System and method for synchronizing files in multiple nodes

• US 20040068516A1
• Filed: 12/30/2002
• Published: 04/08/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 10/04/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: DataCloud Technologies, LLC (IP Investments Group LLC)
• Original Assignee: Hong Fu Jin Precision Industry (Shenzhen) Co., Ltd. (Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., Ltd.), Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., Ltd.
• Inventors: Lee, Chung-I, Wang, Yekoo, Lin, Floye, Luo, Benson
• Granted Patent: US 7,139,780 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 707/103Y
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/182 Distributed file systems
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99942 Manipulating data structure, e.g. compression, compaction, compilation
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99943 Generating database or data structure, e.g. via user interface
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99953 Recoverability
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99955 Archiving or backup

Abstract

A system and method for performing file synchronization in multiple nodes. The system includes a central node (120), and a plurality of local nodes (100) connected with the central node by a common communications network (110). Each local node includes a local application server (101), a local file server (103), and a local database (104). The central node includes a central application server (121), a central file server (123), and a central database (124). A synchronization program (122) running on the central application server downloads updated copies of files from the local file servers, and uploads the updated copies of files to the central file server as latest editions of the files. A proxy (102) running on each local application server updates copies of files in its respective local file server, and downloads latest editions of files from the central node.

Claims

1. A system for synchronizing files in multiple nodes, the system comprising a central node, and a plurality of local nodes connected with the central node by a network, wherein:

the local nodes act as servers in the network, and each of the local nodes comprises;

a local file server that stores one copy of each file that is shared between the local nodes, and copies of files needing to be synchronized with corresponding files in the central node;

a local database that stores information on copies of files in the local file server; and

a local application server that runs a proxy to update copies of files in the local file server, and to download latest editions of files from the central node; and

the central node acts as a server in the network, and the central node comprises;

a central database that records all update information on copies of files in all the local file servers;

a central file server that stores latest editions of files that are shared between the local nodes; and

a central application server comprising a synchronization program for updating files in the central file server, the synchronization program downloading updated copies of files from the relevant local file servers, and updating the central file server.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein each of the local nodes is connected with a plurality of client sides via the network.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein each of the local databases comprises a first table to store information on copies of files in the local file server, the first table comprising fields for file name, file directory and update time.

4. The system of claim 3, wherein the central database comprises a second table to record all update information on copies of files in all the local file servers, the second table comprising fields for file name, original directory, update time, target directory and upload completion.

5. The system of claim 4, wherein the fields of file name, original directory and update time in the second table correspond with the fields of file name, file directory and update time in the first table respectively.

6. The system of claim 4, wherein the second table comprises at least one item of update information added by at least one of the proxies after updating of at least one copy of at least one file in at least one of the local file servers.

7. A method for synchronizing files in multiple nodes, whereby file synchronization between a plurality of local nodes is performed via a central node, the central node comprising a central application server, a central file server and a central database, and each of the local nodes comprising a local application, a local file server and a local database, the method comprising the following steps:

(a) storing one copy of each file that is shared between the local nodes;

(b) creating a first table in each of the local databases to store information on copies of files in its respective local file server;

(c) creating a second table in the central database to record all update information on copies of files in all the local file servers;

(d) updating a copy of a file in one of the local file servers;

(e) adding a new item of update information on the file in the second table;

(f) downloading the updated copy of the file from said one of the local file servers, and uploading the updated copy of the file to the central file server as the latest edition of the file;

(g) determining whether a required copy of the file in another of the local file servers needs to be updated; and

(h) downloading the latest edition of the file from the central file server to update said another of the local file servers if the required copy of the file needs to be updated.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein the first table comprises fields of file name, file directory, and update time.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein the second table comprises fields of file name, original directory, update time, target directory and upload completion.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein the fields of file name, original directory and update time in the second table correspond with the fields of file name, file directory and update time in the first table respectively.

11. The method of claim 9, wherein step (e) further comprises the step of:

filling out the fields of file name, original directory and update time for the new item of update information in the second table according to the corresponding fields of the corresponding item in the first table, and setting the fields of target directory and upload completion in the second table to null.

12. The method of claim 9, wherein step (f) further comprises the step of:

reading items whose values in the field of upload completion in the second table are null, in order to update the central file server.

13. The method of claim 9, wherein step (g) further comprises the step of:

comparing values in the field of update time for corresponding items in the first table and in the second table in order to determine whether the required copy of the file needs to be updated.

14. A method of synchronizing files based upon a same item in multiple nodes comprising a central node connected with a plurality of local nodes, wherein the central node is equipped with a central application server, a central file server and a central database, and each of said local nodes is equipped with a local application server, a local file server and a local database, the method comprising steps of:

in a READ procedure;

(1) obtaining a file updated time in the local database;

(2) comparing said updated time with that recorded in the central database;

(3) downloading a corresponding file from the local file server if the updated time in the local database is later than that in the central database, or

(4) downloading a corresponding file from the central file server if the updated time in the local database is earlier than that in the central database;

in a WRITE procedure;

(1) obtaining a file updated time in the local database;

(2) comparing said updated time with that recorded in the central database;

(3) uploading the corresponding file from the local file server to the central file server if the updated time in the local database is later than that in the central database, or

(4) warning an editor of the corresponding file regarding other editors already revised the file from other local nodes if the updated time in the local database is earlier than that in the central database.