Method and apparatus for synchronizing of databases

• US 8,019,722 B2
• Filed: 01/29/2009
• Issued: 09/13/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 06/01/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Malikie Innovations Limited (Key Patent Innovations Limited)
• Original Assignee: Blackberry Limited
• Inventors: Zhu, Jie, Pereira, Kathy A., Vuong, Galang, Linkert, Barry, Omar, Salim H.
• Primary Examiner(s): Ali; Mohammad
• Assistant Examiner(s): HASAN, SYED HAROON
• Application Number:
  US12/361,868
• Publication Number:
  US 20090138526A1
• Time in Patent Office: 957 Days
• Field of Search: None
• 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

Abstract

A method for synchronizing a first database including first data records with a second database including second data records. The method includes starting a synchronization session with an electronic device on which the second database resides, requesting the first data records from the first database, temporarily disconnecting the synchronization session while awaiting receipt of the first data records, receiving the first data records, and restarting and completing the synchronization session.

Claims

1. A method for synchronizing a first database including first data records with a second database including second data records, the method comprising:

starting a synchronization session with an electronic device on which said second database resides;

requesting said first data records from said first database;

setting a timer upon requesting said first data records;

if said timer expires prior to receiving said first data records,

temporarily disconnecting said synchronization session while awaiting receipt of said first data records for allowing transfer of data not belonging to said second database, to and from said electronic device;

receiving said first data records;

generating a request to restart the synchronization session after receiving said first data records;

sending said request to restart the synchronization session to said electronic device; and

completing said synchronization session with said electronic device after receiving said first data records;

otherwise, if said first data records are received prior to expiry of said timer;

receiving said first data records; and

completing said synchronization session with said electronic device;

receiving information representative of said second data records prior to requesting said first data records;

comparing information representative of said second data records with information representative of said first data records after receiving said first data records, wherein completing said synchronization session comprises sending a request for additional information associated with said second data records;

generating a group hash of said first data records after receiving said first data records and prior to comparing,

wherein said sending a request for additional information associated with said second data records comprises sending a request for a record hash for each of said second data records, and

wherein completing said synchronization session comprises;

generating a record hash for each of said first data records;

comparing each record hash from said first data records with a corresponding record hash from said second data records; and

updating at least one of said first data records and said second data records.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein temporarily disconnecting comprises saving synchronization session information.

3. The method according to claim 1, wherein starting a synchronization session comprises receiving an initialize command from said electronic device.

4. The method according to claim 1, wherein completing said synchronization session comprises sending a response to the electronic device to terminate the synchronization session in the event that the first data records match the second data records.

5. The method according to claim 1, wherein receiving information representative of said second data records comprises receiving a group hash of said second data records.

6. The method according to claim 1, comprising:

receiving said additional information associated with said second data records;

comparing with additional information associated with said first data records; and

updating at least one of said first data records and said second data records.

7. A non-transitory computer-readable medium having computer readable code embodied therein for:

starting a synchronization session with an electronic device on which a second database resides, wherein said second database includes second data records;

requesting first data records from a first database;

setting a timer upon requesting said first data records;

if said timer expires prior to receiving said first data records,

temporarily disconnecting said synchronization session while awaiting receipt of said first data records for allowing transfer of data not belonging to said second database, to and from said electronic device;

receiving said first data records;

generating a request to restart the synchronization session after receiving said first data records;

sending said request to restart the synchronization session to said electronic device; and

completing said synchronization session with said electronic device after receiving said first data records;

otherwise, if said first data records are received prior to expiry of said timer;

receiving said first data records; and

completing said synchronization session with said electronic device;

receiving information representative of said second data records prior to requesting said first data records;

comparing information representative of said second data records with information representative of said first data records after receiving said first data records, wherein completing said synchronization session comprises sending a request for additional information associated with said second data records;

generating a group hash of said first data records after receiving said first data records and prior to comparing,

wherein said sending a request for additional information associated with said second data records comprises sending a request for a record hash for each of said second data records, and

wherein completing said synchronization session comprises;

generating a record hash for each of said first data records;

comparing each record hash from said first data records with a corresponding record hash from said second data records; and

updating at least one of said first data records and said second data records.