Database deltas using Cyclic Redundancy Checks

A programmable apparatus for identifying added, changed or deleted records in a database comprising:

• programmable hardware comprising:
• a computer having a processor and a non-volatile memory such as disk, hard drive or data base;
• a plurality of records installed on said memory;
• a program installed on said computer for causing said computer to take a first snapshot of each record in a database and for each record, to retrieve the record, to convert the data in the record into characters to create a string from the characters, to calculate a first CRC from the string, and to store the first CRC and primary key in non-volatile memory such as disk, hard drive or data base;
• responsive to a command at a later time, causing the computer to take a second snapshot of each record in the database, and for each record to retrieve the record, to convert the data in the record into characters, to create a string from the characters, to calculate a second CRC from the string, and to store the second CRC and primary key in memory;
• wherein, responsive to comparing the first CRC to the second CRC and comparing the first primary key to the second primary key to determine whether the record has been changed;
• wherein said primary key unambiguously identifies a single said record among a plurality of said records and said primary key is stored in conjunction with said first CRC and said second CRC;
• and
• wherein the comparison of the first CRC with the second CRC and the comparison of the first primary key with the second primary key determines the specific location and nature of an addition, deletion, or change to the record in the database.

A computer readable memory for causing a computer to identify added, deleted or changed records in a database comprising:

• a first computer readable storage medium;
• a computer program stored in said storage medium;
• and
• the storage medium, so configured by said computer program causes the computer to take a first snapshot and a second snapshot of said records, and to compare the first snapshot to the second snapshot and comparing a first primary key to a second primary key to determine whether the record has been changed;
• wherein said primary key unambiguously identifies a single said record among a plurality of said records and said primary key is stored in conjunction with a first CRC and a second CRC;
• and
• wherein the comparison of the first snapshot with the second snapshot and the comparison of the first primary key with the second primary key determines the specific location and nature of an addition, deletion, or change to the record in the database.