Google patents cloud database cache that grows and shrinks based on usage
This patent describes a method for managing a temporary storage area, or cache, used by cloud databases to speed up data retrieval. The system stores specific columns of a data table in a format optimized for quick reading and automatically expands or shrinks this storage based on how often users access those columns.
In the filing’s own words
A method for providing elastic columnar cache includes receiving cache configuration information indicating a maximum size and an incremental size for a cache associated with a user. The cache is configured to store a portion of a table in a row-major format. The method includes caching, in a column-major format, a subset of the plurality of columns of the table in the cache and receiving a plurality of data requests requesting access to the table and associated with a corresponding access pattern requiring access to one or more of the columns. While executing one or more workloads, the method includes, for each column of the table, determining an access frequency indicating a number of times the corresponding column is accessed over a predetermined time period and dynamically adjusting the subset of columns based on the access patterns, the maximum size, and the incremental size.
What exactly they claim (claim 1)
1. A computer-implemented method comprising: obtaining, from a user device, cache configuration information for cache configured to store a portion of a table stored on memory hardware, the table comprising a plurality of columns and a plurality of rows, the cache configuration information indicating an amount of cache that may be allocated or deallocated from the cache during dynamic adjustment; caching, in column-major format, a subset of the plurality of columns of the table in the cache associated with the user, the cache comprising a plurality of segments; receiving a plurality of data requests, each data request of the plurality of data requests requesting access to the table stored on the memory hardware; and in response to receiving the plurality of data requests, dynamically adjusting the subset of the plurality of columns cached in the column-major format by grouping columns together in segments based on access patterns derived from the plurality of data requests.
Facts
- Company
- Google (Google LLC)
- Official title
- Elastic columnar cache for cloud databases
- Patent number
- US12737297B2
- Application number
- 18915185
- Filed
- Oct 14, 2024
- Granted
- Sep 15, 2026
- Inventors
- 3
- Claims
- 20
Classified under
G06F 12/0871 Physics & computingG06F 9/5016 Physics & computingG06F 12/0891 Physics & computingG06F 16/221 Physics & computingG06F 16/24552 Physics & computingG06F 16/278 Physics & computingMore from Google in AI & software
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Summaries are simplified from the filing’s own abstract and first claim. A patent filing is not a product announcement.
Patent data and drawings: U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO). Nebula is not affiliated with or endorsed by the USPTO.