System and method for comparing database data

• US 20030177119A1
• Filed: 03/18/2002
• Published: 09/18/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 03/18/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: BMC Software Incorporated (KKR & Co., Inc.)
• Original Assignee: BMC Software Incorporated (KKR & Co., Inc.)
• Inventors: Cole, Stephen Ray
• Granted Patent: US 7,054,891 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 707/7
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/273 Asynchronous replication or reconciliation
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99952 Coherency, e.g. same view to multiple users

Abstract

An improved method and system for comparing database data. Data comparison may be performed either within a database or between two databases. Sets of cyclical redundancy check values may be created, at various points in time. Corresponding cyclical redundancy check values may be compared with each other to determine if the underlying data is different; differences may be displayed. Each cyclical redundancy check value may correspond to a user-determined amount of data within the database. The user-determined amount of data may be: (1) user-specified columns within one of the plurality of tables within the database; (2) a row within one of the plurality of tables within the database; (3) a table within the database; (4) the database in its entirety; or (5) any other subset of the database. A user-determined number of bytes corresponding to a user-determined subset of the user-determined amount of data may be stored for future use.

Claims

1. A method of data comparison within a database wherein the database comprises a plurality of tables, the method comprising:

creating a first plurality of cyclical redundancy check values, based on the data in the plurality of tables within the database, at a first point in time;

storing in a first memory the first plurality of cyclical redundancy check values;

creating a second plurality of cyclical redundancy check values, based on the data in the plurality of tables within the database, at a second point in time;

storing in a second memory the second plurality of cyclical redundancy check values; and

comparing each cyclical redundancy check value of the first plurality of cyclical redundancy check values with a corresponding cyclical redundancy check value of the second plurality of cyclical redundancy check values.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

displaying differences between corresponding cyclical redundancy check values of the first plurality of cyclical redundancy check values and cyclical redundancy check values of the second plurality of cyclical redundancy check values.

3. The method of claim 1,

wherein the first memory is a first data file;

and

wherein the second memory is a second data file.

4. The method of claim 1,

wherein the first memory and the second memory are a single data file.

5. The method of claim 1,

wherein each cyclical redundancy check value of the first plurality of cyclical redundancy check values corresponds to a user-determined amount of data within the database;

and

wherein each cyclical redundancy check value of the second plurality of cyclical redundancy check values corresponds to the user-determined amount of data within the database.

6. The method of claim 5,

wherein the user-determined amount of data is one or more user-specified columns within one of the plurality of tables within the database.

7. The method of claim 5,

wherein the user-determined amount of data is a row within one of the plurality of tables within the database.

8. The method of claim 5,

wherein the user-determined amount of data is a table within the database.

9. The method of claim 5,

wherein the user-determined amount of data is the database.

10. The method of claim 5, further comprising:

storing in a third memory a user-determined number of first bytes corresponding to a user-determined first subset of the user-determined amount of data at the first point in time;

storing in a fourth memory a user-determined number of second bytes corresponding to a user-determined second subset of the user-determined amount of data at the second point in time.

11. The method of claim 10,

wherein the user-determined amount of data is a row within one of the plurality of tables within the database;

wherein the user-determined first subset of the user-determined amount of data at the first point in time comprises one or more columns corresponding to the row; and

wherein the user-determined second subset of the user-determined amount of data at the second point in time comprises one or more columns corresponding to the row.

12. The method of claim 10,

wherein the user-determined amount of data is a table within the database;

wherein the user-determined first subset of the user-determined amount of data at the first point in time comprises one or more rows corresponding to the table; and

wherein the user-determined second subset of the user-determined amount of data at the second point in time comprises one or more rows corresponding to the table.

13. The method of claim 10,

wherein the user-determined amount of data is the database;

wherein the user-determined first subset of the user-determined amount of data at the first point in time comprises one or more tables corresponding to the database; and

wherein the user-determined second subset of the user-determined amount of data at the second point in time comprises one or more tables corresponding to the database.

14. The method of claim 10,

wherein the first memory is a first data file;

wherein the second memory is a second data file;

wherein the third memory is a third data file; and

wherein the fourth memory is a fourth data file.

