System and methods for synchronizing two or more datasets

An information processing system for synchronizing an arbitrary number of multiple datasets from different devices, the system comprising:

• means for accepting a designation of an arbitrary number of datasets comprising more than two datasets from different devices to be synchronized, wherein at least one of the designated datasets includes one record to be synchronized with all others of the designated datasets;
• means, responsive to said designation, for creating a reference dataset that is used to store a super-set of most-recent data from all of the designated datasets, said data comprising records uniquely identified within the reference dataset in a manner that is independent of how data is identified within the designated datasets, for providing a repository of information that is available independent of unavailability of one of said devices at a given point in time;
• and
• means for synchronizing, in response to the designation and based on the information stored by said reference dataset, the more than two designated datasets without requiring further designating of datasets to be synchronized, wherein, after the step of synchronizing, each of the more than two designated datasets includes a record that corresponds to, and is in a synchronized state with, the one record.

A computer program product for use with a computer system comprising:

• a computer-readable storage medium;
• computer code on the storage medium for instructing the computer system to accept a designation of an arbitrary number of datasets comprising more than two datasets from different devices to be synchronized, wherein at least one of the designated datasets includes one record to be synchronized with all others of the designated datasets;
• computer code on the storage medium, responsive to said designation, for creating a reference dataset that is used to store a super-set of most-recent data from all of the designated datasets, said data comprising records uniquely identified within the reference dataset in a manner that is independent of how data is identified within the designated datasets, for providing a repository of information that is available independent of unavailability of one of said devices at a given point in time;
• and
• computer code on the storage medium for instructing the computer system to synchronize, in response to the designation and based on the information stored by said reference dataset, the more than two designated datasets without requiring further designating of datasets to be synchronized, wherein, after the step of synchronizing, each of the more than two designated datasets includes a record that corresponds to, and is in a synchronized state with, the one record.

A method capable of synchronizing more than two designated datasets, the method comprising:

• providing a synchronizer dataset that contains records, wherein the synchronizer dataset reflects a result of an earlier synchronization of the designated datasets, and wherein each record in the synchronizer dataset is identified by a globally-unique record identifier that is independent of how any corresponding records from the designated datasets are identified;
• creating a table that associates each globally-unique record identifier to any corresponding records residing on the designated datasets;
• using said synchronizer dataset and said table, comparing values derived from each of the more than two designated datasets to values derived from the synchronizer dataset to identify a change of a record in the each designated dataset since an earlier synchronization involving the each designated dataset;
• and
• changing at least two of the designated datasets based on the identified change of a record.

A system for synchronizing more than two designated datasets, the system comprising:

• means for providing a synchronizer dataset that contains records, wherein the synchronizer dataset reflects a result of an earlier synchronization and wherein each record in the synchronizer dataset is identified by a globally-unique record indentifier that is independent of how any corresponding records form the designated datasets are identified;
• means for creating a table that associates each globally-unique record identifier to any corresponding records residing on the designated datasets;
• using said synchronizer dataset and said table, comparing values derived from means, responsive to said synchronizer dataset and said table, for comparing each of the more than two designated datasets to the synchronizer dataset to idenifty an addition, update, or deletion of a record in the each designated dataset since an earlier synchronization involving the each designated dataset;
• means for updating at least two of the designated datasets based on the identified addition, update, or deletion of a record;
• and
• means for updating the synchronizer dataset based on the identified addition, update, or deletion of a record.