Systems and methods for automatic maintenance and repair of enitites in a data model

• US 20050262378A1
• Filed: 07/30/2004
• Published: 11/24/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 05/03/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
• Inventors: Kodavalla, Hanumantha Rao, Ellis, Nigel R., Oks, Artem A., Sleeman, Martin J.
• Granted Patent: US 7,366,740 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 714/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/217 Database tuning G06F16/2282 takes precedence; database performance monitoring G06F11/3409
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/2365 Ensuring data consistency and integrity
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/24565 Triggers; Constraints
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/954 Relational
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99942 Manipulating data structure, e.g. compression, compaction, compilation
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99943 Generating database or data structure, e.g. via user interface
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99953 Recoverability

Abstract

The present invention is directed a logical consistency checker (LCC) working alone or in conjunction with a physical consistency checker (PCC) and/or a data reliability system (DRS) for a database files system of a hardware/software interface system. Logical data correction pertains to logical data corruptions for entities (e.g., items, extensions, and/or relationships in an item-based operating system, where an item-based operating system is one example of an item-based hardware/software interface system). In this regard, a LCC analyses and corrects logical damage to entities representatively stored in the data store in order to ensure that all such entities in said data store are both consistent and conform to the data model rules.

Claims

1. A logical consistency checker (LCC) for a database file system (DBFS), said LCC comprising at least one system for:

checking referential integrity of a set of tables in a database corresponding to said DBFS for at least one logical inconsistency; and

checking structural integrity of a set of entities represented in said DBFS for at least one logical inconsistency.

2. The system of claim 1 further comprising at least one subsystem for checking for at least one cycle that would constitute a logical inconsistency.

3. The system of claim 1 further comprising at least one subsystem for resolving at least one logical inconsistency.

4. The system of claim 3 wherein said at least one subsystem for resolving at least one logical inconsistency attempts at least one solution from among the following groups of solutions:

a page-level restoration, a entity-level restoration, and replacing a damaged entity with a dummy entity.

5. The system of claim 4 wherein said at least one subsystem for resolving at least one logical inconsistency first attempts a page-level restoration and, if not successful, then attempts an entity-level restoration and, if not successful, then replaces at least one damaged entity corresponding to said at least one logical inconsistency with a dummy entity.

6. The system of claim 4 wherein, if said entity is an item, said solution of replacing a damaged entity with a dummy entity comprises:

creating said dummy entity and redirecting at least one relationship belonging to said damaged entity with said dummy entity; and

moving said damaged entity to a broken item folder.

7. The system of claim 4 wherein, if said entity is a relationship, said solution of replacing a damaged entity with a dummy entity comprises:

creating said dummy entity as a relationship corresponding to the relationship of the damaged item; and

logging said damaged entity in a broken item folder.

8. An automated data reliability system (DRS) for a database file system (DBFS), said DRS comprising:

a set of policies for performing database administration (DBA) tasks;

a subsystem for resolving a set of physical data corruptions at a page level; and

a subsystem for resolving a set of logical data corruptions at an entity level.

9. The system of claim 8 wherein said DBFS is a component of an item-based hardware/software interface system.

10. The system of claim 8 further comprising an interface for adding, deleting, and modifying at least one functionality from among the following group of functionalities:

error and event notifications, policies, and error/event handling algorithms.

11. The system of claim 8 wherein said DRS operates as a background thread.

12. The system of claim 8 wherein said subsystem for resolving a set of logical data corruptions at an entity level is executed after the execution of said subsystem for resolving a set of physical data corruptions at a page level.

13. The system of claim 8 wherein said subsystem for resolving a set of logical data corruptions at an entity level attempts to repair a corrupted item before attempting to correct a corrupted relationship corresponding to said corrupted item.

14. A method for a logical consistency checker (LCC) for a database file system (DBFS) to address logical inconsistencies on an entity-level, said method comprising:

checking referential integrity of a set of tables in a database corresponding to said DBFS for at least one logical inconsistency; and

checking structural integrity of a set of entities represented in said DBFS for at least one logical inconsistency.

15. The method of claim 14 further comprising checking for at least one cycle that would constitute a logical inconsistency.

16. The method of claim 14 further comprising resolving at least one logical inconsistency.

17. The method of claim 16 wherein said element of resolving at least one logical inconsistency comprises the attempt of at least one solution from among the following groups of solutions:

a page-level restoration, a entity-level restoration, and replacing a damaged entity with a dummy entity.

18. The method of claim 17 wherein said element of resolving at least one logical inconsistency comprises:

attempting at a page-level restoration;

if said attempt at a page-level restoration is not successful, then attempting an entity-level restoration; and

if said attempt at an entity-level restoration is not successful, then replacing at least one damaged entity corresponding to said at least one logical inconsistency with a dummy entity.

19. The method of claim 17 wherein, if said entity is an item, said solution of replacing a damaged entity with a dummy entity further comprises:

creating said dummy entity and redirecting at least one relationship belonging to said damaged entity with said dummy entity; and

moving said damaged entity to a broken item folder.