15. The method of claim 10, further comprising:

displaying differences between corresponding cyclical redundancy check values of the first plurality of cyclical redundancy check values and cyclical redundancy check values of the second plurality of cyclical redundancy check values;

wherein said displaying comprises displaying a user-determined subset of the user-determined number of first bytes and the user-determined number of second bytes.

16. The method of claim 10,

wherein the first memory, the second memory, the third memory, and the fourth memory are one or more data files.

17. The method of claim 10,

wherein the first memory, the second memory, the third memory, and the fourth memory are a single data file.

18. A system of data comparison within a database wherein the database comprises a plurality of tables, the system comprising:

a network;

a CPU coupled to the network;

a memory coupled to the CPU which stores the database;

a system memory coupled to the CPU, wherein the system memory stores one or more computer programs executable by the CPU;

wherein the computer programs are executable to;

create a first plurality of cyclical redundancy check values, based on the data in the plurality of tables within the database, at a first point in time;

store in a first memory the first plurality of cyclical redundancy check values;

create a second plurality of cyclical redundancy check values, based on the data in the plurality of tables within the database, at a second point in time;

store in a second memory the second plurality of cyclical redundancy check values; and

compare each cyclical redundancy check value of the first plurality of cyclical redundancy check values with a corresponding cyclical redundancy check value of the second plurality of cyclical redundancy check values.

19. The system of claim 18, wherein the computer programs are further executable to:

display differences between corresponding cyclical redundancy check values of the first plurality of cyclical redundancy check values and cyclical redundancy check values of the second plurality of cyclical redundancy check values.

20. The system of claim 18,

wherein the first memory is a first data file;

and

wherein the second memory is a second data file.

21. The system of claim 18,

wherein the first memory and the second memory are a single data file.

22. The system of claim 18,

wherein each cyclical redundancy check value of the first plurality of cyclical redundancy check values corresponds to a user-determined amount of data within the database;

and

wherein each cyclical redundancy check value of the second plurality of cyclical redundancy check values corresponds to the user-determined amount of data within the database.

23. The system of claim 22,

wherein the user-determined amount of data is one or more user-specified columns within one of the plurality of tables within the database.

24. The system of claim 22,

wherein the user-determined amount of data is a row within one of the plurality of tables within the database.

25. The system of claim 22,

wherein the user-determined amount of data is a table within the database.

26. The system of claim 22,

wherein the user-determined amount of data is the database.

27. The system of claim 22, wherein the computer programs are further executable to:

store in a third memory a user-determined number of first bytes corresponding to a user-determined first subset of the user-determined amount of data at the first point in time;

store in a fourth memory a user-determined number of second bytes corresponding to a user-determined second subset of the user-determined amount of data at the second point in time.

28. The system of claim 27,

wherein the user-determined amount of data is a row within one of the plurality of tables within the database;

wherein the user-determined first subset of the user-determined amount of data at the first point in time comprises one or more columns corresponding to the row; and

wherein the user-determined second subset of the user-determined amount of data at the second point in time comprises one or more columns corresponding to the row.

29. The system of claim 27,

wherein the user-determined amount of data is a table within the database;

wherein the user-determined first subset of the user-determined amount of data at the first point in time comprises one or more rows corresponding to the table; and

wherein the user-determined second subset of the user-determined amount of data at the second point in time comprises one or more rows corresponding to the table.

30. The system of claim 27,

wherein the user-determined amount of data is the database;

wherein the user-determined first subset of the user-determined amount of data at the first point in time comprises one or more tables corresponding to the database; and

wherein the user-determined second subset of the user-determined amount of data at the second point in time comprises one or more tables corresponding to the database.

31. The system of claim 27,

wherein the first memory is a first data file;

wherein the second memory is a second data file;

wherein the third memory is a third data file; and

wherein the fourth memory is a fourth data file.

32. The system of claim 27, wherein the computer programs are further executable to:

display differences between corresponding cyclical redundancy check values of the first plurality of cyclical redundancy check values and cyclical redundancy check values of the second plurality of cyclical redundancy check values;

wherein said displaying comprises displaying a user-determined subset of the user-determined number of first bytes and the user-determined number of second bytes.

