Database Synchronization via a Mobile Network

Abstract

An apparatus adapted to operate as an A party in a database synchronization with a B party via a mobile communication network. The database contains data items to be synchronized. The apparatus includes mechanisms for maintaining a copy of the database and a client-server communication module with a client part and a server part. The client part is configured to communicate via the mobile communication network with the server part of the B party. The apparatus also includes change detection mechanisms responsive to a detection of a changed data item, for initiating a synchronization event via the client part of the client-server communication module.

1 - 10 . (canceled) 
     
     
         11 . Within a first computer having a first database, a method comprising:
 verifying a data path using a tunnelling protocol over an Internet Protocol (IP) network with a second computer having a second database;   maintaining the first database, wherein the first database comprises an existing data item and the second database comprises a corresponding data item that has been previously synchronized with the existing data item;   detecting a change in the existing data item; and   transmitting a notification message to the second computer over the data path, wherein the notification message comprises:
 an indication the existing data item has changed; and 
 the change in the existing data item, wherein the second computer updates the corresponding data item. 
   
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein detecting the change, verifying the data path, and transmitting the notification message are executed in near real-time. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the first computer, the second computer, and the IP network are implemented within a mobile communication network. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein the first computer comprises a server. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein the second computer comprises a server. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the IP network is an intranet. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the second computer maintains the second database. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the tunneling protocol is a GPRS Tunnelling Protocol (GTP). 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the first computer establishes the data path. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the second computer establishes the data path. 
     
     
         21 . A first computer comprising:
 a processor;   a memory; and   a first database comprising an existing data item wherein the first computer is configured for:   verifying a data path using a tunnelling protocol over an Internet Protocol (IP) network with a second computer having a second database;   maintaining the first database, wherein the first database comprises an existing data item and the second database comprises a corresponding data item that has been previously synchronized with the existing data item;   detecting a change in the existing data item; and   transmitting a notification message to the second computer over the data path, wherein the notification message comprises:
 an indication the existing data item has changed; and 
 the change in the existing data item, wherein the second computer updates the corresponding data item. 
   
     
     
         22 . The first computer of  claim 21 , wherein the first computer is further configured to detect the change, verify the data path, and transmit the notification message in real-time. 
     
     
         23 . The first computer of  claim 22 , wherein the first computer, the second computer, and the IP network are implemented within a mobile communication network. 
     
     
         24 . The first computer of  claim 23 , wherein the first computer is a server. 
     
     
         25 . The first computer of  claim 24 , wherein the second computer is a server. 
     
     
         26 . The first computer of  claim 25 , wherein the IP network is an intranet. 
     
     
         27 . The first computer of  claim 21 , wherein the second computer is configured to maintain the second database. 
     
     
         28 . The first computer of  claim 21 , wherein the tunneling protocol is a GPRS Tunnelling Protocol (GTP). 
     
     
         29 . The first computer of  claim 21 , wherein the first computer is further configured to establish the data path. 
     
     
         30 . The first computer of  claim 21 , wherein the second computer is configured to establish the data path.