System and method for updating remote database in network

System and method for updating remote database in network

Technical field

The present invention relates to a computer network, and more specifically, provides a system and method for updating a remote database in a computer network.

Background technique

Data accessibility and consistency are of great concern to computer users. For example, when a roaming user, that is, a user who moves to a remote location, needs to check or process data such as calendar or address information, the roaming user must carry the data to a remote location or access a workstation remotely. Maintaining a true copy of the database is a cumbersome process. Therefore, system designers have developed a set of technologies that connect remote terminals to workstations that store data through a computer network.

In order to ensure the readability of the downloaded data, the user must carry a laptop computer that contains all the applications required to provide and allow downloading data operations or find a computer with a network connection that contains the required applications. In addition, the user must maintain a record of all identification and authentication information about each database site that the user wishes to visit.

There is a need for a system and method that allows roaming users to conveniently access personal information stored on remote databases from any site connected through the network. Moreover, in order to make this system easy to use and promote the popularization of remote databases, a way to best use existing infrastructure such as browser technology and Internet communication infrastructure is needed to integrate workspace data (such as those in PIM). Data) is a system and method for conveniently moving from a user's local data storage device to a remote data storage device.

Summary of the invention

The invention provides a system and method for updating a remote database in a computer network. The computer network includes a global server, and the global server is connected to a local client and a remote client. The local client uses the browser to establish a communication link to a Web server on the global server. The global server has a storage for independently storing modifiable copies of work area data (such as files, emails, calendar information, etc.) maintained by the personal information manager (PIM) on the local client, and has PIM interfaces with these PIMs. Download module (Downloadable).

The local client requests synchronization capabilities for a specific PIM. The global server sends the PIM downloadable module corresponding to the specific PIM to the local client, and the local client installs and starts to execute the PIM downloadable module. Correspondingly, a user interface receives information specifying the work area data to be synchronized and information selecting a synchronization mode such as one-way replacement, one-way merge, or two-way synchronization. The PIM interface instructs a specific PIM to retrieve the work area data to be synchronized. A synchronization module determines the updated data according to the selected synchronization mode and the actual comparison result that may be compared with the corresponding work area data copy on the global server. A communication engine delivers the first update data to the global server, and the global server updates the server workspace data.

A claimed system includes a user interface for receiving information specifying the work area data to be synchronized and for receiving information for selecting the synchronization mode; one for instructing the personal information manager (PIM) to retrieve the information to be synchronized PIM interface for work area data; a synchronization module connected to the user interface and PIM interface for determining the first update data according to the work area data to be synchronized and the selected synchronization mode; and a synchronization module connected to the synchronization module for sending to a server The database delivers the first update data communication engine.

Another claimed system includes storage for storing workspace data and a PIM downloadable module; a Web server for establishing a communication link to the client; and a personal information manager (PIM) downloadable module connected to the storage Retrieval engine, the above engine is used to receive requests for synchronization capabilities from the client and deliver the PIM downloadable module containing the synchronization capabilities to the client for installation; and a user data storage manager connected to the memory for downloading from The downloadable module receives the update data and updates the work area data according to the received update data.

A claimed method includes the following steps: receiving information specifying the work area data to be synchronized; receiving information selecting the synchronization mode; instructing the personal information manager (PIM) to retrieve the work area data to be synchronized; according to the work area to be synchronized The data and the selected synchronization mode determine the first update data; the first update data is delivered to a server database.

Another claimed method includes the steps of: storing workspace data and a downloadable module; establishing a communication link to the client; receiving a request for synchronization capability from a client; and transmitting the synchronization capability to the client. Download the module for installation; receive update data from the downloadable module; update the work area data according to the received update data.

The system and method of the present invention can better allow data corresponding to a specific PIM to be synchronized with a global server through the network or unidirectionally imported to the global server. The system and method allow selection of a synchronization or import mode. The system and method allow automatic configuration of local clients and remote clients in order to apply the present invention. That is, since the PIM downloadable module is downloaded from the global server, the local client only needs to have a communication engine such as provided by a conventional browser and a PIM to obtain synchronization or import capabilities.

