System and method for sharing data among a plurality of personal digital assistants

• US 20020059375A1
• Filed: 05/23/2001
• Published: 05/16/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 04/08/1999
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Access Company Limited
• Original Assignee: Palmsource Incorporated (Access Company Limited)
• Inventors: Grillo, Pete, Hanrahan, Steve, Pivowar, Alvin
• Granted Patent: US 6,615,246 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 709/204
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/10 Office automation; Time management
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99952 Coherency, e.g. same view to multiple users

Abstract

A system and method are provided for sharing data among a plurality of users. Included are a plurality of personal digital assistants, or PDA'"'"'s, each suitable for storing a plurality of personal data sets thereon. Associated therewith is a server including a plurality of server data sets stored thereon. A communication link between the PDA'"'"'s and the server is adapted for synchronizing the server data sets with the personal data sets in order to obtain the personal data set of one PDA on another PDA, thereby synchronizing the personal data sets between different PDA'"'"'s. The personal data sets of each of the PDA'"'"'s have personal identification codes assigned thereto and the server data sets of the server have server identification codes assigned thereto. A map correlating the personal identification codes and the server identification codes is stored on at least one of the PDA'"'"'s, the server, and a computer in which the communication link is resident for identification purposes during synchronization of the personal data sets and the server data sets.

Claims

1. A system for sharing data among a plurality of users comprising:

a plurality of portable data storage modules each suitable for storing a plurality of personal data sets thereon;

a server including a plurality of server data sets stored thereon; and

a communication link between the portable data storage modules and the server for synchronizing the server data sets with the personal data sets in order to obtain the personal data set of one portable data storage module on another portable data storage module, thereby synchronizing the personal data sets between different portable data storage modules;

said personal data sets of each of the portable data storage modules having personal identification codes assigned thereto and the server data sets of the server having server identification codes assigned thereto, wherein a correlation between the personal identification codes and the server identification codes is stored on at least one of the portable data storage module, the server, and a computer in which the communication link is resident for identification purposes during synchronization of the personal data sets and the server data sets.

2. The system as recited in claim 1, wherein the personal data sets include task-oriented information.

3. The system as recited in claim 2, wherein the personal data sets include at least one of contact and calendar information.

4. The system as recited in claim 1, wherein the communication link is resident in a client computer and is connected to the server via a network.

5. The system as recited in claim 4, wherein the network is at least one of the Internet and an intranet.

6. The system as recited in claim 1, wherein the communication link includes a link controller suitable for interfacing the portable data storage modules, and a client messenger in communication with the link controller and suitable for interfacing the server.

7. The system as recited in claim 6, wherein the client messenger is further suitable for interfacing local memory for synchronizing a plurality of local data sets stored thereon with the personal data sets and the server data sets.

8. The system as recited in claim 1, wherein the personal data sets and the server data sets each has three fields of information stored therewith including a name field, an identification field, and an index field for facilitating synchronization.

9. The system as recited in claim 1, wherein the correlation is stored on the portable data storage modules.

10. The system as recited in claim 1, wherein the synchronization of the personal data sets of different portable data storage modules only occurs on personal data sets specifically marked to be shared by including the server identification codes of the personal data sets of other portable data storage modules.

11. The system as recited in claim 1, wherein the synchronization of the personal data sets between different portable data storage modules only occurs on personal data sets specifically marked to be shared.

12. The system as recited in claim 11, wherein a conflict occurs when particular personal data sets of a first one of the portable data storage modules is synchronized with the server data sets before the particular personal data sets of a second one of the portable data storage modules is synchronized with the server data sets, and the particular personal data sets of the first and second portable data storage modules are marked to be shared.

13. The system as recited in claim 12, wherein the conflict is resolved by replicating the particular personal data sets.

14. The system as recited in claim 12, wherein the conflict is resolved by synchronizing the particular personal data sets of the second portable data storage module with the server data sets.

15. The system as recited in claim 12, wherein the conflict is resolved by not synchronizing the particular personal data sets of the second portable data storage module with the server data sets.

16. The system as recited in claim 12, wherein the conflict is resolved by marking the particular personal data sets of the second portable data storage module and alerting a user of the conflict via a user interface.

18. The method as recited in claim 17, wherein the personal data sets include task-oriented information.

19. The method as recited in claim 18, wherein the personal data sets include at least one of contact and calendar information.

20. The method as recited in claim 17, wherein the communication link is resident in a client computer and is connected to the server via a network.

21. The method as recited in claim 20, wherein the network is at least one of the Internet and an intranet.

22. The method as recited in claim 17, wherein the communication link includes a link controller suitable for interfacing the portable data storage modules, and a client messenger in communication with the link controller and suitable for interfacing the server.

23. The method as recited in claim 22, wherein the client messenger is further suitable for interfacing local memory for synchronizing a plurality of local data sets stored thereon with the personal data sets and the server data sets.

