Method of maintaining a network of partially replicated database system

• US 6,189,011 B1
• Filed: 12/23/1998
• Issued: 02/13/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 03/19/1996
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Siebel Systems Inc. (Oracle Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Siebel Systems Inc. (Oracle Corporation)
• Inventors: Lim, Peter S., Broderson, Robert
• Primary Examiner(s): Black, Thomas G.
• Assistant Examiner(s): JUNG, DAVID YIUK
• Application Number:
  US09/220,990
• Time in Patent Office: 783 Days
• Field of Search: 707/1-206
• US Class Current: 707/620
• 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 707/99933 Query processing, i.e. searching
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99934 Query formulation, input preparation, or translation
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99935 Query augmenting and refining, e.g. inexact access
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99942 Manipulating data structure, e.g. compression, compaction, compilation
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99943 Generating database or data structure, e.g. via user interface
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99952 Coherency, e.g. same view to multiple users
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99953 Recoverability

Abstract

A method of maintaining a database. The database is a partially replicated database having a central database and a plurality of individual partially replicated databases. Updates made to the central database or to one of the individual, partially replicated databases are selectively propagated to one or more recipient partially replicated databases if the owner of the recipient partially replicated database has visibility to the data being selectively transmitted. This is accomplished by first replicating a group or records as a single logical docking object. A single set of visibility rules is applied to the data content of the entire logical docking unit. The docking object is then applied to the recipient individual partially replicated database if the owner thereof has visibility to the data being transmitted in the single logical docking object. Also disclosed are methods of controlling and logging the propagation of docking objects.

Claims

1. An article of manufacture comprising:

a computer usable medium having program code causing a computer to effect maintaining a database having a central database and a plurality of individual partially replicated databases, wherein updates made to the central database or to one of the individual, partially replicated databases are selectively propagated to a recipient partially replicated database if the owner of the recipient partially replicated database has visibility to the data being selectively transmitted, the computer readable program code in said article of manufacture comprising;

computer readable program code for causing a computer to effect replicating a group or records as a single logical docking object;

computer readable program code for causing a computer to effect applying a single set of visibility rules to the data content of the entire logical docking unit, and

computer readable program code for causing a computer to effect propagating the docking object to the recipient individual partially replicated database if the owner thereof has visibility to the data being transmitted in the single logical docking object.

2. An article of manufacture comprising:

a computer usable medium having program code causing a computer to effect maintaining a database having a central database and a plurality of individual partially replicated databases at individual nodes, wherein updates made to the central database or to one of the individual, partially replicated databases at one of the individual nodes are selectively propagated to a recipient partially replicated database at an individual node if the owner of the recipient partially replicated database has visibility to the data being selectively transmitted, said computer readable program code in said article of manufacture comprising;

(a) computer readable program code for causing a computer to effect entering a new transaction from an individual partially replicated database onto a node received log;

(b) computer readable program code for causing a computer to effect searching for unprocessed transaction logged onto node received logs;

(c) computer readable program code for causing a computer to effect selecting an unprocessed transaction from a node received log;

(d) computer readable program code for causing a computer to effect updating the central database therefrom;

(e) computer readable program code for causing a computer to effect journalling the update to the central database to a transaction log;

(f) computer readable program code for causing a computer to effect determining if any unprocessed transactions remain; and

(g) computer readable program code for causing a computer to effect repeating steps (a) through (g) if any unprocessed transactions remain.

3. A program storage device readable by a machine, tangibly embodying a program of instructions executable by a machine to perform method steps for maintaining a database having a central database and a plurality of individual partially replicated databases at individual nodes, wherein updates made to the central database or to one of the individual, partially replicated databases at one of the individual nodes are selectively propagated to a recipient partially replicated database at an individual node if the owner of the recipient partially replicated database has visibility to the data being selectively transmitted, said method steps comprising:

(a) computer readable program code for causing a computer to effect entering a new transaction from an individual partially replicated database onto a node received log;

(b) computer readable program code for causing a computer to effect searching for unprocessed transaction logged onto node received logs;

(c) computer readable program code for causing a computer to effect selecting an unprocessed transaction from a node received log;

(d) computer readable program code for causing a computer to effect updating the central database therefrom;

(e) computer readable program code for causing a computer to effect journalling the update to the central database to a transaction log;

(f) computer readable program code for causing a computer to effect determining if any unprocessed transactions remain; and

(g) computer readable program code for causing a computer to effect repeating steps (a) through (g) if any unprocessed transactions remain.

4. An article of manufacture comprising:

a computer usable medium having program code causing a computer to effect maintaining a database having a central database and a plurality of individual partially replicated databases at individual nodes, wherein updates made to the central database or to one of the individual, partially replicated databases at one of the individual nodes are selectively propagated to a recipient partially replicated database at an individual node if the owner of the recipient partially replicated database has visibility to the data being selectively transmitted, the computer readable program in said article of manufacture comprising;

(a) computer readable program code for causing a computer to effect finding an unprocessed transaction for an individual partially replicated database whose partial transaction is being processed;

(b) computer readable program code for causing a computer to effect determining if any additional unprocessed transaction transactions remain at said individual partially replicated database;

(c) computer readable program code for causing a computer to effect returning to step (a) if any additional unprocessed transactions remain at said individual partially replicated database;

(d) computer readable program code for causing a computer to effect otherwise selecting a transaction for processing;

(e) computer readable program code for causing a computer to effect writing a record for the transaction to a partial transaction log for the individual partially replicated database; and

(f) computer readable program code for causing a computer to effect updating a last record extracted log.

