Synchronization of databases using filters

• US 20010005849A1
• Filed: 02/02/2001
• Published: 06/28/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 11/13/1996
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Intellisync Corporation (Nokia Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Puma Technology Inc.
• Inventors: Morgan, David W., Boothby, David J.
• Granted Patent: US 7,209,911 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 707/1
• 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 16/275 Synchronous replication
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99932 Access augmentation or optimizing
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99934 Query formulation, input preparation, or translation
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99942 Manipulating data structure, e.g. compression, compaction, compilation
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99943 Generating database or data structure, e.g. via user interface
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99944 Object-oriented database structure
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99945 Object-oriented database structure processing
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99952 Coherency, e.g. same view to multiple users

Abstract

A computer program is provided for synchronizing at least a first and a second database. A plurality of records of the first database fitting a selected criterion are identified. At least one of the identified records of the first database is then synchronized with a record of the second database. On a computer display, a record selection criteria input region may be displayed for a user to input the selected criterion.

Claims

1. A computer implemented method of synchronizing at least a first and a second database, the method comprising:

identifying a plurality of records of the first database fitting a selected criterion; and

synchronizing at least one of the identified records of the first database with a record of the second database.

2. The method of

claim 1

wherein records representative of the records of one of the first and second databases during a prior synchronization are stored in a history file, and wherein synchronizing the at least one of the identified records of the first database with a record of the second database further includes using the history file.

3. The method of

claim 1

further comprising identifying records of the first database based on a selected criterion, wherein synchronizing the at least one of the identified records of the first database with a record of the second database further includes synchronizing the at least one of the identified records of the first database with at least one of the identified records the second database.

4. The method of

claim 1

wherein synchronizing the at least one of the identified records of the first database includes adding, modifying, or deleting the at least one of the identified records of the first database.

5. The method of

claim 1

wherein records of the first database include a text field and the selected criterion includes a text criterion, and identifying the plurality records of the first database includes comparing the text field with the text criterion.

6. The method of

claim 1

wherein records of the first database include a number field and the selected criterion includes a number criterion, and identifying the plurality records of the first database includes comparing the number field with the number criterion.

7. The method of

claim 1

wherein records of the first database include a date field and the selected criterion includes a date criterion, and identifying the plurality records of the first database includes comparing the date field with the date criterion.

8. The method of

claim 1

wherein records of the first database include a boolean field and the selected criterion includes a boolean criterion, and identifying the plurality records of the first database includes comparing the boolean field with the boolean criterion.

9. The method of

claim 1

wherein records of the first database include a time field and the selected criterion includes a time criterion, and identifying the plurality records of the first database includes comparing the time field with the time criterion.

10. The method of

claim 1

wherein a selected plurality of the fields of the records of the first database are mapped onto a selected plurality of corresponding fields of the records of the second database and identifying a plurality of records of the first database fitting a selected criterion includes determining whether contents of a field of the records of the first database fit the selected criterion, wherein the field of the records of the first database is not mapped onto a corresponding field of the records of second database.

11. The method of

claim 1

wherein the first database is located on a first computer and the second database located on a second computer, the method further comprising:

determining, at the first computer, whether a record of the first database has been changed or added since a previous synchronization, using a first history file located on the first computer comprising records representative of records of the first database at the completion of the previous synchronization;

if the record of the first database has not been changed or added since the previous synchronization, sending from the first computer to the second computer information which the second computer uses to identify the record of the first database to be unchanged.

12. The method of

claim 11

wherein identifying the plurality of records of the first database is performed at the first computer.

13. The method of

claim 11

wherein identifying the plurality of records of the first database is performed at the second computer.

14. The method of

claim 1

further comprising:

determining whether the records of the first database have been changed or added since the previous synchronization, based on data reflecting whether the records of the first database have been added or changed since a previous synchronization;

if one of the records of the first database has not been changed or added since the previous synchronization, performing a synchronization with records of the second database using a record representative of the one record at the time of a previous synchronization, the representative record being stored in a history file containing records reflecting the contents of records of the first database at the time of a previous synchronization.

15. The method of

claim 14

wherein the history file contains at least one record representative of at least one record of the first database failing to fit the selected criterion at the time of the previous synchronization and failing to be synchronized with the records of the second database at the time of the previous synchronization.

16. The method of

claim 1

further comprising:

deleting a second plurality of the records of the first database failing to fit the selected criterion.

17. The method of

claim 16

further comprising:

updating a plurality of records of the second database failing to fit the current value of the selected criterion.

18. The method of

claim 1

wherein the selected criterion has a current value during a current synchronization being different from a previous value during a previous synchronization, further comprising:

updating a plurality of records of the second database, based on results of the synchronization, wherein the plurality of records of the second database fit the previous value of the selected criterion but fail to fit the current value of the selected criterion.

19. The method of

claim 1

further comprising synchronizing a third database with one of the first and second databases.

20. The method of

claim 19

wherein synchronizing the third database with one of the first and second databases includes:

identifying a plurality of records of a third database fitting a second selected criterion; and

synchronizing at least one of the identified records of the third database with a second record of the one of the first and second databases.

21. The method of

claim 20

wherein the first-mentioned selected criteria and the second selected criteria are the same.

22. The method of

claim 20

wherein the second record of the one of the first and second databases includes a code identifying the second record as having originated from the third database.

