Palmsource Inc.

Access Company, Ltd.

Access Systems Americas, Inc.

Jayita Poddar

Alvin I Pivowar

Tom Butler

Atul Gupta

William Leonard Mills

Gerard George Pallipuram

Thomas C Butler

Uma D Gouru

A method and system for synchronization of computer databases using caching agents. In one embodiment, information is accessed from a first database. The information is stored into a persistent store, which may be a permanent media, such as a magnetic disk. The information is retrieved from the persistent store. Such retrieval may be in close time proximity to the storing, or the retrieval may be at a substantially different time from the storing. The synchronization is completed by updating a second database with the information retrieved by the caching agent from the persistent store. As an advantageous result, synchronization of computer databases is more efficient due to an optimized storage format for the information as well as maximum bandwidth access. As a further beneficial result, if a database is not present at the time of synchronization, embodiments of the present invention may enable synchronization capabilities unavailable under the prior art.

Synchronization of computer databases using caching agents

One embodiment of the invention enables nodes or endpoints that have been involved with synchronization of data items to determine which version of a data item (if any) has priority over another version of that same data item. For example, one embodiment of the invention can include a method that can include the determination as to whether any data items have matching identities and conflicting priorities after the synchronization process. Provided a first and second data items have matching identities and conflicting priorities, a determination is made as to whether an indication had been made that the first data item is desirable over the second data item. Provided the indication had been made that the first data is desirable over the second data item, it is indicated that the first data item has priority over the second data item.

Determining priority between data items in shared environments

A single ended synchronization agent which communicates with a single endpoint. Responsive to instructions from a synchronization manager, a single ended synchronization agent transfers information between its endpoint and a common synchronization engine. Endpoints may include databases, hand held computers, communication links and the like. These novel single ended agent programs in cooperation with a common synchronization engine are able to synchronize databases. The agent programs need not implement synchronization logic and agent programs are required to understand only a single database. These aspects of the single ended agent programs greatly simplify the design, construction and maintenance of this software when compared with the prior art.

Single ended synchronization agents

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Sunnyvale, CA, United States of America

Jayita Poddar