Data synchronization method and system between devices

• US 8,171,171 B2
• Filed: 01/30/2009
• Issued: 05/01/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 01/31/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Mobileleader Co., Ltd., Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Mobileleader Co., Ltd., Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.
• Inventors: Lee, Chang Hee, Kim, Jung Hun, Kang, Gwan Gyun
• Primary Examiner(s): Nguyen, Dustin
• Application Number:
  US12/363,200
• Publication Number:
  US 20090198772A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,187 Days
• Field of Search: 707/204, 707/999.4, 707/999.201, 709/253, 709/248, 370/503
• US Class Current: 709/248
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/02 based on web technology, e.g. hypertext transfer protocol [HTTP]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/1095 Replication or mirroring of data, e.g. scheduling or transport for data synchronisation between network nodes

Abstract

A data synchronization method for more than three networked devices including at least one client and one server for efficiently synchronizing data among multiple devices supporting a Synchronization Markup Language (SyncML) protocol is provided. The data synchronization method includes determining whether a data item indicated by synchronization information contained in a synchronization request message exists in a change log table of the server, when a server receives the synchronization request message sent by a first client, and updating the change log table by adding the data item indicated by the synchronization information and transmitting a synchronization request message containing a data identifier and the change log of the data item to a second client, if a data item indicated by the synchronization information does not exist, otherwise, ending data synchronization by transmitting a synchronization response message containing status information to the first client.

Claims

1. A data synchronization method for more than three networked devices including at least one client and one server, the method comprising:

determining whether a data item indicated by synchronization information comprised in a synchronization request message exists in a change log table of the server, when a server receives the synchronization request message transmitted by a first client;

updating the change log table by adding the data item indicated by the synchronization information and transmitting a synchronization request message comprising a data identifier and change log of the data item to a second client, if a data item indicated by the synchronization information does not exist; and

ending data synchronization by transmitting a synchronization response message comprising status information to the first client, if a data item indicated by the synchronization information exists,

wherein the ending of the data synchronization comprises;

deleting a change log of the data item; and

creating the synchronization response message comprising the status information which indicates the data item is already synchronized.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the determining of whether the data item indicated by the synchronization information exists in a change log table comprises comparing a data name and a creation time with data names and creation times listed in the change log table.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the synchronization information comprises a change log indicating at least one of a modification type of the data item, a modified data and a data identifier.

4. The method of claim 2, wherein the change log comprises at least one of an “

add”

command and a “

replace”

command.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the status information comprises a synchronization status indicating whether synchronization is complete and a change log status indicating whether the change log is executed.

6. The method of claim 3, wherein the change log table comprises a number of change log fields corresponding to a number of associated devices.

7. A data synchronization method for more than three networked devices including at least one client and one server, the method comprising:

sending a synchronization request message comprising synchronization information from the first device to a second device, when a data item is modified at a first device;

determining, at the second device, whether the data item indicated by the synchronization information exists in a change log table of the second device;

updating the change log table by adding the data item, modifying the synchronization information and transmitting a synchronization request message comprising the modified synchronization information to a third device, if the data item does not exist; and

ending data synchronization by transmitting a synchronization response message comprising status information to the first device, if the data item indicated the synchronization information exists,

wherein the ending of the data synchronization comprises;

deleting a change log of the data item; and

creating the synchronization response message comprising the status information which indicates the data item is already synchronized.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein the synchronization information comprises a change log indicating at least one of a modification type of the data item, a data identifier and a modified data.

9. The method of claim 7, wherein the status information comprises a synchronization status indicating whether synchronization is complete and a change log status indicating whether the change log is executed.

10. The method of claim 8, wherein the change log comprises at least one of an “

add”

command and a “

replace”

command.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein the determining of whether a data item indicated by the synchronization information exists in a change log table comprises comparing a data name and a creation time with data names and creation times listed in the change log table.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein the transmitting of the synchronization request message comprising the modified synchronization information to a third device comprises:

setting a change log associated with the third device in the change log table;

transmitting a synchronization response message comprising the synchronization status information indicating that the data item is synchronized and synchronization information of the second device; and

transmitting the synchronization request message comprising the synchronization information of the second device to the third device.

13. A data synchronization method for networked devices including a first device as a server, a second device as a client and a server, and a third device as a client, the method comprising:

sending a synchronization request message comprising synchronization information associated with modification of the data item from the second device to the first device and the third device, when a data item is modified at the second device;

updating, at the third device, a change log table reflecting the synchronization information comprised in the synchronization request message and transmitting a synchronization response message comprising the synchronization information with a synchronized data identifier to the first device;

determining, at the first device, whether a data item indicated by the synchronization information received from one of the second device and the third device exists in a change log table of the first device;

updating the change log table, if an identical data item does not exist; and

ending data synchronization by transmitting a synchronization response message comprising the synchronization information to the second device,

wherein the ending of the data synchronization comprises;

deleting a change log of the data item; and

creating the synchronization response message comprising the status information which indicates the data item is already synchronized.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein the first device comprises a synchronization server, the second device comprises a computer functioning as the client and the server, and the third device comprises a mobile device functioning as the client.

15. The method of claim 13, wherein the determining of whether the data item exists in the change log table of the first device comprises comparing a data name and a creation time with data names and creation times listed in the change log table.

16. The method of claim 13, wherein the updating of the change log table comprises adding the data item to the third device'"'"'s change log table, creating status information and transmitting a synchronization response message comprising the status information.

17. The method of claim 13, wherein the synchronization information comprises a change log indicating a modification type of the data item, a modified data and a data identifier.

18. The method of claim 13, wherein the ending of the data synchronization occurs if the data item is already synchronized.