Synchronizing arbitrary data using a flexible schema

• US 20060277224A1
• Filed: 06/07/2005
• Published: 12/07/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 06/07/2005
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
• Inventors: Foster, Michael A., Yang, Zhidong, Aftab, Omar A.
• Application Number:
  US11/146,686
• Publication Number:
  US 20060277224A1
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/275 Synchronous replication

Abstract

A schema definition module can specify an arbitrary schema that is used for data synchronization between a server and a client. At any time, the schema definition module can modify a current schema to add or remove support for an arbitrary set of data. Data synchronization continues transparently with the modified schema. Methods of use are also provided.

Claims

1. A system for synchronizing arbitrary information, comprising:

a schema definition module that modifies a property of a first schema such that the first schema can support an arbitrary datum; and

a schema integration module that accesses the first schema and a second schema to modify one of the first schema and the second schema such that the first schema and the second schema match.

2. The system of claim 1, further comprising a synchronization module that synchronizes data in accordance with one of the first schema and the second schema.

3. The system of claim 2, wherein the first schema and the second schema are extensible.

4. The system of claim 3, wherein the synchronization module synchronizes a subset of a set of available data that is formatted in accordance with one of the first schema and the second schema.

5. The system of claim 4, wherein synchronization module selects the subset to be synchronized.

6. The system of claim 4, wherein the subset to be selected is chosen in accordance with a user preference.

7. The system of claim 4, further comprising a data integrity module that verifies accuracy of the synchronized data.

8. The system of claim 7, further comprising a security module that protects the synchronized data.

9. The system of claim 8, wherein the security module protects at least one of the first schema and the second schema.

10. The system of claim 9, further comprising an authentication module that verifies identity of a device that uses the first schema.

11. The system of claim 10, wherein the authentication module verifies an identity of a user of the device.

12. The system of claim 11, wherein the authentication module is one of a username and password system, a security token system, and a biometric identification system.

13. A method for synchronizing arbitrary data, comprising:

modifying a first schema such that the first schema can support an arbitrary data type; and

modifying a second schema to match the first schema such that both the first schema and the second schema can support the arbitrary data type.

14. The method of claim 13, further comprising synchronizing a first set of data that is formatted in accordance with the first schema with a second set of data that is formatted in accordance with the second schema.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein modifying the first schema includes extending the schema during run time to support an additional data type.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein synchronizing the first data set with the second data set includes securing a data transmission.

17. A system for synchronizing arbitrary data, comprising:

means for modifying a first schema such that the first schema can support an arbitrary data type; and

means for modifying a second schema to match the first schema such that both the first schema and the second schema can support the arbitrary data type.

18. The system of claim 17, further comprising means for synchronizing a first set of data that is formatted in accordance with the first schema with a second set of data that is formatted in accordance with the second schema.

19. The system of claim 18, wherein the means for modifying the first schema includes means for extending the schema to support an additional data type.

20. The system of claim 19, wherein the means for synchronizing the first data set with the second data set includes means for securing a data transmission.