State based synchronization

A device for maintaining data to be synchronized, said device comprising:

• a user input for creating a first data and a second data;
• a processor and software for creating a first history statement to reflect metadata regarding the creation of said first data and the creation of said second data, and for associating said first data, said second data and said first history statement with a first state;
• a first memory for storing a first data structure, said first data structure for maintaining both said association between said first data and said first state, and said association between said second data and said first state;
• a second memory for storing a second data structure, said second data structure for maintaining said association between said first history statement and said first state.

A method of synchronizing databases, the method comprising the steps of:

• in a first data structure, associating a first state identification with one or more data sets;
• in a second data structure, associating said first state identification with information regarding said one or more data sets associated with said state identification;
• making a change to a first one of said one or more data sets;
• in said first data structure, associating a second state with said first one of said one or more data sets;
• in said second data structure, associating said second state with information regarding said change if said information regarding said change is not already associated with said second state in said second data structure.

A device for synchronizing information comprising:

• a first memory for storing a first data structure, said first data structure for associating a first state identification with one or more data sets;
• a second memory for storing a second data structure, said second data structure for associating said first state identification with information regarding said one or more data sets associated with said state identification;
• a user input for making a change to a first one of said one or more data sets;
• a processor and software for
• associating a second state with said first one of said one or more data sets, in said first data structure;
• and for
• associating said second state with information regarding said change in said second data structure, if said information regarding said change is not already associated with said second state in said second data structure.

A method of synchronizing first data maintained in a first data structure with second data maintained in a second data structure, the method comprising the steps of:

• associating each data item of first data with a first state identification in said first data structure;
• associating each first state identification with a history statement in a third data structure;
• associating each data item of second data with a second state identification in said second data structure;
• associating each second state identification with a history statement in a fourth data structure;
• synchronizing history statements from said third data structure into said fourth data structure to create a synchronized fourth data structure;
• synchronizing data from said first data structure into said second data structure by using information from said synchronized fourth data structure.