Apparatus and method for a distributed storage global database

• US 7,890,463 B2
• Filed: 09/24/2007
• Issued: 02/15/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 09/28/2006
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Northend Networks Ltd.
• Original Assignee: XEROUND INC., XEROUND SYSTEMS LTD. (XEROUND INC.)
• Inventors: Romem, Yaniv, Zlotkin, Gilad, Gilderman, Ilia, Vigder, Avi
• Primary Examiner(s): Fleurantin, Jean B
• Application Number:
  US11/902,629
• Publication Number:
  US 20090070337A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,240 Days
• Field of Search: 707 1- 10, 707100-1041, 707200-206, 711/1, 711/100, 711/111, 711150-152, 711/169, 709/203, 709/217, 709/219, 709/225
• US Class Current: 707/636
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/24539 using cached or materialised query results
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/27 Replication, distribution or synchronisation of data between databases or within a distributed database system; Distributed database system architectures therefor

Abstract

A geographically distributed storage system for managing the distribution of data elements wherein requests for given data elements incur a geographic inertia. The geographically distributed storage system comprises geographically distributed sites, each comprises a site storage unit for locally storing a portion of a globally coherent distributed database that includes the data elements and a local access point for receiving requests relating to ones of the data elements. The and geographically distributed storage system comprises a data management module for forwarding at least one requested data element to the local access point at a first of the geographically distributed sites from which the request is received and storing the at least one requested data element at the first site, thereby to provide local accessibility to the data element for future requests from the first site while maintaining the globally coherency of the distributed database.

Claims

1. A geographically distributed storage system for managing the distribution of a plurality of data elements as a global database coherently distributed over a plurality of sites, comprising:

a plurality of geographically distributed sites, each comprising a site storage unit configured for locally storing a portion of said globally coherent distributed database comprising the plurality of data elements, such that respectively stored portions form said global database and a local access point configured for receiving requests relating to any of the plurality of data elements wherever located on said distributed global database; and

a data management module configured for forwarding requested data elements from respective portions of said global database at which said requested elements are stored to the local access point, said forwarding of said element being to a requesting one of said plurality of geographically distributed sites, from which said request from said access point is received, and storing said at least one requested data element at said requesting site, thereby to provide local accessibility to any given data element for future requests from said requesting site when a same element is requested a second time, while maintaining the global coherency of said globally coherent distributed database,

wherein each said site storage unit comprises a global storage device of a dynamic storage sub-system, said dynamic storage sub-system being configured for storing at least a unified database comprising a replica of each said data element, and wherein each said data element comprises a tag indicative of one of said storage sub-systems, an access right to each said data element is exclusively granted to a respectively indicated sub-system.

2. The geographically distributed storage system of claim 1, wherein each said site storage unit comprises a local storage sub-system configured for locally storing respective said portion.

3. The geographically distributed storage system of claim 2, wherein said plurality of data elements comprises a cluster of frequently requested data elements, each said local storage sub-system being configured for caching said cluster.

4. The geographically distributed storage system of claim 2, wherein each said local storage sub-system is configured for receiving a plurality of requests such as said request;

further comprising a statistic module configured for updating said locally stored data elements according to a statistical analysis of said plurality of requests.

5. The geographically distributed storage system of claim 1, wherein said data management module is configured for forwarding said at least one requested data element while maintaining a predefined atomicity, consistency, isolation, and durability (ACID) level of said globally coherent distributed database.

6. The geographically distributed storage system of claim 1, wherein said at least one requested data element is replied without communication latency to at least one subsequent request following said request.

7. The geographically distributed storage system of claim 1, wherein said unified database backing up one said plurality of elements of each said local storage sub-system.

8. The geographically distributed storage system of claim 1, wherein said access right comprises one member of the group consisting of:

read, write, edit, lock, and replicate.

9. The geographically distributed storage system of claim 1, wherein said sites are respectively remotely located thereby to ensure a geography-based resilience.

10. The geographically distributed storage system of claim 1, wherein said local access point is configured for receiving a request for a cluster comprising data elements from said plurality of data elements, said data management module being configured for forwarding said cluster to the local access point at a first of said plurality of geographically distributed sites from which said request is received.

11. The geographically distributed storage system of claim 10, wherein at least some of said data elements are associated with respective entity identifiers, each member of said cluster having a common entity identifier.

12. The geographically distributed storage system of claim 10, wherein at least some of said data elements are associated with a plurality of criteria, said request being for ones of said plurality of data elements which fulfill at least one of said criteria.

13. The geographically distributed storage system of claim 1, wherein each said access point is configured for interfacing with a roaming management system, each said data element stores information needed for providing roaming services.

14. The geographically distributed storage system of claim 1, further comprising a blocking module having a list of blocked data elements, said blocking module being configured for preventing said local access point points from providing said at least one requested data element.

15. The geographically distributed storage system of claim 1, wherein each said local storage sub-system is configured for restoring said locally stored the data elements according to respective data elements of said unified database.

16. The geographically distributed storage system of claim 1, wherein said data management module is configured for identifying the type of said request, the access rights of said forwarded at least one requested data element being determined according to said type.

17. The geographically distributed storage system of claim 1, wherein requests for given data elements incur a local inertia.

18. The distributed storage system of claim 17, wherein said data management module is configured for forwarding said at least one requested data element while maintaining a predefined atomicity, consistency, isolation, and durability (ACID) level of said coherent distributed database.

19. The distributed storage system of claim 17, wherein said at least one requested data element is suppliable without communication latency to at least one subsequent repeat request from said access point following said request.