IP Library Granted Patent US 10,547,401
Granted Patent B2
US 10,547,401 · App. 15/784,912 · Granted Jan 28, 2020

Managing time consistency in a distributed computing system

Inventor: Jing Yu (Hangzhou, CN)
Assignee: Alibaba Group Holding Limited
H04J3/0658H04L67/10G06Q40/02
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 10,547,401
App. No.
15/784,912
Granted
Jan 28, 2020
Kind
B2
Abstract

A computer-implemented method of managing time consistency in a distributed computing system includes adjusting a time of a first server in the distributed computing system to a target time. The first server identifies a time offset between the target time and a time of a second server in the distributed computing system. The first server generates a computer instruction to the second server, where the computer instruction includes a time function modified by the time offset.

Claims (43)

1. A computer-implemented method, comprising:

determining, by an application server synchronization unit performing time synchronization with a time server in a distributed computing system, that time differences exist among servers in the distributed computing system due to hardware differences between the servers;

adjusting a time of a first server in the distributed computing system to a target time;

identifying, at the first server, a time offset between the target time and a time of a second server in the distributed computing system; and

generating, by the first server, a computer instruction to the second server, wherein the computer instruction includes a time function modified by the time offset, and wherein the time function, when executed by the second server during a simulated service, synchronizes a service time recorded in a database of the second server with the target time without changing a database server time.

2. The computer-implemented method of claim 1 , wherein the first server is an application server.

3. The computer-implemented method of claim 1 , wherein the second server is a database server.

4. The computer-implemented method of claim 3 , wherein the computer instruction is a database operation instruction.

5. The computer-implemented method of claim 1 , further comprising:

selecting a third server in the distributed computing system as the time server;

adjusting a time of the third server to the target time; and

adjusting the time of the first server based on the time of the third server.

6. The computer-implemented method of claim 5 , wherein the third server is an application server.

7. The computer-implemented method of claim 5 , wherein the third server acquires the time of the second server, calculates the time offset between the target time and the time of the second server, and sends the time offset to the first server.

8. A non-transitory, computer-readable medium storing one or more instructions executable by a computer system to perform operations comprising:

determining, by an application server synchronization unit performing time synchronization with a time server in a distributed computing system, that time differences exist among servers in the distributed computing system due to hardware differences between the servers;

adjusting a time of a first server in the distributed computing system to a target time;

identifying, at the first server, a time offset between the target time and a time of a second server in the distributed computing system; and

generating, by the first server, a computer instruction to the second server, wherein the computer instruction includes a time function modified by the time offset, and wherein the time function, when executed by the second server during a simulated service, synchronizes a service time recorded in a database of the second server with the target time without changing a database server time.

9. The non-transitory, computer-readable medium of claim 8 , wherein the first server is an application server.

10. The non-transitory, computer-readable medium of claim 8 , wherein the second server is a database server.

11. The non-transitory, computer-readable medium of claim 10 , wherein the computer instruction is a database operation instruction.

12. The non-transitory, computer-readable medium of claim 8 , wherein the operations further comprise:

selecting a third server in the distributed computing system as the time server;

adjusting a time of the third server to the target time; and

adjusting the time of the first server based on the time of the third server.

13. The non-transitory, computer-readable medium of claim 12 , wherein the third server is an application server.

14. The non-transitory, computer-readable medium of claim 12 , wherein the third server acquires the time of the second server, calculates the time offset between the target time and the time of the second server, and sends the time offset to the first server.

15. A computer-implemented system, comprising:

one or more computers; and

one or more computer memory devices interoperably coupled with the one or more computers and having tangible, non-transitory, machine-readable media storing one or more instructions that, when executed by the one or more computers, perform operations comprising:

determining, by an application server synchronization unit performing time synchronization with a time server in a distributed computing system, that time differences exist among servers in the distributed computing system due to hardware differences between the servers;

adjusting a time of a first server in the distributed computing system to a target time;

identifying, at the first server, a time offset between the target time and a time of a second server in the distributed computing system; and

generating, by the first server, a computer instruction to the second server, wherein the computer instruction includes a time function modified by the time offset, and wherein the time function, when executed by the second server during a simulated service, synchronizes a service time recorded in a database of the second server with the target time without changing a database server time.

16. The computer-implemented system of claim 15 , wherein the first server is an application server, and the second server is a database server.

17. The computer-implemented system of claim 16 , wherein the computer instruction is a database operation instruction.

18. The computer-implemented system of claim 15 , wherein the operations further comprise:

selecting a third server in the distributed computing system as the time server;

adjusting a time of the third server to the target time; and

adjusting the time of the first server based on the time of the third server.

19. The computer-implemented system of claim 18 , wherein the third server is an application server.

20. The computer-implemented system of claim 18 , wherein the third server acquires the time of the second server, calculates the time offset between the target time and the time of the second server, and sends the time offset to the first server.

Assignments (3)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Sep 10, 2020
From: ADVANTAGEOUS NEW TECHNOLOGIES CO., LTD.
To: ADVANCED NEW TECHNOLOGIES CO., LTD.
Reel/Frame 053754/0625 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Aug 31, 2020
From: ALIBABA GROUP HOLDING LIMITED
To: ADVANTAGEOUS NEW TECHNOLOGIES CO., LTD.
Reel/Frame 053743/0464 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Nov 16, 2017
From: YU, JING
To: ALIBABA GROUP HOLDING LIMITED
Reel/Frame 044935/0096 →
Priority Claims (1)
CN 2015 1 0183965 · Apr 17, 2015 · national
Continuity (2)
Continuation PCTCN2016077303 · Mar 25, 2016
Related Publication 20180041298A1 · Feb 8, 2018