System and method for database synchronization

• US 6,581,075 B1
• Filed: 12/28/2000
• Issued: 06/17/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 12/28/2000
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: RPX Clearinghouse LLC (RPX Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Nortel Networks Limited (Nortel Networks Corporation)
• Inventors: McNamara, Ray, Beffert, Helmut, Jordan, William J., Zhu, Zhengya, Heaven, Thomas E., Pal, Jatinder, Guturu, Parthasarathy
• Primary Examiner(s): Coby, Frantz
• Application Number:
  US09/752,838
• Time in Patent Office: 901 Days
• Field of Search: 707/8,10,104.1,201
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/273 Asynchronous replication or reconciliation
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99938 Concurrency, e.g. lock management in shared database
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99945 Object-oriented database structure processing
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99952 Coherency, e.g. same view to multiple users

Abstract

A method of maintaining synchronization among multiple databases is provided. The method includes the steps of receiving a data update request for a data record at a database, and comparing a timestamp of the data record to a timestamp of the data update request. The data in the data record is updated with the data update request if the timestamp of the data update request is substantially greater than the timestamp of the data record. Otherwise, the data in the data record is updated with the data update request if the operational priority of the data update request is higher than the operational priority of the data record. Alternatively, the data in the data record is updated with the data update request if the node priority of the data update request is higher than the node priority of the data record.

Claims

1. A method of maintaining synchronization among at least two databases, comprising:

receiving a data update request for a data record at a database;

comparing a timestamp of the data record to a timestamp of the data update request;

comparing an operational priority of the data record to the operational priority of the data update request in response to the timestamp of the data update request being substantially identical to the timestamp of the data record;

updating the data in the data record with the data update request in response to the operational priority of the data update request being higher than the operational priority of the data record;

comparing a node priority of the data record to a node priority of the data update request in response to the timestamp of the data update request being substantially identical to the timestamp of the data record and the operational priority of the data update request being substantially identical to the operational priority of the data record; and

updating the data in the data record with data associated with the data update request in response to the node priority of the data update request being higher than the node priority of the data record.

2. The method, as set forth in claim 1, wherein comparing the timestamps of the data update request and the data record comprises determining whether a difference between the timestamps is greater than a predetermined conflict time window.

3. The method, as set forth in claim 1, wherein comparing the node priority comprises determining whether the node priority of the update request is a service management system priority level and making the update with the update request in response to the node priority being service management system.

4. The method, as set forth in claim 1, further comprising:

preparing an updated data record in response to the update data request; and

setting an override SMS flag of the updated data record to true in response to the data record node priority being service management system priority level.

5. The method, as set forth in claim 1, further comprising:

preparing an updated data record corresponding to the data update request in response to not locating the data record in the database pertaining to the update data request; and

inserting the updated data record in the database.

6. The method, as set forth in claim 1, further comprising:

preparing an updated data record corresponding to the data update request in response to not locating the data record in the database pertaining to the update data request;

setting a delete flag of the updated record to true; and

inserting the updated data record in the database.

7. The method, as set forth in claim 6, further comprising resetting the delete flag of the inserted data record in response to a timestamp of an SMS priority update request being earlier than the timestamp of the inserted data record.

8. The method, as set forth in claim 1, further comprising:

preparing an updated data record corresponding to the data update request by;

reading the data record into a temporary buffer;

modifying the data in the temporary buffer;

update the timestamp, version number, and node priority of the data record in the temporary buffer; and

replacing the data record in the database with the updated data record in the temporary buffer.

9. The method, as set forth in claim 1, further comprising:

comparing a version number of the data record and the data update request; and

modifying the data record in the database in response to the version number of the data update request being greater than that of the data record.

10. A method of processing data update requests originating from multiple sources at a database, comprising:

receiving a data update request associated with a data record in the database;

locating the data record in the database;

comparing a timestamp of the data record to a timestamp of the data update request;

updating the data in the data record with the data update request in response to the timestamp of the data update request being a predetermined conflict time window later than the timestamp of the data record;

comparing an operational priority of the data record to the operational priority of the data update request in response to the timestamp of the data update request being substantially identical to the timestamp of the data record;

updating the data in the data record with the data update request in response to the operational priority of the data update request being higher than the operational priority of the data record;

comparing a node priority of the data record to the node priority of the data update request in response to the timestamp of the data update request being substantially identical to the timestamp of the data record and the operational priority of the data update request being substantially identical to the operational priority of the data record;

updating the data in the data record with the data update request in response to the node priority of the data update request being higher than the node priority of the data record; and

ignoring the data update request in response to the timestamp of the data update request being substantially identical to the timestamp of the data record, the operational priority of the data update request being substantially identical to the operational priority of the data record, and the node priority of the data update request being substantially identical to the node priority of the data record.