Description of the drawings

Fig. 1 is a block diagram illustrating a computer network according to the present invention; Fig. 2 is a block diagram illustrating a detailed configuration of a computer; Fig. 3A is a block diagram illustrating a detailed configuration of the PIM downloadable module of Fig. 1; Fig. 3B is a block diagram illustrating Fig. 1 Figure 4 is a flowchart illustrating the global server update method according to the present invention; Figure 5 is a flowchart illustrating the one-way data replacement synchronization mode; Figure 6 is a diagram illustrating the one-way data merge synchronization mode 7 is a flowchart illustrating a synchronization mode of two-way data synchronization; and FIG. 8 is a block diagram illustrating a detailed configuration of the user data storage device of FIG. 1.

detailed description

The present invention provides a system and method for updating a network database to store current PIM data and operating a communication engine such as a web browser, wherein the database can be accessed from any remote site connected to the network.

Fig. 1 is a block diagram illustrating a computer network 100 according to the present invention. The computer network 100 includes a global server 105. The global server 105 is connected to a local area network (LAN) commonly called an intranet 115 through a computer network, such as a wide area network (WAN) commonly called the Internet 110. ). A local client 120 and a calendar personal computer (PC) 125 are connected to the intranet 115. Intranet 115, local client 120 and calendar PC 125 can be protected by a firewall 130. The global server 105 may be protected by a global firewall (not shown). The computer network 100 also includes a remote client 135 connected to the Internet 110.

The global server 105 is a computer that includes a Web server 140 that communicates with a Web browser and responds to requests from the Web browser. The global server 105 also includes a user data storage device 150 that stores user workspace data (files, calendar information, emails, bookmarks, etc.). FIG. 8 is a block diagram illustrating the detailed configuration of the user data storage device 150. As shown in FIG. The user data storage device 150 may include a first storage device 805 for user #1, a second storage device 845 for user #2, and so on. Moreover, each storage device 805, 845 may contain a separate folder for each program. For example, the first storage device may include a first folder 815 for calendar data, a second folder 820 for address data, a third folder 825 for other PIM data, and so on. In addition, each folder 815, 820, 825 may contain a separate work area database designated by the user. For example, the calendar data folder 815 can contain a separate calendar database 830 for personal calendars; the address data folder 820 can contain three separate databases 835 (one for business addresses, one for personal addresses, and one for Miscellaneous addresses); and the other PIM data folder 825 may contain three separate databases 840. It can be understood that, for synchronization, personal records can be selected from one or more PIM workspace databases and identified as a separate database.

The global server 105 also includes a PIM downloadable module 145. Downloadable modules are executable or interpretable application codes that are downloaded from a source computer and run on a target computer. For the situation here, the term "executable" includes "explainable". The downloadable module is usually requested by a running process such as an Internet browser or Web client. Examples of downloadable modules include JavaTM applets (small applications) for the JavaTM distributed environment developed by Sun Microsystems, JavaScriptTM scripts developed by Sun Microsystems, ActiveXTM controls for the ActiveXTM distributed environment developed by Microsoft, and Microsoft developed Visual Basic. Downloadable modules can also contain plug-ins, which are added to the functionality of an existing application. It should be understood that each downloadable module may include one or more applets, one or more ActiveX controls, one or more plug-ins, etc. or a combination thereof. It should also be understood that there is no need to delete downloadable modules when exiting the system. Each PIM downloadable module 145 can communicate with a corresponding PIM, and can communicate with the global server 105 to update the user data storage device 150. The detailed structure of a PIM downloadable module 145 is illustrated in FIG. 3.

The global server 105 also contains an update engine 195 that retrieves the appropriate PIM downloadable module and downloads it to the local client 105. The update engine 195 also responds to requests to retrieve and modify the workspace data contained in the user data storage device 150. The update engine is described in more detail with reference to FIG. 3B.

