Patent Abstract:
A system includes transmission of a first transaction identifier and a first commit identifier to a first data storage system, the first commit identifier identifying a first data snapshot of the first data storage system, transmission of a first query to the first data storage system, transmission of a first prepare instruction and the first transaction identifier to the first data storage system, determination that a first ready response has been received from the first data storage system in response to the first prepare instruction, transmission, in response to the determination, of a first commit instruction and the first transaction identifier to the first data storage system, and reception of a second commit identifier from the first data storage system, the second commit identifier identifying a second data snapshot of the first data storage system.

Full Description:
BACKGROUND 
       [0001]    The two-phase commit protocol is used to coordinate distributed atomic transactions. In the first phase, a transaction manager instructs all transaction participants (e.g., distributed database nodes) to execute their respective portions of a transaction. In the second phase, and based on responses received from the transaction participants during the first phase, the transaction manager instructs the transaction participants to commit or to roll-back the transaction. 
         [0002]    The two-phase commit protocol may provide transaction consistency within heterogenous distributed database systems, but does not support true isolation level semantics. For example, if a transaction is run at the SERIALIZABLE isolation level, table versions referenced by all transaction participants must be synchronized to the time at which the transaction began. Outside of a transaction, a statement which references tables on two distributed database nodes should reference versions of the tables as they existed at time the statement began. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0003]      FIG. 1  is a block diagram of a system according to some embodiments. 
           [0004]      FIG. 2  is a flow diagram of a process according to some embodiments. 
           [0005]      FIG. 3  is a flow diagram of a process according to some embodiments. 
           [0006]      FIG. 4  is a block diagram of a system according to some embodiments. 
           [0007]      FIG. 5  is a block diagram of an apparatus according to some embodiments. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0008]    The following description is provided to enable any person in the art to make and use the described embodiments and sets forth the best mode contemplated for carrying out some embodiments. Various modifications, however, will remain readily apparent to those in the art. 
         [0009]      FIG. 1  is a block diagram of architecture  100  according to some embodiments. Embodiments are not limited to architecture  100  or to a database architecture. 
         [0010]    Architecture  100  includes data store  110 , database management system (DBMS)  120 , server  130 , services  135 , clients  140 , applications  145  and remote data storage  150   a  through  150   n . Generally, services  135  executing within server  130  receive requests from applications  145  executing on clients  140  and provides results to applications  145  based on data stored within data store  110  and/or extended storage systems  150   a  through  150   n.    
         [0011]    More specifically, server  130  may execute and provide services  135  to applications  145 . Services  135  may comprise server-side executable program code (e.g., compiled code, scripts, etc.) which provide functionality to applications  145  by providing user interfaces to clients  140 , receiving requests from applications  145 , retrieving data from data store  110  and/or extended storage systems  150   a  through  150   n  based on the requests, processing the data received from data store  110 , and providing the processed data to applications  145 . Services  135  may be made available for execution by server  130  via registration and/or other procedures which are known in the art. 
         [0012]    In one specific example, a client  140  executes an application  145  to present a user interface to a user on a display of the client  140 . The user enters a query into the user interface and the application  145  passes a request based on the query to a transaction manager of services  135 . The transaction manager synchronizes execution of the request via communication with DBMS  120  and/or extended storage systems  150   a  through  150   n  as will be described below. A response is then returned to the application  145 . 
         [0013]    Server  130  provides any suitable protocol interfaces through which applications  145  executing on clients  140  may communicate with services  135  executing on application server  130 . For example, server  130  may include a HyperText Transfer Protocol (HTTP) interface supporting a transient request/response protocol over Transmission Control Protocol (TCP), and/or a WebSocket interface supporting non-transient full-duplex communications between server  130  and any clients  140  which implement the WebSocket protocol over a single TCP connection. 
         [0014]    One or more services  135  (e.g., a transaction manager and/or a data federation service) executing on server  130  may communicate with DBMS  120  using database management interfaces such as, but not limited to, Open Database Connectivity (ODBC) and Java Database Connectivity (JDBC) interfaces. These types of services  135  may use Structured Query Language (SQL) to manage and query data stored in data store  110  and/or extended storage systems  150   a  through  150   n.    
