Method and apparatus for synchronizing how data is stored in different data stores

• US 20040225731A1
• Filed: 02/17/2004
• Published: 11/11/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 04/02/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Nokia Technologies Oy (Nokia Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Nokia Technologies Oy (Nokia Corporation)
• Inventors: Piispanen, Jussi, Sahinoja, Mikko
• Granted Patent: US 9,594,821 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 709/224
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/275 Synchronous replication

Abstract

A method (and corresponding equipment and computer programs) by which a first and second device (11 12) synchronize how data is organized as folders in respective first and second data stores (11c 12c) maintained by the devices (11 12) based on exchanging messages (21) including data identification elements (28 29) that refer to the folders, with the data identification elements (28 29) provided in the message external to any reference to data units; or, more generally, based on the first device sending a message to the other and including in the message information about data in the first data store and also information about a change in the data structure of the first device, wherein the information about the data in the first data store is placed in the message in an element different from the element where the information about a change in the data structure is placed.

Claims

1. A method for at least partially synchronizing a first data store residing on a first device and a second data store residing on a second device, the data stores each being used for storing data as data units in folders, the folders in combination defining a data structure, the method comprising:

the first device sending a message to the second device;

wherein information about data in the first data store is transmitted in said message, and information about a change in the data structure of the first device is also transmitted in the message in an element or field of the message; and

further wherein said information about data in the first data store is placed in the message in an element or field different from the element or field where the information about a change in the data structure is placed.

2. A method as in claim 1, wherein the element or field where the information about data in the first data store is placed or the element or field where the information about a change in the data structure is placed is a field of the message.

3. A method as in claim 1, wherein the information about data in the first data store is included in a data element of the message.

4. A method as in claim 3, wherein the data element is a data element of a protocol command element.

5. A method as in claim 1, wherein the information about a change in the data structure is included in a non-data element of the message.

6. A method as in claim 5, wherein the non-data element is a non-data element of a protocol command element.

7. A method as in claim 1, wherein the information about a change in the data structure includes folder information.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein a data identification element is contained in a protocol command element in the message, and the protocol command element in combination with the data identification element indicates the information about a change in the data structure of the first data store.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein a data identification element is included in the message and the information about a change in the data structure of the first data store is provided in the data identification element.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein the first device functions as a client in a client-server protocol and the second device as a server in the client-server protocol.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein the first device functions as a server in a client-server protocol and the second device as a client in the client-server protocol, and the step of the first device sending the message is responsive to a client message from the second device and includes resolving any conflicts posed by the client message in respect to the first data store.

12. The method of claim 1, wherein the data in the data stores are used for device management by applications hosted on the devices.

13. The method of claim 1, wherein the data in the data stores are used as user data by applications hosted on the devices.

14. A computer program product comprising:

a computer readable storage structure embodying computer program code thereon for execution by a computer processor, with said computer program code characterized in that it includes instructions for performing the steps of the method of claim 1.

15. A device adapted for at least partially synchronizing a first data store residing on the device with a second data store residing on a second device, the data stores each being used for storing data as data units in folders, the folders having interrelationships and so defining a data structure, the device comprising:

means for sending a message to the second device;

wherein information about data in the first data store is transmitted in said message, and information about a change in the data structure of the first device is also transmitted in the message in an element or field of the message; and

further wherein said information about data in the first data store is placed in the message in an element or field different from the element or field where the information about a change in the data structure is placed.

16. A device as in claim 15, wherein the device is either a wireless communication terminal or a wireline communication terminal.

17. A device as in claim 15, wherein the device functions as a client in a client-server model.

18. A device as in claim 15, wherein the device functions as a server in a client-server model, and further comprises means for receiving a request to synchronize from the second device, and for then sending the message in response to the request to synchronize.

19. A device as in claim 15, further comprising means for receiving the message, and wherein the device functions as a server in a client-server model and includes means for resolving conflicts posed by the message.

20. A device as in claim 15, wherein the data in the data stores are used for device management by applications hosted on the devices.

21. A device as in claim 15, wherein the data in the data stores are used as user data by applications hosted on the devices.

22. A system, comprising a first device according to claim 15, and also comprising the second device hosting the second data store.

23. A system as in claim 22, wherein the first device functions as a server in a client-server model and the second device functions as a client in the client-server model.

24. A system as in claim 23, wherein the means for sending to the second device a message is responsive to a request sent by the second device to synchronize to the second device.