System and method for synchronizing related data elements in disparate storage systems

• US 7,386,575 B2
• Filed: 07/08/2003
• Issued: 06/10/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 10/25/2000
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Yellin, Daniel M., Buddenbaum, Donald E., Denny, Michael L., Bashant, David M.
• Primary Examiner(s): Rones; Charles
• Assistant Examiner(s): Ortiz; Belix M
• Application Number:
  US10/614,968
• Publication Number:
  US 20040098546A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,799 Days
• Field of Search: 707/100, 707/102, 707/200, 707/201, 707/202, 707/203, 707/204, 707/10, 707/8, 707/6, 709/248, 705/50
• US Class Current: 1/1
• 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: G06F 16/275 Synchronous replication
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/101 Collaborative creation, e.g. joint development of products or services
• 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 707/99943 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 system and method for tracking and synchronizing related data elements in disparate storage systems is provided. More particularly, the present invention provides a hub system for cross-referencing and maintaining storage system information for the efficient synchronization of related data elements in disparate storage systems.

Claims

1. A system comprising a first and second storage system and a table of keys for synchronizing related data elements between a first and second storage system, each key comprising:

a universal identifier corresponding to a data element in the first and second storage system;

a first record identifier corresponding to the data element in the first storage system; and

a second record identifier corresponding to the data element stored in the second storage system, wherein the universal identifier, the first record identifier and the second record identifier are used to synchronize the data element between the first and second storage system,

wherein the table of keys is separate from all storage systems that store the data in the first storage system and the second storage system.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein each key further comprises a data element type name corresponding to the data element.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein each key further comprises a first system name corresponding to the first storage system.

4. The system of claim 3, wherein each key further comprises a second system name corresponding to the second storage system.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein each key further comprises storage system information corresponding to storage of the data element in a particular storage system.

6. The system of claim 1, further comprising a table interface for cross-referencing and updating the table of keys.

7. The system of claim 6, wherein the table interface includes:

an identifier matching system for cross-referencing record identifiers and universal identifiers;

end

a table update system for updating the table.

8. The system of claim 7, wherein the table interface further comprises:

a storage information system fur accessing information corresponding to storage of the data element in a particular storage system.

9. The system of claim 1, wherein the first storage system is designed to store first data related to the data element, and wherein the first storage system is designed to stare second data related to the data element, and wherein the first data is designed to be different from the second data.

10. The system of claim 1, wherein the first and second storage system do not separately maintain information for synchronizing the first and second storages system with each other.