System and method for synchronizing states in associated data records

• US 9,977,820 B1
• Filed: 03/15/2013
• Issued: 05/22/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 03/15/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Tasktop Technologies, Inc. (Planview Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Tasktop Technologies, Inc. (Planview Incorporated)
• Inventors: Golbeck, Ryan, Janzen, Doug, Elves, Robert
• Primary Examiner(s): Herndon, Heather
• Assistant Examiner(s): Htay, Lin Lin
• Application Number:
  US13/833,901
• Time in Patent Office: 1,894 Days
• Field of Search: 707618
• 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 16/273 Asynchronous replication or reconciliation

Abstract

A system for synchronizing states in associated for data records has been developed. The system includes a first data repository (R1) containing a first data record (DR1) and a second data repository (R2) containing a second data record (DR2). The system also includes a synchronizer that initiates synchronization activity between DR1 and DR2. Upon change in DR1, the system generates a listing of all possible target states for DR2 and determines the correct target state of DR2 from the listing of possible target states. The system then determines if DR2 is in the correct target state. If not, the system transitions DR2 to the correct target state, and synchronizes the data of DR2 with DR1.

Claims

1. A system to synchronize states in associated for data records, the system comprising:

one or more processors; and

a synchronizer that, when executed by at least one of the one or more processors;

determines, based at least in part on a current state of a first data record (DR1) contained by a first data repository (R1) and on state transition information associated with a second data record (DR2) that includes all possible target states for the second data record (DR2), a correct target state of the second data record (DR2), wherein the second data record (DR2) is contained by a second data repository (R2);

determines whether the second data record (DR2) is in the determined correct target state; and

in response to a determination that the second data record (DR2) is not in the determined correct target state;

transitions the second data record (DR2) to the determined correct target state in accordance with the associated state transition information; and

synchronizes at least some data of the second data record (DR2) with data of the first data record (DR1).

2. The system of claim 1 where in use, the synchronizer further:

determines whether a total number of transition attempts at transitioning the second data record (DR2) has exceeded a limit on transition attempts; and

sets an error status for the second data record (DR2) in response to a determination that the total number of transition attempts at transitioning the second data record (DR2) has exceeded the limit on transition attempts.

3. The system of claim 2 where in use, the synchronizer terminates attempts at transitioning the second data record (DR2) in response to the total number of transition attempts exceeding the limit on transition attempts.

4. The system of claim 1 wherein the first data repository (R1), the second data repository (R2) and the synchronizer all reside on a first computer system.

5. The system of claim 4 wherein the first computer system is a mobile communications device and the first data repository (R1), the second data repository (R2), and the synchronizer all reside on the mobile communications device.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein the first data repository (R1) and the second data repository (R2) each reside on respective ones of a plurality of separate computer systems.

7. The system of claim 6 wherein the first data repository (R1) and the second data repository (R2) are communicatively connected over the Internet.

8. The system of claim 1 wherein the first data repository (R1) and the second data repository (R2) reside on separate ones of a plurality of mobile communications devices.

9. The system of claim 1 wherein determining the correct target state of the second data record (DR2) is performed in response to one or more indications of a change in the first data record (DR1).

10. The system of claim 1 wherein the synchronizer is responsive to a change in a state of the first data record (DR1).

11. The system of claim 1 wherein at least one component of the system generates a listing of all possible target states for second data record (DR2).

12. The system of claim 1 wherein the first data record (DR1) is associated with additional state transition information that includes a listing of all possible target states for the first data record (DR1).

13. The system of claim 1 wherein the current state of the first data record (DR1) is distinct from the determined correct target state of the second data record (DR2), and wherein the associated state transition information indicates an association of the correct target state for the second data record (DR2) with the current state of the first data record (DR1).

14. A computer-implemented method for synchronizing states in associated data records which associated data records include at least a first data record (DR1) of a first data repository (R1) and a second data record (DR1) of a second data repository (R2), the second data repository (R2) different from the first data repository (R1), the method comprising:

determining, by at least one computing system and based at least in part on a current state of the first data record (DR1), a correct target state of the second data record (DR2) from a listing of all possible target states of the second data record (DR2);

determining, by the at least one computing system, if the second data record (DR2) is in the determined correct target state;

transitioning, by the at least one computing system, the second data record (DR2) to the determined correct target state in response to a determination that the second data record (DR2) is not in the determined correct target state; and

synchronizing data of the second data record (DR2) with corresponding data of the first data record (DR1).

15. The method of claim 14, further comprising:

determining whether a total number of attempts at transitioning the second data record (DR2) has exceeded a limit on transition attempts; and

setting an error status for the second data record (DR2) in response to the total number of attempts at transitioning the second data record (DR2) exceeding the limit on transition attempts.

16. The method of claim 14 wherein synchronizing data of the second data record (DR2) with corresponding data of the first data record (DR1) includes synchronizing data of the second data record (DR2) of the second data repository (R2) which resides on a first computer system with corresponding data of the first data record (DR1) of the first data repository (R1) which resides on the first computer system, by a synchronizer implemented on the first computer system.

17. The method of claim 14 wherein synchronizing data of the second data record (DR2) with corresponding data of the first data record (DR1) includes synchronizing data of the second data record (DR2) of the second data repository (R2) which resides on a first computer system with corresponding data of the first data record (DR1) of the first data repository (R1) which resides on a second computer system, the second computer system different from the first computer system.

18. The method of claim 17 wherein synchronizing data of the second data record (DR2) with corresponding data of the first data record (DR1) includes synchronizing data of the second data record (DR2) of the second data repository (R2) with corresponding data of the first data record (DR1) over the Internet.

19. The method of claim 14, wherein synchronizing data of the second data record (DR2) with corresponding data of the first data record (DR1) includes synchronizing data of the second data record (DR2) of the second data repository (R2) which resides on a first mobile communications device with corresponding data of the first data record (DR1) of the first data repository (R1) which resides on the first mobile communications device, by a synchronizer implemented on the first mobile communications device.

20. The method of claim 14 wherein synchronizing data of the second data record (DR2) with corresponding data of the first data record (DR1) includes synchronizing data of the second data record (DR2) of the second data repository (R2) which resides on a first mobile communications device with corresponding data of the first data record (DR1) of the first data repository (R1) which resides on a second mobile communications device, the second mobile communications device different from the first mobile communications device.

21. The method of claim 14, further comprising:

detecting a change in the first data record (DR1) located in a first data repository (R1).

22. The method of claim 14, further comprising:

generating the listing of all possible target states for the second data record (DR2).

23. The method of claim 14, wherein determining a correct target state of the second data record (DR2) includes determining the correct target state based at least in part on state transition information associated with the second data record (DR2) that associates the current state of the first data record (DR1) with the determined correct target state of the second data record (DR2).