The local client 120 is a computer that includes a browser 175 that communicates with the global server 105 through the Web server 140. It should be understood that the browser 175 may include a conventional Web browser. The local client 120 also includes a first PIM 155 and first PIM data 160. The first PIM155 may include a calendar program for managing calendar data, an address book program for managing addresses, an email program for controlling emails, a browser for controlling bookmarks, and so on. The first example of PIM155 includes ACT from Symantec! , Lotus Organizer(R) independent manager of Lotus Development Company, QuickenTM, PeopleSoftTM, salesperson automatic information program, universal file manager and so on. The local client also includes a second PIM client 165 communicating with a second PIM server, wherein the second PIM server is located on another computer, and the other computer is connected to the local client 120, and the second PIM data 170.

The second PIM PC 125 is a computer that includes a second PIM server 180 that responds to requests sent by the second PIM client 165. The second PIM server and interface can jointly provide calendar services, address services, email services, and so on. The second PIM PC 125 contains second PIM data 185 that is unique to the second PIM data 170 stored on the local client 120. Those skilled in the art will find that the second PIM 180 and the second PIM client 165 can store the second PIM data only on the local client 120, only on the second PIMPC 125, and jointly stored on the local client 120 and the second PIM data. On the second PIM PC125, or redundantly stored on the local client 120 and the second PIM PC125. For example, for an email server, the second PIM PC 125 stores a copy of the received email but downloads the copy to the local client 120 when receiving a request from the email server interface. Examples of the second PIM client 165 and server 180 include OutlookTM and ExchangeTM of Microsoft Corporation, Lotus OrganizerTM and Lotus NotesTM of Lotus Development Corporation, GroupWiseTM of Novell Corporation, and so on.

The first PIM 155 knows the location of the first PIM data 160. The second PIM client 165 knows the location of the second PIM data 170 on the local client 120. The second PIM server 180 knows the location of the second PIM data 185 on the second PIM PC 125. Thus, each component can retrieve its corresponding data.

The remote client 135 includes a browser 190, which can be connected to the web server 140 of the global server 140 and can access, check or process the workspace data stored in the user data storage device 150.

2 is a block diagram illustrating a computer system 200. The above-mentioned computer system 200 illustrates the detailed configuration of each of the global server 105, the local client 120, the second PIM PC 125, and the remote client 135. The computer system 200 includes a processor 205 connected to a communication channel 220 such as an Intel Pentium(R) microprocessor or a Motorola Power PC(R) microprocessor. The computer system 200 also includes an input device 210 such as a keyboard and a mouse, an output device 215 such as a cathode ray tube (CRT) display, a communication device 225, a data storage device 230 such as a magnetic disk, and a random access memory (RAM) such as The working memory 235, the above-mentioned devices are all connected to the communication channel 120. The communication channel 220 may be connected to a network such as the Internet 110 or an intranet 115. Those skilled in the art will recognize that although the data storage device 230 and the working memory 235 are illustrated as separate units, the data storage device 230 and the working memory 235 may be integrated or partially integrated units.

The operating system 240 controls the processing of the processor 205, and is usually stored in the data storage device 230 and loaded into the working memory 235 (as shown in the figure) for execution. Other programs such as browsers, servers, downloadable modules, data, etc. can also be stored in the data storage device 230 and can be loaded into the working memory 235 (as shown in the figure) so as to be executed by the processor 205.

Those skilled in the art will recognize that the computer system 200 may also contain additional information, such as a network connection for transmitting information through a hardware channel, the Internet or an intranet, additional storage, additional processors, LAN, input/output lines, etc. . Those skilled in the art will also recognize that the system can receive and store programs and data in different ways. For example, a computer readable storage medium (CRSM) reader 245 such as a floppy disk drive, hard disk drive, CD-ROM reader, magneto-optical disk reader, CPU (for RAM), etc. can be connected to the communication channel 220 In order to read computer readable storage media (CRSM) 250 such as magnetic disks, hard disks, magneto-optical disks, RAM, etc. Therefore, the system 200 can receive programs and data through the CRSM reader 240.

FIG. 3A is a block diagram illustrating the detailed configuration of the PIM downloadable module 145. Each PIM downloadable module 145 includes a user interface 305, a first PIM application program interface (API) 310, a second PIM client interface 315, a communication engine 320, and a synchronization module 325.

