Non-time dependent synchronization of databases

• US 6,718,348 B1
• Filed: 08/25/2000
• Issued: 04/06/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 08/25/2000
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Telefonaktiebolaget LM Ericsson
• Original Assignee: Telefonaktiebolaget LM Ericsson
• Inventors: Novak, Lars, Birkler, Jörgen
• Primary Examiner(s): Breene, John
• Assistant Examiner(s): SCHRANTZ, STEPHEN D
• Application Number:
  US09/645,305
• Time in Patent Office: 1,320 Days
• Field of Search: 707/200-201, 707/204
• US Class Current: 707/621
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/273 Asynchronous replication or reconciliation
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99952 Coherency, e.g. same view to multiple users
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99953 Recoverability

Abstract

A first database is synchronized with a second database, wherein the first database is located in a mobile terminal. To avoid erroneous synchronization results that can occur if a timer associated with the mobile terminal is changed, relative to a timer associated with the second database, an indicator is set to indicate that a full synchronization should be performed whenever it is detected that the timer in the mobile terminal has been set back. Then, when synchronization is to take place, full synchronization of the first database with the second database is performed if the indicator is set. Otherwise, a fast synchronization that uses a change log may be performed. The indicator may be in the form of a change in a database identifier.

Claims

1. A method of synchronizing a first database with a second database, wherein the first database is located in a mobile terminal, the method comprising:

setting an indicator to an indicator value in response to detecting that a timer in the mobile terminal has been set back; and

selectively performing either a full synchronization or a fast synchronization of the first database with the second database according to the indicator value.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein setting the indicator comprises changing a value of a database identifier.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein a fast synchronization of the first database with the second database is performed if the indicator is not set and a full synchronization of the first database with the second database is performed if the indicator is set.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

resetting the indicator after performing the full synchronization of the first database with the second database.

5. An apparatus for synchronizing a first database with a second database, wherein the first database is located in a mobile terminal, the apparatus comprising:

logic that sets an indicator to an indicator value in response to detecting that a timer in the mobile terminal has been set back; and

logic that selectively performs either a full synchronization or a fast synchronization of the first database with the second database according to the indicator value.

6. The apparatus of claim 5, wherein the logic that sets the indicator comprises logic that changes a value of a database identifier.

7. The apparatus of claim 5, wherein a fast synchronization of the first database with the second database is performed if the indicator is not set and a full synchronization of the first database with the second database is performed if the indicator is set.

8. The apparatus of claim 5, further comprising:

logic that resets the indicator after performing the full synchronization of the first database with the second database.

9. A computer readable storage medium having stored therein program instructions that synchronize a first database with a second database, wherein the first database is located in a mobile terminal, the program instructions comprising:

program instructions that set an indicator to an indicator value in response to detecting that a timer in the mobile terminal has been set back; and

program instructions that selectively perform either a full synchronization or a fast synchronization of the first database with the second database according to the indicator value.

10. The computer readable storage medium of claim 9, wherein the program instructions that set the indicator comprise computer instructions that change a value of a database identifier.

11. The computer readable storage medium of claim 9, wherein a fast synchronization of the first database with the second database is performed if the indicator is not set and a full synchronization of the first database with the second database is performed if the indicator is set.

12. The computer readable storage medium of claim 9, further comprising:

program instructions that reset the indicator after performing the full synchronization of the first database with the second database.

13. A method of synchronizing a first database with a second database, wherein the first database is located in a mobile terminal, the method comprising:

setting an indicator to an indicator value in response to detecting that a timer in the mobile terminal has been changed by a user of the mobile terminal; and

selectively performing either a full synchronization or a fast synchronization of the first database with the second database according to the indicator value.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein setting the indicator comprises changing a value of a database identifier.

15. The method of claim 13, wherein a fast synchronization of the first database with the second database is performed if the indicator is not set and a full synchronization of the first database with the second database is Performed if the indicator is set.

16. The method of claim 13, further comprising:

resetting the indicator after performing the full synchronization of the first database with the second database.

17. An apparatus for synchronizing a first database with a second database, wherein the first database is located in a mobile terminal, the apparatus comprising:

logic that sets an indicator to an indicator value in response to detecting that a timer in the mobile terminal has been changed by a user of the mobile terminal; and

logic that selectively performs either a full synchronization or a fast synchronization of the first database with the second database according to the indicator value.

18. The apparatus of claim 17, wherein the logic that sets the indicator comprises logic that changes a value of a database identifier.

19. The apparatus of claim 17, wherein a fast synchronization of the first database with the second database is performed if the indicator is not set and a full synchronization of the first database with the second database is performed if the indicator is set.

20. The apparatus of claim 17, further comprising:

logic that resets the indicator after performing the full synchronization of the first database with the second database.

21. A computer readable storage medium having stored therein program instructions that synchronize a first database with a second database, wherein the first database is located in a mobile terminal, the program instructions comprising:

program instructions that set an indicator to an indicator value in response to detecting that a timer in the mobile terminal has been changed by a user of the mobile terminal; and

program instructions that selectively perform either a full synchronization or a fast synchronization of the first database with the second database according to the indicator value.

22. The computer readable storage medium of claim 21, wherein the program instructions that set the indicator comprise computer instructions that change a value of a database identifier.

23. The computer readable storage medium of claim 21, a fast synchronization of the first database with the second database is performed if the indicator is not set and a full synchronization of the first database with the second database is performed if the indicator is set.

24. The computer readable storage medium of claim 21, further comprising:

program instructions that reset the indicator after performing the full synchronization of the first database with the second database.