System and method for searching a remote database

• US 20050187971A1
• Filed: 02/19/2004
• Published: 08/25/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 02/19/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Malikie Innovations Limited (Key Patent Innovations Limited)
• Original Assignee: Blackberry Limited
• Inventors: Hassan, Ahmed E., Chiu, Denny K.
• Granted Patent: US 7,523,112 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/245 Query processing
• 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: G06Q 10/107 Computer-aided management of electronic mailing [e-mailing]
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99933 Query processing, i.e. searching

Abstract

In accordance with the teachings described herein, systems and methods are provided for searching a remote database. A server may be used to communicate with a mobile device over a wireless network. The mobile device may include a local application database for storing data-items for one or more software applications. The server may include a server application database for storing copies of data items that are transmitted to the mobile device. A local search module on the mobile device may be used to identify one or more data items in the local application database that match a set of search parameters. If the one or more data items cannot be identified in the local application database, then a remote search module on the server may be used to identify a copy of the one or more data items in the server application database that match the set of search parameters.

Claims

1. In a system having a server that is operable to communicate with a mobile device over a wireless network, the server including a server application database for storing a copy of data items that are transmitted to the mobile device and a server-based remote search module operable to receive search parameters from the mobile device and use the search parameters to identify one or more data items stored in the server application database that match the search parameters, the mobile device comprising:

a memory subsystem, the memory subsystem including a local application database for storing data items for one or more software applications;

a communication subsystem operable to transmit and receive data over the wireless network;

a processing subsystem coupled to the memory subsystem and the communication subsystem and operable to store and retrieve data in the memory subsystem, to execute instructions stored in the memory subsystem, and to cause the communication subsystem to transmit and receive data over the wireless network;

a local search module stored in the memory subsystem and executed by the processing subsystem and comprising instructions operable to cause the mobile device to identify one or more data items stored in the local application database that match one or more search parameters; and

a remote search module stored in the memory subsystem and executed by the processing subsystem and comprising instructions operable to cause the mobile device to transmit a remote search request to the server if the local search module cannot identify one or more data items stored in the local application database that match the search parameters, the search request including the search parameters;

wherein the server uses the search parameters included in the search request to identify one or more data items stored in the server application database matching the search parameters.

2. The mobile device of claim 1, wherein the remote search module is further operable to receive a search result from the server that includes information identifying the one or more data items stored in the server application database matching the search parameters.

3. The mobile device of claim 2, wherein the remote search module is further operable to generate a data item request to the server that instructs the server-based remote search module to transmit a copy of a selected one or the one or more data items to the mobile device.

4. The mobile device of claim 1, wherein the one or more software applications include an electronic messaging application, the local application database includes an electronic mailbox for storing electronic messages, and the server-based application database includes a corresponding electronic mailbox for storing a copy of electronic messages received by the mobile device.

5. The mobile device of claim 4, wherein the server includes an electronic mail server operable to send and receive electronic messages over one or more computer networks and store received electronic messages in the corresponding electronic mailbox.

6. The mobile device of claim 5, wherein the server further includes an enterprise server for forwarding a copy of received electronic messages to the mobile device.

7. The mobile device of claim 5, wherein the electronic mailbox in the local application database is synchronized with the corresponding electronic mailbox in the server-based application database.

8. In a system having a server that is operable to communicate with a mobile device over a wireless network, a method for searching a server application database associated with the server, comprising:

receiving data on the mobile device that is transmitted over the wireless network from the server, a copy of the data being stored in the server application database;

receiving a search request on the mobile device that includes search parameters identifying the received data;

searching a local application database on the mobile device to identify one or more data items stored in the local application database matching the search parameters; and

if one or more data items matching the search parameters are not identified in the local application database, then transmitting a remote search request to the server that includes the search parameters, wherein the server uses the search parameters to identify one or more data items stored in the server application database matching the search parameters.

9. The method of claim 8, further comprising:

receiving a search result from the server that includes information identifying the one or more data items stored in the server that match the search parameters.

10. The method of claim 9, further comprising:

generating a data item request selecting the received data from among the one or more data items identified in the search result;

transmitting the data item request to the server; and

receiving from the server a copy of the received data.

11. In a system having a server that is operable to communicate with a-mobile device over a wireless network, the mobile device including a local application database for storing data items for one or more software applications, a local search module operable identify one or more data items stored in the local application database using a set of search parameters, and a remote search module operable to transmit a remote search request to the server if the local search module cannot identify one or more data items stored in the local application database that match the set of search parameters, the server comprising:

a server application database for storing a copy of data items that are transmitted over the wireless network to the mobile device;

a server-based remote search module operable to communicate with the remote search module in the mobile device and to identify one or more data items stored in the server application database that match one or more search parameters; and

the server-based remote search module being further operable to receive the one or more search parameters in a remote search request from the mobile device.

12. The server of claim 11, wherein the server-based remote search module is further operable to transmit a search result to the mobile device that identifies the one or more data items stored in the server application database that match the one or more search parameters.

13. The server of claim 12, wherein the server-based remote search module is further operable to receive a data item request from the mobile device that selects one of the data items identified in the search result, and in response to receiving the data item request, transmit a copy of the selected data item to the mobile device.

14. The server of claim 11, wherein the software applications in the mobile device include an electronic messaging application, the local application database includes an electronic mailbox for storing electronic messages, and the server-based application database includes a corresponding electronic mailbox for storing a copy of electronic messages received by the mobile device.

15. The server of claim 14, further comprising

an electronic mail server operable to send and receive electronic messages over one or more computer networks and store received electronic messages in the corresponding electronic mailbox.

16. The server of claim 15, further comprising:

an enterprise server operable to forward a copy of received electronic messages to the mobile device.

17. In a system having a server that is operable to communicate with a mobile device over a wireless network, the mobile device including a local application database for storing data items for one or more software applications, a local search module operable identify one or more data items stored in the local application database using a set of search parameters, and a remote search module operable to transmit a remote search request to the server if the local search module cannot identify one or more data items stored in the local application database that match the set of search parameters, a method of searching a server application database associated with the server, comprising:

storing in a server application database a copy of data items that are transmitted over the wireless network to the mobile device;

receiving the remote search request from the mobile device, the remote search request including the one or more search parameters;

searching the server application database to identify one or more data items stored in the server application database that match the search parameters in the remote search request; and

transmitting a search result to the mobile device that identifies the one or more data items stored in the server application database that match the search parameters in the remote search request.

18. The method of claim 17, further comprising:

receiving a data item request from the mobile device selecting one of the data items identified in the search result;

in response to the data item request, retrieving a copy of the selected data item from the server application database and transmitting the copy to the mobile device.