20. The method of claim 17 wherein, if said entity is a relationship, said solution of replacing a damaged entity with a dummy entity comprises:

creating said dummy entity as a relationship corresponding to the relationship of the damaged item; and

logging said damaged entity in a broken item folder.

21. A method for an automated data reliability system (DRS) for a database file system (DBFS) to address logical inconsistencies on an entity-level, said method comprising:

utilizing a set of policies for performing database administration (DBA) tasks;

resolving a set of physical data corruptions at a page level; and

resolving a set of logical data corruptions at an entity level.

22. The method of claim 21 wherein said DBFS is a component of an item-based hardware/software interface system.

23. The method of claim 21 further comprising an interface for adding, deleting, and modifying at least one functionality from among the following group of functionalities:

error and event notifications, policies, and error/event handling algorithms.

24. The method of claim 21 wherein said DRS operates as a background thread.

25. The method of claim 21 wherein said element of resolving a set of logical data corruptions at an entity level is executed after the execution of said subsystem for resolving a set of physical data corruptions at a page level.

26. The method of claim 21 wherein said element of resolving a set of logical data corruptions at an entity level further comprises attempting to repair a corrupted item before attempting to correct a corrupted relationship corresponding to said corrupted item.

27. A computer-readable medium comprising computer-readable instructions for a logical consistency checker (LCC) for a database file system (DBFS) to address logical inconsistencies on an entity-level, said computer-readable instructions comprising instructions for:

checking referential integrity of a set of tables in a database corresponding to said DBFS for at least one logical inconsistency; and

checking structural integrity of a set of entities represented in said DBFS for at least one logical inconsistency.

28. The computer-readable instructions of claim 27 further comprising instructions for checking for at least one cycle that would constitute a logical inconsistency.

29. The computer-readable instructions of claim 27 further comprising instructions for resolving at least one logical inconsistency.

30. The computer-readable instructions of claim 29 further comprising instructions whereby said element of resolving at least one logical inconsistency comprises the attempt of at least one solution from among the following groups of solutions:

a page-level restoration, a entity-level restoration, and replacing a damaged entity with a dummy entity.

31. The computer-readable instructions of claim 30 further comprising instructions whereby said element of resolving at least one logical inconsistency comprises:

attempting at a page-level restoration;

if said attempt at a page-level restoration is not successful, then attempting an entity-level restoration; and

if said attempt at an entity-level restoration is not successful, then replacing at least one damaged entity corresponding to said at least one logical inconsistency with a dummy entity.

32. The computer-readable instructions of claim 30 further comprising instructions whereby, if said entity is an item, said solution of replacing a damaged entity with a dummy entity further comprises:

creating said dummy entity and redirecting at least one relationship belonging to said damaged entity with said dummy entity; and

moving said damaged entity to a broken item folder.

33. The computer-readable instructions of claim 30 further comprising instructions whereby, if said entity is a relationship, said solution of replacing a damaged entity with a dummy entity comprises:

creating said dummy entity as a relationship corresponding to the relationship of the damaged item; and

logging said damaged entity in a broken item folder.

34. A computer-readable medium comprising computer-readable instructions for an automated data reliability system (DRS) for a database file system (DBFS) to address logical inconsistencies on an entity-level, said computer-readable instructions comprising instructions for:

utilizing a set of policies for performing database administration (DBA) tasks;

resolving a set of physical data corruptions at a page level; and

resolving a set of logical data corruptions at an entity level.

35. The computer-readable instructions of claim 34 further comprising instructions whereby said DBFS is a component of an item-based hardware/software interface system.

36. The computer-readable instructions of claim 34 further comprising instructions for an interface for adding, deleting, and modifying at least one functionality from among the following group of functionalities:

error and event notifications, policies, and error/event handling algorithms.

37. The computer-readable instructions of claim 34 further comprising instructions whereby said DRS operates as a background thread.

38. The computer-readable instructions of claim 34 further comprising instructions whereby said element of resolving a set of logical data corruptions at an entity level is executed after the execution of said subsystem for resolving a set of physical data corruptions at a page level.

39. The computer-readable instructions of claim 34 further comprising instructions whereby said element of resolving a set of logical data corruptions at an entity level further comprises attempting to repair a corrupted item before attempting to correct a corrupted relationship corresponding to said corrupted item.

40. A hardware control device for an automated data reliability system (DRS) for a database file system (DBFS) to address logical inconsistencies on an entity-level, said device comprising means for:

utilizing a set of policies for performing database administration (DBA) tasks;

resolving a set of physical data corruptions at a page level; and

resolving a set of logical data corruptions at an entity level by;

checking referential integrity of a set of tables in a database corresponding to said DBFS for at least one logical inconsistency, and

checking structural integrity of a set of entities represented in said DBFS for at least one logical inconsistency.