METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR SYNCHRONIZING DATABASES CONNECTED BY WIRELESS INTERFACE

• US 20080162597A1
• Filed: 12/27/2006
• Published: 07/03/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 12/27/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Malikie Innovations Limited (Key Patent Innovations Limited)
• Original Assignee: Blackberry Limited
• Inventors: Bells, Matthew, Tysowski, Piotr K.
• Granted Patent: US 8,099,386 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 707/204
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/275 Synchronous replication
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/1095 Replication or mirroring of data, e.g. scheduling or transport for data synchronisation between network nodes

Abstract

A method for synchronizing a database at a portable electronic device with a backup database including backup data records includes receiving information representative of data records of the database at the portable electronic device, determining if the database at the portable electronic device is to be updated with the backup data records, and if the database at the portable electronic device is to be updated, transmitting representative viewable or audible samples of ones of the backup data records.

Claims

1. A method for synchronizing a database at a portable electronic device with a backup database including backup data records, the method comprising:

receiving information representative of data records of said database at said portable electronic device;

comparing said information representative of said data records of said database at said portable electronic device with information representative of said backup data records to determine if said database at said portable electronic device is to be updated with said backup data records; and

if said database at said portable electronic device is to be updated, transmitting representative viewable or audible samples of ones of said backup data records by transmitting one of;

compressed versions of ones of said backup data records; and

viewable or audible portions of said ones of said backup data records in the form of at least one of a thumbnail image, a sound file clip, and a representative page of a multi-page record.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein said comparing comprises comparing hash information representative of said data records with hash information representative of said backup data records.

3. The method according to claim 2, comprising generating said hash information representative of said backup data records prior to said comparing.

4. The method according to claim 3, wherein generating said hash information comprises generating hash information relating to representative viewable or audible samples only for particular ones of said backup data records.

5. The method according to claim 1, comprising associating said backup data records with an identifier for identifying said ones of said backup data records for which representative viewable or audible samples are transmitted.

6. The method according to claim 1, comprising:

after transmitting representative viewable or audible samples of ones of said backup data records, transmitting a full content data record corresponding to one of the data records for which only a representative viewable or audible sample has been transmitted.

7. The method according to claim 6, wherein said full content data record is transmitted in response to a request.

8. The method according to claim 1, comprising transmitting full content of other ones of said backup data records that are indicated for full content transmission.

9. An apparatus for synchronizing a database at a portable electronic device with a backup database including backup data records, the apparatus comprising:

a memory device for storing said backup database including said second backup data records;

a transmitter and receiver for receiving information representative of data records of said database at said portable electronic device and transmitting data to said portable electronic device; and

a processor operably coupled to said memory device and to said transmitter and receiver for comparing said information representative of said data records of said database at said portable electronic device with information representative of said backup data records to determine if said database at said portable electronic device is to be updated with said backup data records and causing said transmitter and receiver to transmit representative viewable or audible samples of ones of said backup data records by transmitting one of;

compressed versions of ones of said backup data records, and

viewable or audible portions of said ones of said backup data records in the form of at least one of a thumbnail image, a sound file clip, and a representative page of a multi-page record.

10. A computer-readable medium having computer readable code embodied therein for:

receiving information representative of data records of a database at a portable electronic device;

comparing said information representative of said data records of said database at said portable electronic device with information representative of backup data records to determine if said database at said portable electronic device is to be updated with said backup data records; and

if said database at said portable electronic device is to be updated, transmitting representative viewable or audible samples of ones of said backup data records by transmitting one of;

compressed versions of ones of said backup data records, and

viewable or audible portions of said ones of said backup data records in the form of at least one of a thumbnail image, a sound file clip, and a representative page of a multi-page record.