Data caching for mobile applications

• US 8,788,458 B2
• Filed: 04/14/2010
• Issued: 07/22/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 12/30/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Sybase Incorporated (SAP SE)
• Original Assignee: Sybase Incorporated (SAP SE)
• Inventors: Ho, Michael, Lorenz, Brian Keith, Ireland, Evan Peter, Pandya, Hemal, Waterman, Lance
• Primary Examiner(s): Ahn, Sangwoo
• Application Number:
  US12/760,233
• Publication Number:
  US 20110161290A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,560 Days
• US Class Current: 707/610
• 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 16/278 Data partitioning, e.g. horizontal or vertical partitioning
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/9574 of access to content, e.g. by caching
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/9994 Distributed or remote access

Abstract

Systems, methods, computer program product embodiments and combinations and sub-combinations thereof for data caching and cache synchronization are described herein. An embodiment includes comparing data in a cache with data stored at a data source and determining database operations needed to synchronize one or more partitions of the cache with the data source. Each cache partition is associated with mobile business object (MBO) metadata of a distinct mobile device and the determined database operations are executed to synchronize the partitions with the data source. By refreshing only those partitions which are pertinent to a given device, embodiments of the invention may increase parallelism by allowing multiple partitions to refresh concurrently. The embodiment further comprises reviewing a caching policy associated with the cache. The caching policy may be selected in a manner that reduces data traffic and redundant requests on the data source.

Claims

1. A computer implemented method for cache synchronization, comprising:

responsive to a request received at a device from a mobile device for content stored at a data source server, performing operations comprising;

comparing data in a cache of said device with data stored at said data source server, wherein the cache includes a plurality of partitions, each partition being configured to include information from a plurality of data source servers; and

synchronizing one or more partitions of said plurality of partitions with said data source server independently of other partitions of the plurality of partitions, wherein each partition of said one or more partitions contains at least a portion of a mobile business object (MBO) metadata of a particular data-requesting mobile device;

reviewing a caching policy associated with said cache; and

changing the caching policy based on the reviewing, comprising;

assigning data in said cache to a coherence window, wherein the coherence window indicates whether the data has expired;

reviewing said coherence window when said data in said cache is accessed; and

updating data in said cache based on said coherence window, comprising;

updating a row in a cache table in said cache;

updating a timestamp associated with said row; and

updating a marker identifying the updating of the row in the cache table in said cache;

wherein said device, said mobile device, and said data source server are different devices.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein said changing further comprises:

reviewing a pre-defined caching schedule

where said updating said data in said cache occurs based on said caching schedule.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving an event notification

wherein said updating said data in said cache occurs based on said event notification,

wherein said event notification is generated based on manipulation of data in said data source server.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

determining key-sorted contents of said cache;

determining key-sorted contents of said data source server;

comparing key-sorted contents of said cache and said data source server; and

determining modified contents of said cache.

5. The method Of claim 1, further comprising:

invoking a data request to said data source server; and

retrieving a plurality of data rows from said data source server.

14. The method of claim 1, wherein each of the one or more partitions is dedicated to said mobile device.

6. A computer-based system for caching of data, comprising:

a processor; and

a memory in communication with said processor, said memory storing a plurality of processing instructions that are configured to direct said processor to;

responsive to a request received at a device from a mobile device for content stored at a data source server;

compare data in a cache of said device with data stored at said data source server, wherein the cache includes a plurality of partitions, each partition being configured to include information from a plurality of data source servers; and

synchronize one or more partitions of said plurality of partitions with said data source server independently of other partitions of the plurality of partitions, wherein each partition of said one or more partitions contains at least a portion of mobile business object (MBO) metadata of a particular data-requesting mobile device;

review a caching policy associated with said cache; and

change the caching policy based on the review, comprising;

assign data in said cache to a coherence window, wherein the coherence window indicates whether the data has expired;

review said coherence window when said data in said cache is accessed; and

update data in said cache based on said coherence window, comprising;

update a row in a cache table in said cache;

update a timestamp associated with said row; and

update a marker identifying the update of the row in the cache table in said cache;

wherein said device, said mobile device, and said data source server are different devices.

7. The system of claim 6, wherein said cache further comprises;

a plurality of cache tables configured to store data retrieved from said data source server.

8. An article of manufacture including a non transitory computer-readable medium having instructions stored thereon that, if executed by a computing device, cause said computing device to perform operations, the operations comprising:

responsive to a request received at a device from a mobile device for content stored at a data source server;

comparing data in a cache of said device with data stored at said data source server, wherein the cache includes a plurality of partitions, each partition being configured to include information from a plurality of data source servers; and

synchronizing one or more partitions of said plurality of partitions with said data source server independently of other partitions of the plurality of partitions, wherein each partition of said one or more partitions contains at least a portion of mobile business object (MBO) metadata of a particular data-requesting mobile device;

reviewing a caching policy associated with said cache; and

changing the caching policy based on the reviewing, comprising;

assigning data in said cache to a coherence window, wherein the coherence window indicates whether the data has exired;

reviewing said coherence window when said data in said cache is accessed; and

updating data in said cache based on said coherence window, comprising;

updating a row in a cache table in said cache;

updating a timestamp associated with said row; and

updating a marker identifying the updating of the row in the cache table in said cache;

wherein said device, said mobile device, and said data source server are different devices.

9. The article of manufacture of claim 8, said operations further comprising:

reviewing a caching policy associated with said cache

wherein said changing occurs based on the reviewing.

10. The article of manufacture of claim 8, said changing comprising:

reviewing a pre-defined caching schedule

wherein said updating said data in said cache occurs based on said caching schedule.

11. The article of manufacture of claim 8, said operations further comprising:

receiving an event notification

wherein said updating said data in said cache occurs based on said notification,

wherein said event notification is generated based on manipulation of data in said data source server.

12. The article of manufacture of claim 8, said operations further comprising:

determining key-sorted contents of said cache;

determining key-sorted contents of said data source server;

comparing key-sorted contents of said cache and said data source server; and

determining modified contents of said cache.

13. The article of manufacture of claim 8, said operations further comprising:

invoking a data request to said data source server; and

retrieving a plurality of data rows from said data source server.