Method and apparatus for synchronizing a database with a third party database

• US 20070239796A1
• Filed: 07/23/2002
• Published: 10/11/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 07/24/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Oracle America, Inc. (Oracle Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Siebel Systems Inc. (Oracle Corporation)
• Inventors: Yang, Yi, Ju, Wade, Zuljevic, Zeljko, Wiryawan, Antonius
• Granted Patent: US 7,774,307 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/275 Synchronous replication

Abstract

In one embodiment, the present invention is a method of changing information in a first database and a second database. The method includes receiving new information. The method also includes receiving a first record from the first database, the first record corresponding to the new information. The method further includes receiving a second record from the second database, the second record corresponding to the new information. The method also includes merging the new information, the first record, and the second record into a final record.

Claims

1. A method of changing information in a first database and a second database, comprising:

receiving an update record comprising new information to update a first record in the first database and a second record in the second database, wherein the first record and the second record correspond to the new information; and

merging the update record, the first record, and the second record into a final record;

wherein, after merging, the final record comprises (1) all of the new information of the update record, (2) some, but not all information of the first record, and (3) some, but not all information of the second record.

3. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

requesting the first record from the first database.

4. The method of claim 3 further comprising:

requesting the second record from the second database.

5. The method of claim 4 further comprising:

updating the first record in the first database using the contents of the final record.

6. The method of claim 5 further comprising:

updating the second record in the second database using the contents of the final record.

7. The method of claim 6 further comprising:

locking the first record of the first database; and

unlocking the first record of the first database.

8. The method of claim 7 further comprising:

verifying the changes to the second record in the second database.

9. The method of claim 3 further comprising:

submitting the new information to the second database.

10. The method of claim 8 wherein:

receiving the new information includes receiving the new information responsive to a submission by a user.

11. The method of claim 9 further comprising:

checking status of the second database for free status.

12. The method of claim 11 further comprising:

awaiting free status of the second database.

2. (canceled)

13. An apparatus for updating a first database and a second database comprising:

means for receiving an update record comprising information to update-a first record in the first database and a second record in the second database, wherein the first record and the second record correspond to the information of the update record; and

means for merging the update record, the first record, and the second record into a final record, the means for merging coupled to the means for receiving;

wherein, after merging, the final record comprises (1) all of the information of the update record, (2) some, but not all information of the first record, and (3) some, but not all information of the second record.

14. The apparatus of claim 13 further comprising:

means for updating, the means for updating for updating the first record in the first database using the contents of the final record, and for updating the second record in the second database using the contents of the final record, the means for updating coupled to the means for merging.

15. The apparatus of claim 14 further comprising:

means for locking, the means for locking for locking and unlocking the first record of the first database, the means for locking coupled to the means for receiving and the means for updating.

16. The apparatus of claim 15 further comprising:

means for verifying the changes to the second record in the second database.

17. A machine-readable medium embodying instructions, which, when executed by a processor, cause the processor to perform a method of changing information in a first database and a second database, the method comprising:

receiving an update record comprising new information to update a first record in the first

database and a second record in the second database, wherein the first record and the second record correspond to the new information; and

merging the update record, the first record, and the second record into a final record;

wherein, after merging, the final record comprises (1) all of the new information of the update record, (2) some, but not all information of the first record, and (3) some, but not all information of the second record.

18. The machine-readable medium of claim 17 further embodying instructions which, when executed by the processor, further cause the processor to perform the method further comprising:

requesting the first record from the first database; and

requesting the second record from the second database.

20. The machine-readable medium of claim 18 further embodying instructions which, when executed by the processor, further cause the processor to perform the method further comprising:

updating the first record in the first database using the contents of the final record.

21. The machine-readable medium of claim 20 further embodying instructions which, when executed by the processor, further cause the processor to perform the method further comprising:

updating the second record in the second database using the contents of the final record.

22. The machine-readable medium of claim 20 further embodying instructions which, when executed by the processor, further cause the processor to perform the method further comprising:

submitting the new information to the second database.

23. The machine-readable medium of claim 21 further embodying instructions which, when executed by the processor, further cause the processor to perform the method further comprising:

locking the first record of the first database; and

unlocking the first record of the first database.

24. The machine-readable medium of claim 23 further embodying instructions which, when executed by the processor, further cause the processor to perform the method further comprising:

verifying the changes to the second record in the second database.

25. The machine-readable medium of claim 24 further embodying instructions which, when executed by the processor, further cause the processor to perform the method wherein:

receiving the new information includes receiving the new information responsive to a submission by a user.

26. The machine-readable medium of claim 25 further embodying instructions which, when executed by the processor, further cause the processor to perform the method further comprising:

receiving a status request from the user; and

providing status information responsive to the status request from the user.

27. The machine-readable medium of claim 26 further embodying instructions which, when executed by the processor, further cause the processor to perform the method further comprising:

checking status of the second database for free status; and

awaiting free status of the second database.

19. (canceled)

28. An apparatus, comprising:

a receiver module to receive an update record comprising new information to update a first record from a first database and a second record from a second database, the first record and the second record corresponding to the new information; and

a merge module to merge the new information, the first record, and the second record into a final record, the merge module coupled to the receiver module;

wherein, after merging, the final record comprises (1) all of the new information of the update record, (2) some, but not all information of the first record, and (3) some, but not all information of the second record.

29. The apparatus of claim 28 further comprising:

an update module to update the first record in the first database using the contents of the final record, and to update the second record in the second database using the contents of the final record, the update module coupled to the merge module.

30. The apparatus of claim 29 further comprising:

a lock module to lock and unlock the first record of the first database, the lock module coupled to the receiver module and the update module.

31. The apparatus of claim 30 further comprising:

a verification module to verify the changes to the second record in the second database.

32. A method of changing information in a first database and a second database, comprising:

receiving an update record comprising new information to update a first record in the first database and a second record in the second database, wherein the first record and the second record correspond to the new information; and

merging the update record, the first record, and the second record into a final record;

updating the first record in the first database using the contents of the final record

wherein, after merging, the final record comprises (1) all of the new information of the update record, (2) some, but not all information of the first record, and (3) some, but not all information of the second record.