Method and system for managing residual value in distributed processing of transactions

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2016012525-A1
Application number	US-201514797577-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Jul 13, 2015
Priority date	Jul 14, 2014
Publication date	Jan 14, 2016
Grant date	—

Abstract

A system is provided for facilitating residual-value management. During operation, the system stores in a computing system a total value, which corresponds to a total amount of goods or service. The system divides the total value into a number sub-values, and determining that a sub-value is less than or equal to a threshold. In response, the system merges the sub-value into a merged residual-value. Furthermore, the system receives a transaction that indicates a subtraction operation with an associated value. Subsequently, the system allows the merged residual-value to be considered for processing the subtraction operation, thereby reducing residual-value fragmentation.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1 . An computer-implemented method for facilitating efficient residual-value management, the method comprising:
storing in a computing system a total value, which corresponds to a total amount of goods or service; dividing the total value into a number sub-values; determining that a sub-value is less than or equal to a threshold; merging the sub-value into a merged residual-value; receiving a transaction that indicates a subtraction operation with an associated value; and allowing the merged residual-value to be considered for processing the subtraction operation, thereby reducing residual-value fragmentation.

2 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the threshold is greater than or equal to a minimum value associated with the subtraction operation.

3 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising selecting one from the sub-values greater than or equal to the threshold and the merged residual-value for performing the subtraction operation.

4 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising indicating a sub-value as disabled when a residual value thereof is zero.

5 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
obtaining snapshots of records storing the sub-values and merged residual-value; selecting a qualified sub-value or the merged residual-value, wherein the snapshot of a qualified sub-value indicates a residual value greater than or equal to the threshold; responsive to a qualified sub-value being selected, applying a lock to the record storing the selected sub-value and performing the subtraction operation on the selected sub-value.

6 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising;
maintaining version information for snapshots of records storing the sub-values and merged residual-values; and updating the version information for the corresponding snapshot when a sub-value or merged residual-value is updated.

7 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the total value corresponds to an inventory of merchandise;
wherein the transaction is a purchase order for the merchandise; and wherein the subtraction operation corresponding to the transaction represents a deduction to the inventory as a result of the purchase order.

8 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the total value corresponds to a total amount of available storage space;
wherein the transaction is a request for allocating a storage space to a user; and wherein the subtraction operation corresponding to the transaction represents a deduction to the total amount of available storage space as a result of the allocation.

9 . A system for facilitating efficient residual-value management, the system comprising:
a processor; and a storage device coupled to the processor and storing instructions which when executed by the processor cause the processor to perform a method, the method comprising:
storing in a computing system a total value, which corresponds to a total amount of goods or service;
dividing the total value into a number sub-values;
determining that a sub-value is less than or equal to a threshold;
merging the sub-value into a merged residual-value;
receiving a transaction that indicates a subtraction operation with an associated value; and
allowing the merged residual-value to be considered for processing the received subtraction operation, thereby reducing residual-value fragmentation.

10 . The system of claim 9 , wherein the threshold is greater than or equal to a minimum value associated with the subtraction operation.

11 . The system of claim 9 , wherein the method further comprises selecting one from the sub-values greater than or equal to the threshold and the merged residual-value for performing the subtraction operation.

12 . The system of claim 9 , wherein the method further comprises indicating a sub-value as disabled when a residual value thereof is zero.

13 . The system of claim 9 , wherein the method further comprises:
obtaining snapshots of records storing the sub-values and merged residual-value; selecting a qualified sub-value or the merged residual-value, wherein the snapshot of a qualified sub-value indicates a residual value greater than or equal to the threshold; responsive to a qualified sub-value being selected, applying a lock to the record storing the selected sub-value and performing the subtraction operation on the selected sub-value.

14 . The system of claim 9 , wherein the method further comprises;
maintaining version information for snapshots of records storing the sub-values and merged residual-values; and updating the version information for the corresponding snapshot when a sub-value or merged residual-value is updated.

15 . The system of claim 9 , wherein the total value corresponds to an inventory of merchandise;
wherein the transaction is a purchase order for the merchandise; and wherein the subtraction operation corresponding to the transaction represents a deduction to the inventory as a result of the purchase order.

16 . The system of claim 9 , wherein the total value corresponds to a total amount of available storage space;
wherein the transaction is a request for allocating a storage space to a user; and wherein the subtraction operation corresponding to the transaction represents a deduction to the total amount of available storage space as a result of the allocation.

17 . A non-transitory storage medium storing instructions which when executed by a processor cause the processor to perform a method, the method comprising:
storing in a computing system a total value, which corresponds to a total amount of goods or service; dividing the total value into a number sub-values; determining that a sub-value is less than or equal to a threshold; merging the sub-value into a merged residual-value; receiving a transaction that indicates a subtraction operation with an associated value; and allowing the merged residual-value to be considered for processing the received subtraction operation, thereby reducing residual-value fragmentation.

18 . The non-transitory storage medium of claim 17 , wherein the threshold is greater than or equal to a minimum value associated with the subtraction operation.

19 . The non-transitory storage medium of claim 17 , wherein the method further comprises selecting one from the sub-values greater than or equal to the threshold and the merged residual-value for performing the subtraction operation.

20 . The non-transitory storage medium of claim 17 , wherein the method further comprises indicating a sub-value as disabled when a residual value thereof is zero.

Assignees

• Alibaba Group Holding Ltd

Inventors

• Qiu shuo

Classifications

• G06Q40/00 Primary

  Finance; Insurance; Tax strategies; Processing of corporate or income taxes · CPC title