Claims
- 1. A method of synchronising three or more electronic devices, said method comprising:
a) selecting at least one category of record for synchronisation; b) storing an original value and a changed value of each changed record from a selected record category; c) establishing an electronic connection between at least two devices; d) comparing the records of the selected record categories; e) determining any changed record; f) identifying the updated device with the changed record having an original value the same as the value of the record in the other previous device; and g) changing the value of the record in the previous device to the changed value.
- 2. A method as claimed in claim 1, further comprising:
nominating a store for each device.
- 3. A method as claimed in claim 2, wherein if the electronic connection is not established with a third device, then said method further comprises:
storing in the nominated third store the original value and said changed value of said changed record; and when said electronic connection is established with said third device, then the method further comprises the following: comparing the stored original value for said changed record with the value of the record in said third device; and if the value of said record in the third device is the same as the stored original value, then changing the value of the record in the third device to the changed value.
- 4. A method as claimed in claim 3, further comprising:
reviewing each store to detect at least two changes whereby the changed value of the first change is the same as the original value of the second change; and compressing the first and the second change to form a compressed change having an original value of the first change and the changed value of the second change.
- 5. A method as claimed in claim 4, in which there are three or more changes suitable for compression.
- 6. A method as claimed in claim 5, further comprising:
specifying a maximum number of changes suitable for compression for each store.
- 7. A method as claimed in claim 6, further comprising:
reaching said maximum number in a reviewed store; deleting all changes in said reviewed store; and copying said changed record to said record in said third device.
- 8. A method as claimed in claim 3, wherein if the original value of at least two devices is the same but the changed value is different, then passing said original values and changed values for conflict resolution.
- 9. A method as claimed in claim 8, further comprising:
displaying to said user said conflict resolution; specifying one of the changed values as a correct value; and changing the other changed value to the correct value.
- 10. A method as claimed in claim 1, in which each said electronic device includes a user interface.
- 11. A method as claimed in claim 10, in which said user interface enables preferences to be allocated.
- 12. A method as claimed in claim 11, in which said preferences include selecting the categories of records for synchronisation, selecting the type of electronic connection, and specifying the maximum number of changes suitable for compression.
- 13. A method as claimed in claim 12, in which said user interface enables conflicts to be resolved.
- 14. A method as claimed in claim 13, in which said categories of records include computer programs and data comprising calendar, email, audio, graphic, notes and personal information.
- 15. A method as claimed in claim 12, in which each of said electronic devices include any one of personal computers, computer servers, personal digital assistants and mobile telephones.
- 16. A method as claimed in claim 15, in which said electronic connection includes USB, serial ports, firewire, bluetooth, infrared and over the Internet.
- 17. A machine readable medium or media containing executable computer program instructions which when executed by one or more data processing systems causes said systems to perform a method of synchronising three or more electronic devices, said method comprising:
a) selecting at least one category of record for synchronisation; b) storing an original value and a changed value of each changed record from a selected record category; c) establishing an electronic connection between at least two devices; d) comparing the records of the selected record categories; e) determining any changed record; f) identifying the updated device with the changed record having an original value the same as the value of the record in the other previous device; and g) changing the value of the record in the previous device to the changed value.
- 18. A machine readable medium or media as claimed in claim 17, said method further comprising:
nominating a store for each device.
- 19. A machine readable medium or media as claimed in claim 18, wherein if the electronic connection is not established with a third device, then said method further comprises:
storing in the nominated third store the original value and said changed value of said changed record; and when said electronic connection is established with said third device, then the method further comprises the following:
comparing the stored original value for said changed record with the value of the record in said third device; and if the value of said record in the third device is the same as the stored original value, then changing the value of the record in the third device to the changed value.
- 20. A machine readable medium or media as claimed in claim 19, said method further comprising:
reviewing each store to detect at least two changes whereby the changed value of the first change is the same as the original value of the second change; and compressing the first and the second change to form a compressed change having an original value of the first change and the changed value of the second change.
- 21. A machine readable medium or media as claimed in claim 20, in which there are three or more changes suitable for compression.
- 22. A machine readable medium or media as claimed in claim 21, said method further comprising:
specifying a maximum number of changes suitable for compression for each store.
- 23. A machine readable medium or media as claimed in claim 22, said method further comprising:
reaching said maximum number in a reviewed store; deleting all changes in said reviewed store; and copying said changed record to said record in said third device.
- 24. A machine readable medium or media as claimed in claim 19, wherein if the original value of at least two devices is the same but the changed value is different, then passing said original values and changed values for conflict resolution.
- 25. A machine readable medium or media as claimed in claim 24, said method further comprising:
displaying to said user said conflict resolution; specifying one of the changed values as a correct value; and changing the other changed value to the correct value.
- 26. A machine readable medium or media as claimed in claim 17, in which each said electronic device includes a user interface.
- 27. A machine readable medium or media as claimed in claim 26, in which said user interface enables preferences to be allocated.
- 28. A machine readable medium or media as claimed in claim 27, in which said preferences include selecting the categories of records for synchronisation, selecting the type of electronic connection, and specifying the maximum number of changes suitable for compression.
- 29. A machine readable medium or media as claimed in claim 28, in which said user interface enables conflicts to be resolved.
- 30. A machine readable medium or media as claimed in claim 29, in which said categories of records include computer programs and data comprising calendar, email, audio, graphic, notes and personal information.
- 31. A machine readable medium or media as claimed in claim 28, in which each of said electronic devices include any one of personal computers, computer servers, personal digital assistants and mobile telephones.
- 32. A machine readable medium or media as claimed in claim 31, in which said electronic connection includes USB, serial ports, firewire, bluetooth, infrared and over the Internet.
- 33. An apparatus for synchronising three or more electronic devices, said apparatus comprising:
a) means for selecting at least one category of record for synchronisation; b) means for storing an original value and a changed value of each changed record from a selected record category; c) means for establishing an electronic connection between at least two devices; d) means for comparing the records of the selected record categories; e) means for determining any changed record; f) means for identifying the updated device with the changed record having an original value the same as the value of the record in the other previous device; and g) means for changing the value of the record in the previous device to the changed value.
- 34. An apparatus as claimed in claim 33, further comprising:
means for nominating a store for each device.
- 35. An apparatus as claimed in claim 34, wherein if the electronic connection is not established with a third device, then said apparatus further comprises:
means for storing in the nominated third store the original value and said changed value of said changed record; and means for comparing the stored original value for said changed record with the value of the record in said third device; and means for changing the value of the record in the third device to the changed value if the value of said record in the third device is the same as the stored original value.
- 36. An apparatus as claimed in claim 35, further comprising:
means for reviewing each store to detect at least two changes whereby the changed value of the first change is the same as the original value of the second change; and means for compressing the first and the second change to form a compressed change having an original value of the first change and the changed value of the second change.
Parent Case Info
[0001] This application is related to and hereby claims the benefit of the filing date of U.S. Provisional Patent Application Serial No. 60/406,521, filed Sep. 9, 2002, which application is hereby incorporated herein by reference.
Provisional Applications (1)
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Number |
Date |
Country |
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60406521 |
Aug 2002 |
US |