Using distributed history files in synchronizing databases

• US 6,044,381 A
• Filed: 09/11/1997
• Issued: 03/28/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 09/11/1997
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Intellisync Corporation (Nokia Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Puma Technology Inc.
• Inventors: Daley, Robert C., Boothby, David J.
• Primary Examiner(s): HOMERE, JEAN RAYMOND
• Application Number:
  US08/927,922
• Time in Patent Office: 929 Days
• Field of Search: 707/10, 707/201, 707/202, 707/203, 707/204, 395/200.31, 395/200.43
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/10 File systems; File servers
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/275 Synchronous replication
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99952 Coherency, e.g. same view to multiple users
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99953 Recoverability

Abstract

A computer implemented method is provided for synchronizing a first database located on a first computer and a second database located on a second computer. At the first computer, it is determined whether a record of the first database has been changed or added since a previous synchronization, using a first history file located on the first computer comprising records representative of records of the first database at the completion of the previous synchronization. If the record of the first database has not been changed or added since the previous synchronization, the first computer sends the second computer information which the second computer uses to identify the record of the first database to be unchanged.

Claims

1. A computer implemented method for synchronizing a first database located on a first computer and a second database located on a second computer, the method comprising:

determining, at the first computer, whether a record of the first database has been changed or added since a previous synchronization by comparing records of the first database to a first history file located on the first computer comprising records representative of records of the first database at the completion of the previous synchronization;

if the record of the first database has not been changed or added since the previous synchronization, sending from the first computer to the second computer information identifying the unchanged record;

storing a second history file on the second computer containing records representative of records of the first database at the completion of the previous synchronization, wherein one of the representative records represents the record of the first database determined to be unchanged;

using the information identifying the unchanged record to locate the one of the representative records in the second history file; and

performing a synchronization, at the second computer, of the second and first databases using the one of the representative records.

2. The computer implemented method of claim 1 wherein the second history file stores information in relation to the representative records and wherein the one of the representative records in the second history file can be identified from the stored information.

3. The computer implemented method of claim 2 wherein the information sent from the first computer to the second computer comprises information that matches the information stored in relation to the one of the representative records in the second history files.

4. The computer implemented method of claim 1 wherein the information comprises information identifying records other than the unchanged record.

5. The computer implemented method of claim 1 wherein the information comprises information identifying the unchanged record.

6. The computer implemented method of claim 1 wherein the information comprises information identifying the deleted records.

7. The computer implemented method of claim 1 wherein the information comprise information identifying the added records.

8. The computer implemented method of claim 1 wherein the information comprises a code, the code being based on at least a portion of the content of the record of the first database.

9. The computer implemented method of claim 8 wherein the code comprises a hash number computed based on at least a portion of the content of the record of the first database.

10. The computer implemented method of claim 8 wherein the information further comprises a first plurality of records of the first database identified as "changed or added", the method further comprises using said information to identify a plurality of the first database as "deleted or changed" since the previous synchronization.

11. The computer implemented method of claim 1 wherein the information comprises a code uniquely identifying the records of the first database.

12. The computer implemented method of claim 11 wherein the unique identification code is assigned by the first database to the records of the first database.

13. The computer implemented method of claim 12 wherein the information further comprising a first plurality of the records of the first database identified as "changed", a second plurality of the records of the first database identified as added, and information identifying a third plurality of records of the first database as "deleted".

14. A computer program, resident on a computer readable medium for synchronizing a first database located on a first computer and a second database located on a second computer, comprising instructions for:

determining, at the first computer, whether a record of the first database has been changed or added since a previous synchronization by comparing records of the first database to a first history file located on the first computer comprising records representative of records of the first database at the completion of the previous synchronization;

if the record of the first database has not been changed or added since the previous synchronization, sending from the first computer to the second computer information identifying the unchanged record;

storing a second history file on the second computer containing records representative of records of the first database at the completion of the previous synchronization, wherein one of the representative records represents the record of the first database determined to be unchanged;

using the information identifying the unchanged record to locate the one of the representative records in the second history file; and

performing a synchronization, at the second computer, of the second and first databases using the one of the representative records.

15. The computer program of claim 14 wherein the second history file stores information in relation to the representative records and wherein the one of the representative records in the second history file can be identified from the stored information.

16. The computer program of claim 15 wherein the information sent from the first computer to the second computer comprises information that matches the information stored in relation to the one of the representative records in the second history files.

17. The computer program of claim 14 wherein the information comprises information identifying records other than the unchanged record.

18. The computer program of claim 14 wherein the information comprises information identifying the unchanged records.

19. The computer program of claim 14 wherein the information comprises information identifying the deleted records.

20. The computer program of claim 14 wherein the information comprise information identifying the added records.

21. The computer program of claim 14 wherein the information comprises a code, the code being based on at least a portion of the content of the record of the first database.

22. The computer program of claim 21 wherein the code comprises a hash number computed based on at least a portion of the content of the record of the first database.

23. The computer program of claim 21 wherein the information further comprises a first plurality of records of the first database identified as "changed or added", the program further comprising instructions for using said information to identify a plurality of the first database as "deleted or changed" since a previous synchronization.

24. The computer program of claim 14 wherein the information comprises a code uniquely identifying the record of the first database.

25. The computer program of claim 24 wherein the unique identification code is assigned by the first database to the record of the first database.

26. The computer program of claim 24 wherein the information further comprises a first plurality of the records of the first database identified as "changed", a second plurality of the records of the first database identified as added, and information identifying a third plurality of records of the first database as "deleted".