def get_next_id(self):
        try:
            query = {'_id': 'last_id'}
            update = {'$inc': {'id': 1}}
            fn = self.db.internal.find_and_modify
            row = fn(query, update, upsert=True, new=True)
        except Exception as e:
            raise DatabaseException(e)
        return row['id']
def active_at_datetime(self, deadline):
        """Check whether the verification was active at a particular datetime.

        Arguments:
            deadline (datetime): The date at which the verification was active
                (created before and expiration datetime is after today).

        Returns:
            bool

        """
        return (
            self.created_at < deadline and
            self.expiration_datetime > now()
        )