33. The system of claim 27,

wherein the first memory, the second memory, the third memory, and the fourth memory are one or more data files.

34. The system of claim 27,

wherein the first memory, the second memory, the third memory, and the fourth memory are a single data file.

35. A carrier medium which stores program instructions, wherein the program instructions are executable to implement:

creating a first plurality of cyclical redundancy check values, based on data in a plurality of tables within a database, at a first point in time;

storing in a first memory the first plurality of cyclical redundancy check values;

creating a second plurality of cyclical redundancy check values, based on the data in the plurality of tables within the database, at a second point in time;

storing in a second memory the second plurality of cyclical redundancy check values; and

comparing each cyclical redundancy check value of the first plurality of cyclical redundancy check values with a corresponding cyclical redundancy check value of the second plurality of cyclical redundancy check values.

36. The carrier medium of claim 35, wherein the program instructions are further executable to implement:

displaying differences between corresponding cyclical redundancy check values of the first plurality of cyclical redundancy check values and cyclical redundancy check values of the second plurality of cyclical redundancy check values.

37. The carrier medium of claim 35,

wherein the first memory is a first data file;

and

wherein the second memory is a second data file.

38. The carrier medium of claim 35,

wherein the first memory and the second memory are a single data file.

39. The carrier medium of claim 35,

wherein each cyclical redundancy check value of the first plurality of cyclical redundancy check values corresponds to a user-determined amount of data within the database;

and

wherein each cyclical redundancy check value of the second plurality of cyclical redundancy check values corresponds to the user-determined amount of data within the database.

40. The carrier medium of claim 39,

wherein the user-determined amount of data is one or more user-specified columns within one of the plurality of tables within the database.

41. The carrier medium of claim 39,

wherein the user-determined amount of data is a row within one of the plurality of tables within the database.

42. The carrier medium of claim 39,

wherein the user-determined amount of data is a table within the database.

43. The carrier medium of claim 39,

wherein the user-determined amount of data is the database.

44. The carrier medium of claim 39, wherein the program instructions are further executable to implement:

storing in a third memory a user-determined number of first bytes corresponding to a user-determined first subset of the user-determined amount of data at the first point in time;

storing in a fourth memory a user-determined number of second bytes corresponding to a user-determined second subset of the user-determined amount of data at the second point in time.

45. The carrier medium of claim 44,

wherein the user-determined amount of data is a row within one of the plurality of tables within the database;

wherein the user-determined first subset of the user-determined amount of data at the first point in time comprises one or more columns corresponding to the row; and

wherein the user-determined second subset of the user-determined amount of data at the second point in time comprises one or more columns corresponding to the row.

46. The carrier medium of claim 44,

wherein the user-determined amount of data is a table within the database;

wherein the user-determined first subset of the user-determined amount of data at the first point in time comprises one or more rows corresponding to the table; and

wherein the user-determined second subset of the user-determined amount of data at the second point in time comprises one or more rows corresponding to the table.

47. The carrier medium of claim 44,

wherein the user-determined amount of data is the database;

wherein the user-determined first subset of the user-determined amount of data at the first point in time comprises one or more tables corresponding to the database; and

wherein the user-determined second subset of the user-determined amount of data at the second point in time comprises one or more tables corresponding to the database.

48. The carrier medium of claim 44,

wherein the first memory is a first data file;

wherein the second memory is a second data file;

wherein the third memory is a third data file; and

wherein the fourth memory is a fourth data file.

49. The carrier medium of claim 44, wherein the program instructions are further executable to implement:

displaying differences between corresponding cyclical redundancy check values of the first plurality of cyclical redundancy check values and cyclical redundancy check values of the second plurality of cyclical redundancy check values;

wherein said displaying comprises displaying a user-determined subset of the user-determined number of first bytes and the user-determined number of second bytes.

50. The carrier medium of claim 44,

wherein the first memory, the second memory, the third memory, and the fourth memory are one or more data files.

51. The carrier medium of claim 44,

wherein the first memory, the second memory, the third memory, and the fourth memory are a single data file.

