US6073141A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
System and method for synchronizing local versions of database
Assignee: International Business Machines Corp
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Filing: 1997-11-25
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Granted: 2000-06-06
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Expires: 2017-11-25
Abstract
Abstract A computer system for providing a current set of records to a plurality of users. The system includes a master database which stores a master set of a plurality of records and a plurality of terminals in communication with the master database. Each of the terminals stores a subset of the master set of records. The system also includes a device that receives input regarding updates to the plurality of users and has a single point of entry to the master database. The input receiving device stores the updates in the master database. The system provides a mechanism that indicates which records have been updated since a predetermined period of time. The system also includes a retrieving device that is responsive to the indicating mechanism and retrieves one or more of the updated fields from the master database and provides those fields to one or more of the terminals. An updating device associated with one or more of the terminals is provided for updating each of the subsets on each of the terminals with the updated fields provided by the retrieving device. A sharing device is provided for sharing the updated fields with at least one of the terminals.
Inventors
- 👤 Fernando Salazar
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-08 17:35
CPC Classifications
G; G06; G06F; G06F16/00; G06F16/20; G06F16/27; G06F16/278; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S707/00; Y10S707/99931; Y10S707/99938; Y10S707/99951; Y10S707/99952; Y10S707/99955
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 24
Claim 1
Independent Claim
181 words
A computer system for providing a current set of records to a plurality of users, the records having a plurality of fields, the system comprising: a master database means for storing a master set of a plurality of records, the records having a plurality of fields; a plurality of terminals in communication with said master database means; each of said terminals storing a subset of said plurality of records; input receiving means for receiving input regarding updates to said plurality of records from the master database; storing means for storing said updates in said master database means; indicating means for indicating the fields that have been updated since a previous update; retrieving means, responsive to the indicating means, for retrieving one or more updated fields from the master database means and providing that to one or more of said terminals; updating means, associated with one or more terminals, for updating the subset on a terminal using the updated fields provided by the retrieving means; and means associated with each terminal for sharing the updated fields with at least one other terminal.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
181 words
A computer system for providing a current set of records to a plurality of users, the records having a plurality of fields, the system comprising: a master database means for storing a master set of a plurality of records, the records having a plurality of fields; a plurality of terminals in communication with said master database means; each of said terminals storing a subset of said plurality of records; input receiving means for receiving input regarding updates to said plurality of records from the master database; storing means for storing said updates in said master database means; indicating means for indicating the fields that have been updated since a previous update; retrieving means, responsive to the indicating means, for retrieving one or more updated fields from the master database means and providing that to one or more of said terminals; updating means, associated with one or more terminals, for updating the subset on a terminal using the updated fields provided by the retrieving means; and means associated with each terminal for sharing the updated fields with at least one other terminal.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
31 words
The computer system according to claim 1, wherein said input receiving means comprises a single point of entry to said means for storing a master set of a plurality of records.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
14 words
The computer system according to claim 1, wherein said records are address book entries.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
31 words
The computer system according to claim 1, wherein said fields are selected from the group consisting of: user name, electronic mail address, telephone number, address, job title, job department, and employer.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
18 words
The computer system according to claim 1, wherein said indicating means is a field containing a date stamp.
Claim 7
Independent Claim
151 words
A method for providing a current set of records having a plurality of fields to a plurality of users, the method comprising the steps of: storing a master set of a plurality of records in a master database means, the records having a plurality of fields; providing a plurality of terminals in communication with said master database means; storing a subset of said plurality of records in each of said terminals; receiving input regarding updates to said plurality of records from the master database means; storing said updates in said master database means; indicating the fields that have been updated since a previous update; retrieving one or more updated fields from the master database means and providing that to one or more of said terminals; updating the subset on a terminal using the updated fields provided by the retrieving means; and sharing the updated fields with at least one other terminal.