         [0015]    DBMS  120  serves requests to query, retrieve, create, modify (update), and/or delete data of data store  110 , and also performs administrative and management functions. Such functions may include snapshot and backup management, indexing, optimization, garbage collection, and/or any other database functions that are or become known. DBMS  120  may also provide application logic, such as database procedures and/or calculations, according to some embodiments. This application logic may comprise scripts, functional libraries and/or compiled program code. Each of extended storage systems  150   a  through  150   n  may comprise components to provide similar functions. 
         [0016]    Server  130  may be separated from or closely integrated with DBMS  120 . A closely-integrated server  130  may enable execution of services  135  completely on the database platform, without the need for an additional server. For example, according to some embodiments, server  130  provides a comprehensive set of embedded services which provide end-to-end support for Web-based applications. The services may include a lightweight web server, configurable support for Open Data Protocol, server-side JavaScript execution and access to SQL and SQLScript. 
         [0017]    Data store  110  and/or extended storage systems  150   a  through  150   n  may comprise any query-responsive data source or sources that are or become known, including but not limited to a structured-query language (SQL) relational database management system. Data store  110  may comprise a relational database, a multi-dimensional database, an eXtendable Markup Language (XML) document, or any other data storage system storing structured and/or unstructured data. The data of data store  110  and/or extended storage systems  150   a  through  150   n  may be distributed among several relational databases, dimensional databases, and/or other data sources. Embodiments are not limited to any number or types of data sources. 
         [0018]    In some embodiments, the data of data store  110  and/or extended storage systems  150   a  through  150   n  may comprise one or more of conventional tabular data, row-based data, column-based data, and object-based data. Moreover, the data may be indexed and/or selectively replicated in an index to allow fast searching and retrieval thereof. Data store  110  and/or extended storage systems  150   a  through  150   n  may support multi-tenancy to separately support multiple unrelated clients by providing multiple logical database systems which are programmatically isolated from one another. 
         [0019]    Data store  110  may implement an “in-memory” database, in which a full database stored in volatile (e.g., non-disk-based) memory (e.g., Random Access Memory). The full database may be persisted in and/or backed up to fixed disks (not shown). Embodiments are not limited to an in-memory implementation. For example, data may be stored in Random Access Memory (e.g., cache memory for storing recently-used data) and one or more fixed disks (e.g., persistent memory for storing their respective portions of the full database). Each of extended storage systems  150   a  through  150   n  may comprise a single or distributed database, using cache memory and fixed disks for traditional data storage, but one or more of extended storage systems  150   a  through  150   n  may alternatively comprise an in-memory database according to some embodiments. 
         [0020]    Each of clients  140  may comprise one or more devices executing program code of an application  145  for presenting user interfaces to allow interaction with application server  130 . The user interfaces of applications  145  may comprise user interfaces suited for reporting, data analysis, and/or any other functions based on the data of data store  110 . 
         [0021]    Presentation of a user interface as described herein may comprise any degree or type of rendering, depending on the type of user interface code generated by server  130 . For example, a client  140  may execute a Web Browser to request and receive a Web page (e.g., in HTML format) from application server  130  via HTTP, HTTPS, and/or WebSocket, and may render and present the Web page according to known protocols. One or more of clients  140  may also or alternatively present user interfaces by executing a standalone executable file (e.g., an .exe file) or code (e.g., a JAVA applet) within a virtual machine. In another method, one of more of clients  140  execute applications  145  loaded from server  130 , that receive data and metadata by requests to services  135  executed on the server  130 . Data and metadata is processed by the applications  145  to render the user interface on the client  140 . 
         [0022]      FIG. 2  comprises a flow diagram of process  200  according to some embodiments. In some embodiments, various hardware elements of system  100  execute program code to perform process  200 . Process  200  and all other processes mentioned herein may be embodied in computer-executable program code read from one or more of non-transitory computer-readable media, such as a floppy disk, a CD-ROM, a DVD-ROM, a Flash drive, and a magnetic tape, and then stored in a compressed, uncompiled and/or encrypted format. In some embodiments, hard-wired circuitry may be used in place of, or in combination with, program code for implementation of processes according to some embodiments. Embodiments are therefore not limited to any specific combination of hardware and software. 
         [0023]    Initially, a database transaction is begun at S 210 . The database transaction may be a transaction intended to service a received request as described above. The database transaction involves data of at least one of extended storage systems  150   a  through  150   n . For example, the transaction may require updating data of or inserting data into one of extended storage systems  150   a  through  150   n.    