52. A method of data comparison of first data in a first database with second data in a second database wherein the first database comprises a plurality of first tables and wherein the second database comprises a plurality of second tables, the method comprising:

creating a first plurality of cyclical redundancy check values, based on first data in the first plurality of tables within the first database, at a first point in time;

storing in a first memory the first plurality of cyclical redundancy check values;

creating a second plurality of cyclical redundancy check values, based on second data in the second plurality of tables within the second database, at a second point in time;

storing in a second memory the second plurality of cyclical redundancy check values; and

comparing each cyclical redundancy check value of the first plurality of cyclical redundancy check values with a corresponding cyclical redundancy check value of the second plurality of cyclical redundancy check values.

53. The method of claim 52, further comprising:

displaying differences between corresponding cyclical redundancy check values of the first plurality of cyclical redundancy check values and cyclical redundancy check values of the second plurality of cyclical redundancy check values.

54. The method of claim 52,

wherein the first memory is a first data file;

and

wherein the second memory is a second data file.

55. The method of claim 52,

wherein the first memory and the second memory are a single data file.

56. The method of claim 52,

wherein each cyclical redundancy check value of the first plurality of cyclical redundancy check values corresponds to a first user-determined amount of first data within the first database;

and

wherein each cyclical redundancy check value of the second plurality of cyclical redundancy check values corresponds to a second user-determined amount of second data within the second database.

57. The method of claim 56,

wherein the first user-determined amount of first data is a row within the first plurality of first tables within the first database;

and

wherein the second user-determined amount of second data is a row within the second plurality of second tables within the second database.

58. The method of claim 56,

wherein the first user-determined amount of first data is a table within the first database;

and

wherein the second user-determined amount of second data is a table within the second database.

59. The method of claim 56,

wherein the first user-determined amount of first data is the first database;

and

wherein the second user-determined amount of second data is the second database.

60. The method of claim 56, further comprising:

storing in a third memory a user-determined number of first bytes corresponding to a user-determined first subset of the first user-determined amount of first data at the first point in time;

storing in a fourth memory a user-determined number of second bytes corresponding to a user-determined second subset of the second user-determined amount of second data at the second point in time.

61. The method of claim 60,

wherein the first user-determined amount of first data is a row within the first plurality of first tables within the first database;

wherein the user-determined first subset of the first user-determined amount of first data at the first point in time comprises one or more columns corresponding to the row;

wherein the second user-determined amount of second data is a row within the second plurality of second tables within the second database; and

wherein the user-determined second subset of the second user-determined amount of second data at the second point in time comprises one or more columns corresponding to the row.

62. The method of claim 60,

wherein the first user-determined amount of first data is a table within the first database;

wherein the user-determined first subset of the first user-determined amount of first data at the first point in time comprises one or more rows corresponding to the table;

wherein the second user-determined amount of second data is a table within the second database; and

wherein the user-determined second subset of the second user-determined amount of second data at the second point in time comprises one or more rows corresponding to the table.

63. The method of claim 60,

wherein the first user-determined amount of first data is the first database;

wherein the user-determined first subset of the first user-determined amount of first data at the first point in time comprises one or more tables corresponding to the first database;

wherein the second user-determined amount of second data is the second database; and

wherein the user-determined second subset of the second user-determined amount of second data at the second point in time comprises one or more tables corresponding to the second database.

64. The method of claim 60,

wherein the first memory is a first data file;

wherein the second memory is a second data file;

wherein the third memory is a third data file; and

wherein the fourth memory is a fourth data file.

65. The method of claim 60, further comprising:

displaying differences between corresponding cyclical redundancy check values of the first plurality of cyclical redundancy check values and cyclical redundancy check values of the second plurality of cyclical redundancy check values;

wherein said displaying comprises displaying a user-determined subset of the user-determined number of first bytes and the user-determined number of second bytes.

66. The method of claim 60,

wherein the first memory, the second memory, the third memory, and the fourth memory are one or more data files.

67. The method of claim 60,

wherein the first memory, the second memory, the third memory, and the fourth memory are a single data file.