The user interface 305 allows the user to specify the work area data to be synchronized, allows the user to select a synchronization mode (one-way replacement, one-way merge or two-way synchronization), and allows the user to initiate synchronization. Examples of different synchronization modes are illustrated in Fig. 5, Fig. 6 and Fig. 7 respectively. As shown in Figure 8, specifying the workspace data to be synchronized causes the Web server 140 to maintain a separate database (e.g., user #1) in the user data storage device (e.g., user #1 storage device 805). For example, database 830). For example, the user can select the user's business address data maintained by the Outlooks address book to synchronize. The synchronization module 325 will determine the database to synchronize. The web server 140 determines whether a corresponding database already exists. If not, the Web server 140 will create a corresponding empty database and add the empty database to the user data storage device 150.

The first PIM interface 310 contains program code that allows the PIM downloadable module 145 to communicate with the first PIM 155. In addition, the first PIM interface 310 requests the first PIM 155 to retrieve an appropriate database of the first PIM data 160 for synchronization. The first PIM 155 retrieves the appropriate database accordingly and passes the database to the PIM downloadable module 145. Optionally, the first PIM 155 notifies the PIM downloadable module 145 of the location of the appropriate database.

The second PIM client interface 315 includes program code that allows the PIM downloadable module 145 to communicate with the second PIM client 165. In addition, the second PIM client interface 315 requests the second PIM client 165 to retrieve the appropriate databases of the second PIM data 170 and the second PIM data 185. The second PIM client 165 accordingly retrieves the appropriate work area data from the second PIM data 170 and requests the second PIM server 180 to retrieve the appropriate work area data from the second PIM data 185. The second PIM client 165 transfers the work area data from the second PIM data 170 and the second PIM data 185 to the PIM downloadable module 145. Optionally, the second PIM client 165 may notify the PIM downloadable module 145 about the database location of the second PIM data 170 and the second PIM data 185. As another option, the second PIM client 165 can download from the second PIM Appropriate work area data are retrieved from the second PIM data 185 on the PC 125, and they are stored locally together with the second PIM data 170. The second PIM client 165 can then notify the PIM downloadable module 145 of the location of the appropriate database. It should be understood that there are other methods for allowing the PIM downloadable module 145 to access the workspace data. It should be understood that the second PIM client interface 315 may be included in a separate PIM downloadable module 145. The above-mentioned PIM downloadable module has a second instance of the user interface 305, the communication engine 320, and the synchronization module 325.

The communication engine 320 contains program code that allows the PIM downloadable module 145 to optionally communicate with the Web server 140 via the browser 175.

Upon request, the synchronization module 325 instructs the first PIM interface 310 or the second PIM client interface 315 to perform its service in order to retrieve the work area data to be synchronized. The synchronization module 325 also requests the Web server 140 to retrieve the workspace data from the user data storage device 150 on the global server 105, and transfer the information to the local client 120 via the Internet. Optionally, if a previous state of the database stored on the global server 105 is known, the synchronization module 325 may only request changes that occur from this state. In any case, the synchronization module 325 only needs to know the content of the corresponding database stored in the user data storage device 250 of the global server 105. The synchronization module 325 compares the data contained in the database of the local client 120 with the data contained in the corresponding database of the global server 105, thereby completing a synchronization response. Next, referring to Figure 5, Figure 6 and Figure 7, three synchronization modes are illustrated and described, namely one-way merge, one-way replacement and two-way synchronization. It should be understood that the synchronization module 325 does not need to know the content contained in the corresponding database stored in the user data storage device 150 of the global server 105 when performing the one-way replacement operation (because the content is rewritten and therefore irrelevant).

