System and method for synchronizing related data elements in disparate storage systems

• US 20040098546A1
• Filed: 07/08/2003
• Published: 05/20/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 10/25/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Daniel M. Yellin, David M. Bashant, Donald E. Buddenbaum, Michael L. Denny
• Original Assignee: Daniel M. Yellin, David M. Bashant, Donald E. Buddenbaum, Michael L. Denny
• Inventors: Yellin, Daniel M., Buddenbaum, Donald E., Denny, Michael L., Bashant, David M.
• Granted Patent: US 7,386,575 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 711/156
• 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: G06Q 10/101 Collaborative creation, e.g. joint development of products or services
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99933 Query processing, i.e. searching
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99934 Query formulation, input preparation, or translation
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99943 Generating database or data structure, e.g. via user interface
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99952 Coherency, e.g. same view to multiple users
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99953 Recoverability

Abstract

A system and method for tracking and synchronizing related data elements in disparate storage systems is provided. More particularly, the present invention provides a hub system for cross-referencing and maintaining storage system information for the efficient synchronization of related data elements in disparate storage systems.

Claims

1. A system having a table of keys for synchronizing related data elements between a first and second storage system, each key comprising:

a universal identifier corresponding to a data element in the first and second storage system;

a first record identifier corresponding to the data element in the first storage system; and

a second record identifier corresponding to the data element stored in the second storage system.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein each key further comprises a data element type name corresponding to the data element.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein each key further comprises a first system name corresponding to the first storage system.

4. The system of claim 3, wherein each key further comprises a second system name corresponding to the second storage system.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein each key further comprises storage system information corresponding to storage of the data element in a particular storage system.

6. The system of claim 1, further comprising a table interface for cross-referencing and updating the table of keys.

7. The system of claim 6, wherein the table interface includes:

an identifier matching system for cross-referencing record identifiers and universal identifiers; and

a table update system for updating the table.

8. The system of claim 7, wherein the table interface further comprises:

a storage information system for accessing information corresponding to storage of the data element in a particular storage system.

9. A system for synchronizing related data elements between a first and second storage system, comprising:

a header reading system for receiving an instruction from the first storage system, wherein the instruction has a first header that includes a first identifier;

a table interface for accessing a table to identify a second identifier based on the first identifier;

a header generation system for generating a second header corresponding to the second storage system; and

an instruction passing system for passing the instruction and the second header to the second storage system.

10. The system of claim 9, further comprising:

a controller for identifying the second storage system.

11. The system of claim 10, wherein the cross-referencing system comprises:

an identifier matching system for cross-referencing the first identifier with the second identifier; and

a storage information system for determining storage information corresponding to the second storage system.

12. The system of claim 9, wherein the table interface accesses the table to determine a system name and record identifier for the second system.

13. The system of claim 9, wherein the first identifier is a record identifier corresponding to the data element in the first storage system, and wherein the second identifier is a universal identifier corresponding to the data element in the first and second storage system.

14. The system of claim 9, wherein the first identifier is a universal identifier corresponding to the data element in the first and second storage system, and wherein the second identifier is a record identifier corresponding to a location of the data element in the second storage system.

15. The system of claim 9, wherein the first header comprises:

the first identifier, wherein the first identifier corresponds to the data element in the first storage system; and

a storage system name corresponding to the first storage system.

16. The system of claim 9, wherein the second header comprises:

the second identifier, wherein the second identifier corresponds to the data element in the second storage system; and

a storage system name corresponding to the second system.

17. A method for synchronizing related data elements between a first and second storage system, comprising the steps of:

receiving an instruction having a first header from the first storage system, wherein the first header includes a first identifier;

identifying the second storage system;

accessing a table to cross-reference the first identifier with a second identifier;

generating a second header that corresponds to the second storage system and attaching the second header to the instruction; and

sending the instruction to the second storage system.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein the instruction informs of the creation a new data element.

19. The method of claim 17, wherein the instruction informs of the deletion of an existing data element.

20. The method of claim 17, wherein the instruction informs of the modification of an existing data element.

21. The method of claim 17, wherein the instruction references an existing data element.

22. The method of claim 17, wherein the first identifier is a record identifier corresponding to the data element in first storage system, and wherein the second identifier is a universal identifier corresponding to the data element in the first and second storage system.

23. The method of claim 22, wherein the first header comprises:

the record identifier; and

a first storage system name corresponding to the first storage system.

24. The method of claim 23, wherein the second header comprises:

a record identifier corresponding to the data element in the second storage system; and

a second storage system name corresponding to the second storage system.

25. The method of claim 17, wherein the first header comprises a universal identifier corresponding to the data element in the first and second storage system, and wherein the second header comprises a record identifier corresponding to the data element in the second storage system and a storage system name corresponding to the second storage system.

26. A program product stored on a recordable media for synchronizing related data elements between a first and second storage system, comprising:

a header reading system for receiving an instruction from the first storage system, wherein the instruction includes a first header that has a first identifier;

a table interface for accessing a table to identify a second identifier based on the first identifier;

a header generation system for generating a second header corresponding to the second storage system; and

an instruction passing system for passing the instruction and the second header to the second storage system.

27. The program product of claim 26, further comprising a controller for identifying the second storage system.

28. The program product of claim 26, wherein the table interface cross-references the first identifier with the second identifier to identify the second storage system.

29. The program product of claim 26, wherein the first header comprises:

the first identifier; and

a storage system name corresponding to the first storage system.

30. The program product of claim 26, wherein the second header comprises:

a record identifier corresponding to the data element in the second storage system; and

a storage system name corresponding to the second storage system.

31. The program product of claim 26, wherein the first identifier is a record identifier corresponding to the data element in the first storage system and wherein the second identifier is a universal identifier corresponding to the data element in the first and second storage system.

32. The program product of claim 26, wherein the first identifier is a universal identifier corresponding to the data element in the first and second storage system, and wherein the second identifier corresponds to the data element in the second storage system.