Claim 8
Independent Claim
151 words
A method for providing a current set of records having a plurality of fields to a plurality of users, the method comprising the steps of: storing a master set of a plurality of records in a master database means, the records having a plurality of fields; providing a plurality of terminals in communication with said master database means; storing a subset of said plurality of records in each of said terminals; receiving input regarding updates to said plurality of records from the master database means; storing said updates in said master database means; indicating the fields that have been updated since a previous update; retrieving one or more updated fields from the master database means and providing that to one or more of said terminals; updating the subset on a terminal using the updated fields provided by the retrieving means; and sharing the updated fields with at least one other terminal.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
12 words
The method of claim 6, wherein the updating step is processed automatically.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
5 words
The method of claim 7,.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
17 words
The method of claim 8, wherein the updating step is processed for a predetermined amount of time.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
12 words
The method of claim 6, wherein said records are address book entries.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
17 words
The method of claim 6, wherein said inputting step is done through a single point of entry.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
177 words
A computer system for providing a current set of records to a plurality of users, the records having a plurality of fields, the system comprising: a master database that stores a master set of a plurality of records; a plurality of terminals in communication with the master database; each of the terminals storing a subset of the plurality of records; an input receiving module that receives input regarding updates to the plurality of records from the master database; a storing modules that stores the updates in the master database; an indicating module that indicates the fields that have been updated since a previous update; a retrieving module, responsive to the indicating module, that retrieves one or more updated fields from the master database and provides that to one or more of the terminals; an updating module, associated with one or more terminals, that updates the subset on a terminal using the updated fields provided by the retrieving module; and a sharing module associated with each terminal that shares the updated fields with at least one other terminal.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
177 words
A computer system for providing a current set of records to a plurality of users, the records having a plurality of fields, the system comprising: a master database that stores a master set of a plurality of records; a plurality of terminals in communication with the master database; each of the terminals storing a subset of the plurality of records; an input receiving module that receives input regarding updates to the plurality of records from the master database; a storing modules that stores the updates in the master database; an indicating module that indicates the fields that have been updated since a previous update; a retrieving module, responsive to the indicating module, that retrieves one or more updated fields from the master database and provides that to one or more of the terminals; an updating module, associated with one or more terminals, that updates the subset on a terminal using the updated fields provided by the retrieving module; and a sharing module associated with each terminal that shares the updated fields with at least one other terminal.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
22 words
A computer system according to claim 12, wherein the input receiving module comprises a single point of entry to the storing module.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
14 words
The computer system according to claim 12, wherein the records are address book entries.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
31 words
The computer system according to claim 12, wherein the fields are selected from the group consisting of: user name, electronic mail address, telephone number, address, job title, job department, and employer.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
18 words
A computer system according to claim 12, wherein the indicating module is a field containing a date stamp.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
174 words
A computer usable medium having computer readable code embodied therein for providing a current set of records to a plurality of users, the records having a plurality of fields, the medium comprising: database storing computer readable code that stores a master set of a plurality of records in a master database; subset storing computer readable code that stores a subset of the plurality of records; input receiving computer readable code that receives input regarding updates to the plurality of records from the master database; update storing computer readable code that stores the updates; update indicating computer readable code that indicates the fields that have been updated since a previous update; field retrieving computer readable code that retrieves one or more updated fields and provides that to one or more terminals; terminal updating computer readable code that updates the subset on the one or more terminals using the updated fields provided by the field retrieving computer readable code; and field sharing computer readable code that shares the updated fields with at least one other terminal.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
174 words
A computer usable medium having computer readable code embodied therein for providing a current set of records to a plurality of users, the records having a plurality of fields, the medium comprising: database storing computer readable code that stores a master set of a plurality of records in a master database; subset storing computer readable code that stores a subset of the plurality of records; input receiving computer readable code that receives input regarding updates to the plurality of records from the master database; update storing computer readable code that stores the updates; update indicating computer readable code that indicates the fields that have been updated since a previous update; field retrieving computer readable code that retrieves one or more updated fields and provides that to one or more terminals; terminal updating computer readable code that updates the subset on the one or more terminals using the updated fields provided by the field retrieving computer readable code; and field sharing computer readable code that shares the updated fields with at least one other terminal.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
12 words
The medium of claim 17, wherein the records are address book entries.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
29 words
The medium of claim 17, wherein the fields are selected from the group consisting of: user name, electronic mail address, telephone number, address, job title, job department, and employer.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
19 words
The medium of claim 17, wherein the update indicating computer readable code updates the fields using a date stamp.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2003-06-06 | 2003-12-06 | 2004-06-06 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2007-06-06 | 2007-12-06 | 2008-06-06 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2011-06-06 | 2011-12-06 | 2012-06-06 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |