Synchronization methods and systems

• US 20080168072A1
• Filed: 01/07/2007
• Published: 07/10/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 01/07/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Original Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Inventors: Freedman, Gordon J.
• Granted Patent: US 7,805,403 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 707/100
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/178 Techniques for file synchronisation in file systems
• 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: H04L 67/1095 Replication or mirroring of data, e.g. scheduling or transport for data synchronisation between network nodes

Abstract

Synchronization architectures, methods, systems, and computer readable media are described. One exemplary embodiment includes a first software component which is configured to cause retrieval and storage of structured data for a first data class from a first store of the structured data on a device, such as a first data processing system, and is configured to synchronize structured data for the first data class in the first store with structured data of the first data class in a second store on a host, such as a second data processing system. The first software component is separate from an application software which provides a user interface to allow a user to access and edit the structured data. The first software component synchronizes the structured data through a second software component which interfaces with the host and the device and which controls an order of synchronizing and a plurality of data classes including the first data class.

Claims

1. A computer readable medium containing executable program instructions comprising:

a first software component configured to cause retrieval and storage of structured data for a first data class from a first store of the structured data on a device and configured to synchronize structured data for the first data class in the first store with structured data for the first data class in a second store on a host, the first software component being separate from an application software which provides a user interface to allow a user to access and edit the structured data, and wherein the first software component synchronizes the structured data through a second software component which is coupled to the first software component through software based messages, the second software component configured to implement an order of synchronizing the first data class through an nth data class of structured data and configured to couple the device to the host through software based messages.

2. The medium as in claim 1 wherein the first software component is a data source and wherein the first data class is one of:

(a) calendar data;

(b) contact data;

(c) email account setup information;

(d) bookmarks;

(e) notes; and

(f) To Do items; and

wherein the first software component sends a message specifying a next device anchor and a previous host anchor and causes, if synchronizing of the first data class is successful, saving of the next device anchor and a next host anchor; and

wherein the first software component sends a version identifier for the first software component to the host and receives a version identifier for a data class handler software component on the host for the first data class, and wherein the first software component is updateable independently from the second software component.

3. The medium as in claim 2 further comprising:

the second software component which, if synchronizing of the first data class is successful, issues a message to the first software component to commit changes to the first store.

4. The medium as in claim 2 wherein the first software component provides an identifier for each record to the host which is capable of being different than an identifier for the each record maintained on the host.

5. A computer readable medium containing executable program instructions comprising:

a first software component configured to cause retrieval and storage of structured data for a first data class from a first store of the structured data on a host and configured to synchronize structured data for the first data class in the first store with structured data for the first data class in a second store on a device, the first software component being separate from an application software which provides a user interface to allow a user to access and edit the structured data, and wherein the first software component synchronizes the structured data through a second software component which is coupled to the first software component through software based messages, the second software component configured to implement an order of synchronizing the first data class through an nth data class of structured data and configured to couple the device to the host through software based messages.

6. The medium as in claim 5 wherein the first software component is a data class handler and wherein the first data class is one of:

(a) calendar data;

(b) contact data;

(c) email account setup information;

(d) bookmarks;

(e) notes; and

(f) To Do items; and

wherein the first software component sends messages specifying next host anchor and previous device anchor and causes, if synchronizing of the first data class is successful, saving of next device anchor and next host anchor; and

wherein the first software component sends a version identifier for the first software component to the device and receives a version identifier for a data source software component on the device for the first data class, and wherein the first software component is updateable independently from the second software component.

7. The medium as in claim 6 further comprising:

the second software component which, if synchronizing of the first data class is successful, issues a message to the first software component to commit changes to the first store.

8. The medium as in claim 6 wherein the first software component causes storage of an identifier, from the device, for each record received by the host, the identifier being capable of being different than an identifier for the each record maintained on the host.

9. A machine implemented method comprising:

retrieving and storing, through a first software component, structured data for a first data class from a first store of the structured data on a device, the first software component being separate from an application software which provides a user interface to allow a user to access and edit the structured data;

synchronizing the structured data for the first data class in the first store with structured data for the first data class in a second store on a host, the first software component synchronizing the structured data through a second software component which is coupled to the first software component through software based messages, the second software component configured to implement an order of synchronizing the first data class through an nth data class of structured data and configured to couple the device to the host through software based messages.

10. The method as in claim 9 wherein the first software component is a data source and wherein the first data class is one of:

(a) calendar data;

(b) contact data;

(c) email account setup information;

(d) bookmarks;

(e) notes; and

(f) To Do items; and

wherein the first software component sends a message specifying a next device anchor and a previous host anchor and causes, if synchronizing of the first data class is successful, saving of the next device anchor and a next host anchor; and

wherein the first software component sends a version identifier for the first software component to the host and receives a version identifier for a data class handler software component on the host for the first data class, and wherein the first software component is updateable independently from the second software component.