5. A method of maintaining a database having a central database and a plurality of individual partially replicated databases, wherein updates made to the central database or to one of the individual, partially replicated databases are selectively propagated to a recipient partially replicated database if the owner of the recipient partially replicated database has visibility to the data being selectively transmitted, said method comprising:

(a) replicating a group of records as a logical docking object which is composed of one or more database tables;

(b) applying a set of visibility rules to the data content of the logical docking unit;

(c) propagating the docking object to the recipient individual partially replicated database if the owner thereof has visibility to the data being transmitted in the logical docking object, and

(d) downloading or removing a docking object upon the occurrence of a visibility even chosen from the group consisting of;

(1) the publication of a record contained in the docking object;

(2) the publication of a record associated with a record contained in the docking object; and

(3) the record being inserted into a distribution table including the said recipient individual partially replicated database.

6. A method of maintaining a database having a central database and a plurality of individual partially replicated databases, wherein updates made to the central database or to one of the individual, partially replicated databases are selectively propagated to a recipient partially replicated database if the owner of the recipient partially replicated database has visibility to the data being selectively transmitted, said method comprising:

(a) replicating a group of records as a logical docking object which is composed of one or more physical database tables;

(b) applying a set of visibility rules to the data content of the logical docking unit;

(c) propagating the docking object to the recipient individual partially replicated database if the owner thereof has visibility to the data being transmitted in the logical docking object; and

(d) downloading or removing a docking object when the visibility event is automatically detected by a log manager.

7. A method of maintaining a database having a central database and a plurality of individual partially replicated databases at individual nodes, wherein updates made to the central database or to one of the individual, partially replicated databases at one of the individual nodes are selectively propagated to a recipient partially replicated database at an individual node if the owner of the recipient partially replicated database has visibility to the data being selectively transmitted, said method comprising:

(a) entering a new transaction from an individual partially replicated database onto a node received log residing at an individual replicated database;

(b) searching for unprocessed transactions logged onto node received logs;

(c) selecting an unprocessed transaction from a node received log;

(d) updating the central database therefrom;

(e) journalling the update to the central database to a transaction log;

(f) determining if any unprocessed transactions remain; and

(g) repeating steps (a) through (f) if any unprocessed transactions remain.

8. A method of maintaining a database having a central database and a plurality of individual partially replicated databases at individual nodes, wherein updates made to the central database or to one of the individual, partially replicated databases at one of the individual nodes are selectively propagated to a recipient partially replicated database at an individual node if the owner of the recipient partially replicated database has visibility to the data being selectively transmitted, said method comprising:

(a) entering a new transaction from an individual partially replicated database onto a node received log resident at the central database;

(b) searching for unprocessed transactions logged onto node received logs;

(c) selecting an unprocessed transaction from a node received log;

(d) updating the central database therefrom;

(e) journalling the update to the central database to a transaction log;

(f) determining if any unprocessed transactions remain; and

(g) repeating steps (a) through (f) if any unprocessed transactions remain.

9. A system for maintaining a database having a central database and a plurality of individual partially replicated databases, wherein updates made to the central database or to one of the individual, partially replicated databases are selectively propagated to a recipient partially replicated database if the owner of the recipient partially replicated database has visibility to the data being selectively transmitted, said system configured to:

(a) replicate a group of records as a logical docking object;

(b) apply a set of visibility rules to the data content of the entire logical docking unit; and

(c) propagate the docking object to the recipient individual partially replicated database if the owner thereof has visibility to the data being transmitted in the single logical docking object.

10. A system for maintaining a database having a central database and a plurality of individual partially replicated databases at individual nodes, wherein updates made to the central database or to one of the individual, partially replicated databases at one of the individual nodes are selectively propagated to a recipient partially replicated database at an individual node if the owner of the recipient partially replicated database has visibility to the data being selectively transmitted, said system configured to:

(a) enter a new transaction from an individual partially replicated database onto a node received log;

(b) search for unprocessed transactions logged onto node received logs;

(c) select an unprocessed transaction from a node received log;

(d) update the central database therefrom;

(e) journal the update to the central database to a transaction log;

(f) determine if any unprocessed transactions remain; and

(g) repeat steps (a) through (f) if any unprocessed transactions remain.

11. A system for maintaining a database having a central database and a plurality of individual partially replicated databases at individual nodes, wherein updates made to the central database or to one of the individual, partially replicated databases at one of the individual nodes are selectively propagated to a recipient partially replicated database at an individual node if the owner of the recipient partially replicated database has visibility to the data being selectively transmitted, said system configured to:

(a) find an unprocessed transaction for an individual partially replicated database whose partial transaction is being processed;

(b) determine if any additional unprocessed transaction transactions remain at said individual partially replicated database;

(c) return to step (a) if any additional unprocessed transactions remain at said individual partially replicated database, otherwise select a transaction for processing;

(d) write a record for the transaction to a partial transaction log for the individual partially replicated database; and

(e) update a last record extracted log.