Method and apparatus for parallel execution of conduits during simultaneous synchronization of databases

• US 7,761,416 B2
• Filed: 11/08/2005
• Issued: 07/20/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 05/23/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Palmsource Incorporated (Access Company Limited)
• Original Assignee: Palmsource Incorporated (Access Company Limited)
• Inventors: Creemer, David, Raff, Chris
• Primary Examiner(s): Trujillo; James
• Assistant Examiner(s): Black; Linh
• Application Number:
  US11/269,202
• Publication Number:
  US 20060106887A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,715 Days
• Field of Search: 707 1- 2, 707 8-102 B, 707/104.1, 707/203, 707/200, 707/612, 707/621
• US Class Current: 707/621
• 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: Y10S 707/99952 Coherency, e.g. same view to multiple users
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99953 Recoverability

Abstract

Sharing information between a host computer system and a peripheral computer system. Conduit programs running Simultaneously on the host computer system synchronize information between the two computer systems. The conduits initiate multiple time multiplexed transfers across a single communication link between the two computer systems. In general, one or more conduits can perform a non-transfer task while another can simultaneously perform a transfer over the host-peripheral communication link. The conduits may be used to load software onto the peripheral computer or to exchange e-mail between the two computer systems. While one active conduit is performing a task that does not involve use of the communication link, the other simultaneously executing conduits can use the communication link to transfer records between the host and the peripheral computer system.

Claims

1. A method of sharing information between a host computer system and a peripheral computer system comprising the steps of:

a) establishing a communication link between said host computer system and said peripheral computer system;

b) activating a plurality of conduit programs on said host computer system, wherein said conduit programs execute in parallel; and

c) said conduit programs simultaneously synchronizing information on said host computer system with information on said peripheral computer system, wherein said conduit programs time multiplex information transfers over said communication link while they execute in parallel;

wherein each of the plurality of conduit programs comprises one of the following;

i) a program for synchronizing databases between the host computer system and the peripheral computer system;

ii) a program for downloading software from the host computer system to the peripheral computer system; and

iii) a program exchanging email between the host computer system and the peripheral computer system.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the client device is a mobile device.

2. A method of optimizing information transfer between a host computer system and a client computer system comprising the steps of:

a) establishing a communication link between the host computer system and the client computer system;

b) running a plurality of conduit programs in parallel on said host computer system, wherein each of said conduit programs executes transfers operations that require use of the communication link and non-transfer operations that do not require use of the communication link; and

c) ordering access of the transfer operations of the plurality of conduit programs to the communication link over time so as to maximize usage of the communication link.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the ordering step comprises providing one of the plurality of conduit programs access to the communication link to perform a transfer operation while the other of the plurality of conduits perform non-transfer operations.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein each of the plurality of conduit programs synchronizes a database on the host computer system with a corresponding database on the client computer system.

5. The method of claim 3, wherein the ordering step further comprises providing access to one of the plurality of conduits by arbitrating between the plurality of conduits.

6. The method of claim 3, further comprising:

forming a queue of transfer operation requests from the plurality of conduits; and

when the communication link is made available, providing access to the conduit having a transfer operation at the head of the queue.

8. A host computer system comprising:

a communication link interface; and

a processor configured to execute;

a) a plurality of conduit programs in parallel wherein each of said conduit programs executes transfers operations that require use of the communication link interface and non-transfer operations that do not require use of the communication link interface, wherein each of the plurality of conduit programs is adapted to synchronize a database on the host computer system with a corresponding database located external to the host computer system; and

b) a synchronization management program adapted to establish an order of access of transfer operations of the plurality of conduit programs to the communication link interface;

wherein the synchronization management program arbitrates between the plurality of conduits to provide one of the plurality of conduit programs access to the communication link to perform a transfer operation while the processor directs the other of the plurality of conduits to perform non-transfer operations; and

wherein the synchronization management program is adapted to form a queue of transfer operation requests from the plurality of conduits and to provide access to the conduit having a transfer operation at the head of the queue when the communication link is made available.

9. The host computer system of claim 8, wherein each of the plurality of conduit programs is adapted to synchronize a database on the host computer system with a corresponding database located external to the host computer system

10. A computer readable medium having stored instructions that when executed on a processor implement a method of optimizing information transfer between a host computer system and a client computer system coupled by a communication link, the method comprising:

a) establishing a communication link between the host computer system and the client computer system;

b) running a plurality of conduit programs in parallel on said host computer system, wherein each of said conduit programs executes transfers operations that require use of the communication link and non-transfer operations that do not require use of the communication link; and

c) ordering access of the transfer operations of the plurality of conduit programs to the communication link over time so as to maximize usage of the communication link.

11. The computer readable medium of claim 10, wherein the ordering step comprises providing one of the plurality of conduit programs access to the communication link to perform a transfer operation while the other of the plurality of conduits perform non-transfer operations.

12. The computer readable medium of claim 11, wherein each of the plurality of conduit programs synchronizes a database on the host computer system with a corresponding database on the client computer system.

13. The computer readable medium of claim 11, wherein the ordering step further comprises providing access to one of the plurality of conduits by arbitrating between the plurality of conduits.

14. The computer readable medium of claim 11, wherein the method further comprises comprising:

forming a queue of transfer operation requests from the plurality of conduits; and

when the communication link is made available, providing access to the conduit having a transfer operation at the head of the queue.

15. The computer readable medium of claim 13, wherein the client device is a mobile device.