FIG. 3B is a block diagram illustrating the detailed configuration of the update engine. The update engine includes a communication engine 350, a PIM downloadable module retrieval engine 355, and a user data storage manager 360. The communication engine 350 communicates with the communication engine 320 of the PIM downloadable module 145. The PIM downloadable module retrieval engine 355 receives a request for synchronization capability from the local client 120. Each request can specify a specific PIM, or it can specify a service that is expected to be synchronized, such as an address book, calendar, or email. If only the service is specified, the PIM downloadable module retrieval engine 355 determines the PIM according to a previous selection corresponding to the specified service. The user data storage manager 360 controls the retrieval and operation of the work area data contained in the user data storage device 150. That is, the user data storage manager 360 retrieves the work area data of the server database designated by the PIM downloadable module 145 as the database to be synchronized. The user data storage manager 360 transmits the corresponding work area data to the PIM downloadable module 145 for comparison with the database maintained by PIM. The user data storage manager 360 also modifies the server database according to the update data received from the PIM downloadable module 145.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart illustrating a method 400 of synchronizing PIM data with a global server 105 according to the present invention. The method 400 starts with a request from the local client 120 at step 405 to establish a connection to the global server 105 using the browser 175 and public URL technology. The browser 175 and the Web server 140 establish a communication link in step 410. The web server 140 sends HTML data to the browser 175 in step 415 to establish a user interface, which may include a request for user identification and authentication information. The browser 175 sends user identification and authentication information to the Web server 140 in step 420, which identifies and authenticates the user.

The local client 120 requests a synchronization capability for a specific PIM, such as the first PIM 155, in step 425. When necessary, the PIM downloadable module search engine 355 downloads the PIM downloadable module 145 corresponding to the specific PIM to the local client 105 through the browser 175 in step 430. That is, if the downloadable module 145 has been downloaded or stored on the local client 105, step 430 is unnecessary. The browser 175 installs the PIM downloadable module 145 in step 435. Installing the downloadable module 145 may include transferring the downloadable module to the working storage for execution. The local client 105 requests a specific PIM database synchronization in step 440. The local client 120 configures the PIM downloadable module 145 in step 443 by selecting one of the three available synchronization modes described in detail with reference to FIGS. 5-7, although other modes are possible. The browser 175 starts to execute the PIM downloadable module 145 in step 445. The PIM interface (for example, the first PIM interface 310) corresponding to the PIM of the maintenance database requests the PIM (for example, the first PIM 155) to retrieve PIM work area data (for example, the PIM data 160 contained in the PIM database) in step 450. The PIM downloadable module 145 synchronizes with the global server 105 in step 455 according to the synchronization mode previously selected in step 440. Method 400 then ends.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart illustrating a method 500 of replacing data, which is referred to herein as "replacement synchronization mode". Method 500 represents a first example of performing step 455. The method 500 starts with the synchronization module 325 receiving PIM data of the selected database from the PIM, such as the first PIM 155, at step 505. The synchronization module 325 uses the communication module to transfer the PIM data to the Web server 140 in step 510. The user data storage manager 360 replaces the work area data of the selected database in the user data storage device 150 with the delivered work area data in step 515. Method 500 then ends.

For example, if the database maintained by PIM contains records A, B, and D, the synchronization module 325 will upload units A, B, and D to the global server 105 regardless of the content of the database on the global server 105. The user data storage manager 360 will replace the workspace data on the global server 105 with the uploaded workspace data. Therefore, both the database maintained by the global server 105 and the database maintained by PIM will actually store records A, B, and D.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart illustrating a method 600 of merging data, which is referred to herein as "merging synchronization mode". Method 600 represents a second example of performing step 455. The method 600 starts with the synchronization module 325 receiving the PIM data of the selected database from the PIM, such as the first PIM 155, at step 605. The synchronization module 325 learns the content of the corresponding database on the global server 105 in step 610. Understanding the content of the database on the global server 105 may include downloading all the database content or using software cache technology to download content that is different from the content downloaded last time. The synchronization module 325 compares the database content in step 615 to determine update data indicating how the database maintained by PIM is modified (updated) relative to the database maintained on the global server 105. For example, the record may have been deleted, added or modified since the last connection, the document may have been modified since the last connection, and so on. The synchronization module 325 instructs the communication module to send update data to the global server 105 in step 620. The user data storage manager 360 adds (processes, etc.) the updated data to the database in the user data storage device 150 in step 625. Method 600 then ends.

