Method and apparatus for parallel execution of conduits during simultaneous synchronization of databases

• US 6,963,883 B1
• Filed: 08/25/2003
• Issued: 11/08/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 05/23/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Palmsource Incorporated (Access Company Limited)
• Original Assignee: Palmsource Incorporated (Access Company Limited)
• Inventors: Creemer, David, Raff, Chris
• Primary Examiner(s): Wassum, Luke
• Assistant Examiner(s): Black, Linh
• Application Number:
  US10/648,553
• Time in Patent Office: 806 Days
• Field of Search: 707 1-205
• US Class Current: 707/617
• 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: Y10S 707/99952 Coherency, e.g. same view to multiple users
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99953 Recoverability

Abstract

Sharing information between a host computer system and a peripheral computer system. Conduit programs running simultaneously on the host computer system synchronize information between the two computer systems. The conduits initiate multiple time multiplexed transfers across a single communication link between the two computer systems. In general, one or more conduits can perform a non-transfer task while another conduit can simultaneously perform a transfer over the host-peripheral communication link. The conduits may be used to load software onto the peripheral computer or to exchange e-mail between the two computer systems. While one active conduit is performing a task that does not involve use of the communication link, the other simultaneously executing conduits can use the communication link to transfer records between the host and the peripheral computer system.

Claims

1. A method of sharing information between a first computer system and a second computer system comprising the steps of:

a) establishing a communication link between said first computer system and said second computer system;

b) activating a plurality of conduit programs on said first computer system, wherein said conduit programs execute in parallel; and

c) said conduit programs synchronizing information on said first computer system with information on said second computer system, wherein said conduit programs initiate time multiplexed information transfers over said communication link while they execute in parallel.

2. The method of claim 1 further comprising the step of

d) establishing the order in which said plurality of conduit programs receive access to said communication link.

3. The method of claim 2 wherein step d) comprises the step of

d1) arbitrating the order in which said plurality of conduit programs receive access to said communication link.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein:

said plurality of conduit programs comprise a first conduit program and a second conduit program; and

wherein

step c) comprises the steps of;

c1) said first conduit program initiating a transfer across said communication link while said second conduit program simultaneously performs a non-transfer function; and

c2) said second conduit program initiating a transfer across said communication link while said first conduit program simultaneously performs a non-transfer function.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein said plurality of conduit programs comprise a first conduit program and a second conduit program;

and

step c) comprises the step of

c1) said first conduit program updating records in a database on said first computer system while said second conduit program simultaneously initiates a data transfer across said communication link.

6. The method of claim 1 wherein said plurality of conduit programs comprise a first conduit program and a second conduit program;

and

step c) comprises the step of

c1) said first conduit program initiating a data transfer across said communication link while said second conduit program simultaneously waits for a response from said second computer system.

7. The method of claim 1 wherein said second computer system is a handheld computer system.

8. A host computer system comprising:

a processor; and

a computer readable memory coupled to said processor via a bus, said memory having stored therein;

a communication program operable to establish a communication link between said host computer system and a peripheral electronic device and to control information transfers over said communication link;

a plurality of conduit programs operable to synchronize information between said host computer system and said peripheral electronic device; and

a manager program operable to invoke said conduit programs for parallel execution;

wherein said conduit programs execute in parallel to synchronize information on said host computer system with information on said peripheral electronic device, and further wherein said conduit programs cause said communication program to perform time multiplexed information transfers over said communication link of portions of information being synchronized while said conduit programs execute in parallel.

9. The host computer system of claim 8 wherein said memory further comprises:

an ordering program operable to order access to said communication link by said plurality of conduit programs.

10. The host computer system of claim 8 wherein a first of said plurality of conduit programs is operable to synchronize a database on said host computer system with a database on said peripheral electronic device.

11. The host computer system of claim 8 wherein a first of said of plurality of conduit programs is operable to install software onto said peripheral electronic device.

12. The host computer system of claim 8 wherein a first of said of plurality of conduit programs is operable to exchange e-mail between said host computer system and said peripheral electronic device.

13. The host computer system of claim 8 wherein said memory comprises a plurality of host databases, and wherein at least two of said plurality of conduit programs simultaneously synchronize said host databases with corresponding databases residing on said peripheral electronic device.

14. A computer readable medium having stored therein instructions that when executed on a processor implement a method of sharing data between a host computer system and an electronic device coupled by a communication link, said method comprising:

executing a plurality of conduit programs in parallel on said host computer system; and

said conduit programs synchronizing host data on said host computer system with electronic device data on said electronic device while executing in parallel, wherein said conduit programs initiate time multiplexed transfers over said communication link of data selected from said host data and said electronic device data.

15. The computer readable medium of claim 14 wherein said method further comprises establishing an order in which said plurality of conduit programs receive access to said communication link.

16. The computer readable medium of claim 14 wherein said plurality of conduit programs comprise a first conduit program and a second conduit program, and further wherein said conduit programs synchronizing data comprises:

said first conduit program retrieving a first set of modified records from a first electronic device database on said electronic device;

said second conduit program retrieving a second set of modified records from a second electronic device database on said electronic device while said first conduit program compares said first set of modified records with a first host database on said host computer system to create a first synchronized database;

said first conduit program writing first records from said first synchronized database to said first electronic device database while said second conduit program compares said second set of modified records with a second host database on said host computer system to create a second synchronized database; and

said second conduit program writing second records from said second synchronized database to said second electronic device database.

17. The computer readable medium of claim 14 wherein said electronic device is a portable computer system.

18. The computer readable medium of claim 14 wherein said electronic device is a handheld computer system.