Microsoft Corporation
Punctuation controlled temporal reference data lookup

Abstract:

A method for joining an event stream with reference data includes loading a plurality of reference data snapshots from a reference data source into a cache. Punctuation events are supplied that indicate temporal validity for the plurality of reference data snapshots in the cache. A logical barrier is provided that restricts a flow of data events in the event stream to a cache lookup operation based on the punctuation events. The cache lookup operation is performed with respect to the data events in the event stream that are permitted to cross the logical barrier.