68. A system of data comparison of first data in a first database with second data in a second database wherein the first database comprises a plurality of first tables and wherein the second database comprises a plurality of second tables, the system comprising:

a network;

a CPU coupled to the network;

a memory coupled to the CPU which stores the database;

a system memory coupled to the CPU, wherein the system memory stores one or more computer programs executable by the CPU;

wherein the computer programs are executable to;

create a first plurality of cyclical redundancy check values, based on first data in the first plurality of tables within the first database, at a first point in time;

store in a first memory the first plurality of cyclical redundancy check values;

create a second plurality of cyclical redundancy check values, based on second data in the second plurality of tables within the second database, at a second point in time;

store in a second memory the second plurality of cyclical redundancy check values; and

compare each cyclical redundancy check value of the first plurality of cyclical redundancy check values with a corresponding cyclical redundancy check value of the second plurality of cyclical redundancy check values.

69. The system of claim 68, wherein the computer programs are further executable to:

display differences between corresponding cyclical redundancy check values of the first plurality of cyclical redundancy check values and cyclical redundancy check values of the second plurality of cyclical redundancy check values.

70. The system of claim 68,

wherein the first memory is a first data file;

and

wherein the second memory is a second data file.

71. The system of claim 68,

wherein the first memory and the second memory are a single data file.

72. The system of claim 68,

wherein each cyclical redundancy check value of the first plurality of cyclical redundancy check values corresponds to a first user-determined amount of first data within the first database;

and

wherein each cyclical redundancy check value of the second plurality of cyclical redundancy check values corresponds to a second user-determined amount of second data within the second database.

73. The system of claim 72,

wherein the first user-determined amount of first data is a row within the first plurality of first tables within the first database;

and

wherein the second user-determined amount of second data is a row within the second plurality of second tables within the second database.

74. The system of claim 72,

wherein the first user-determined amount of first data is a table within the first database;

and

wherein the second user-determined amount of second data is a table within the second database.

75. The system of claim 72,

wherein the first user-determined amount of first data is the first database;

and

wherein the second user-determined amount of second data is the second database.

76. The system of claim 72, wherein the computer programs are further executable to:

store in a third memory a user-determined number of first bytes corresponding to a user-determined first subset of the first user-determined amount of first data at the first point in time;

store in a fourth memory a user-determined number of second bytes corresponding to a user-determined second subset of the second user-determined amount of second data at the second point in time.

77. The system of claim 76,

wherein the first user-determined amount of first data is a row within the first plurality of first tables within the first database;

wherein the user-determined first subset of the first user-determined amount of first data at the first point in time comprises one or more columns corresponding to the row;

wherein the second user-determined amount of second data is a row within the second plurality of second tables within the second database; and

wherein the user-determined second subset of the second user-determined amount of second data at the second point in time comprises one or more columns corresponding to the row.

78. The system of claim 76,

wherein the first user-determined amount of first data is a table within the first database;

wherein the user-determined first subset of the first user-determined amount of first data at the first point in time comprises one or more rows corresponding to the table;

wherein the second user-determined amount of second data is a table within the second database; and

wherein the user-determined second subset of the second user-determined amount of second data at the second point in time comprises one or more rows corresponding to the table.

79. The system of claim 76,

wherein the first user-determined amount of first data is the first database;

wherein the user-determined first subset of the first user-determined amount of first data at the first point in time comprises one or more tables corresponding to the first database;

wherein the second user-determined amount of second data is the second database; and

wherein the user-determined second subset of the second user-determined amount of second data at the second point in time comprises one or more tables corresponding to the second database.

80. The system of claim 76,

wherein the first memory is a first data file;

wherein the second memory is a second data file;

wherein the third memory is a third data file; and

wherein the fourth memory is a fourth data file.

81. The system of claim 76, wherein the computer programs are further executable to:

display differences between corresponding cyclical redundancy check values of the first plurality of cyclical redundancy check values and cyclical redundancy check values of the second plurality of cyclical redundancy check values;

wherein said displaying comprises displaying a user-determined subset of the user-determined number of first bytes and the user-determined number of second bytes.

82. The system of claim 76,

wherein the first memory, the second memory, the third memory, and the fourth memory are one or more data files.

83. The system of claim 76,

wherein the first memory, the second memory, the third memory, and the fourth memory are a single data file.

