Method and network device for synchronization of database data routed through a router

• US 20040006551A1
• Filed: 04/09/2003
• Published: 01/08/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 04/17/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Malikie Innovations Limited (Key Patent Innovations Limited)
• Original Assignee: Nokia Corporation
• Inventors: Piispanen, Jussi, Martikainen, Mika, Sahinoja, Mikko, Rapakko, Jouni
• Granted Patent: US 7,590,629 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 707/1
• 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: H04L 45/02 Topology update or discovery
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/58 Message adaptation for wireless communication
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/329 in the application layer [OSI layer 7]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 9/40 Network security protocols
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/00 Services specially adapted for wireless communication networks; Facilities therefor
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 76/10 Connection setup
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/04 adapted for relaying to or from another terminal or user

Abstract

SyncML is used for synchronizing data of terminal device in wireless and wired environments. In general, synchronization takes place between a terminal device (e.g., a mobile phone) and a server device (e.g., a web server in Internet). However, a SyncML session, which occurs between the terminal and server, is an end-to-end communication. The idea of the present invention is to provide a method, a router and a system to allow routing of the synchronizing data exchanged during a synchronizing session through such a router. In general having the router is more cost efficient and a faster solution from the end-user point of view.

Claims

1. Method for synchronization of data between a first device (100, 300) and a second device (100, 300) routed through an intermediate network device (200) via an established connection (50, 60, 70, 20, 21, 22, 23), the method comprising:

receiving (S100) data arranged for transmission from said first device (100, 300), said data arranged for transmission comprising synchronization related information and

transmitting (S106) at least a part of said data arranged for transmission comprising synchronization related information to said second device (100, 300), wherein said method further comprises;

obtaining said synchronization related information from said received data arranged for transmission,

parsing (S1102) said synchronization related information for routing related information,

processing (S1104) said routing related information and obtaining processed synchronization related information and

arranging data for transmission comprising said processed synchronization related information.

2. Method according to claim 1, wherein said arranging for transmission comprises formatting the data, adding header information for transport level routing and forming at least one data packet of the formatted data and header information.

3. Method according to claim 1, wherein said method is initialized by instructing one of said first device (100, 300) and said second device (100, 300) to establish said connection (50, 60, 70, 20, 21, 22, 23) for synchronizing data between each other routed through said intermediate network device (200).

4. Method according to claim 3, wherein an initial data packet is transmitted from said intermediate network device (200) to one of said first device (100, 300) and said second device (100, 300), said initial data packet comprising instructions for initializing.

5. Method according to claim 1, characterized in that said parsing (S1102) of said synchronization related information for routing related information comprises:

caching (S 110) address information of said first device contained in said synchronization related information.

6. Method according to claim 1, wherein said parsing (S102) of said synchronization related information for routing related information comprises:

logging (S111) status information in accordance with said synchronization related information.

7. Method according to claim 6, characterized in that said logging (S 111) of said status information comprises:

transmitting said logged status information to said intermediate network device (200).

8. Method according to claim 1, wherein said processing (S104) of said routing related information comprises:

including (S114) a response address information designating said intermediate network device (200) to enable said second device (100, 300) to transmit subsequent data packets to said intermediate network device (200).

9. Method according to claim 1, wherein said processing (S104) of said routing related information comprises:

processing (S113) of address information of said second device by modifying said address information in accordance with cached address information.

10. Method according to claim 1, wherein said processing (S104) of said routing related information comprises:

processing (S115) an identification number.

11. Method according to claim 1, wherein said processing (S104) of said routing related information comprises:

modifying or removing (S116) of said routing related

12. Method according to claim 1, wherein said connection (50, 60 , 70, 20, 21, 22, 23) is a logical connection in accordance with a hypertext transfer protocol (HTTP).

13. Method according to claim 1, wherein said synchronization is based on a synchronization protocol according to a synchronization markup language (SyncML) standard.

14. Software tool for synchronization of databases between a client and a server routed through a router, comprising program code portions for carrying out the operations of claim 1, when said program is implemented in a computer program for being executed on a computer, a user terminal or a network device.

15. Computer program for synchronization of databases between a client and a server routed through a router, comprising program code section for carrying out the operations of claim 1, when said program is run on a computer, user terminal or a network device.

16. Computer program product for synchronization of databases between a client and a server routed through a router, wherein said computer program product comprises program code sections stored on a computer readable medium for carrying out the method of claim 1, when said program product is run on a computer, a user terminal or network device.

17. Network device for synchronization of data between a first device (100, 300) and a second device (100, 300) comprising:

a communication interface (210) for receiving data arranged for transmission from said first device (100, 300) and for transmitting at least a part of said data arranged for transmission to said second device (100, 300), said data containing synchronization related information,

wherein said network device further comprises

a routing agent (220) for obtaining said synchronization related information from said received data arranged for transmission said, for parsing said synchronization related information for routing related information, for processing said routing related information and obtaining modified synchronization related information and for arranging data for transmission comprising said processed synchronization related information.

18. System for synchronization data between a first device (100, 300) and a second device (100, 300) routed through an intermediate network device (200), said first device (100, 300) and said second device (100, 300) adapted to perform said synchronization, wherein said intermediate network device (200) comprises

a communication interface (210) for receiving data arranged for transmission from said first device (100, 300) and for transmitting at least a part of said data arranged for transmission to said second device (100, 300), said data containing synchronization related information and

a routing agent (220) for obtaining said synchronization related information from said received data arranged for transmission said, for parsing said synchronization related information for routing related information, for processing said routing related information and obtaining modified synchronization related information and for arranging data for transmission comprising said processed synchronization related information.