Apple patents system to route database requests to available servers
Apple has been granted a patent for a method that manages multiple database engines running on a server. When a request arrives, the system picks an available engine, secures exclusive access to the specific data file, and performs the operation.
In the filing’s own words
The embodiments set forth techniques for managing a plurality of database engines. In particular, a database server can perform the steps of (1) concurrently executing the plurality of database engines, and (2) in response to receiving a request to perform an input/output (I/O) operation to a database file of a plurality of database files: (i) selecting, among the plurality of database engines, a database engine that is available to perform the I/O operation, (ii) performing at least one operation to make the database file accessible to the database engine, and (iii) causing the database engine to perform the I/O operation to the database file.
What exactly they claim (claim 1)
1. A method for managing a plurality of database engines, the method comprising, by a database server: concurrently executing the plurality of database engines; and in response to receiving a request, from a routing server, to perform an input/output operation to a database file of a plurality of database files, wherein the request is provided to the database server based on a hash of a user ID and a count of a group of database servers identified as capable of accessing the database file: selecting, among the plurality of database engines, a database engine that is available to perform the input/output operation; performing at least one operation to make the database file accessible to the database engine; obtaining an exclusive lock on the database file, wherein obtaining the exclusive lock comprises updating metadata associated with the database file in response to determining that the exclusive lock is obtained, and wherein, in response to determining that the exclusive lock is not obtained, the method further comprises extracting, from the metadata, information about a different database server that has obtained the exclusive lock on the database file, and then providing the information to the routing server; in response to determining that the exclusive lock is obtained, causing the database engine to perform the input/output operation to the database file; and in response to determining that the exclusive lock is obtained, providing, to the routing server, a response in accordance with the input/output operation.
Facts
- Company
- Apple (Apple Inc.)
- Official title
- Techniques for deterministically routing database requests to database servers
- Patent number
- US12754881B2
- Application number
- 18636121
- Filed
- Apr 15, 2024
- Granted
- Oct 6, 2026
- Inventors
- 5
- Claims
- 20
Classified under
G06F 16/13 Physics & computingG06F 16/137 Physics & computingG06F 16/164 Physics & computingG06F 16/1774 Physics & computingG06F 16/182 Physics & computingG06F 21/602 Physics & computingMore from Apple 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.