11. The method, as set forth in claim 10, wherein comparing the node priority comprises determining whether the node priority of the update request is a service management system priority level and making the update with the update request in response to the node priority being service management system.

12. The method, as set forth in claim 10, further comprising:

preparing an updated data record in response to the update data request; and

setting an override SMS flag of the updated data record to true in response to the data record node priority being service management system priority level.

13. The method, as set forth in claim 10, further comprising:

preparing an updated data record corresponding to the data update request in response to not locating the data record in the database pertaining to the update data request; and

inserting the updated data record in the database.

14. The method, as set forth in claim 10, further comprising:

preparing an updated data record corresponding to the data update request in response to not locating the data record in the database pertaining to the update data request;

setting a delete flag of the updated record to true; and

inserting the updated data record in the database.

15. The method, as set forth in claim 14, further comprising resetting the delete flag of the inserted data record in response to a timestamp of an SMS priority update request being earlier than the timestamp of the inserted data record.

16. The method, as set forth in claim 10, further comprising:

preparing an updated data record corresponding to the data update request by;

reading the data record into a temporary buffer;

modifying the data in the temporary buffer;

update the timestamp, version number, and node priority of the data record in the temporary buffer; and

replacing the data record in the database with the updated data record in the temporary buffer.

17. The method, as set forth in claim 10, further comprising:

comparing a version number of the data record and the data update request; and

modifying the data record in the database in response to the version number of the data update request being greater than that of the data record.

18. The method, as set forth in claim 15, further comprising deleting data records in the database having a true delete flag.

19. A method of handling data update requests for a database, comprising:

receiving a data update request for a data record in the database;

comparing a version number of the data record to a version number of the data update request;

resolving update conflict in response to the version number of the data update request being less than or equal to that of the data record, comprising;

comparing a timestamp of the data record to a timestamp of the data update request;

updating the data in the data record with the data update request in response to the timestamp of the data update request being a predetermined conflict time window later than the timestamp of the data record;

comparing an operational priority of the data record to the operational priority of the data update request in response to the timestamp of the data update request being substantially identical to the timestamp of the data record;

updating the data in the data record with the data update request in response to the operational priority of the data update request being higher than the operational priority of the data record;

comparing a node priority of the data record to the node priority of the data update request in response to the timestamp of the data update request being substantially identical to the timestamp of the data record and the operational priority of the data update request being substantially identical to the operational priority of the data record;

updating the data in the data record with the data update request in response to the node priority of the data update request being higher than the node priority of the data record; and

ignoring the data update request in response to the timestamp of the data update request being substantially identical to the timestamp of the data record, the operational priority of the data update request being substantially identical to the operational priority of the data record, and the node priority of the data update request being substantially identical to the node priority of the data record.

20. The method, as set forth in claim 19, wherein comparing the node priority comprises determining whether the node priority of the update request is a service management system priority level and making the update with the update request in response to the node priority being service management system.

21. The method, as set forth in claim 19, further comprising:

preparing an updated data record in response to the update data request; and

setting an override SMS flag of the updated data record to true in response to the data record node priority being service management system priority level.

22. The method, as set forth in claim 19, further comprising:

preparing an updated data record corresponding to the data update request in response to not locating the data record in the database pertaining to the update data request; and

inserting the updated data record in the database.

23. The method, as set forth in claim 19, further comprising:

preparing an updated data record corresponding to the data update request in response to not locating the data record in the database pertaining to the update data request;

setting a delete flag of the updated record to true; and

inserting the updated data record in the database.

24. The method, as set forth in claim 23, further comprising resetting the delete flag of the inserted data record in response to a timestamp of an SMS priority update request being earlier than the timestamp of the inserted data record.

25. The method, as set forth in claim 19, further comprising:

preparing an updated data record corresponding to the data update request by;

reading the data record into a temporary buffer;

modifying the data in the temporary buffer;

update the timestamp, version number, and node priority of the data record in the temporary buffer; and

replacing the data record in the database with the updated data record in the temporary buffer.

26. The method, as set forth in claim 19, further comprising:

comparing a version number of the data record and the data update request; and

modifying the data record in the database in response to the version number of the data update request being greater than that of the data record.

27. The method, as set forth in claim 26, further comprising periodically deleting data records in the database having a true delete flag.

