Method of synchronising between three or more devices

• US 20060031587A1
• Filed: 05/24/2004
• Published: 02/09/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 05/24/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Original Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Inventors: Paterson, Toby, Lebel, Jerome
• Granted Patent: US 7,814,231 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 709/248
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/275 Synchronous replication

Abstract

Hitherto synchronisation of a number of devices has involved a large number of comparison steps between actual data or changes in data. Such comparison has potentially involved extensive redundant comparison steps. Another problem with existing synchronisation methods is that such synchronisation has been effected based upon the systems clocks defined by the devices. Those system clocks can be modified either intentionally or malevolently with disastrous consequences for subsequent synchronisation of the devices. Accordingly, the present invention relates to a method of synchronising between three or more devices, said method comprising: storing an indication of the device or devices involved in each synchronisation event; storing data changes received during a current synchronisation event together with the device submitting those changes; and applying the data changes subsequent to the stored synchronisation event for the or each device.

Claims

1. A method of synchronising between three or more devices, said method comprising:

storing an indication of the device or devices involved in each synchronisation event;

storing data changes received during a current synchronisation event together with the device submitting those changes; and

applying the data changes subsequent to the stored synchronisation event for the or each device.

2. A method of synchronising as claimed in claim 1, further comprising identifying data changes prior to storing data changes.

3. A method of synchronising as claimed in claim 1 or 2, in which said applying the data changes does not include the data changes submitted by the device during a current synchronisation event.

4. A method of synchronising as claimed in claim 1, in which said data changes include adding new data, deleting data or adding data.

5. A method of synchronising as claimed in claim 1, in which said data comprises attribute and/or relationship data.

6. A method of synchronising as claimed in claim 1, further comprising:

identifying any stored data changes which have been applied to all devices; and

deleting said data changes from said store of stored data changes.

7. A method of synchronisation as claimed in claim 1, in which said data comprises attribute and/or relationship data.

8. A method of synchronisation as claimed in claim 1, in which said devices includes applications stored on or run by electronic devices.

9. A method of synchronisation as claimed in claim 8, in which said devices comprise applications stored on or run by the same electronic device.

10. A method of synchronisation as claimed in claim 8 or 9, in which said electronic devices include computers, palm devices, personal digital assistants, music devices and mobile telephones.