System and method for synchronizing multiple database files

• US 20050278392A1
• Filed: 08/12/2005
• Published: 12/15/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 07/13/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
• Inventors: Curley, Vincent H., Black, Neil W., Mead, Jennifer R., Hansen, J. Peter
• Granted Patent: US 7,206,796 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/275 Synchronous replication
• 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 efficiently synchronizing multiple databases stored on multiple computing devices. The method and system provides a duplicated database configuration where a database can either be stored only on a plurality of client computers, or on at least a client computer and a server computer. This duplicated database configuration allows users to access a database from a plurality of client computers that are communicatively connected to a server computer.

Claims

1. A method for initializing a database system having one client computer and a server computer, comprising:

(a) determining if the server computer contains a database;

(b) copying a client computer database to the server computer, if the server computer does not contain a database.

(c) synchronizing the client computer database with the server computer database if the server computer contains a database; and

(d) in response to receiving a user-generated command, configuring the database for;

(i) storage only on the client computer;

(ii) storage on both the client computer and the server computer;

(e) deleting the server computer database if the server computer contains a database and if the user-generated command dictates that the database only be stored on the client computer.

2. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein synchronizing the client computer database with the server computer database includes:

(a) receiving, at the client computer, synchronization data from the server computer;

(b) updating the entire client computer database with the server computer database if the synchronization data includes the server computer database; and

(c) updating selective client computer database data objects, if the synchronization data only includes corresponding selective server data objects.

3. The method as recited in claim 2, further comprising, transmitting, from the client computer to the server computer, the last access time stored on the client computer database.

4. The method as recited in claim 2, further comprising, receiving an updated last server access time from the server computer, wherein the updated last server access time corresponds to a clock time maintained by the server computer.

5. The method as recited in claim 2, further comprising:

(a) determining if the client computer database last server access time is within a predetermined period of time from a clock time maintained by the server computer; and

(b) downloading the server computer database to the client computer, if the client computer database last server access time is not within a predetermined period of time from a clock time maintained by the server computer.

6. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein updating selective client computer database data objects includes selectively downloading data objects stored in the server computer database to the client computer database, if the client computer database last server access time indicates a time that is not earlier than a time indicated by the creation time of the server computer database.

7. A computer-readable medium bearing computer-executable instructions which, when executed and initializes a database system having one client computer and a server computer, comprising:

(a) determining if the server computer contains a database;

(b) copying a client computer database to the server computer, if the server computer does not contain a database.

(c) synchronizing the client computer database with the server computer database if the server computer contains a database; and

(d) in response to receiving a user-generated command, configuring the database for;

(i) storage only on the client computer;

(ii) storage on both the client computer and the server computer;

(e) deleting the server computer database if the server computer contains a database and if the user-generated command dictates that the database only be stored on the client computer.

8. The computer-readable medium as recited in claim 7, wherein synchronizing the client computer database with the server computer database includes:

(a) receiving, at the client computer, synchronization data from the server computer;

(b) updating the entire client computer database with the server computer database if the synchronization data includes the server computer database; and

(c) updating selective client computer database data objects, if the synchronization data only includes corresponding selective server data objects.

9. The computer-readable medium as recited in claim 8, further comprising, transmitting, from the client computer to the server computer, the last access time stored on the client computer database.

10. The computer-readable medium as recited in claim 8, further comprising, receiving an updated last server access time from the server computer, wherein the updated last server access time corresponds to a clock time maintained by the server computer.

11. The computer-readable medium as recited in claim 8, further comprising:

(a) determining if the client computer database last server access time is within a predetermined period of time from a clock time maintained by the server computer; and

(b) downloading the server computer database to the client computer, if the client computer database last server access time is not within a predetermined period of time from a clock time maintained by the server computer.

12. The computer-readable medium as recited in claim 7, wherein updating selective client computer database data objects includes selectively downloading data objects stored in the server computer database to the client computer database, if the client computer database last server access time indicates a time that is not earlier than a time indicated by the creation time of the server computer database.