         [0024]    Prior to commencement of the transaction, it will be assumed that a transaction manager of server  120  stores a last commit identifier (ID) associated with each remote data storage  150   a  through  150   n . The last commit ID of a remote data storage identifies a snapshot of the remote data storage. The snapshot represents a state of the data stored by the remote storage at a time of a last commit of the remote data storage. 
         [0025]    At S 220 , a transaction ID corresponding to the transaction and the stored last commit ID are transmitted to the extended storage system.  FIG. 4  illustrates communication according to some embodiments of process  200 .  FIG. 4  includes transaction manager  410  (e.g., of services  135 ), data federation  420  (e.g., of services  135 ), ODBC  430  to communicate with SQL-responsive data sources and extended storage system  440  (e.g., one of systems  150   a  through  150   n ). 
         [0026]    As shown, data federation  420  stores an ID of the database transaction (i.e., TID), an ID of the portion of the database transaction associated with extended storage system  440  (i.e., XID), and a last commit ID associated with the particular extended storage system  440 . As also shown, transaction manager  410  (e.g., of services  135 ) transmits a Data Manipulation Language (DML) request to data federation  420  (e.g., of services  135 ). The DML request is associated with the portion of the database transaction which relates to data stored within extended storage system  440 . Then, at S 220 , the transaction ID XID and the last commit ID are transmitted to extended storage system  440  to indicate commencement of the portion of the transaction. 
         [0027]    Next, at S 230 , a query is transmitted to the extended storage system. The query is based on the DML request and conforms to a query language supported by extended storage  440 . For example, data federation  420  and ODBC  430  operate to create an appropriate SQL query in an SQL format supported by extended storage  440  and to transmit the SQL query according to a protocol supported by system  440 . 
         [0028]      FIG. 3  is a flow diagram of process  300  executed by an extended storage system according to some embodiments. Process  300  is responsive to process  200  and may be executed by an extended storage system according to some embodiments. Process  300  may be executed in parallel by two or more of extended storage systems  150   a  through  150   n . In this regard, transaction manager  410 , data federation  420  and ODBC  430  may execute several instances of process  200  in parallel, with each instance corresponding to a particular portion of a database transaction (and its associated extended storage system). 
         [0029]    For example, extended storage system  440  may receive the transaction ID XID and the commit ID from ODBC  430  at S 310 . Next, at S 320 , a snapshot version is set based on the commit ID. As described above, the commit ID corresponds to a snapshot version, which in turn corresponds to a state of the data of extended storage system  440  at a particular time. The query transmitted at S 230  is received at S 330  of process  300 . 
         [0030]    A prepare instruction is forwarded to the extended storage system at S 240 . Also transmitted is the transaction ID XID, to enable the extended storage system to associate the prepare instruction with the correct transaction portion and query. In this regard, extended storage system  440  may handle several transaction portions in parallel. Process  200  then pauses at S 250  to await a response to the prepare instruction. 
         [0031]    The extended storage system receives the prepare instruction and transaction ID XID a S 340  and executes the query associated with the XID (and received at S 330 ) at S 350 . The query is executed with respect to the snapshot version set at S 320 . After successful query execution, a “ready-to-commit” response is sent at S 360  and flow pauses at S 370  to await a commit instruction. 
         [0032]    The response is received at S 250 . It will be assumed that a similar response is received from all other participants (e.g., other extended storage systems) in the transaction TID, in which case flow continues to S 260 . A commit instruction and transaction ID XID are transmitted, as shown in  FIG. 4 , to the extended storage system at S 260 . 
         [0033]    Upon receipt of the commit instruction and transaction ID XID at S 370 , extended storage system  440  commits the associated transaction and transmits a new commit ID at S 380 . The new commit ID represents a snapshot version which in turn identifies a state of the data of extended storage system  440  after committing the current transaction portion. The new commit ID is received from extended storage system  440  at S 270  and is stored in conjunction with an identifier of extended storage system  440 . Flow then returns to S 210 , such that the newly-stored commit ID may be used to a snapshot version to use for a next portion of a transaction to be served by extended storage system  440 . 
         [0034]    If a positive response is not received from all transaction participants at S 250  within a given timeframe, a “roll-back” instruction may be transmitted to all transaction participants at S 260 , in which case extended storage system  430  rolls back the transaction at S 380  and new commit IDs are not received from any of the participants at S 270 . 