28. A database system, comprising:

a data update request having a data update and a timestamp, an operational priority, and a node priority associated with the data update; and

a database operable to receive the data update request, update data in a data record associated with the data update request in response to the timestamp of the data update request being substantially greater than a timestamp stored in the data record, update data in the data record in response to the operational priority of the data update request being higher than an operational priority stored in the data record, or update data in the data record in response to the node priority of the data update request being higher than a node priority stored in the data record.

29. The database system, as set forth in claim 28, wherein the database is operable to determine whether a difference between the timestamps is greater than a predetermined conflict time window.

30. The database system, as set forth in claim 28, wherein the database is operable to determine whether the node priority of the data update request is a service management system priority level and update the data in response to the node priority being service management system priority level.

31. The database system, as set forth in claim 30, wherein the database is operable to prepare an updated data record in response to the update data request, and set an override SMS flag of the updated data record to true in response to the data record node priority being service management system priority level.

32. The database system, as set forth in claim 28, wherein the database is operable to prepare an updated data record corresponding to the data update request in response to not locating the data record in the database pertaining to the update data request, and insert the updated data record in the database.

33. The database system, as set forth in claim 28, wherein the database is operable to prepare an updated data record corresponding to the data update request in response to not locating the data record in the database pertaining to the update data request, set a delete flag of the updated record to true, and insert the updated data record in the database.

34. The database system, as set forth in claim 33, wherein the database is operable to reset the delete flag of the inserted data record in response to a timestamp of an SMS priority update request being earlier than the timestamp of the inserted data record.

35. The database system, as set forth in claim 28, wherein the database is operable to prepare an updated data record corresponding to the data update request by reading the data record into a temporary buffer, modifying the data in the temporary buffer, update the timestamp, version number, and node priority of the data record in the temporary buffer, and replacing the data record in the database with the updated data record in the temporary buffer.

36. The database system, as set forth in claim 28, wherein the database is operable to compare a version number of the data record and the data update request, and modify the data record in the database in response to the version number of the data update request being greater than that of the data record.

37. A computer program embodied on a computer-readable medium for maintaining synchronization among multiple identical databases, the computer program being operable to:

receive a data update request for a data record at a database;

compare a timestamp of the data record to a timestamp of the data update request;

update data in the data record with data associated with the data update request in response to the timestamp of the data update request being greater than the timestamp of the data record;

compare an operational priority of the data record to the operational priority of the data update request in response to the timestamp of the data update request being substantially identical to the timestamp of the data record;

update the data in the data record with the data update request in response to the operational priority of the data update request being higher than the operational priority of the data record;

compare a node priority of the data record to a node priority of the data update request in response to the timestamp of the data update request being substantially identical to the timestamp of the data record and the operational priority of the data update request being substantially identical to the operational priority of the data record; and

update the data in the data record with the data update request in response to the node priority of the data update request being higher than the node priority of the data record.

38. The computer program, as set forth in claim 37, wherein the computer program determines whether a difference between the timestamps is greater than a predetermined conflict time window.

39. The computer program, as set forth in claim 38, wherein the computer program determines whether the node priority of the update request is a service management system priority level and making the update with the update request in response to the node priority being service management system.

40. The computer program, as set forth in claim 37, wherein the computer program is further operable to:

prepare an updated data record in response to the update data request; and

set an override SMS flag of the updated data record to true in response to the data record node priority being service management system priority level.

41. The computer program, as set forth in claim 37, wherein the computer program is further operable to:

prepare an updated data record corresponding to the data update request in response to not locating the data record in the database pertaining to the update data request; and

insert the updated data record in the database.

42. The computer program, as set forth in claim 37, wherein the computer program is further operable to:

prepare an updated data record corresponding to the data update request in response to not locating the data record in the database pertaining to the update data request;

set a delete flag of the updated record to true; and

insert the updated data record in the database.

43. The computer program, as set forth in claim 42, wherein the computer program is further operable to reset the delete flag of the inserted data record in response to a timestamp of an SMS priority update request being earlier than the timestamp of the inserted data record.

44. The computer program, as set forth in claim 37, wherein the computer program is further operable to prepare an updated data record corresponding to the data update request by reading the data record into a temporary buffer, modifying the data in the temporary buffer, updating the timestamp, version number, and node priority of the data record in the temporary buffer, and replacing the data record in the database with the updated data record in the temporary buffer.

45. The computer program, as set forth in claim 37, wherein the computer program is further operable to:

compare a version number of the data record and the data update request; and

modify the data record in the database in response to the version number of the data update request being greater than that of the data record.