IP Library Granted Patent US 12,026,153
Granted Patent B2
US 12,026,153 · App. 18/179,762 · Granted Jul 2, 2024

Tracking intermediate changes in database data

Inventors: Torsten Grabs (San Mateo, CA); Istvan Cseri (Seattle, WA); Benoit Dageville (San Mateo, CA)
Assignee: Snowflake Inc.
G06F16/2379G06F16/2282G06F16/24554G06F16/2456
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12,026,153
App. No.
18/179,762
Granted
Jul 2, 2024
Kind
B2
Abstract

Systems, methods, and devices for tracking a series of changes to database data are disclosed. A method includes executing a transaction to modify data in a micro-partition of a table of a database by generating a new micro-partition that embodies the transaction. The method includes associating transaction data with the new micro-partition, wherein the transaction data comprises a timestamp when the transaction was fully executed, and further includes associating modification data with the new micro-partition that comprises an indication of one or more rows of the table that were modified by the transaction. The method includes joining the transaction data with the modification data to generate joined data and querying the joined data to determine a listing of intermediate modifications made to the table between a first timestamp and a second timestamp.

Claims (45)

1. A method comprising:

storing data in a first micro-partition of a table;

executing a transaction related to the stored data in the first micro-partition to generate transaction data;

performing a plurality of modifications to the stored data in the first micro-partition to generate a second micro-partition and remove the first micro-partition from the table for executing the transaction;

generating a delta table, the delta table storing final changes to the stored data in the second micro-partition from the first micro-partition;

generating modification data, the modification data tracking the modifications performed to the stored data between the second micro-partition and the first micro-partition; and

joining the modification data with the transaction data to generate joined data, the joined data indicating intermediate changes to the stored data between the second micro-partition and the first micro-partition.

2. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

determining tuple changes between each of a series of sequential micro-partition pairs between the first and second micro-partitions.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein multiple modifications to a row of a plurality of rows in the first micro-partition are performed and the joined data indicates at least one intermediate change to the row between initial and final values.

4. The method of claim 1 , wherein the transaction data includes one or more of: an identity of an account that initiated the transaction, a first timestamp when the transaction was requested, a second timestamp when execution of the transaction began, a listing of all rows that were modified by the transaction, and details of the modifications.

5. The method of claim 1 , wherein the modification data is stored in the second micro-partition as metadata, wherein the modification data includes a lineage of modifications made to the table.

6. The method of claim 1 , wherein the transaction data and the modification data are stored in the second micro-partition as metadata in immutable storage.

7. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

wherein the delta table includes information indicating which rows have been modified, final values of rows that have been modified between the first and second micro-partitions, and an action type of the modification for each row modified.

8. A system comprising:

one or more processors of a machine; and

a memory storing instructions that, when executed by the one or more processors, cause the machine to perform operations comprising:

storing data in a first micro-partition of a table;

executing a transaction related to the stored data in the first micro-partition to generate transaction data;

performing a plurality of modifications to the stored data in the first micro-partition to generate a second micro-partition and remove the first micro-partition from the table for executing the transaction;

generating a delta table, the delta table storing final changes to the stored data in the second micro-partition from the first micro-partition;

generating modification data, the modification data tracking the modifications performed to the stored data between the second micro-partition and the first micro-partition; and

joining the modification data with the transaction data to generate joined data, the joined data indicating intermediate changes to the stored data between the second micro-partition and the first micro-partition.

9. The system of claim 8 , the operations further comprising:

determining tuple changes between each of a series of sequential micro-partition pairs between the first and second micro-partitions.

10. The system of claim 8 , wherein multiple modifications to a row of a plurality of rows in the first micro-partition are performed and the joined data indicates at least one intermediate change to the row between initial and final values.

11. The system of claim 8 , wherein the transaction data includes one or more of: an identity of an account that initiated the transaction, a first timestamp when the transaction was requested, a second timestamp when execution of the transaction began, a listing of all rows that were modified by the transaction, and details of the modifications.

12. The system of claim 8 , wherein the modification data is stored in the second micro-partition as metadata, wherein the modification data includes a lineage of modifications made to the table.

13. The system of claim 8 , wherein the transaction data and the modification data are stored in the second micro-partition as metadata in immutable storage.

14. The system of claim 8 , wherein the delta table includes information indicating which rows have been modified, final values of rows that have been modified between the first and second micro-partitions, and an action type of the modification for each row modified.

15. A non-transitory computer readable storage media storing instructions that, when executed by one or more processors, cause the one or more processors to:

storing data in a first micro-partition of a table;

executing a transaction related to the stored data in the first micro-partition to generate transaction data;

performing a plurality of modifications to the stored data in the first micro-partition to generate a second micro-partition and remove the first micro-partition from the table for executing the transaction;

generating a delta table, the delta table storing final changes to the stored data in the second micro-partition from the first micro-partition;

generating modification data, the modification data tracking the modifications performed to the stored data between the second micro-partition and the first micro-partition; and

joining the modification data with the transaction data to generate joined data, the joined data indicating intermediate changes to the stored data between the second micro-partition and the first micro-partition.

16. The non-transitory computer readable storage media of claim 15 , further comprising:

determining tuple changes between each of a series of sequential micro-partition pairs between the first and second micro-partitions.

17. The non-transitory computer readable storage media of claim 15 , wherein multiple modifications to a row of a plurality of rows in the first micro-partition are performed and the joined data indicates at least one intermediate change to the row between initial and final values.

18. The non-transitory computer readable storage media of claim 15 , wherein the transaction data includes one or more of: an identity of an account that initiated the transaction, a first timestamp when the transaction was requested, a second timestamp when execution of the transaction began, a listing of all rows that were modified by the transaction, and details of the modifications.

19. The non-transitory computer readable storage media of claim 15 , wherein the modification data is stored in the second micro-partition as metadata, wherein the modification data includes a lineage of modifications made to the table.

20. The non-transitory computer readable storage media of claim 15 , wherein the transaction data and the modification data are stored in the second micro-partition as metadata in immutable storage.

21. The non-transitory computer readable storage media of claim 15 , wherein the delta table includes information indicating which rows have been modified, final values of rows that have been modified between the first and second micro-partitions, and an action type of the modification for each row modified.

Assignments (3)
CHANGE OF NAME Recorded Sep 15, 2023
From: SNOWFLAKE COMPUTING, INC.
To: SNOWFLAKE INC.
Reel/Frame 064916/0087 →
CORRECTIVE ASSIGNMENT TO CORRECT THE THE ASSIGNEE NAME PREVIOUSLY RECORDED AT REEL: 062908 FRAME: 0215. ASSIGNOR(S) HEREBY CONFIRMS THE ASSIGNMENT. Recorded May 8, 2023
From: GRABS, TORSTEN; CSERI, ISTVAN; DAGEVILLE, BENOIT
To: SNOWFLAKE COMPUTING, INC.
Reel/Frame 063573/0539 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Mar 7, 2023
From: GRABS, TORSTEN; CSERI, ISTVAN; DAGEVILLE, BENOIT
To: SNOWFLAKE INC.
Reel/Frame 062908/0215 →
Continuity (6)
Continuation 17656960 · Mar 29, 2022
Continuation 17384269 · Jul 23, 2021
Continuation 17219600 · Mar 31, 2021
Continuation 16824676 · Mar 19, 2020
Continuation 16182216 · Nov 6, 2018
Related Publication 20230205766A1 · Jun 29, 2023