11. The method of claim 10 further comprising:

receiving a message at the first software component to commit changes to the first store if synchronizing of the first data class is successful.

12. The method of claim 10 wherein the first software component provides an identifier for each record to the host which is capable of being different than an identifier for each record maintained on the host.

13. A computer readable medium containing executable program instructions which when executed cause a data processing system to perform a method comprising:

retrieving and storing, through a first software component, structured data for a first data class from a first store of the structured data on a device, the first software component being separate from an application software which provides a user interface to allow a user to access and edit the structured data;

synchronizing the structured data for the first data class in the first store with structured data for the first data class in a second store on a host, the first software component synchronizing the structured data through a second software component which is coupled to the first software component through software based messages, the second software component configured to implement an order of synchronizing the first data class through an nth data class of structured data and configured to couple the device to the host through software based messages.

14. The medium as in claim 13 wherein the first software component is a data source and wherein the first data class is one of:

(a) calendar data;

(b) contact data;

(c) email account setup information;

(d) bookmarks;

(e) notes; and

(f) To Do items; and

wherein the first software component sends a message specifying a next device anchor and a previous host anchor and causes, if synchronizing of the first data class is successful, saving of the next device anchor and a next host anchor; and

wherein the first software component sends a version identifier for the first software component to the host and receives a version identifier for a data class handler software component on the host for the first data class, and wherein the first software component is updateable independently from the second software component.

15. The medium of claim 14, wherein the method further comprises:

receiving a message at the first software component to commit changes to the first store if synchronizing of the first data class is successful.

16. The medium of claim 14 wherein the first software component provides an identifier for each record to the host which is capable of being different than an identifier for each record maintained on the host.

17. A data processing system comprising:

means for retrieving and storing, through a first software component, structured data for a first data class from a first store of the structured data on a device, the first software component being separate from an application software which provides a user interface to allow a user to access and edit the structured data;

means for synchronizing the structured data for the first data class in the first store with structured data for the first data class in a second store on a host, the first software component synchronizing the structured data through a second software component which is coupled to the first software component through software based messages, the second software component configured to implement an order of synchronizing the first data class through an nth data class of structured data and configured to couple the device to the host through software based messages.

18. A machine implemented method comprising:

causing retrieval and storage, through a first software component, of structured data for a first data class from a first store of the structured data on a host, the first software component being separate from an application software which provides a user interface to allow a user to access and edit the structured data;

synchronizing the structured data for the first data class in the first store with structured data for the first data class in a second store on a device, the first software component synchronizing the structured data through a second software component which is coupled to the first software component through software based messages, the second software component configured to implement an order of synchronizing the first data class through an nth data class of structured data and configured to couple the device to the host through software based messages.

19. The method as in claim 18 wherein the first software component is a data class handler and wherein the first data class is one of:

(a) calendar data;

(b) contact data;

(c) email account setup information;

(d) bookmarks;

(e) notes; and

(f) To Do items; and

wherein the first software component sends a message specifying a next host anchor and previous device anchor and causes, if synchronizing of the first data class is successful, saving of the next host anchor and a next device anchor; and

wherein the first software component sends a version identifier for the first software component to the device and receives a version identifier for a data source software component on the device for the first data class, and wherein the first software component is updateable independently from the second software component.

20. The method as in claim 19 further comprising:

receiving a message at the first software component to commit changes to the first store if synchronizing of the first data class is successful.

21. The method as in claim 19 wherein the first software component causes storage of an identifier, from the device, for each record received by the host, the identifier being capable of being different than an identifier for the each record maintained on the host.

22. A computer readable medium containing executable program instructions which when executed cause a data processing system to perform a method comprising:

causing retrieval and storage, through a first software component, of structured data for a first data class from a first store of the structured data on a host, the first software component being separate from an application software which provides a user interface to allow a user to access and edit the structured data;

synchronizing the structured data for the first data class in the first store with structured data for the first data class in a second store on a device, the first software component synchronizing the structured data through a second software component which is coupled to the first software component through software based messages, the second software component configured to implement an order of synchronizing the first data class through an nth data class of structured data and configured to couple the device to the host through software based messages.

23. The medium as in claim 22 wherein the first software component is a data class handler and wherein the first data class is one of:

(a) calendar data;

(b) contact data;

(c) email account setup information;

(d) bookmarks;

(e) notes; and

(f) To Do items; and

wherein the first software component sends a message specifying a next host anchor and previous device anchor and causes, if synchronizing of the first data class is successful, saving of the next host anchor and a next device anchor; and

wherein the first software component sends a version identifier for the first software component to the device and receives a version identifier for a data source software component on the device for the first data class, and wherein the first software component is updateable independently from the second software component.

