Arranging synchronization session

• US 8,190,671 B2
• Filed: 11/12/2003
• Issued: 05/29/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 11/13/2002
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Nokia Corporation
• Original Assignee: Nokia Corporation
• Inventors: Torma, Marko
• Primary Examiner(s): BIAGINI, CHRISTOPHER D
• Application Number:
  US10/712,232
• Publication Number:
  US 20040117507A1
• Time in Patent Office: 3,121 Days
• Field of Search: 709/203
• US Class Current: 709/203
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/1095 Replication or mirroring of data, e.g. scheduling or transport for data synchronisation between network nodes

Abstract

The invention relates to arranging a synchronization device between a first synchronization device and a second synchronization device. A first synchronization session is set up between the first synchronization device and the second synchronization device. Role information is defined and stored for the first synchronization device to indicate whether the first synchronization device should serve as a client or a sync server in at least one subsequent synchronization session. The role information is checked when a need arises to initiate a second synchronization session between the first and the second synchronization devices. The second synchronization session is initiated from the first synchronization device in accordance with the role information.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

establishing a first synchronization session between a first synchronization device and a second synchronization device, each synchronization device comprising a processor and memory, by transmitting a client initialization message from the first synchronization device to the second synchronization device,

receiving a response at the first synchronization device from the second synchronization device, the response comprising one of an acknowledgement or an error,

defining automatically based on the response and storing role information on the first synchronization device, which indicates whether the first synchronization device should serve as a synchronization client or a synchronization server in at least one subsequent synchronization session,

wherein when the response comprises an acknowledgement, synchronization client is stored as the role information,

wherein when the response comprises an error, the first synchronization device changes its role and stores synchronization server as the role information,

checking said role information for the first synchronization device in response to a need for initiating a second synchronization session between the first synchronization device and the second synchronization device, and

initiating the second synchronization session from the first synchronization device in accordance with said role information, wherein a client initialization message to initiate the second synchronization session with a synchronization server is transmitted from the first synchronization device to the second synchronization device in response to synchronization client being defined in the role information as the role of the first synchronization device and a server message to alert the second synchronization device to send a client initialization message is transmitted from the first synchronization device to the second synchronization device in response to synchronization server being defined in the role information as the role of the first synchronization device,

wherein both devices are able to serve as a synchronization server, and wherein a device serving as a synchronization server analyzes changes made to data sets associated with synchronization sessions and harmonizes data items in the data sets.

2. A method as claimed in claim 1, wherein a client initialization message for initiating the first synchronization session is transmitted from the first synchronization device to the second synchronization device,

an error message is received from the second synchronization device,

a server initialization message is transmitted from the first synchronization device to the second synchronization device in response to the error message, and

synchronization server is stored, during the role information storing, as the role information for the first synchronization device.

3. A method as claimed in claim 1, wherein a client initialization message for initiating the first synchronization session is transmitted from the first synchronization device to the second synchronization device,

an acknowledgement is received from the second synchronization device,

in response to receiving the acknowledgement, synchronization client is stored, during the role information storing, as the role information for the first synchronization device.

4. A method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the role information is associated with the second synchronization device on the basis of an identifier of the second synchronization device, and

the role information associated with the identifier of the second synchronization device is searched from the stored role information in the first synchronization device in response to a need to initiate a second synchronization session with the second synchronization device.

5. A method as claimed in claim 1, wherein said role information is application-specific so that separate role information is stored in the first synchronization device for each application and/or application profile in the first synchronization device.

6. A method as claimed in claim 1, wherein said role information is stored in a third device that is other than said first or second synchronization device.

7. A method as claimed in claim 1, further comprising storing mapping information describing sameness of data items only on the synchronization device, the role of which is synchronization server.

8. A method as claimed in claim 1, wherein data being synchronized is one of the following:

user data, device data.

9. A method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the first synchronization device and the second synchronization device support a synchronization markup language standard.

10. A method as claimed in claim 1, wherein a role is selected for the first synchronization device for the second synchronization session on the basis of said role information;

and the second synchronization session is initiated from the first synchronization device in accordance with the selected role.

