Universal synchronization

• US 20050055382A1
• Filed: 06/21/2001
• Published: 03/10/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 06/28/2000
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: PointBase, Inc. (International Business Machines Corporation)
• Original Assignee: PointBase, Inc. (International Business Machines Corporation)
• Inventors: Richey, Jeffrey D., Rangan, Muralidharan, Ferrat, Lounas
• Application Number:
  US09/885,980
• Publication Number:
  US 20050055382A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• 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

Abstract

A technology for bi-directional synchronization between at least two entities. Examples of entities include databases, operating system files, applications, email, etc. The two entities can communicate using any appropriate protocol and the two entities can be provided by different vendors using different designs. The synchronization technology includes an Application Programming Interface that enables developers to provide synchronization functionality as an integral part of their distributed applications. Additionally, conflict resolution during synchronization can be customized to suit the particular application. The synchronization technology allows for the management of data anywhere and enables developers to distribute application data and code across multiple tiered environments to applications and users located anywhere.

Claims

1. A method for synchronizing data, comprising the steps of:

transmitting a set of one or more changes from a hub to a spoke for synchronization to a data structure on said spoke, said set of one or more changes represent changes to a data structure on said hub, said step of transmitting a set of one or more changes includes accessing a log entry for a particular change and transmitting said particular change to said spoke if said log entry for said particular change does not indicate an association with said spoke; and

updating said data structure on said spoke based on said set of one or more changes.

2. A method according to claim 1, wherein:

said log entry indicates an association with said spoke if said log entry includes a site name for said spoke attached to a commit record for said log entry.

3. A method according to claim 1, wherein:

said step of transmitting a set of one or more changes includes transmitting said particular change to said spoke if said log entry indicates an association with said spoke and said particular change was a result of conflict resolution.

4. A method according to claim 3, wherein said step of transmitting a set of one or more changes includes the step of:

determining whether said particular change resulted from conflict resolution by determining whether said log entry for said particular change is positioned within markers in a log for said data structure on said hub.

5. A method according to claim 1, further comprising the steps of:

transmitting a first change from said spoke to said hub, said first change represents one or more changes to said data structure on said spoke; and

updating said data structure on said hub based on said first change.

6. A method according to claim 5, wherein said step of updating a data structure on said hub includes the steps of:

determining whether a data value on said spoke is in conflict with a corresponding data value on said hub;

updating said corresponding data value on said hub if said data value on said spoke is not in conflict with said corresponding data value on said hub;

resolving said conflict if said data value on said spoke is in conflict with said corresponding data value on said hub, said step of resolving produces a result; and

storing said result on said hub.

7. A method according to claim 6, wherein:

said step of transmitting a set of one or more changes includes transmitting said result to said spoke, said hub stores a log entry for said result, said log entry for said result indicates an association with said spoke.

8. A method according to claim 6, wherein:

said step of resolving said conflict is programmable.

9. A method according to claim 5, wherein:

said steps of transmitting a first change and transmitting a set of one or more changes are programmable such that any one of a set of different communication protocols can be used.

10. A method according to claim 5, wherein:

said data structure on said first spoke is a first proprietary format database; and

said data structure on said hub is a second proprietary format database.

11. A method according to claim 5, wherein:

said step of transmitting a set of one or more changes includes encrypting said additional changes.

12. A method for synchronizing data, comprising the steps of:

accessing a new transaction for a data structure on a hub for synchronization to a data structure on a first spoke;

rejecting said new transaction for synchronization to said data structure on said first spoke if said new transaction originated from said first spoke and said new transaction was not based on conflict resolution; and

transmitting said new transaction to said first spoke if said new transaction did not originate from said first spoke or if said new transaction did originate from said first spoke but was based on conflict resolution.

13. A method according to claim 12, wherein:

said step of accessing a new transaction includes accessing a log entry associated with said new transaction; and

said new transaction originated from said first spoke if said log entry identifies said first spoke.

14. A method according to claim 12, wherein:

said step of accessing a new transaction includes accessing a log entry associated with said new transaction; and

said new transaction originated from said first spoke if a commit record in said log entry identifies said spoke.

15. A method according to claim 12, wherein:

said step of accessing a new transaction includes accessing a log; and

said new transaction was based on conflict resolution if said log includes a marker record indicating conflict resolution.

16. A method according to claim 12, further comprising the step of:

determining whether said new transaction was based on conflict resolution by determining whether log information for said new transaction is positioned within markers in a log for said data structure on said hub.

