Run-time engine implemented on a computing device allowing synchronization of records during application execution

• US 20020056011A1
• Filed: 10/16/2001
• Published: 05/09/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 10/16/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Zhigu Holdings Limited
• Original Assignee: TeleCommunication Systems Inc (Comtech Telecommunications Corporation)
• Inventors: Nardone, Joseph R., Mason, Larry D.
• Granted Patent: US 7,716,374 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 709/248
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/27 Replication, distribution or synchronisation of data between databases or within a distributed database system; Distributed database system architectures therefor
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/275 Synchronous replication
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 9/44 Arrangements for executing specific programs
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/1097 for distributed storage of data in networks, e.g. transport arrangements for network file system [NFS], storage area networks [SAN] or network attached storage [NAS]

Abstract

A first database implemented on a remote device such as a handheld computer may be reconciled with a corresponding second database implemented on a host computer during execution of an application program on the handheld device. In addition, the application program may be executed according to program instructions stored in an application program file located in the remote device. The databases may be reconciled by first commencing execution of the application program. Then, during the course of program execution, a synchronization instruction located in said application program file is retrieved. The synchronization instruction is executed by establishing a communications link between the handheld computer and the host computer. Subsequently, any differences between the first database and the second database are reconciled. Furthermore, embodiments of the invention contemplate that in addition to reconciling all of the databases located on the handheld and host computers, less than all of the databases may be reconciled to reduce the amount of time required to execute the reconciliation process. In addition, after reconciliation control may be returned to the calling application program, or to another application, as determined by the application designer.

Claims

1. A method of reconciling data between a host device and a remote device connected to the host device, the method comprising steps of:

commencing execution of an application on the remote device;

executing a synchronization instruction from the application; and

synchronizing data stored in the remote device with data stored in the host device.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising a step of establishing a communication link between the host device and the remote device for synchronizing the data.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising steps of:

launching a first synchronization process on the remote device in response to the step of executing a synchronization instruction; and

launching a second synchronization process on the host device in response to the step of executing a synchronization instruction.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein the step of synchronizing is performed by the first synchronization process and the second synchronization process.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein the step of executing a synchronization instruction further comprises executing from the application a synchronization instruction having at least one parameter.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein the at least one parameter identifies data for synchronization.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein the identified data includes data stored in at least one database in the remote device that is synchronized with data stored in an associated database in the host device.

8. The method of claim 5, wherein the at least one parameter includes a control parameter identifying an application to perform a next instruction after executing the synchronization instruction.

9. The method of claim 5, wherein the step of executing a synchronization instruction further comprises steps of:

extracting the at least one parameter from the synchronization instruction; and

storing the at least one parameter in memory in the remote device.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein the step of executing a synchronization instruction further comprises steps of:

retrieving the stored at least one parameter from the memory; and

executing from the application the synchronization instruction with the retrieved at least one parameter.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of executing a synchronization instruction from the application further comprises executing the synchronization instruction in response to an event.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein the event comprises selecting a button or icon displayed by the application on the remote device.

13. The method of claim 11, wherein the event comprises selecting a menu item displayed by the application on the remote device.

14. The method of claim 11, wherein the event comprises one of selecting a form and closing a form displayed on the remote device.

16. The system of claim 15, wherein the remote device further comprises:

a runtime engine executing the application; and

a memory storing a program file received from the host device, the program file including the synchronization instruction executed by the remote device.

17. The system of claim 16, wherein the runtime engine is configured to retrieve the synchronization instruction from the program file and execute the synchronization instruction.

18. The system of claim 17, wherein a first synchronization process is launched on the remote device and a second synchronization process is launched on the host device for synchronizing in response to the execution of the synchronization instruction.

19. The system of claim 17, wherein the host device further comprises an integrated design environment configured to generate the application and the program file, the application and the program file being downloaded to the remote device from the host device through a communication link.

15. A system comprising:

a remote device including at least one first database;

a host device connected to the remote device and including at least one second database, wherein the remote device is configured to execute a synchronization instruction for synchronizing the at least one first database and the at least one second database, and the synchronize instruction is executed from an application running on the remote device.

20. A data synchronization system comprising:

a host computer including an integrated design environment, a first plurality of databases, and at least one application;

wherein the host computer is configured to generate the at least one application and a program file including instructions executed with the application; and

a portable remote computer connected to the host computer, the portable remote computer including a runtime engine, and a second plurality of databases;

wherein the portable computer is configured to receive the at least one application and program file from the host computer, and the runtime engine is configured to execute the at least one application and a synchronization instruction in the program file for synchronizing at least one database in the second plurality of databases with at least one associated database from the first plurality of databases.