11. A synchronization system comprising at least a first synchronization device and a second synchronization device, wherein each synchronization device comprises a processor and memory, wherein the first synchronization device and the second synchronization device are configured to set up a first synchronization session by transmitting a client initialization message from the first synchronization device to the second synchronization device,

wherein the first synchronization device receives a response from the second synchronization device, the response comprising one of an acknowledgement or an error,

the first synchronization device is configured to automatically define based on the response and store role information that indicates whether the first synchronization device should serve as a synchronization client or a synchronization server in at least one subsequent synchronization session,

wherein when the response comprises an acknowledgement, synchronization client is stored as the role information,

wherein when the response comprises an error, the first synchronization device changes its role and stores synchronization server as the role information,

the first synchronization device is configured to check said role information in response to a need for initiating a second synchronization session between the first synchronization device and the second synchronization device, and

the first synchronization device is configured to initiate the second synchronization session in accordance with said role information, wherein the first synchronization device is configured to transmit a client initialization message to the second synchronization device in response to synchronization client being defined in the role information as the role of the first synchronization device and the first synchronization device is configured to transmit a server message to the second synchronization device to alert the second synchronization device to send a client initialization message in response to synchronization server being defined in the role information as the role of the first synchronization device,

wherein both devices are able to serve as a synchronization server, and wherein a device serving as a synchronization server analyzes changes made to data sets associated with synchronization sessions and harmonizes data items in the data sets.

12. A synchronization system as claimed in claim 11, wherein said role information is stored in a third device that is other than said first or second synchronization device.

13. A synchronization system as claimed in claim 11, wherein a role is selected for the first synchronization device for the second synchronization session on the basis of said role information;

and the second synchronization session is initiated from the first synchronization device in accordance with the selected role.

14. A synchronization system as claimed in claim 11, wherein the first synchronization device is configured to transmit to the second synchronization device a client initialization message for initiating the first synchronization session,

the first synchronization device is configured to receive an error message from the second synchronization device,

the first synchronization device is configured to transmit to the second synchronization device a server initialization message in response to the error message, and

the first synchronization device is configured to store, during the role information storing, synchronization server as the role information for the synchronization device.

15. A synchronization system as claimed in claim 11, wherein the first synchronization device is configured to store mapping information describing sameness of data items only if synchronization server is defined as its role.

16. A synchronization device comprising a processor and memory that is configured to set up a first synchronization session with a second synchronization device comprising a second processor and second memory, wherein the synchronization device comprises hardware,

wherein the synchronization device sets up the first synchronization session by transmitting a client initialization message to the second synchronization device,

wherein the synchronization device receives a response from the second synchronization device, the response comprising one of an acknowledgment or an error,

wherein the synchronization device is configured to automatically define based on the response and store role information that indicates whether the synchronization device should serve as a synchronization client or a synchronization server in at least one subsequent synchronization session,

wherein when the response comprises an acknowledgement, synchronization client is stored as the role information,

wherein when the response comprises an error, the synchronization device changes its role and stores synchronization server as the role information,

the synchronization device is configured to check said role information in response to a need for initiating a second synchronization session with the second synchronization device, and

the synchronization device is configured to initiate the second synchronization session in accordance with said role information, wherein the synchronization device is configured to transmit a client initialization message to the second synchronization device in response to synchronization client being defined in the role information as the role of the synchronization device and the synchronization device is configured to transmit a server message to the second synchronization device to alert the second synchronization device to send a client initialization message in response to synchronization server being defined in the role information as the role of the synchronization device,

wherein both devices are able to serve as a synchronization server, and wherein a device serving as a synchronization server analyzes changes made to data sets associated with synchronization sessions and harmonizes data items in the data sets.

17. A synchronization device as claimed in claim 16, wherein the synchronization device is configured to transmit to the second synchronization device a client initialization message for initiating the first synchronization session,

the synchronization device is configured to receive an error message from the second synchronization device,

the synchronization device is configured to transmit to the second synchronization device a server initialization message in response to the error message, and

the synchronization device is configured to store, during the role information storing, synchronization server as the role information for the synchronization device.

18. A synchronization device as claimed in claim 16, wherein the synchronization device is configured to store mapping information describing sameness of data items only if synchronization server is defined as its role.

19. A synchronization device as claimed in claim 16, wherein a role is selected for the synchronization device for the second synchronization session on the basis of said role information;

and the second synchronization session is initiated from the synchronization device in accordance with the selected role.

