Optimized database technique to enable faster data synchronization

• US 20070016627A1
• Filed: 09/26/2006
• Published: 01/18/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 11/10/2000
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Palmsource Incorporated (Access Company Limited)
• Original Assignee: Palmsource Incorporated (Access Company Limited)
• Inventors: McCaw, Kelly
• Application Number:
  US11/527,351
• Publication Number:
  US 20070016627A1
• 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: Y10S 707/99938 Concurrency, e.g. lock management in shared database
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99955 Archiving or backup

Abstract

Method and system that enables faster data synchronization between different databases. In one embodiment, a method for synchronizing data records between databases is provided. Initially, a first database is designated as a source database and a second database as a target database. The modification flag of a first data record in the source database is examined. If the first modification flag is set, the first data record is propagated to the target database. On the other hand, if the first modification flag is not set, a first modification count of the first data record is compared with a second modification count of—a corresponding data record in the target database. In this embodiment, each of the modification counts is a value indicating how many times the respective data record has been modified. If it is determined that the first modification count has a higher value than the second modification count, the corresponding data record is updated according to the first data record. Importantly, the method of this embodiment can be carried out as described without comparing the raw data of the data records. As such, this embodiment of the present invention advantageously eliminates the record-by-record comparison that is inherent in the prior art synchronization process and the inconvenience associated therewith and provides an efficient data synchronization technique that can be beneficially utilized in numerous applications.

Claims

1. A method for synchronizing data records between databases comprising the steps of:

a) designating a first database as a source database and a second database as a target database;

b) examining a first modification flag of a first data record in said source database;

c) provided that said first modification flag is set, propagating said first data record to said target database;

d) provided that said first modification flag is not set, comparing a first modification count of said first data record with a second modification count of a corresponding data record in said target database, said first and second modification counts each being a value indicating how many times said first data record and said corresponding data record has been modified respectively; and

e) provided that said first modification count has a higher value than said second modification count, updating said corresponding data record according to said first data record, wherein said steps a) through e) can be completed without comparing raw data of said first data record and said corresponding data record.