24. The medium as in claim 23, the method further comprising:

receiving a message at the first software component to commit changes to the first store if synchronizing of the first data class is successful.

25. The medium as in claim 23 wherein the first software component causes storage of an identifier, from the device, for each record received by the host, the identifier being capable of being different than an identifier for the each record maintained on the host.

26. A data processing system comprising:

means for causing retrieval and storage, through a first software component, of structured data for a first data class from a first store of the structured data on a host, the first software component being separate from an application software which provides a user interface to allow a user to access and edit the structured data;

means for synchronizing the structured data for the first data class in the first store with structured data for the first data class in a second store on a device, the first software component synchronizing the structured data through a second software component which is coupled to the first software component through software based messages, the second software component configured to implement an order of synchronizing the first data class through an nth data class of structured data and configured to couple the device to the host through software based messages.

27. A machine implemented method comprising:

transferring structured data from a first store of structured data on a first device as part of a synchronization process and transferring metadata about the synchronization process, the transferring being performed by a first software component which is a first active agent which causes storage and retrieval of structured data as part of the synchronization process;

receiving structured data from a second store of structured data on a second device as part of the synchronization process and receiving metadata about the synchronization process from the second device, the synchronization process on the second device being performed by a second software component which is a second active agent which causes storage and retrieval of structured data as part of the synchronization process.

28. The method as in claim 27 wherein the first software component has first separate independent components for each data class of structured data and the second software component has second separate independent components for each data class of structured data and wherein the first device and the second device act as peers during the synchronization process.

29. The method as in claim 28 wherein the metadata comprises version identifiers for each of the first separate independent components and each of the second separate independent components.

30. A computer readable medium containing executable program instructions which when executed cause a data processing system to perform a method comprising:

transferring structured data from a first store of structured data on a first device as part of a synchronization process and transferring metadata about the synchronization process, the transferring being performed by a first software component which is a first active agent which causes storage and retrieval of structured data as part of the synchronization process;

receiving structured data from a second store of structured data on a second device as part of the synchronization process and receiving metadata about the synchronization process from the second device, the synchronization process on the second device being performed by a second software component which is a second active agent which causes storage and retrieval of structured data as part of the synchronization process.

31. The medium as in claim 30 wherein the first software component has first separate independent components for each data class of structured data and the second software component has second separate independent components for each data class of structured data and wherein the first device and the second device act as peers during the synchronization process.

32. The medium as in claim 31 wherein the metadata comprises version identifiers for each of the first separate independent components and each of the second separate independent components.

33. A data processing system comprising:

means for transferring structured data from a first store of structured data on a first device as part of a synchronization process and transferring metadata about the synchronization process, the transferring being performed by a first software component which is a first active agent which causes storage and retrieval of structured data as part of the synchronization process;

means for receiving structured data from a second store of structured data on a second device as part of the synchronization process and receiving metadata about the synchronization process on the second device being performed by a second software component which is a second active agent which causes storage and retrieval of structured data as part of the synchronization process.

34. A machine implemented method comprising:

comparing a first version identifier for a first software component on a first data processing system and a second version identifier for a second software component on a second data processing system, the first software component configured to cause storage and retrieval of structured data on the first data processing system as part of a synchronization process for synchronizing structured data on the first and second data processing systems, and the second software component configured to cause storage and retrieval of structured data on the second data processing system as part of the synchronization process;

determining whether to perform the synchronization process in response to the comparing.

35. The method as in claim 34 further comprising:

transmitting the first version identifier from the first data processing system to the second data processing system to perform the comparing;

transmitting the second version identifier from the second data processing system to the first data processing system to perform the comparing, wherein the first and the second data processing systems each perform the comparing.

36. The method as in claim 35 wherein the first and the second software components perform synchronization operations for structured data of a first data class and wherein the first data processing system has a third software component which has a third version identifier, and the second data processing system has a fourth software component which has a fourth version identifier, and wherein the third and the fourth software components perform synchronization operations for structured data of a second data class and wherein the first and the second identifiers are capable of being different.

37. The method as in claim 36 wherein the first and the third identifiers are capable of being different, and wherein the determining is performed by the software component which has a version identifier that represents a newer version, and wherein at least two of the first, the second, the third, and the fourth software components are capable of being independently updated or upgraded.