84. A carrier medium which stores program instructions, wherein the program instructions are executable to implement:

creating a first plurality of cyclical redundancy check values, based on first data in a first plurality of tables within a first database, at a first point in time;

storing in a first memory the first plurality of cyclical redundancy check values;

creating a second plurality of cyclical redundancy check values, based on second data in a second plurality of tables within a second database, at a second point in time;

storing in a second memory the second plurality of cyclical redundancy check values; and

comparing each cyclical redundancy check value of the first plurality of cyclical redundancy check values with a corresponding cyclical redundancy check value of the second plurality of cyclical redundancy check values.

85. The carrier medium of claim 84, wherein the program instructions are further executable to implement:

displaying differences between corresponding cyclical redundancy check values of the first plurality of cyclical redundancy check values and cyclical redundancy check values of the second plurality of cyclical redundancy check values.

86. The carrier medium of claim 84,

wherein the first memory is a first data file;

and

wherein the second memory is a second data file.

87. The carrier medium of claim 84,

wherein the first memory and the second memory are a single data file.

88. The carrier medium of claim 84,

wherein each cyclical redundancy check value of the first plurality of cyclical redundancy check values corresponds to a first user-determined amount of first data within the first database;

and

wherein each cyclical redundancy check value of the second plurality of cyclical redundancy check values corresponds to a second user-determined amount of second data within the second database.

89. The carrier medium of claim 88,

wherein the first user-determined amount of first data is a row within the first plurality of first tables within the first database;

and

wherein the second user-determined amount of second data is a row within the second plurality of second tables within the second database.

90. The carrier medium of claim 88,

wherein the first user-determined amount of first data is a table within the first database;

and

wherein the second user-determined amount of second data is a table within the second database.

91. The carrier medium of claim 88,

wherein the first user-determined amount of first data is the first database;

and

wherein the second user-determined amount of second data is the second database.

92. The carrier medium of claim 88, wherein the program instructions are further executable to implement:

storing in a third memory a user-determined number of first bytes corresponding to a user-determined first subset of the first user-determined amount of first data at the first point in time;

storing in a fourth memory a user-determined number of second bytes corresponding to a user-determined second subset of the second user-determined amount of second data at the second point in time.

93. The carrier medium of claim 92,

wherein the first user-determined amount of first data is a row within the first plurality of first tables within the first database;

wherein the user-determined first subset of the first user-determined amount of first data at the first point in time comprises one or more columns corresponding to the row;

wherein the second user-determined amount of second data is a row within the second plurality of second tables within the second database; and

wherein the user-determined second subset of the second user-determined amount of second data at the second point in time comprises one or more columns corresponding to the row.

94. The carrier medium of claim 92,

wherein the first user-determined amount of first data is a table within the first database;

wherein the user-determined first subset of the first user-determined amount of first data at the first point in time comprises one or more rows corresponding to the table;

wherein the second user-determined amount of second data is a table within the second database; and

wherein the user-determined second subset of the second user-determined amount of second data at the second point in time comprises one or more rows corresponding to the table.

95. The carrier medium of claim 92,

wherein the first user-determined amount of first data is the first database;

wherein the user-determined first subset of the first user-determined amount of first data at the first point in time comprises one or more tables corresponding to the first database;

wherein the second user-determined amount of second data is the second database; and

wherein the user-determined second subset of the second user-determined amount of second data at the second point in time comprises one or more tables corresponding to the second database.

96. The carrier medium of claim 92,

wherein the first memory is a first data file;

wherein the second memory is a second data file;

wherein the third memory is a third data file; and

wherein the fourth memory is a fourth data file.

97. The carrier medium of claim 92, wherein the program instructions are further executable to implement:

displaying differences between corresponding cyclical redundancy check values of the first plurality of cyclical redundancy check values and cyclical redundancy check values of the second plurality of cyclical redundancy check values;

wherein said displaying comprises displaying a user-determined subset of the user-determined number of first bytes and the user-determined number of second bytes.

98. The carrier medium of claim 92,

wherein the first memory, the second memory, the third memory, and the fourth memory are one or more data files.

99. The carrier medium of claim 92,

wherein the first memory, the second memory, the third memory, and the fourth memory are a single data file.

100. The carrier medium of claim 84, wherein the carrier medium is a memory medium.