33. The computer program of

claim 20

wherein the first database is located on a first computer and the second database located on a second computer, the computer program further comprising instructions for:

determining, at the first computer, whether a record of the first database has been changed or added since a previous synchronization, using a first history file located on the first computer comprising records representative of records of the first database at the completion of the previous synchronization;

if the record of the first database has not been changed or added since the previous synchronization, sending from the first computer to the second computer information which the second computer uses to identify the record of the first database to be unchanged.

34. The computer program of

claim 33

wherein identifying the plurality of records of the first database is performed at the first computer.

35. The computer program of

claim 33

wherein identifying the plurality of records of the first database is performed at the second computer.

23. A computer program, resident on a computer readable medium, for synchronizing at least a first and a second database, comprising instructions for:

identifying a plurality of records of the first database fitting a selected criterion; and

synchronizing at least one of the identified records of the first database with a record of the second database.

24. The computer program of

claim 23

wherein records representative of the records of the first and second databases during a prior synchronization are stored in a history file, and wherein synchronizing the at least one of the identified records of the first database with a record of the second database further includes using the history file.

25. The computer program of

claim 23

further comprising instructions for identifying records of the first database based on a selected criterion, wherein synchronizing the at least one of the identified records of the first database with a record of the second database further includes synchronizing the at least one of the identified records of the first database with at least one of the identified records the second database.

26. The computer program of

claim 23

wherein synchronizing the at least one of the identified records of the first database includes adding, modifying, or deleting the at least one of the identified records of the first database.

27. The computer program of

claim 23

wherein records of the first database include a text field and the selected criterion includes a text criterion, and identifying the plurality records of the first database includes comparing the text field with the text criterion.

28. The computer program of

claim 23

wherein records of the first database include a number field and the selected criterion includes a number criterion, and identifying the plurality records of the first database includes comparing the number field with the number criterion.

29. The computer program of

claim 23

wherein records of the first database include a date field and the selected criterion includes a date criterion, and identifying the plurality records of the first database includes comparing the date field with the date criterion.

30. The computer program of

claim 23

wherein records of the first database include a boolean field and the selected criterion includes a boolean criterion, and identifying the plurality records of the first database includes comparing the boolean field with the boolean criterion.

31. The computer program of

claim 23

wherein records of the first database include a time field and the selected criterion includes a time criterion, and identifying the plurality records of the first database includes comparing the time field with the time criterion.

32. The computer program of

claim 23

wherein a selected plurality of the fields of the records of the first database are mapped onto a selected plurality of corresponding fields of the records of the second database and identifying a plurality of records of the first database fitting a selected criterion includes determining whether contents of a field of the records of the first database fit the selected criterion, wherein the field of the records of the first database is not mapped onto a corresponding field of the records of second database.

36. The computer program of

claim 23

further comprising instructions for:

determining whether the records of the first database have been changed or added since the previous synchronization, based on data reflecting whether the records of the first database have been added or changed since a previous synchronization;

if one of the records of the first database has not been changed or added since the previous synchronization, performing a synchronization with records of the second database using a record representative of the one record at the time of a previous synchronization, the representative record being stored in a history file containing records reflecting the contents of records of the databases at the time of a previous synchronization.

37. The computer program of

claim 36

wherein the history file contains at least one record representative of at least one record of the first database failing to fit the selected criterion at the time of the previous synchronization and failing to be synchronized with the records of the second database at the time of the previous synchronization.

38. The computer program of

claim 23

further comprising instructions for:

deleting a second plurality of the records of the first database failing to fit the selected criterion.

39. The computer program of

claim 38

further comprising instructions for:

updating a plurality of records of the second database failing to fit the current value of the selected criterion.

40. The computer program of

claim 23

wherein the selected criterion has a current value during a current synchronization being different from a previous value during a previous synchronization, further comprising instructions for:

updating a plurality of records of the second database, based on results of the synchronization, wherein the plurality of records of the second database fit the previous value of the selected criterion but fail to fit the current value of the selected criterion.

41. The computer program of

claim 23

further comprising instructions for synchronizing a third database with one of the first and second databases.

42. The computer program of

claim 41

wherein synchronizing the third database with one of the first and second databases includes instructions for:

identifying a plurality of records of a third database fitting a second selected criterion; and

synchronizing at least one of the identified records of the third database with a second record of the one of the first and second databases.

43. The method of

claim 42

wherein the first-mentioned selected criteria and the second selected criteria are the same.

44. The computer program of

claim 42

wherein the second record of the second database includes a code identifying the second record of the second database as having originated from the third database.

45. A computer implemented method of synchronizing at least a first and a second database, the method comprising:

displaying a record selection criteria input region on a computer display for a user to input a record selection criteria, and

synchronizing, at a synchronization program, the first database with the second database using the record selection criteria.

46. The method of

claim 45

further comprising:

transmitting the record selection criteria to a database manager, wherein the database manager manages the first database,

selecting, at the database manager, records of the first database fitting the record selection criteria, and

transmitting the selected records to the synchronization program.

47. The method of

claim 45

further comprising:

selecting, at the synchronization program, records of the first database fitting the record selection criteria.

48. A computer program, resident on a computer readable medium, for synchronizing at least a first and a second database, comprising instructions for:

displaying a record selection criteria input region on a computer display for a user to input a record selection criteria, and

synchronizing the first database with the second database using the record selection criteria.

49. The synchronization program of

claim 48

further comprising instructions for:

transmitting the record selection criteria to a database manager, wherein the database manager manages the first database, selects records of the first database fitting the record selection criteria, and transmits the selected records to the synchronization program.

50. The synchronization program of

claim 48

further comprising instructions for:

selecting records of the first database fitting the record selection criteria.