Partially replicated distributed database with multiple levels of remote clients

• US 6,405,220 B1
• Filed: 07/06/2001
• Issued: 06/11/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 02/28/1997
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Oracle America, Inc. (Oracle Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Siebel Systems Inc. (Oracle Corporation)
• Inventors: Lim, Peter S., Chatterjee, Prashant, Brodersen, Robert S.
• Primary Examiner(s): Breene, John
• Assistant Examiner(s): LEWIS, CHERYL RENEA
• Application Number:
  US09/899,565
• Publication Number:
  US 20020035577A1
• Time in Patent Office: 340 Days
• Field of Search: 707/1, 707/10, 707/200, 707/202, 707/201, 709/207, 709/203
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/278 Data partitioning, e.g. horizontal or vertical partitioning
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99931 Database or file accessing
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99934 Query formulation, input preparation, or translation
• 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 and system for collecting, storing, and retrieving data in a data base management system. The database management system includes a master database server (4), at least one workgroup server (315), and a plurality of workgroup user clients (310). The workgroup server (315) is interposed between the master database server (4) and said workgroup user clients (310). The method creating a transaction in a local database resident on one of the workgroup user clients (310), entering the transaction into a transaction log resident on the workgroup user client (310), and creating a transaction file corresponding to the transaction in an outbox of said workgroup user client (310). Next, the transaction file is copied to an inbox identified to the workgroup user client (310) and updating the transaction file into a workgroup database (305) resident on the workgroup server (315). The workgroup database (305) includes a transaction log.

Claims

1. A method of communicating data in a multi-tier database management system having a master database server, an application server, at least one workgroup server, and a plurality of workgroup user clients, said application server and said workgroup server interposed between said master database server and said workgroup user clients, said method comprising:

examining transactions in a master database transaction log of the master database server, and replicating to the workgroup server those transactions intended for a user on the workgroup server or for any workgroup clients attached to the workgroup server; and

examining transactions in a workgroup database transaction log of the workgroup server, skipping those transactions originating at the master database server, and copying data files corresponding to transactions originating at the workgroup server or at a workgroup user client of the workgroup server to an inbox of the master database server.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

applying, at the workgroup server, each of the transactions routed from the master database server to the workgroup server.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

examining, at the workgroup server, transactions in the workgroup server database transaction log, and replicating a transaction to a workgroup client if the transaction is intended for a user on the workgroup client.

4. A method of communicating data in a multi-tier database management system having a master database server, an application server, at least one workgroup server, and a plurality of workgroup user clients, said application server and said workgroup server interposed between said master database server and said workgroup user clients, said method comprising:

examining transactions in a master database transaction log of the master database server, and replicating to the workgroup server those transactions intended for a user on the workgroup server or for any workgroup clients attached to the workgroup server.

5. The method of claim 4, further comprising:

applying, at the workgroup server, each of the transactions routed from the master database server to the workgroup server.

6. The method of claim 4, further comprising:

examining, at the workgroup server, transactions in the workgroup server database transaction log, and replicating a transaction to a workgroup client if the transaction is intended for a user on the workgroup client.