Method and apparatus for synchronizing of databases

• US 8,356,008 B2
• Filed: 08/10/2011
• Issued: 01/15/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 06/01/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Malikie Innovations Limited (Key Patent Innovations Limited)
• Original Assignee: Blackberry Limited
• Inventors: Linkert, Barry, Zhu, Jie, Omar, Salim H., Pereira, Kathy A., Vuong, Galang
• Primary Examiner(s): HASAN, SYED HAROON
• Application Number:
  US13/206,858
• Publication Number:
  US 20110295799A1
• Time in Patent Office: 524 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 707/617
• 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

Abstract

A method for synchronizing a first database including first data records with a second database including second data records. The method includes starting a synchronization session with an electronic device on which the second database resides, requesting the first data records from the first database, temporarily disconnecting the synchronization session while awaiting receipt of the first data records, receiving the first data records, and restarting and completing the synchronization session.

Claims

1. A method for synchronizing a first database including first data records with a second database including second data records, the method comprising:

starting a synchronization session with an electronic device comprising said second database;

requesting, by a second electronic device, said first data records from said first database and responsively setting a timer establishing a time limit for the second electronic device to receive said first records;

when said timer expires prior to said second electronic device receiving said first data records, said electronic device;

disconnecting said synchronization session while awaiting receipt of said first data records;

sending a request to restart the synchronization session to said electronic device after receiving said first data records; and

completing said synchronization session with said electronic device after receiving said first data records;

otherwise, when said first data records are received by said second electronic device prior to expiry of said timer, said second electronic device;

receiving said first data records; and

completing said synchronization session with said electronic device;

wherein completing said synchronization session comprises;

generating a record hash for each of said first data records;

comparing each record hash from said first data records with a corresponding record hash from said second data records; and

updating at least one of said first data records and said second data records.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein the disconnecting comprises saving synchronization session information.

3. The method according to claim 1, wherein starting a synchronization session comprises receiving an initialize command from said electronic device.

4. The method according to claim 1, further comprising receiving information representative of said second data records prior to requesting said first data records.

5. The method according to claim 4, wherein said comparing occurs after receiving said first data records.

6. The method according to claim 4, wherein receiving information representative of said second data records comprises receiving a group hash of said second data records.

7. The method according to claim 1, wherein completing said synchronization session further comprises sending a response to the electronic device to terminate the synchronization session in the event that the first data records match the second data records.

8. The method according to claim 1, wherein completing said synchronization session further comprises sending a request for additional information associated with said second data records.

9. A non-transitory computer-readable medium having computer readable code embodied therein for:

starting a synchronization session with an electronic device on which a second database resides, wherein said second database includes second data records;

requesting, by a second electronic device, from a first database including first data records said first data records and responsively setting a timer establishing a time limit for the second electronic device to receive said first records;

when said timer expires prior to said second electronic device receiving said first data records, said second electronic device;

disconnecting said synchronization session while awaiting receipt of said first data records;

sending a request to restart the synchronization session to said electronic device after receiving said first data records; and

completing said synchronization session with said electronic device after receiving said first data records;

otherwise, when said first data records are received by said second electronic device prior to expiry of said timer, said second electronic device;

receiving said first data records; and

completing said synchronization session with said electronic device;

wherein completing said synchronization session comprises;

generating a record hash for each of said first data records;

comparing each record hash from said first data records with a corresponding record hash from said second data records; and

updating at least one of said first data records and said second data records.