Enabling Synchronization With A Difference Unaware Data Source

• US 20090222493A1
• Filed: 02/29/2008
• Published: 09/03/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 02/29/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Plaxo Incorporated (Comcast Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Plaxo Incorporated (Comcast Corporation)
• Inventors: Smarr, Joseph, King, Ryan A.
• Granted Patent: US 7,996,357 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/23 Updating
• 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

Abstract

A system and a method are disclosed for updating a master data list with data from a difference unaware information repository and a difference aware information repository. A master synchronization engine synchronizes to the difference unaware information repository and the difference aware information repository via connectors coupled to each information repository. The difference unaware information repository simply exports all the data stored within the repository to its respective connector. The connecter determines the changes made to the data since the last synchronization and the changes are forwarded to the master synchronization engine. The difference aware information repository is capable of determining the changes made to the stored data since the last synchronization and simply forwards the changes to its connector. Each connector forwards the changes to the data in their respective information repositories to a database which updates the master data list.

Claims

1. A method to update a master contact information list with contact information from a first information repository and with contact information from a second information repository, the method comprising:

requesting changes in contact information from the first information repository and changes in contact information from the second information repository, wherein the second information repository is a difference unaware information repository configured to only export contact information;

receiving changes from a last export of contact information stored in the first information repository and changes from a last export of contact information stored in the difference unaware information repository;

mapping the received changes since the last export of contact information from the first information repository and the received changes since the last export of contact information stored in the difference unaware information repository to corresponding form fields in the master contact information list to create an updated master contact information list; and

saving the updated master contact information list.

2. The method of claim 1 further comprising determining a most recent synchronization time with the first information repository and the second information repository.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein the first information repository is configured to track changes in contact information for each contact information entry within its own repository and the difference unaware information repository is configured to only export its contact information.

4. The method of claim 1 further comprising storing a time and date of the last exports of contact information from the first information repository and the second information repository.

5. A method for a synchronization connector to determine changes from a previous export of contact information from a difference unaware information repository capable of only exporting contact information during one way synchronization, the method comprising:

receiving a request for synchronization from a master synchronization engine;

receiving a request for changes in contact information from the master synchronization engine;

requesting an export of current contact information from the difference unaware information repository;

receiving the export of the current contact information from the difference unaware information repository;

comparing each field from the current contact information with a corresponding field from a last export of contact information; and

determining changes from the last export of contact information.

6. The method of claim 5 further comprising storing the export of the current contact information from the difference unaware information repository.

7. The method of claim 5 wherein determining changes from the previous export of contact information further comprises:

determining added contact information;

determining deleted contact information; and

determining revisions to contact information from the last export of contact information.

8. The method of claim 5 further comprising ignoring contact information that was not modified since the last export of contact information.

9. The method of claim 5 further comprising exporting the determined changes from the last export of contact information to the master synchronization engine.

10. A method to update a master contact information list with contact information from a difference unaware information repository, the method comprising:

requesting changes in contact information from the difference unaware information repository, the difference unaware information repository configured to only export contact information;

receiving changes from a last export of contact information stored in the difference unaware information repository;

mapping the received changes since the last export of contact information from the difference unaware information repository to corresponding form fields in the master contact information list to create an updated master contact information list; and

saving the updated master contact information list.

11. The method of claim 10 further comprising determining a most recent synchronization time with the difference unaware information repository.

12. The method of claim 10 further comprising storing a time and date of the last export of contact information from the difference unaware information repository.

13. The method of claim 10 wherein mapping the received changes comprises determining related information using merge techniques.

14. A system for updating a master contact information list, the system comprising:

a master contact information database storing the updated master contact information list;

a difference unaware information repository storing contact information;

a synchronization connector coupled to the difference unaware information repository, the synchronization connector adapted to determine changes from a last export of contact information stored in the difference unaware personal information repository; and

a master synchronization engine adapted to conduct the process of updating the master contact information list, conducting the process of updating the master contact information list comprising mapping changes in contact information to the appropriate form fields in the master contact information database.

