Method for exchanging data between data processing units

• US 7,694,010 B2
• Filed: 03/05/2004
• Issued: 04/06/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 03/05/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Francotyp-Postalia GmbH (Francotyp-Postalia Holding AG)
• Original Assignee: Francotyp-Postalia GmbH (Francotyp-Postalia Holding AG)
• Inventors: Bleumer, Gerrit, Heinrich, Clemens
• Primary Examiner(s): Kang; Paul H
• Assistant Examiner(s): Zhang; Shirley X
• Application Number:
  US10/794,193
• Publication Number:
  US 20040230622A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,223 Days
• Field of Search: 707200-204, 709/237, 705/401, 705/404
• US Class Current: 709/237
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 11/1474 in transactions G06F16/20 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G07B 17/00024 Physical or organizational aspects of franking systems
• CPC Class Codes: G07B 17/0008 Communication details outside or between apparatus coin-freed apparatus for franking per se G07F17/26
• CPC Class Codes: G07B 2017/00137 In a LAN

Abstract

In a method and arrangement for exchanging data between a first processing unit, containing first status information about the first data processing unit, and a second data processing unit, containing second status information about the first data processing unit, data are exchanged between the first and second units during transactions that include a status-changing transaction, which can be of two different types. Upon a successful completion of the status-changing transaction, the first and second status information are revised so that they match. Upon an unsuccessful completion of the status-changing transaction, at least one of the first and second status information is set dependent on the type of the status-changing transaction.

Claims

1. A method for exchanging data between a first postal data processing unit of a postage metering system containing first status information about said first postal data processing unit and a second postal data processing unit of a remote postal data center containing second status information about said first postal data processing unit, comprising the steps of:

exchanging postal-related data between said first postal data processing unit and said second postal data processing unit during transactions, said transactions including a first status-changing transaction which can be of two different types, and a second status-changing transaction following said first status-changing transaction, wherein said first or second postal data processing unit comprises a processor and a memory;

only upon a successful completion of an entirety of said first status-changing transaction, revising said first status information and said second status information such that they match by revising said first status information by triggering a revision message in said second postal data processing unit and transmitting said revision message to said first postal data processing unit, and revising said second status information by triggering a confirmation message in said first data processing unit and transmitting said configuration message to said second data processing unit, said confirmation message confirming said revision of said first status information;

only upon an unsuccessful completion of said entirety of said first status-changing transaction, setting said first status information and said second status information dependent on the type of said first status changing transaction,

if said first status-changing transaction is not successfully completed due to a failure of a flawless confirmation message to be received at said postal second data processing unit;

comparing said first status information and said second status information during said second status-changing transaction; and

if an inconsistency exists, synchronizing said first status information and said second status information dependent on the type of said first status-changing transaction to reestablish conformity between said first status information and said second status information; and

making a defensive recovery strategy and a progressive recovery strategy available to said first and second data processing units for reestablishing conformity between said first status information and said second status information after the unsuccessful completion of said first status-changing transaction, and selecting said recovery strategy dependent on the type of said first status-changing transaction;

if said synchronization is initiated by said first postal data processing unit, setting said first status information in an unchanged fashion when employing said defensive recovery strategy and setting said first status information as if said first status-changing transaction were successfully completed when employing said progressive recovery strategy; and

if said synchronization is initiated by said second postal data processing unit, setting said second status information in an unchanged fashion when employing said defensive recovery strategy and setting said second status information as if said first status-changing transaction were successfully completed when employing said progressive recovery strategy.

2. A method according to claim 1, comprising generating and storing a transaction status information, dependent on the type of said first status-changing transaction, in one of said first postal data processing unit or said second postal data processing unit if said first status-changing transaction is not successfully completed.

3. A method according to claim 2, comprising setting at least one of said first status information or said second status information dependent on said transaction status information.

4. A method according to claim 3, comprising storing said transaction status information in said second postal data processing unit and setting at least said second status information dependent on said transaction status information.

5. A method according to claim 1, comprising generating and storing a first transaction status information that depends on the type of said first status-changing transaction if said first status-changing transaction is not successfully completed, and synchronizing said first status information and said second status information dependent on the type of said first status-changing transaction.

6. A method according to claim 5, comprising storing said first transaction status information in said second postal data processing unit and initiating said synchronization with said second postal data processing unit.

7. A method according to claim 1 comprising:

storing a status model that covers all possible revisions of said first status information about said first postal data processing unit;

conducting an integrity check for determining whether achieving conformity between said first status information and said second status information is possible during said synchronization;

continuing the synchronization if it is determined that achieving conformity between said first status information and said second status information is possible; and

interrupting the synchronization if it is determined that achieving conformity between said first status information and said second status information is not possible.

