Method and apparatus for synchronizing information on two different computer systems
DC
First Claim
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1. A method for reconciling a first file and a second file, said second file corresponding to said first file, said first file and said second file each containing records, said method comprising:
- creating a backup file containing records from a previous reconciliation of said first file and said corresponding second file;
comparing said first file and said corresponding second file with said backup file to determine new, updated or deleted records;
creating a reconcile file containing the results of said steps of comparing; and
copying contents of said reconcile file to said first file, said corresponding second file and a new backup file.
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Abstract
Many users of handheld computing devices or “palmtops” also own personal computers (PCs) running applications that manage data similar to the data carried in the palmtops. In such cases, users are likely to want the data on the palmtop to be synchronized with the data on the PC. The present invention discloses a method and apparatus for reconciling database files on a palmtop with corresponding database files on a PC.
233 Citations
23 Claims
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1. A method for reconciling a first file and a second file, said second file corresponding to said first file, said first file and said second file each containing records, said method comprising:
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creating a backup file containing records from a previous reconciliation of said first file and said corresponding second file;
comparing said first file and said corresponding second file with said backup file to determine new, updated or deleted records;
creating a reconcile file containing the results of said steps of comparing; and
copying contents of said reconcile file to said first file, said corresponding second file and a new backup file. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4)
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5. A method for reconciling a first file, a second file corresponding to said first file, and a backup file, said backup file containing records from a previous reconciliation, said method comprising:
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copying a first record from said first file into a reconcile file when said first record is added to said first file, and said first record is not in said backup file;
copying a second record from said first file into said reconcile file when an identical said second record is added to said first file and said corresponding second file, and said second record is not in said backup file;
copying a third record in said first file into said reconcile file when said third record is modified in said first file and a corresponding third record is deleted from said second file, and said third record in said first file is not in said backup file;
copying a fourth record from said first file into said reconcile file when said fourth record is modified in said first file, and said fourth record is not in said backup file;
copying a fifth record from said first file into said reconcile file when said fifth record in said first file is modified and an identical modification is made to a corresponding fifth record in said second file, and said fifth record in said first file and said corresponding fifth record in said second file are not in said backup file; and
copying a sixth record from said first file and a corresponding sixth record from said second file into said reconcile file when said sixth record in said first file is modified and a different modification is made to said corresponding sixth record in said second file, and said sixth record in said first file and said corresponding sixth record in said second file are not in said backup file. - View Dependent Claims (6)
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7. An apparatus for reconciling records in corresponding files, said apparatus comprising the elements of:
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a first computer including a first file containing records and a backup file containing records;
a second computer including a second file containing records, said second file corresponding to said first file;
a communications link for linking said first and second computers;
a means for comparing said first file and said second file with said backup file to determine new, updated or deleted records, said backup file containing records from a previous reconciliation between said first and said second computer;
a means for storing the results from said means for comparing; and
a means for copying said results to said first file on said first computer, said second file on said second computer and a new backup file on said first computer. - View Dependent Claims (8, 9, 10)
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11. An article of manufacture comprising a computer usable mass storage medium having computer readable program code means embodied therein for causing a processing means to reconcile a first file and a second file, said second file corresponding to said first file, said first and said second files each containing records, said computer readable program code means in said article of manufacture comprising:
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a means for creating a backup file containing records from a previous reconciliation of said first file and said corresponding second file;
a means for comparing said first file and said corresponding second file with said records from said previous reconciliation in said backup file to determine new, updated or deleted records;
a means for storing the results of said step of comparing; and
a means for copying said results to said first file, said corresponding second file and a new backup file. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14)
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15. A computer comprising:
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a storage medium comprising;
a first plurality of records, the first file being alterable by a user of the first computer, a plurality of backup records, and a set of instructions;
a communication link coupleable to a second computer to receive a second plurality of records;
wherein after receiving the second file, the set of instructions is executable to;
identify if each of the second plurality of records is different than all of the records in the plurality of backup records, identify if each of the first plurality of records is different than all of the records in the plurality of backup records and in the first plurality of records, store each of the first plurality of records that is different than all of the records in the plurality of backup records and in the second plurality of records as a first portion of a plurality of reconcile records, store each of second plurality of records that is different than all of the records in the plurality of backup records as a second portion of the plurality of reconcile records, store each of the first plurality of records that is the same as one of the records in the plurality of backup records as a third portion of the plurality of reconcile records, replace the first plurality of records with the plurality of reconcile records, and signal the second computer to replace the second plurality of records with the plurality of reconcile records. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23)
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Specification
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Litigation Data
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Current AssigneeAccess Company Limited
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Original AssigneePalm, Inc. (TCL Technology Group Corp.)
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InventorsKucala, Gregory R.
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Primary Examiner(s)HO, RUAY L
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Application NumberUS09/132,815Time in Patent Office1,028 DaysField of Search707/1-10, 707/100-104, 707/200-206, 701/29, 702/186, 395/281, 395/200.01, 713/200, 705/27US Class Current1/1CPC Class CodesG06Q 10/109 Time management, e.g. calen...Y10S 707/99931 Database or file accessingY10S 707/99953 Recoverability