17. A method according to claim 12, further comprising the step of:

transmitting said new transaction to all spokes that synchronize with said hub other than said first spoke if said new transaction originated from said first spoke and said new transaction was not based on conflict resolution.

18. A method according to claim 12, further comprising the steps of:

receiving said new transaction at said hub; and

resolving a conflict with said new transaction, said step of resolving is programmable.

19. A method according to claim 12, wherein:

said step of transmitting is programmable such that any one of a set of different communication protocols can be used.

20. A method according to claim 12, further comprising the step of:

updating a data structure on said first spoke based on said transmitted new transaction if said new transaction did not originate from said first spoke or if said new transaction did originate from said first spoke but was based on conflict resolution, said data structure on said first spoke is a first proprietary format database and said data structure on said hub is a second proprietary format database.

21. A system for synchronizing data, comprising:

a database reader system, said database reader system is programmable to read from any one of a plurality of different proprietary databases;

a database writer system, said database writer system is programmable to write to any one of said plurality of different proprietary databases; and

a communication system in communication with said database reader system, said database writer system and a remote system, said communication system is programmable to communicate with said remote system using any one of a plurality of different communication protocols.

22. A system according to claim 21, further comprising:

application program interface means for enabling applications to provide synchronization functionality.

23. A system according to claim 21, wherein:

said communication system creates a new object for each connection.

24. A system according to claim 21, further comprising:

an event logger.

25. A system according to claim 21, wherein:

said communication system communicates data as row sets.

26. A system according to claim 21, wherein:

said database reader system rejects data for synchronizing to said remote system if said data is for a transaction that originated from said remote system and was not based on conflict resolution, said database reader system does not reject said data if said transaction did not originate from said remote system or if said transaction did originate from said remote system but was based on conflict resolution.

27. A system according to claim 21, wherein:

said database reader system accesses a log entry for data and rejects said data for synchronizing to said remote system if said log entry identifies said remote system.

28. An apparatus for synchronizing data, comprising the steps of:

means for reading a database, said means for reading a database is programmable to read from any one of a plurality of different proprietary databases;

means for writing to a database, said means for writing to a database is programmable to write to any one of said plurality of different proprietary databases; and

means for communicating, said means for communicating is programmable to communicate with a remote system using any one of a plurality of different communication protocols.

29. A system according to claim 28, further comprising:

application program interface means for enabling applications to provide synchronization functionality.

30. One or more processor readable storage devices having processor readable code embodied on said processor readable storage devices, said processor readable code for programming one or more processors, said processor readable code comprises:

first code, said first code reads a database and can be adapted to read from any one of a plurality of different proprietary databases;

second code, said second code writes to a database and can be adapted to write to any one of said plurality of different proprietary databases; and

third code, said third code communicates with a remote system using any one of a plurality of different communication protocols, said third code can communicate with said first code and said second code.

31. One or more processor readable storage devices according to claim 30, further comprising:

fourth code, said fourth code includes an application program interface that enables applications to provide synchronization functionality.

32. One or more processor readable storage devices according to claim 30, wherein:

said first codes rejects data for synchronizing to said remote system if said data is for a transaction that originated from said remote system and was not based on conflict resolution, said first code does not reject said data if said transaction did not originate from said remote system or if said transaction did originate from said remote system but was based on conflict resolution.

33. One or more processor readable storage devices according to claim 30, wherein:

said first codes accesses a log entry for data and rejects said data for synchronizing to said remote system if said log entry identifies said remote system.

34. One or more processor readable storage devices having processor readable code embodied on said processor readable storage devices, said processor readable code for programming one or more processors to perform a method comprising the steps of:

accessing a change to a data structure on a hub;

accessing a log entry for said change; and

transmitting said change to a spoke for synchronization with a data structure on said spoke if said log entry for said change does not indicate an association with said spoke.

35. One or more processor readable storage devices according to claim 34, wherein:

said log entry indicates an association with said spoke if said log entry includes a site name for said spoke attached to a commit record.

36. One or more processor readable storage devices according to claim 34, wherein:

said step of transmitting said change includes transmitting said change to said spoke if said log entry indicates an association with said spoke and said change was a result of conflict resolution.

37. One or more processor readable storage devices according to claim 36, wherein said step of transmitting said change includes the step of:

determining whether said change resulted from conflict resolution by determining whether said log entry for said change is positioned within markers in a log for said data structure on said hub.

