the operations further comprise:

maintaining Location information for a plurality of request making clients corresponding to the previously existing database; and

assigning by the master control module the database request to an alternative database server selected from the plurality of database servers by analyzing the location information for the plurality of request making clients.

40. The computer program product of claim 39, wherein the alternative database server is assigned based upon a determination that a substantial number of the plurality of request making clients are located closer to the alternative database server than the assigned database server.

41. The computer program product of claim 35, wherein the operations further comprise:

assigning by the master control module the database request to an alternative database server selected from the plurality of database servers, based upon a comparison of a first expected load on the assigned database server and a second expected load on the alternative database server.

42. The computer program product of claim 35, wherein the operations further comprise:

assigning by the master control module the database request to an alternative database server selected from the plurality of database servers based upon a failure in handling the database request by the assigned database server.