For example, the database maintained by PIM may contain records A, B, and D, and the database maintained by the global server 105 may contain records A, B, and C. The synchronization module 325 compares the contents of the database to understand that the database maintained by the global server 105 does not contain record D. Therefore, the synchronization module 325 transfers the record D to the global server 105, and the global server 105 stores the record in the corresponding database. Therefore, the database maintained by the global server 105 will contain records A, B, C, and D, and the database maintained by PIM will contain records A, B, and D.

In another example, the database maintained by PIM may already contain records A, B, C, and D, while the database on the global server may contain records A, B, C, and D. If the record C is deleted, the synchronization module 325 will determine that the record C has been deleted according to the version information. Therefore, the synchronization module 325 may not do anything in order to maintain a superset on the global server 105. Therefore, the database on the global server 105 will contain records A, B, C, and D, and the database maintained by PIM will contain records A, B, and D. Optionally, the synchronization module 325 may notify the Web server 140 that the record C has been deleted, and the user data storage manager 360 may delete the record C from the corresponding database on the global server 105. In this case, both the database maintained by the global server 105 and the database maintained by PIM will contain records A, B, and D.

FIG. 7 is a flowchart illustrating a method 700 for performing two-way synchronization, which is referred to herein as a two-way synchronization mode". The method 700 starts from the synchronization module 325 at step 705 from the PIM, such as the first PIM 155, receiving PIM data from the selected database The synchronization module 325 learns the contents of the corresponding database on the global server 105 in step 710. The synchronization module 325 compares the workspace data from the database in step 715 to determine how the database maintained by PIM is instructed relative to the database maintained on the global server 105 Updated update data, and update data indicating how the database maintained on the global server is updated relative to the database maintained by PIM. As mentioned above, the work area data in the database maintained by PIM may have been deleted, added or modified. Synchronization module 325 sends the update data to the global server 105 in step 720. The user data storage manager 360 adds the update data to the database of the user data storage device 150 in step 725. The PIM interface, such as the first PIM interface 310, instructs PIM in step 730 For example, the first PIM 155 adds its update information to the PIM data 160 of the appropriate database. The PIM adds the update data to the database in step 735. The method 700 then ends.

For example, the database maintained by PIM may contain records A, B, and D, and the database on the global server 105 may contain records A, B, and C. The synchronization module 325 compares the work area data to understand that the database maintained by PIM does not contain record C and the database on the global server 105 does not contain record D. Therefore, the synchronization module 325 will send the record D to the global server 105 and the PIM interface will instruct PIM to store the record C in the appropriate database.

The foregoing describes the best embodiment of the present invention by way of example only, and other changes and modifications can be made to the foregoing embodiment and method according to the foregoing guidance. For example, although the present invention has been described with respect to a browser, any Web engine that communicates with a Web server can also be used instead. Although the system has been described as having only two PIMs (hence only two PIM interfaces, only two PIM downloadable modules, etc.), those skilled in the art will recognize that the system and method of the present invention can manage any number of PIMs . Although the work area data is mainly defined by emails, calendars, bookmarks, etc., those skilled in the art will recognize that the work area data can contain other types of data, such as files, financial transactions, and so on. Although the PIM downloadable module is described above as including a PIM interface that communicates with PIM to obtain the data to be synchronized, those skilled in the art will recognize that the PIM interface is not required if the downloadable module knows the location of the data . Therefore, in the absence of PIM support, the downloadable module can use an engine to retrieve data from a known location. Although network sites are described as separate and different sites, those skilled in the art will recognize that these sites can be part of a centralized site, can each contain parts of multiple sites, or include single and multiple sites. combination. Although each network site is described as a single computer, those skilled in the art will recognize that each site may contain multiple computers. Also, the components of the present invention can be realized by using a programmed general-purpose digital computer, an application specific integrated circuit, or a network interconnecting conventional components and circuits. The connection can be wired, wireless, modem, etc. The embodiments described here are not exhaustive or restrictive. The present invention is only limited by the following claims.