Associating application-specific methods with tables used for data storage

A method of accessing data, comprising:

• storing first and second table data structures in a file system, each table data structure including a plurality of tablets that correspond to distinct non-overlapping table portions;
• wherein the first and second table data structures have distinct schemas;
• storing software modules in a plurality of servers, the software modules including a plurality of tablet access objects, a plurality of first application objects, and a plurality of second application objects, wherein:
• each tablet access object is associated with either a distinct first application object or a distinct second application object;
• each first application object and associated tablet access object are associated with and distinct from a respective tablet of the first table data structure, wherein each first application object corresponds to a distinct instantiation of a first application associated with the first table data structure;
• and
• each second application object and associated tablet access object are associated with and distinct from a respective tablet of the second table data structure, wherein each second application object corresponds to a distinct instantiation of a second application associated with the second table data structure, and at least one tablet of the plurality of tablets in the second table data structure is stored on a different server than its associated tablet access object and application object;
• after the storing, redistributing the tablet access objects and associated first or second application objects among the plurality of servers in accordance with a first load-balancing criterion, wherein, after the redistributing, at least one tablet of the plurality of tablets in the first table data structure is stored on a different server than its associated tablet access object and application object;
• after the redistributing, receiving from a first client a first request directed to a first tablet in the first table data structure;
• in response to the first request, using the tablet access object associated with the first tablet to perform a data access operation on the first tablet, and using the first application object associated with the first tablet to perform an additional computational operation to produce a result to be returned to the first client, wherein the tablet access object associated with the first tablet and used to perform the data access operation on the first tablet is stored on a different server than the first tablet;
• receiving from a second client a second request directed to a second tablet in the second table data structure;
• and
• in response to the second request, using the tablet access object associated with the second tablet to perform a data access operation on the second tablet, and using the second application object associated with the second tablet to perform an additional computational operation to produce a result to be returned to the second client.

A system for accessing data, comprising:

• in a set of interconnected computers:
• memory;
• a plurality of processors;
• and
• one or more programs stored in the memory and configured for execution by the plurality of processors, wherein execution of the one or more programs by the plurality of processors causes the set of interconnected computers to perform operations, including:
• storing a table data structure in a file system, the table data structure including a plurality of that correspond to distinct non-overlapping table portions;
• storing software modules in a plurality of the interconnected computers, the software modules including a plurality of tablet access objects and a plurality of application objects, wherein a distinct application object is associated with each tablet access object, and each application object and the associated tablet access object are associated with and distinct from a respective tablet of the table data structure, wherein each application object corresponds to a distinct instantiation of an application associated with the table data structure, and at least one tablet of the plurality of tablets is stored on a different server than its associated tablet access object and application object;
• after the storing of the table data structure and software modules, redistributing the tablet access objects and the associated application objects among the plurality of the interconnected computers in accordance with a first load-balancing criterion, wherein, after the redistributing, at least one tablet of the plurality of tablets is stored on a different computer of the interconnected computers than its associated tablet access object and application object;
• after the redistributing, receiving a first request directed to a respective tablet from a client;
• and
• in response to the first request, using the tablet access object associated with the respective tablet to perform a data access operation on the respective tablet, and using the application object associated with the respective tablet to perform an additional computational operation to produce a result to be returned to the client, wherein the tablet access object associated with the respective tablet and used to perform the data access operation on the respective tablet is stored on a computer of the interconnected computers than the respective tablet.

A non-transitory computer readable storage medium storing one or more programs for use in accessing data, the one or more programs configured to be executed by a set of interconnected computers, wherein execution of the one or more programs by the set of interconnected computers causes the set of interconnected computers to perform operations comprising:

• storing a table data structure in a file system, the table data structure including a plurality of tablets that correspond to distinct non-overlapping table portions;
• storing, in a plurality of the interconnected computers, software modules, the software modules including a plurality of tablet access objects and a plurality of application objects, wherein a distinct application object is associated with each tablet access object, and each application object and the associated tablet access object are associated with and distinct from a respective tablet of the table data structure, wherein each application object corresponds to a distinct instantiation of an application associated with the table data structure, and at least one tablet of the plurality of tablets is stored on a different server than its associated tablet access object and application object;
• after the storing of the table data structure and software modules, redistributing the tablet access objects and the associated application objects among the plurality of the interconnected computers in accordance with a first load-balancing criterion, wherein, after the redistributing, at least one tablet of the plurality of tablets is stored on a different computer of the interconnected computers than its associated tablet access object and application object;
• after the redistributing, receiving a first request directed to a respective tablet from a client;
• and
• in response to the first request, using the tablet access object associated with the respective tablet to perform a data access operation on the respective tablet, and using the application object associated with the respective tablet to perform an additional computational operation to produce a result to be returned to the client, wherein the tablet access object associated with the respective tablet and used to perform the data access operation on the respective tablet is stored on a computer of the interconnected computers than the respective tablet.