38. A computer readable medium containing executable program instructions which when executed cause a data processing system to perform a method comprising:

comparing a first version identifier for a first software component on a first data processing system and a second version identifier for a second software component on a second data processing system, the first software component configured to cause storage and retrieval of structured data on the first data processing system as part of a synchronization process for synchronizing structured data on the first and second data processing systems, and the second software component configured to cause storage and retrieval of structured data on the second data processing system as part of the synchronization process;

determining whether to perform the synchronization process in response to the comparing.

39. The medium as in claim 38, the method further comprising:

transmitting the first version identifier from the first data processing system to the second data processing system to perform the comparing;

transmitting the second version identifier from the second data processing system to the first data processing system to perform the comparing, wherein the first and the second data processing systems each perform the comparing.

40. The medium as in claim 39 wherein the first and the second software components perform synchronization operations for structured data of a first data class and wherein the first data processing system has a third software component which has a third version identifier, and the second data processing system has a fourth software component which has a fourth version identifier, and wherein the third and the fourth software components perform synchronization operations for structured data of a second data class and wherein the first and the second identifiers are capable of being different.

41. The medium as in claim 40 wherein the first and the third identifiers are capable of being different, and wherein the determining is performed by the software component which has a version identifier that represents a newer version, and wherein at least two of the first, the second, the third, and the fourth software components are capable of being independently updated or upgraded.

42. A data processing system comprising:

means for comparing a first version identifier for a first software component on a first data processing system and a second version identifier for a second software component on a second data processing system, the first software component configured to cause storage and retrieval of structured data on the first data processing system as part of a synchronization process for synchronizing structured data on the first and second data processing systems, and the second software component configured to cause storage and retrieval of structured data on the second data processing system as part of the synchronization process;

means for determining whether to perform the synchronization process in response to the comparing.

43. A machine implemented method comprising:

determining whether a first software component is available on a first data processing system, the first software component being configured for causing retrieval and storage of structured data of a first data class as part of a synchronization process;

determining, in response to the determining of whether the first software component is available, whether to synchronize the structured data of the first data class between the first data processing system and a second data processing system.

44. The method as in claim 43 further comprising:

determining whether a second software component is available on the first data processing system, the second software component being configured for causing retrieval and storage of structured data of a second data class as part of the synchronization process;

determining, automatically in response to the determining of whether the second software component is available, whether to synchronize the structured data of the second data class between the first data processing system and the second data processing system;

and wherein the first data processing system is a handheld device, and wherein the first software component is separate from a first application software which provides a first user interface to allow a user to access and edit the structured data of the first data class, and wherein the second software component is separate from a second application which provides a second user interface to allow the user to access and edit the structured data of the second data class;

and wherein the determining whether to synchronize is done automatically.

45. The method as in claim 44 wherein, in response to determining that the first software component is not available, no synchronizing of the structured data of the first data class is performed, and wherein, in response to determining that the second software component is available, synchronizing of the structured data of the second data class is performed, and wherein the determining of whether to synchronize the first data class and the determining of whether to synchronize the second data class is performed without the user'"'"'s interaction.

46. A computer readable medium containing executable program instructions which when executed cause a data processing system to perform a method comprising:

determining whether a first software component is available on a first data processing system, the first software component being configured for causing retrieval and storage of structured data of a first data class as part of a synchronization process;

determining, in response to the determining of whether the first software component is available, whether to synchronize the structured data of the first data class between the first data processing system and a second data processing system.

47. The medium as in claim 46, the method further comprising:

determining whether a second software component is available on the first data processing system, the second software component being configured for causing retrieval and storage of structured data of a second data class as part of the synchronization process;

determining, automatically in response to the determining of whether the second software component is available, whether to synchronize the structured data of the second data class between the first data processing system and the second data processing system;

and wherein the first data processing system is a handheld device, and wherein the first software component is separate from a first application software which provides a first user interface to allow a user to access and edit the structured data of the first data class, and wherein the second software component is separate from a second application which provides a second user interface to allow the user to access and edit the structured data of the second data class;

and wherein the determining whether to synchronize is done automatically.

48. The medium as in claim 47 wherein, in response to determining that the first software component is not available, no synchronizing of the structured data of the first data class is performed, and wherein, in response to determining that the second software component is available, synchronizing of the structured data of the second data class is performed, and wherein the determining of whether to synchronize the first data class and the determining of whether to synchronize the second data class is performed without the user'"'"'s interaction.

49. A data processing system comprising:

means for determining whether a first software component is available on a first data processing system, the first software component being configured for causing retrieval and storage of structured data of a first data class as part of a synchronization process;

means for determining, automatically in response to the determining of whether the first software component is available, whether to synchronize the structured data of the first data class between the first data processing system and a second data processing system.