24. The method as recited in claim 17, wherein the personal data sets and the server data sets each has three fields of information stored therewith including a name field, an identification field, and an index field for facilitating synchronization.

25. The method as recited in claim 17, wherein the correlation is stored on the portable data storage modules.

26. The method as recited in claim 17, wherein the synchronization of the personal data sets of different portable data storage modules only occurs on personal data sets specifically marked to be shared by including the server identification codes of the personal data sets of other portable data storage modules.

27. The method as recited in claim 17, wherein the synchronization of the personal data sets between different portable data storage modules only occurs on personal data sets specifically marked to be shared.

28. The method as recited in claim 27, wherein a conflict occurs when particular personal data sets of a first one of the portable data storage modules is synchronized with the server data sets before the particular personal data sets of a second one of the portable data storage modules is synchronized with the server data sets, and the particular personal data sets of the first and second portable data storage modules are marked to be shared.

29. The method as recited in claim 28, wherein the conflict is resolved by replicating the particular personal data sets.

30. The method as recited in claim 28, wherein the conflict is resolved by synchronizing the particular personal data sets of the second portable data storage module with the server data sets.

31. The method as recited in claim 28, wherein the conflict is resolved by not synchronizing the particular personal data sets of the second portable data storage module with the server data sets.

32. The method as recited in claim 28, wherein the conflict is resolved by marking the particular personal data sets of the second portable data storage module and alerting a user of the conflict via a user interface.

17. A method for sharing data among a plurality of users comprising the operations of:

storing a plurality of personal data sets on a plurality of portable data storage modules;

establishing a communication link between at least one of the data storage modules and a server;

obtaining the personal data set of one portable data storage module on another portable data storage module by synchronizing the personal data sets with a plurality of server data sets stored on the server, said personal data sets of each of the portable data storage modules having personal identification codes assigned thereto and the server data sets of the server having server identification codes assigned thereto; and

accessing a correlation between the personal identification codes and the server identification codes that is stored on at least one of the portable data storage module and the server.

33. A computer program embodied on a computer readable medium for providing a communication link between a server and a portable data storage module comprising:

a code segment for synchronizing a plurality of personal data sets on a portable data storage module with a plurality of server data sets on a server;

a code segment for sharing the personal data sets on the portable data storage module with another portable data storage module via the server, said personal data sets of each of the portable data storage modules having personal identification codes assigned thereto and the server data sets of the server having server identification codes assigned thereto; and

a code segment for accessing a correlation between the personal identification codes and the server identification codes that is stored on at least one of the portable data storage module and the server.

34. The computer program as recited in claim 33, wherein the personal data sets include task-oriented information.

35. The computer program as recited in claim 34, wherein the personal data sets include at least one contact and calendar information.

36. The computer program as recited in claim 33, wherein the communication link is resident in a client computer and is connected to the server via a network.

37. The computer program as recited in claim 36, wherein the network is at least one of the Internet and an intranet.

38. The computer program as recited in claim 33, wherein the communication link includes a link controller suitable for interfacing the portable data storage modules, and a client messenger in communication with the link controller and suitable for interfacing the server.

39. The computer program as recited in claim 38, wherein the client messenger is further suitable for interfacing local memory for synchronizing a plurality of local data sets stored thereon with the personal data sets and the server data sets.

40. The computer program as recited in claim 33, wherein the personal data sets and the server data sets each has three fields of information stored therewith including a name field, an identification field, and an index field for facilitating synchronization.

41. The computer program as recited in claim 33, wherein the correlation is stored on the portable data storage modules.

42. The computer program as recited in claim 33, wherein the synchronization of the personal data sets of different portable data storage modules only occurs on personal data sets specifically marked to be shared by including the server identification codes of the personal data sets of other portable data storage modules.

43. The computer program as recited in claim 33, wherein the synchronization of the personal data sets between different portable data storage modules only occurs on personal data sets specifically marked to be shared.

44. The computer program as recited in claim 43, wherein a conflict occurs when particular personal data sets of a first one of the portable data storage modules is synchronized with the server data sets before the particular personal data sets of a second one of the portable data storage modules is synchronized with the server data sets, and the particular personal data sets of the first and second portable data storage modules are marked to be shared.

45. The computer program as recited in claim 44, wherein the conflict is resolved by replicating the particular personal data sets.

46. The computer program as recited in claim 44, wherein the conflict is resolved by synchronizing the particular personal data sets of the second portable data storage module with the server data sets.

47. The computer program as recited in claim 44, wherein the conflict is resolved by not synchronizing the particular personal data sets of the second portable data storage module with the server data sets.

48. The computer program as recited in claim 44, wherein the conflict is resolved by marking the particular personal data sets of the second portable data storage module and alerting a user of the conflict via a user interface.