Data exchange between a handheld device and another computer system using an exchange manager via synchronization

• US 6,868,451 B1
• Filed: 06/20/2000
• Issued: 03/15/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 06/20/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Access Company Limited
• Original Assignee: Palmsource Incorporated (Access Company Limited)
• Inventors: Peacock, Gavin
• Primary Examiner(s): Vu, Viet D.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Hu, Jinsong
• Application Number:
  US09/598,670
• Time in Patent Office: 1,729 Days
• Field of Search: 709/231, 709/315, 707201-204, 719/315
• US Class Current: 709/231
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/06 specially adapted for file transfer, e.g. file transfer protocol [FTP]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/1095 Replication or mirroring of data, e.g. scheduling or transport for data synchronisation between network nodes
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/329 in the application layer [OSI layer 7]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 9/40 Network security protocols
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99952 Coherency, e.g. same view to multiple users
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99953 Recoverability

Abstract

A method and electronic system for exchanging data between a handheld device and another computer system are described. A data file is transferred to the handheld device using the install application of a synchronization manager. The transferred file is stored as a digital stream file with its native data encoding. After synchronization, a message is sent to notify the exchange manager about the data file. The exchange manager then uses an application registry to identify the application program that corresponds to the stream file based on the extension of the stream file. The pertinent application program is then invoked and the stream file is dispatched to the application for processing. During processing, the pertinent application then formats the stream file such that the data file becomes a record within the database file that is associated with the pertinent application.

Claims

1. A method of transferring data to a handheld device from a host device, said method comprising:

a) using a universal conduit to transfer data to said handheld device during a synchronization process between said host and handheld devices, said data containing an indication of a file type corresponding to an identified application, said universal conduit providing, a software link between a first database on said host device comprising said data and a second database on said handheld device associated with said identified application, wherein said universal conduit is used with more than one of applications known to said handheld device in lieu of a custom conduit specific to said identified application;

b) storing said data as a stream within said handheld device and associating said file type with said stream;

c) indexing a registry with said file type of said stream to determine said identified application of said handheld device that corresponds to said file type;

d) an exchange manager reading said stream and dispatching said stream to said identified application; and

e) said identified application processing said stream in accordance with other objects associated with said identified application.

2. A method as described in claim 1 wherein said step e) comprises formatting said stream in accordance with said second database, wherein said data is added as a record to said second database.

3. A method as described in claim 1 wherein said handheld device is a palm top computer system.

4. A method as described in claim 1 wherein said host device is coupled to said handheld device via a communication link.

5. A method as described in claim 1 wherein said file type is unknown to said universal conduit.

6. A method as described in claim 1 wherein said step d) comprises:

d1) said exchange manager receiving a notification that new streams may reside in said handheld device;

d2) in response to said notification, said exchange manager determining a file type of a new stream;

d3) in response to said file type, said exchange manager determining said identified application;

d4) said exchange manager awaking said identified application; and

d5) said exchange manager dispatching said stream to said identified application.

7. A method of transferring data from a host device to a handheld device, said method comprising:

a) using a universal conduit to transfer data containing a record to said handheld device during a synchronization process between said host and handheld devices, said data containing an indication of a file type corresponding to an identified application, said universal conduit providing a software link between a first database on said host device comprising said data and a second database onsaid handheld device associated with said identified application, said universal conduit for examining said first and second databases to identify said record, wherein said universal conduit is used with all applications known to said handheld device in lieu of a custom conduit specific to said identified application;

b) storing said data as a stream within said file type of said stream to determine said identified application of said handheld device that corresponds to said file type;

c) indexing a registry with said file type of said stream to determine said identified application of said handheld that corresponds to said file type;

d) an exchange manager reading said stream and dispatching said stream to said identified application; and

e) said identified application formatting said stream in accordance with said second database, wherein said data is added as a record to said second database.

8. A method as described in claim 7 wherein said handheld device is a palm top computer system.

9. A method as described in claim 7 wherein said host device is coupled to said handheld device via a communication link.

10. A method as described in claim 7 wherein said file type is unknown to said universal conduit.

11. A method as described in claim 7 wherein said step d) comprises:

d1) said exchange manager receiving a notification that new streams may reside in said handheld device;

d2) in response to said notification, said exchange manager determining a file type of a new stream;

d3) in response to said file type, said exchange manager determining said identified application;

d4) said exchange manager awaking said identified application; and

d5) said exchange manager dispatching said stream to said identified application.

12. A system for transferring data comprising:

a) a host computer system comprising;

a universal conduit for transferring a data file containing a record to a handheld device during a synchronization process between said host computer system and said handheld device, said universal conduit providing a software link between said data file and a database on said handheld device, said data file containing an indication of a file type corresponding to an identified application, wherein said universal conduit is used with all applications known to said handheld device in lieu of a custom conduit specific to said identified application; and

b) wherein during said synchronization process said handheld device is coupled to said host computer system using a communication link and comprises;

b1) a communication program for storing said data file as a stream and for associating said file type with said stream;

b2) an exchange manager for indexing a registry with said file type of said stream to determine said identified application of said handheld device that corresponds to said file type;

b3) wherein said exchange manager is also for reading said stream and dispatching said stream to said identified application; and

b4) wherein said identified application is for processing said data file in accordance with other information associated with said identified application.

13. A system as described in claim 12 wherein said identified application processes said data file by formatting said stream in accordance with an existing database associated with said identified application and wherein further said data file is added as a record to said existing database by said identified application.

14. A system as described in claim 13 wherein said handheld device is a palm top computer system.

15. A system as described in claim 13 wherein said universal conduit transfers said data file by a synchronization process between said host computer system and said handheld device.

16. A system as described in claim 13 wherein said file type is unknown to said universal conduit.

17. A system as described in claim 13 wherein said exchange manager is for receiving a notification that new streams may reside in said handheld device, in response to said notification, said exchange manager for identing a file type of a new stream, said exchange manager, in response to said file type, for determining said identified application and for awaking said identified application, and said exchange manager also for dispatching said stream to said identified application.

18. A method of transferring data from a handheld device to a host computer system, said method comprising:

a) an application generating a record to be exported, said application supplying said record with an export mechanism type and a file type;

b) an exchange manager receiving said record and exporting said record in accordance with said export mechanism type and provided said export mechanism type is synchronization, said exchange mechanism converting said record into a stream file and queuing said stream file for export;

c) upon a next synchronization, exporting said stream file via a universal conduit, said universal conduit providing a software link between a first database on said host device comprising said record and a second database on said handheld device associated with said application, wherein said universal conduit is used with all applications known to said handheld device in lieu of a custom conduit specific to said application; and

d) in response to said file type, said application resident on said host computer system reading said stream file and converting contents of said stream file into a record of said second database.

19. A method as described in claim 18 wherein said handheld device is a palm top computer system.

20. A method as described in claim 18 wherein said universal conduit is a backup conduit.

21. A method as described in claim 18 wherein said file type is unknown to said universal conduit.

22. A method as described in claim 18 wherein said host computer system and said handheld device are coupled together using a communication link during said synchronization.