15. The system of claim 14 further comprising:

a difference aware information repository storing contact information, the difference aware information repository adapted to determine changes from a last export of the contact information stored in the difference aware information repository; and

a difference aware synchronization connector coupled to the difference aware information repository adapted to facilitate communication and determine valid contact information fields in the system.

16. The system of claim 14, wherein the synchronization connector is further adapted to:

determine the valid form fields in the master contact information database;

translate form fields in the difference aware information repository to valid form fields used in the master contact information database; and

facilitate communication.

17. The system of claim 14, wherein the master synchronization engine is further adapted to:

determine a last synchronization with the difference aware information repository and the difference unaware information repository;

request changes in contact information from the difference aware information repository and the difference unaware information repository;

receive the requested changes in contact information from the difference aware information repository and the difference unaware information repository;

map the requested changes in contact information to the appropriate form fields in the master contact information database; and

determine related contact information using merge techniques.

18. A computer readable medium storing a computer program product configured to store instructions for updating a master contact information list with contact information from a first information repository and with contact information from a second information repository, the instructions when executed by a processor cause the processor to:

request changes in contact information from the first information repository and changes in contact information from the second information repository, wherein the second information repository is a difference unaware information repository configured to only export contact information;

receive changes from a last export of contact information stored in the first information repository and changes from a last export of contact information stored in the difference unaware information repository;

map the received changes since the last export of contact information from the first information repository and the received changes since the last export of contact information stored in the difference unaware information repository to corresponding form fields in the master contact information list to create an updated master contact information list; and

save the updated master contact information list.

19. The computer readable medium of claim 18 further comprising determining a most recent synchronization time with the first information repository and the second information repository.

20. The computer readable medium of claim 18 wherein the first information repository is configured to track changes in contact information for each contact information entry within its own repository and the difference unaware information repository exporting its contact information.

21. The computer readable medium of claim 18 further comprising storing a time and date of the last exports of contact information from the first information repository and the second information repository.

22. A computer readable medium storing a computer program product configured to store instructions for a synchronization connector to determine changes from a previous export of contact information from a difference unaware information repository capable of only exporting contact information during one way synchronization, the instructions when executed by a processor cause the processor to:

receive a request for synchronization from a master synchronization engine;

receive a request for changes in contact information from the master synchronization engine;

request an export of current contact information from the difference unaware information repository;

receive the export of the current contact information from the difference unaware information repository;

compare each field from the current contact information with a corresponding field from a last export of contact information; and

determine changes from the last export of contact information.

23. The computer readable medium of claim 22 further comprising storing the export of the current contact information from the difference unaware information repository.

24. The computer readable medium of claim 22 wherein determining changes from the previous export of contact information further comprises:

determining added contact information;

determining deleted contact information; and

determining revisions to contact information from the last export of contact information.

25. The computer readable medium of claim 22 further comprising ignoring contact information that was not modified since the last export of contact information.

26. The computer readable medium of claim 22 further comprising exporting the determined changes from the last export of contact information to the master synchronization engine.

27. A computer readable medium storing a computer program product configured to store instructions for updating a master contact information list with contact information from a difference unaware information repository, the instructions when executed by a processor cause the processor to:

request changes in contact information from the difference unaware information repository, the difference unaware information repository configured to only export contact information;

receive changes from a last export of contact information stored in the difference unaware information repository;

map the received changes since the last export of contact information from the difference unaware information repository to corresponding form fields in the master contact information list to create an updated master contact information list; and

save the updated master contact information list.

28. The computer readable medium of claim 27 further comprising determining a most recent synchronization time with the difference unaware information repository.

29. The computer readable medium of claim 27 further comprising storing a time and date of the last export of contact information from the difference unaware information repository.

30. The computer readable medium of claim 27 wherein mapping the received changes comprises determining related information using merge techniques.