SYNCHRONIZATION OF DATABASE CHANGES AMONG MULTIPLE DEVICES

• US 20130066829A1
• Filed: 07/26/2012
• Published: 03/14/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 01/30/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Original Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Inventors: Wallace, Alexander David, Flisakowski, Shawn Patrick, Milito, Craig Matthew, Rauenbuehler, Keith Walter
• Granted Patent: US 8,751,444 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 707/610
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/273 Asynchronous replication or reconciliation

Abstract

Methods, systems, and apparatus, including computer program products, for synchronizing database changes among multiple devices. In one aspect, a method includes determining one or more primary differences between a primary database and a local synchronization database; receiving, from a secondary device, one or more secondary differences associated with a secondary database; merging the primary differences and the secondary differences to generate a set of merged differences; providing the set of merged differences to the secondary device; receiving, from the secondary device, an acknowledgment indicating receipt of the set of merged differences; and updating the primary database in accordance with the set of merged differences after receipt of the acknowledgment. Further, at least one conflict can be detected between the primary differences and the secondary differences, and can be resolved prior to generating the set of merged differences.

Claims

1. A computer-implemented method of synchronizing databases, the method comprising:

determining one or more primary differences between a primary database and a local synchronization database;

receiving, from a secondary device, one or more secondary differences associated with a secondary database;

merging the primary differences and the secondary differences to generate a set of merged differences;

providing the set of merged differences to the secondary device;

receiving, from the secondary device, an acknowledgment indicating receipt of the set of merged differences; and

updating the primary database in accordance with the set of merged differences after receipt of the acknowledgment.

2. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, further comprising:

comparing, at the secondary device, the secondary database with a secondary synchronization database to determine the one or more secondary differences.

3. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, further comprising:

updating the local synchronization database in accordance with the set of merged differences, wherein the local synchronization database is updated before the primary database.

4. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein the primary database is updated in substantially real-time.

5. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein merging further comprises:

detecting at least one conflict between the primary differences and the secondary differences.

6. The computer-implemented method of claim 5, further comprising:

resolving the at least one conflict prior to generating the set of merged differences.

7. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein the secondary database comprises a subset of the primary database.

8. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein providing the set of merged differences further comprises:

transmitting the set of merged differences to the secondary device over a wireless communications path.

9. A computer program product, encoded on a computer-readable medium, operable to cause data processing apparatus to perform operations comprising:

determining one or more primary differences between a primary database and a local synchronization database;

receiving, from a secondary device, one or more secondary differences associated with a secondary database;

merging the primary differences and the secondary differences to generate a set of merged differences;

providing the set of merged differences to the secondary device;

receiving, from the secondary device, an acknowledgment indicating receipt of the set of merged differences; and

updating the primary database in accordance with the set of merged differences after receipt of the acknowledgment.

10. The computer program product of claim 9, further operable to cause data processing apparatus to perform operations comprising:

comparing, at the secondary device, the secondary database with a secondary synchronization database to determine the one or more secondary differences.

11. The computer program product of claim 9, further operable to cause data processing apparatus to perform operations comprising:

updating the local synchronization database in accordance with the set of merged differences, wherein the local synchronization database is updated before the primary database.

12. The computer program product of claim 9, further operable to cause data processing apparatus to perform operations comprising:

updating the primary database in substantially real-time.

13. The computer program product of claim 9, further operable to cause data processing apparatus to perform operations comprising:

detecting at least one conflict between the primary differences and the secondary differences.

14. The computer program product of claim 13, further operable to cause data processing apparatus to perform operations comprising:

resolving the at least one conflict prior to generating the set of merged differences.

15. The computer program product of claim 9, wherein the secondary database comprises a subset of the primary database.

16. The computer program product of claim 9, further operable to cause data processing apparatus to perform operations comprising:

transmitting the set of merged differences to the secondary device over a wireless communications path.

17. A system comprising:

a secondary device including a secondary database stored on a storage device; and

a primary device communicatively coupled to the secondary device and including a primary database and a local synchronization database stored on a storage device, wherein the primary device further includes processor electronics configured to perform operations comprising;

determining one or more primary differences between the primary database and the local synchronization database;

receiving, from the secondary device, one or more secondary differences associated with the secondary database;

merging the primary differences and the secondary differences to generate a set of merged differences;

transmitting the set of merged differences to the secondary device;

receiving, from the secondary device, an acknowledgment indicating receipt of the set of merged differences; and

updating the primary database in accordance with the set of merged differences after receipt of the acknowledgment.

18. The system of claim 17 wherein the secondary device further includes processor electronics configured to perform operations comprising:

comparing the secondary database with a secondary synchronization database to determine the one or more secondary differences.

19. The system of claim 17, wherein the processor electronics are further configured to perform operations comprising:

updating the local synchronization database in accordance with the set of merged differences, wherein the local synchronization database is updated before the primary database.

20. The system of claim 17, wherein the processor electronics are further configured to perform operations comprising:

updating the primary database in substantially real-time.

21. The system of claim 17, wherein the processor electronics are further configured to perform operations comprising:

detecting at least one conflict between the primary differences and the secondary differences.

22. The system of claim 21, wherein the processor electronics are further configured to perform operations comprising:

resolving the at least one conflict prior to generating the set of merged differences.

23. The system of claim 17, wherein the secondary database comprises a subset of the primary database.

24. The system of claim 17, wherein the primary device further includes:

a transmitter configured to transmit the set of merged differences to the secondary device over a wireless communications path.