20. A non-transitory computer readable storage medium encoded with a computer program comprising:

a program code portion for controlling a synchronization device to set up a first synchronization session with a second synchronization device by transmitting a client initialization message to the second synchronization device, wherein the first and second synchronization devices each comprise a processor and memory,

a program code portion for receiving a response from the second synchronization device, the response comprising one of an acknowledgement or an error,

a program code portion for controlling the synchronization device to automatically define based on the response and store role information that indicates whether the synchronization device should serve as a synchronization client or a synchronization server in at least one subsequent synchronization session,

wherein when the response comprises an acknowledgement, synchronization client is stored as the role information,

wherein when the response comprises an error, the synchronization device changes its role and stores synchronization server as the role information,

a program code portion for controlling the synchronization device to check said role information in response to a need for initiating a second synchronization session with the second synchronization device, and

a program code portion for controlling the synchronization device to initiate the second synchronization session in accordance with said role information, wherein the program code is configured to control the synchronization device to transmit a client initialization message to the second synchronization device in response to synchronization client being defined in the role information as the role of the synchronization device and the program code is configured to control the synchronization device to transmit a server message to the second synchronization device to alert the second synchronization device to send a client initialization message in response to synchronization server being defined in the role information as the role of the synchronization device,

wherein both devices are able to serve as a synchronization server, and wherein a device serving as a synchronization server analyzes changes made to data sets associated with synchronization sessions and harmonizes data items in the data sets.

21. A synchronization apparatus comprising:

a memory including computer program code; and

at least one processor, wherein the memory and the computer program code are configured to, with the at least one processor, cause the synchronization apparatus at least to

set up a first synchronization session with a second synchronization apparatus comprising a second processor and second memory by transmitting a client initialization message to the second synchronization apparatus,

receive a response from the second synchronization apparatus, the response comprising one of an acknowledgement or an error,

automatically define, based on the response, and store role information that indicates whether the synchronization apparatus should serve as a synchronization client or a synchronization server in at least one subsequent synchronization session,

wherein when the response comprises an acknowledgement, synchronization client is stored as the role information,

wherein when the response comprises an error, the synchronization apparatus changes its role and stores synchronization server as the role information,

check said role information in response to a need for initiating a second synchronization session with the second synchronization apparatus, and

initiate the second synchronization session in accordance with said role information, wherein the synchronization apparatus is configured to transmit a client initialization message to the second synchronization apparatus in response to synchronization client being defined in the role information as the role of the synchronization apparatus and the synchronization apparatus is configured to transmit a server message to the second synchronization apparatus to alert the second synchronization apparatus to send a client initialization message in response to synchronization server being defined in the role information as the role of the synchronization apparatus,

wherein both apparatus are able to serve as a synchronization server, and wherein an apparatus serving as a synchronization server analyzes changes made to data sets associated with synchronization sessions and harmonizes data items in the data sets.

22. A synchronization apparatus as claimed in claim 21, wherein the synchronization apparatus is configured to receive an error message from the second synchronization apparatus, and

the synchronization apparatus is configured to transmit to the second synchronization apparatus a server initialization message in response to the error message.

23. A synchronization apparatus as claimed in claim 21, wherein a client initialization message for initiating the first synchronization session is transmitted from the synchronization apparatus to the second synchronization apparatus,

an acknowledgement is received from the second synchronization apparatus,

in response to receiving the acknowledgement, synchronization client is stored during the role information storing as the role information for the synchronization apparatus.

24. A synchronization apparatus as claimed in claim 21, wherein the role information is associated with the second synchronization apparatus on the basis of an identifier of the second synchronization apparatus, and

the role information associated with the identifier of the second synchronization apparatus is searched from the stored role information in the synchronization apparatus in response to a need to initiate a second synchronization session with the second synchronization apparatus.

25. A synchronization apparatus as claimed in claim 21, wherein said role information is application-specific so that separate role information is stored in the synchronization apparatus for each application and/or application profile in the synchronization apparatus.

26. A synchronization apparatus as claimed in claim 21, wherein said role information is stored in a third apparatus that is other than said synchronization apparatus or second synchronization apparatus.

27. A synchronization apparatus as claimed in claim 21, wherein the at least one processor and memory further cause the synchronization apparatus to store mapping information describing sameness of data items on the synchronization apparatus when the role of which is synchronization server.

28. A synchronization apparatus as claimed in claim 21, wherein the synchronization apparatus and the second synchronization apparatus support a synchronization markup language standard.

29. A synchronization apparatus as claimed in claim 21, wherein the synchronization apparatus is a mobile station.