38. One or more processor readable storage devices according to claim 34, wherein:

said data structure on said spoke is a first proprietary format database; and

said data structure on said hub is a second proprietary format database.

39. An apparatus, comprising:

a communication interface;

one or more storage devices; and

one or more processors in communication with said one or more storage devices and said communication interface, said one or more processors programmed to perform a method comprising the steps of;

accessing a change to a data structure on a hub,

accessing a log entry for said change, and

transmitting said change to a spoke for synchronization with a data structure on said spoke if said log entry for said change does not indicate an association with said spoke.

40. An apparatus according to claim 39, wherein:

said log entry indicates an association with said spoke if said log entry includes a site name for said spoke attached to a commit record.

41. An apparatus according to claim 39, wherein:

said step of transmitting said change includes transmitting said change to said spoke if said log entry indicates an association with said spoke and said change was a result of conflict resolution.

42. An apparatus according to claim 41, wherein said step of transmitting said change includes the step of:

determining whether said change resulted from conflict resolution by determining whether said log entry for said change is positioned within markers in a log for said data structure on said hub.

43. An apparatus according to claim 39, wherein said method further comprises the steps of:

transmitting a first change from said spoke to said hub, said first change represents one or more changes to said data structure on said spoke; and

updating said data structure on said hub based on said first change, said data structure on said spoke is a first proprietary format database and said data structure on said hub is a second proprietary format database.

44. One or more processor readable storage devices having processor readable code embodied on said processor readable storage devices, said processor readable code for programming one or more processors to perform a method comprising the steps of:

accessing a new transaction for a data structure on a hub for synchronization to a data structure on a first spoke;

rejecting said new transaction for synchronization to said data structure on said first spoke if said new transaction originated from said first spoke and said new transaction was not based on conflict resolution; and

transmitting said new transaction to said first spoke if said new transaction did not originate from said first spoke or if said new transaction did originate from said first spoke but was based on conflict resolution.

45. One or more processor readable storage devices according to claim 44, wherein:

said step of accessing a new transaction includes accessing a log entry associated with said new transaction; and

said new transaction originated from said first spoke if said log entry identifies said spoke.

46. One or more processor readable storage devices according to claim 44, wherein:

said step of accessing a new transaction includes accessing a log entry associated with said new transaction; and

said new transaction originated from said first spoke if said log entry includes a commit record that identifies said spoke.

47. One or more processor readable storage devices according to claim 44, wherein:

said step of accessing a new transaction includes accessing a log; and

said new transaction was based on conflict resolution if said log includes a marker record indicating said conflict resolution.

48. One or more processor readable storage devices according to claim 44, wherein said method further comprises the step of:

transmitting said new transaction to all spokes that synchronize with said hub other than said first spoke if said new transaction originated from said first spoke and said new transaction was not based on conflict resolution.

49. One or more processor readable storage devices according to claim 44, wherein:

said step of transmitting is programmable such that any one of a set of different communication protocols can be used.

50. An apparatus, comprising:

a communication interface;

one or more storage devices; and

one or more processors in communication with said one or more storage devices and said communication interface, said one or more processors programmed to perform a method comprising the steps of;

accessing a new transaction for a data structure on a hub for synchronization to a data structure on a first spoke,

rejecting said new transaction for synchronization to said data structure on said first spoke if said new transaction originated from said first spoke and said new transaction was not based on conflict resolution, and

transmitting said new transaction to said first spoke if said new transaction did not originate from said first spoke or if said new transaction did originate from said first spoke but was based on conflict resolution.

51. An apparatus according to claim 50, wherein:

said step of accessing a new transaction includes accessing a log entry associated with said new transaction; and

said new transaction originated from said first spoke if said log entry identifies said spoke.

52. An apparatus according to claim 50, wherein:

said step of accessing a new transaction includes accessing a log entry associated with said new transaction; and

said new transaction originated from said first spoke if said log entry includes a commit record that identifies said spoke.

53. An apparatus according to claim 50, wherein:

said step of accessing a new transaction includes accessing a log; and

said new transaction was based on conflict resolution if said log includes a marker record indicating said conflict resolution.

54. An apparatus according to claim 50, wherein said method further comprises the step of:

transmitting said new transaction to all spokes that synchronize with said hub other than said first spoke if said new transaction originated from said first spoke and said new transaction was not based on conflict resolution.

55. An apparatus according to claim 50, wherein:

said step of transmitting is programmable such that any one of a set of different communication protocols can be used.