Data updating method and related information processing device
First Claim
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1. A method for synchronizing a first database, which is shared by a plurality of first devices through a network, with a second database stored in a second device, which is a handheld device, comprising:
- (a) performing an initialization operation having(a1) when a synchronization between the first and second databases is completed by one of the plurality of first devices that accesses the first database and by the second device that accesses the second database, transmitting an update file from the one of the plurality of first devices to the second device, the update file containing (i) communication time data indicating a current time, and (ii) one or more identifiers each of which identifies each data unit currently contained in the first database,(a2) storing in the second device the update file transmitted from the one of the plurality of first devices in step (a1), and(a3) when the synchronization between the first and second databases is completed by the one of the plurality of first devices and the second device, resetting one or more flags each stored in association with each data unit in the second database, a flag indicating whether a corresponding data unit is newly added, changed or deleted;
(b) a database update operation having(b1) when a request is provided to any one of the plurality of first devices, adding a new data unit to the first database, changing a data unit in the first database, or deleting a data unit from the first database, in accordance with the request,(b2) when a data unit in the first database is changed, storing edit time data indicating a current time in the first database in association with the changed data unit,(b3) when a request is provided to the second device, adding a new data unit to the second database, changing a data unit in the second database, or deleting a data unit from the second database, in accordance with the request, and(b4) when a data unit in the second database is newly added, changed, or deleted, storing in the second database a status indicator indicating the data unit is newly added, changed, or deleted respectively, in association with the data unit; and
(c) performing a synchronization operation having(c1) transmitting the update file from the second device to another of the plurality of first devices,(c2) determining which data unit in the first database is newly added, changed, or deleted, after the most recent synchronization was completed, on the basis of data contained in the update file received from the second device in step (c1), the one or more identifiers each of which identifies each data unit currently contained in the first database, and the edit time data stored in the first database,(c3) determining which data unit in the second database is newly added, changed, or deleted, after the most recent synchronization was completed, on the basis of the one or more flags stored in the second database,(c4) updating the second database on the basis of a result of the determination with regard to the first database, and(c5) updating the first database on the basis of a result of the determination with regard to the second database, andwhen step (c) completes, step (a) is performed with regard to the another of the plurality of first devices and the second device.
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Abstract
In a case where application data stored in a PC database 300a are edited by a PC 300, and the edited contents are to be reflected to contents of the memory of a terminal database 200a, PC 300 refers to a synchronization profile SP including item IDs and ID numbers of a most recent synchronization communication and communication time information of the synchronization communication, thereby detecting which items have been edited at a time subsequent to completion of a most recent synchronization communication.
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Citations
5 Claims
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1. A method for synchronizing a first database, which is shared by a plurality of first devices through a network, with a second database stored in a second device, which is a handheld device, comprising:
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(a) performing an initialization operation having (a1) when a synchronization between the first and second databases is completed by one of the plurality of first devices that accesses the first database and by the second device that accesses the second database, transmitting an update file from the one of the plurality of first devices to the second device, the update file containing (i) communication time data indicating a current time, and (ii) one or more identifiers each of which identifies each data unit currently contained in the first database, (a2) storing in the second device the update file transmitted from the one of the plurality of first devices in step (a1), and (a3) when the synchronization between the first and second databases is completed by the one of the plurality of first devices and the second device, resetting one or more flags each stored in association with each data unit in the second database, a flag indicating whether a corresponding data unit is newly added, changed or deleted; (b) a database update operation having (b1) when a request is provided to any one of the plurality of first devices, adding a new data unit to the first database, changing a data unit in the first database, or deleting a data unit from the first database, in accordance with the request, (b2) when a data unit in the first database is changed, storing edit time data indicating a current time in the first database in association with the changed data unit, (b3) when a request is provided to the second device, adding a new data unit to the second database, changing a data unit in the second database, or deleting a data unit from the second database, in accordance with the request, and (b4) when a data unit in the second database is newly added, changed, or deleted, storing in the second database a status indicator indicating the data unit is newly added, changed, or deleted respectively, in association with the data unit; and (c) performing a synchronization operation having (c1) transmitting the update file from the second device to another of the plurality of first devices, (c2) determining which data unit in the first database is newly added, changed, or deleted, after the most recent synchronization was completed, on the basis of data contained in the update file received from the second device in step (c1), the one or more identifiers each of which identifies each data unit currently contained in the first database, and the edit time data stored in the first database, (c3) determining which data unit in the second database is newly added, changed, or deleted, after the most recent synchronization was completed, on the basis of the one or more flags stored in the second database, (c4) updating the second database on the basis of a result of the determination with regard to the first database, and (c5) updating the first database on the basis of a result of the determination with regard to the second database, and when step (c) completes, step (a) is performed with regard to the another of the plurality of first devices and the second device. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4)
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5. A device comprising:
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a memory for storing an update file containing (i) communication time data indicating a time when a most recent synchronization operation between a first database, which is stored in a server, and a second database, which is stored in an external device, was completed and (ii) one or more identifiers each of which identifies each data unit contained in the first database at the time when the most recent synchronization operation was completed; a communicating unit for communicating with the server and the external device; and a controller for, when a request is provided, adding a new data unit to the first database, changing a data unit in the first database, or deleting a data unit from the first database, in accordance with the request, by accessing the server through the communication unit; for, when a data unit in the first database is changed, storing edit time data indicating a current time in the first database in association with the changed data unit, by accessing the server through the communication unit; for performing a synchronization operation having receiving the update file from the external device through the communication unit and storing the received update file in the memory, determining which data unit in the first database is newly added, changed, or deleted, after the most recent synchronization was completed, on the basis of data contained in the received update file stored in the memory, the one or more identifiers each of which identifies each data unit currently contained in the first database, which are received from the server through the communication unit, and the edit time data stored in the first database, which is received from the server through the communication unit, with regard to a data unit determined as a newly added data unit, transmitting the newly added data unit along with an identifier of the newly added data unit through the communication unit to the external device, with regard to a data unit determined as a changed data unit, transmitting the changed data unit along with an identifier of the changed data unit through the communication unit to the external device, and with regard to a data unit determined as a deleted data unit, transmitting an identifier of the deleted data unit through the communication unit to the external device; for, when the synchronization operation completes, updating the update file stored in the memory; and for, when the update file is updated, transmitting the updated update file stored in the memory through the communication unit to the external device.
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Specification