Enabling synchronization with a difference unaware data source

• US 9,298,762 B2
• Filed: 11/25/2013
• Issued: 03/29/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 02/29/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Plaxo Incorporated (Comcast Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Plaxo Incorporated (Comcast Corporation)
• Inventors: Smarr, Joseph, King, Ryan A.
• Primary Examiner(s): NGUYEN, KIM T
• Application Number:
  US14/088,975
• Publication Number:
  US 20140164319A1
• Time in Patent Office: 855 Days
• Field of Search: 707/609, 707/610
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/23 Updating
• 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

Abstract

A system and a method are disclosed for updating a master data list with data from a difference unaware information repository and a difference aware information repository. A master synchronization engine may synchronize to the difference unaware information repository and the difference aware information repository via connectors coupled to each information repository. The difference unaware information repository exports all the data stored within the repository to its respective connector. The connector determines the changes made to the data since the last synchronization and the changes are forwarded to the master synchronization engine. The difference aware information repository is capable of determining the changes made to the stored data since the last synchronization and forwards the changes to its connector. Each connector forwards the changes to the data in their respective information repositories to a database which updates the master data list.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

evaluating a plurality of applications to determine a subset of the plurality of applications that comprise a data record of contact information for an identified contact;

determining, for each application in the subset, whether each application is a difference aware information repository or a difference unaware information repository;

determining a first frequency with which each difference unaware information repository is updated;

determining a second frequency with which each difference aware information repository is updated;

requesting a change in the data record of each difference unaware information repository based on the first frequency, wherein the change in the data record is determined by tracking changes of a previous data record exported by each difference unaware information repository and a current data record exported by each difference unaware information repository;

requesting a change in the data record from each difference aware information repository based upon the second frequency with which each difference aware information repository is updated; and

creating a master data records list for the identified contact based on the change in the data record of each difference unaware information repository and the change in the data record from each difference aware information repository.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving the change in the data record of each difference unaware information repository; and

mapping the change in the data record of each difference unaware information repository to corresponding form fields in the master data records list to create an updated master data records list.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving the change in the data record from each difference aware information repository; and

mapping the change in the data record from each difference aware information repository to corresponding form fields in the master data records list to create an updated master data records list.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein mapping the change in the data record from each difference aware information repository to corresponding form fields in the master data records list comprises identifying duplicate updates in data records from each difference unaware information repository and each difference aware information repository.

5. The method of claim 3, further comprising merging data records from each difference unaware information repository and each difference aware information repository that are from a same data record.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising scheduling a periodic retrieval of contact information from each difference unaware information repository, wherein the periodic retrieval comprises a monthly retrieval.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein determining the first frequency with which each difference unaware information repository is updated further comprises determining a frequency of a periodic retrieval based on one or more characteristics of each difference unaware information repository, wherein the one or more characteristics comprises a dynamic time interval depending on a frequency of changes to the data record.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the difference aware information repository is configured to export an identification of changes that have been made to a data record since a previous export.

9. A method implemented by one or more computing devices, comprising:

evaluating a plurality of applications to determine a subset of applications of the plurality of applications that comprise a data record for a particular contact;

determining, for each application in the subset, whether the application is a difference aware information repository configured to export an identification of changes to a data record for the particular contact or a difference unaware information repository;

determining a first frequency with which each difference unaware information repository is updated;

determining a second frequency with which each difference aware information repository is updated;

retrieving a first data record for the particular contact from each application that is a difference unaware information repository based on the first frequency;

determining an identification of changes to the first data record for the particular contact of each difference unaware information repository;

retrieving an identification of changes in a second data record for the particular contact from each difference aware information repository based on the second frequency;

merging the identification of changes of each difference unaware information repository and the identification of changes from each difference aware information repository to determine a consolidated master contact update to a master contact entry; and

transmitting the consolidated master contact update to one or more of the plurality of applications.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein determining the first frequency with which each difference unaware information repository is updated further comprises determining a frequency of periodically retrieving a first data record for the particular contact from each difference unaware information repository based on one or more characteristics of the difference unaware information repository.

11. The method of claim 9, wherein determining the identification of the changes to the first data record for the particular contact of each difference unaware information, comprises generating a change record by comparing at least two exports of the first data record of the particular contact from the difference unaware information repository.

12. The method of claim 9, further comprising updating the master contact entry with the consolidated master contact update.

13. The method of claim 9, further comprising determining a frequency of the retrieval of the identification of changes in the second data record for the particular contact from the difference aware information repository based on one or more characteristics of the difference aware information repository.

14. A method implemented by one or more computing devices, comprising:

evaluating a plurality of applications to determine a subset of applications of the plurality of applications that comprise a data record of contact information for an identified contact;

determining, for each application in the subset, whether the application is a difference aware information repository or a difference unaware information repository;

determining a first frequency with which each difference unaware information repository is updated;

determining a second frequency with which each difference aware information repository is updated;

generating a first change record by comparing at least two exports of data records from each application that is a difference unaware information repository, wherein the at least two exports are retrieved based on the first frequency;

retrieving a second change record from each application that is a difference aware information repository based on the second frequency;

creating an updated master record based on the first change record of each of the difference unaware information repositories and the second change record from each of the difference aware information repositories; and

transmitting the updated master record to one or more of the plurality of applications.

15. The method of claim 14, further comprising:

providing a browser application that allows access to one or more web pages associated with difference aware information repositories and difference unaware information repositories; and

accessing, via a network, contact information stored in the difference aware information repositories and the difference unaware information repositories.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein the browser application comprises an internet browser application.

17. The method of claim 14 further comprising receiving a predetermined list of applications to check for the contact information of the identified contact.

18. The method of claim 14 further comprising for each application that is determined to be a difference unaware information repository, scheduling a periodic retrieval of contact information for the identified contact from the difference unaware information repository.

19. The method of claim 14, wherein the difference aware information repository is configured to export an identification of changes that have been made to a data record since a previous export.

20. The method of claim 14, further comprising determining a frequency of periodically retrieving the contact information for the identified contact from the difference unaware information repository based on one or more characteristics of the difference unaware information repository.