         [0035]    Embodiments of the foregoing therefore address the potential time windows between the start of a local transaction and the start of an extended storage transaction during which data versions can diverge. Accordingly, isolation levels are supported regardless of whether data is located locally or in an extended storage system. Such advantages may be provided without requiring a client application to know the location of all data related to a transaction, or requiring a transaction to be started on all transaction participants regardless of whether they will each participate in the transaction. 
         [0036]    Generally, the transaction manager may tell the remote system which commit ID should be active when either starting a transaction or running a statement outside of a transaction. In this regard, a request can be sent to a remote storage system outside of a transaction. For instance, if only a query was sent, it might not be necessary to start a transaction to execute that query. However, it may still be desirable to run the query using a specific commit ID. If so, the query request is preceded by a message to make a certain commit ID visible to the query. 
         [0037]    The embodiments above allow a transaction manager to specify the commit ID to be used. In the isolation level SERIALIZABLE case, this commit ID is the CID that corresponds to the start of the transaction. However, if the isolation level were READ-COMMITTED, the CID specified by the transaction manager may be the most recent commit level. The transaction manager may therefore choose a commit ID level at S 220  that is appropriate for the current isolation level. 
         [0038]      FIG. 4  also shows transmission of an active commit ID list to extended storage system  440  according to some embodiments. Such a transmission may occur asynchronously and/or periodically. The list may include commit IDs for currently-running transactions which are associated with extended storage system  440 . Upon receipt of such a list, extended storage system  440  may determine to maintain all snapshots associated with the listed commit IDs, and may also prune snapshot versions which are associated with times earlier than the time of an earliest commit ID of the list. 
         [0039]      FIG. 5  is a block diagram of apparatus  500  according to some embodiments. Apparatus  500  may comprise a general-purpose computing apparatus and may execute program code to perform any of the functions described herein. Apparatus  500  may comprise an implementation of server  120  and data store  110  in some embodiments. Apparatus  500  may include other unshown elements according to some embodiments. 
         [0040]    Apparatus  500  includes processor  510  operatively coupled to communication device  520 , data storage device  530 , one or more input devices  540 , one or more output devices  550  and memory  560 . Communication device  520  may facilitate communication with external devices, such as a reporting client, or a data storage device. Input device(s)  540  may comprise, for example, a keyboard, a keypad, a mouse or other pointing device, a microphone, knob or a switch, an infra-red (IR) port, a docking station, and/or a touch screen. Input device(s)  540  may be used, for example, to enter information into apparatus  500 . Output device(s)  550  may comprise, for example, a display (e.g., a display screen) a speaker, and/or a printer. 
         [0041]    Data storage device  530  may comprise any appropriate persistent storage device, including combinations of magnetic storage devices (e.g., magnetic tape, hard disk drives and flash memory), optical storage devices, Read Only Memory (ROM) devices, etc., while memory  560  may comprise Random Access Memory (RAM). 
         [0042]    Transaction manager  531 , data federation  532  and ODBC  533  may each comprise program code executed by processor  510  to cause apparatus  500  to perform any one or more of the processes described herein. Embodiments are not limited to execution of these processes by a single apparatus. 
         [0043]    Data  534  may include conventional database data as described above. As also described above, database data (either cached or a full database) may be stored in volatile memory such as memory  560 . Data storage device  530  may also store data and other program code for providing additional functionality and/or which are necessary for operation of apparatus  500 , such as device drivers, operating system files, etc. 
         [0044]    The foregoing diagrams represent logical architectures for describing processes according to some embodiments, and actual implementations may include more or different components arranged in other manners. Other topologies may be used in conjunction with other embodiments. Moreover, each component or device described herein may be implemented by any number of devices in communication via any number of other public and/or private networks. Two or more of such computing devices may be located remote from one another and may communicate with one another via any known manner of network(s) and/or a dedicated connection. Each component or device may comprise any number of hardware and/or software elements suitable to provide the functions described herein as well as any other functions. For example, any computing device used in an implementation of system  100  may include a processor to execute program code such that the computing device operates as described herein. 
         [0045]    All systems and processes discussed herein may be embodied in program code stored on one or more non-transitory computer-readable media. Such media may include, for example, a floppy disk, a CD-ROM, a DVD-ROM, a Flash drive, magnetic tape, and solid state Random Access Memory (RAM) or Read Only Memory (ROM) storage units. Embodiments are therefore not limited to any specific combination of hardware and software. 
         [0046]    Embodiments described herein are solely for the purpose of illustration. Those in the art will recognize other embodiments may be practiced with modifications and alterations to that described above.

Technology Classification (CPC): 6