8. A method according to claim 1 comprising employing a data center located remotely from said first postal data processing unit as said second postal data processing unit.

9. A method according to claim 1 comprising employing a security module of said postage metering system as said first data processing unit.

10. A postage metering system comprising:

a first postal data processing unit and a second postal data processing unit that can communicate with one another via a communication link;

said first postal data processing unit having a plurality operating states and comprising a first memory for storing first status information defining an operating state of said first postal data processing unit;

said second postal data processing unit comprising a second memory for storing second status information representing the operating state of said first postal data processing unit;

said first postal data processing unit and said second postal data processing unit being configured to conduct transactions by exchanging postal-related data between said first postal data processing unit and said second postal data processing unit via said communications link, said transactions including a first status-changing transaction that can be of two different types, and a second status-changing transaction following said first status-changing transaction;

said first postal data processing unit and said second postal data processing unit being configured to revise said first status information and said second status information such that they match only if an entirety of said status-changing transaction is net successfully completed;

said first postal data processing unit being configured to revise said first status information in response to a revision message received from said second postal data processing unit during said status-changing transaction;

said second postal data processing unit being configured to revise said second status information in response to a confirmation message received from said first data processing unit which confirms the revision of said first status information;

said second postal data processing unit being configured to set said second status information dependent on the type of said first status-changing transaction if said status-changing transaction is not successfully completed due to a failure of a flawless confirmation message to be received by said second postal data processing unit;

said first postal data processing unit being configured to operate in one of a defensive recovery mode and a progressive recovery mode to reestablish conformity between said first status information and said second status information after an unsuccessful completion of said status-changing transaction; and

to select said recovery mode dependent on the type of said status-changing transaction, by setting said first status information in an unchanged fashion in said defensive recovery mode, and by setting said first status information as if said first transaction were successfully completed in said progressive recovery mode;

said second postal data processing unit also being configured to operate in one of a defensive recovery mode and a progressive recovery mode to reestablish conformity between said first status information and said second status information after an unsuccessful completion of said status-changing transaction, and to select said recovery mode dependent on the type of first transaction by setting said second status information in an unchanged fashion in said defensive recovery mode, and by setting said second status information as if said first transaction was successfully completed in said progressive recovery mode;

said first postal data processing unit and said second postal data processing unit being configured to reestablish conformity between said first status information and said second status information by a synchronization if an inconsistency exists between said first and second status information; and

said first postal data processing unit and said second postal data processing unit being configured to conduct said synchronization of said first status information and said second status information dependent on the type of said first status-changing transaction.

11. A system according to claim 10, wherein one of said first postal data processing unit or said second postal data processing unit is configured to generate and to store transaction status information dependent on the type of said status-changing transaction if said status-changing transaction is not successfully completed.

12. A system according to claim 11, wherein said first postal data processing unit is configured to store said transaction status information to set said first status information dependent on said transaction status information.

13. A system according to claim 11, wherein said second postal data processing unit is configured to store said first transaction status information and to set said second status information dependent on said transaction status information.

14. A system according to claim 10, wherein said second postal data processing unit is configured to generate and to store first transaction status information if said first status-changing transaction is not successfully completed, said first transaction status information depending on the type of said first status-changing transaction, and wherein said second postal data processing unit is configured to select said recovery mode dependent on said type of said first transaction status information.

15. A system according to claim 14, comprising:

a status model memory accessible by at least one of said first postal data processing unit and said second postal data processing unit, containing a status model covering all possible revisions of said first status information about said first postal data processing unit;

at least one of said first postal data processing unit and said second postal data processing unit being configured to conduct an integrity check during said synchronization to determine whether conformity between said first status information and said second status information is possible to achieve based on said status model; and

said at least one of said first postal data processing unit and said second postal data processing unit being configured to conduct said synchronization if it is determined that conformity between said first status information and said second status information is possible to achieve and to interrupt said synchronization if it is determined that conformity between said first status information and said second status information is not possible to achieve.

16. A system according to claim 10, wherein:

said first postal data processing unit comprises a first processor, a memory containing said first status information connected to said first processor, and a first communication device connected to said first processor, said processor being configured to revise and set said first status information in said first memory; and

said second postal data processing unit comprises a second processor, a memory containing said second status information connected to said second processor, and a second communication device connected to said second processor for exchanging data with said first communication device in said first data processing unit, said second processor being configured to revise and set said second status information in said second memory.

17. A system according to claim 10, wherein said second postal data processing unit is a data center located remotely from said first postal data processing unit.

18. A system according to claim 10, wherein said first postal data processing unit is a security module of a postage metering machine.