Remote database update method and apparatus

A method of managing data distribution of selected portions of data from a source server database over a network to a remote entity target database, comprising the steps of:

• assigning a unique identifier to a remote entity;
• defining selected types of data to be accessible in conjunction with said unique identifier;
• receiving an update request at the said source server from the remote target entity;
• sending a first source message from said source server to said target entity indicating all items that have changed since last previous update for said target that said target is entitled to receive;
• and
• downloading specified data selected by the target entity, conforming to the unique identifier defined types of data available to be downloaded, upon request by said remote entity target.

A method of selectively supplying updating data from a source database to one of a plurality of remotely located target databases, comprising the steps of:

• assigning unique identifiers to each of said plurality of target databases;
• associating each of said unique identifiers with selected items of said source database in accordance with predetermined criteria;
• determining which database items, contained in the source database, have changed since the last update of the database at a given target of those database items that a given target database is entitled to receive as ascertained in accordance with said predetermined criteria;
• transmitting a list of database items, from the source database to a control mechanism associated with said target database, that may be supplied from said source database to update said target database;
• returning a selected itemization message, from the control mechanism associated with said target database to the control mechanism associated with said source database, requesting the selected items;
• supplying the selected items from said source database to said target database;
• and
• notifying the control mechanism associated with said source database when the control mechanism associated with said target database determines that all requested data has been satisfactorily received.

A server system, comprising:

• a source database from which predetermined data items may be selected to update each of a plurality of uniquely identifiable target databases;
• source computer means associated with said source database;
• means for creating a temporary transaction context upon receipt of information from a computer associated with a target database indicating the date of the last update to said target database;
• means for preparing a table of contents of all items, to which that uniquely identifiable target database is entitled to receive, that have changed since the last update of said target database occurred;
• means for supplying said table of contents to the computer associated with the target database;
• means for receiving, from the computer associated with the target database, a list of items to be transferred to said target database as selected from the table of contents supplied to the computer associated with the target database;
• means for supplying the selected list of items to the computer associated with the target database;
• and
• means for receiving and acknowledging a transaction complete message from the computer associated with the target database.

A server system, comprising:

• a uniquely identified target database that may need periodic updates from a source database where the target database is only permitted to receive predetermined items from the source database;
• target computer means associated with said target database;
• means for creating a temporary transaction context upon determination that both the target computer and a source computer associated with said source database are ready to attempt the completion of an updating procedure;
• means for supplying to the source computer associated with said source database information indicating the date of the last update to said target database;
• means for receiving a table of contents, from the source computer associated with said source database, of all items, to which that uniquely identifiable target database is entitled to receive, that have changed since the last update of said target database occurred;
• means for providing a list of items to be transferred to said target database, as selected from the table of contents, to the source computer associated with said source database;
• means for receiving the selected list of items from the source computer associated with said source database;
• and
• means for supplying to and acknowledging a transaction complete message from the computer associated with the source database.

Database updating apparatus, comprising:

• source database;
• source control associated with said source database;
• target control apparatus including a target database and a uniquely identifiable target entity;
• means for communicating between said source and target controls;
• specification means, associated with said source control and source database, for defining the access limitations for each uniquely identifiable target entity entitled to access the source database;
• means, associated with said target control apparatus, for requesting data from said source database for a given uniquely identifiable target entity;
• means, associated with said source control, for supplying a table of data to which the requesting uniquely identifiable target entity is entitled to receive;
• means, associated with said target control, for returning a list of items, selected from said table, to said source control;
• and
• means, associated with said source control, for transferring the latest version of the selected data from said source database to said target control.

Database updating apparatus, comprising:

• source database;
• source control associated with said source database;
• means for communicating between said source and target entities;
• specification means, associated with said source control and source database, for defining the access limitations for each uniquely identifiable target entity entitled to access the source database;
• means, associated with said source control, for supplying a table of data to which the requesting uniquely identifiable target entity is entitled to receive;
• and
• means, associated with said source control, for transferring the latest version of data selected by the target entity from the table of data to the target entity.

Database updating apparatus, comprising:

• target control apparatus including a target database and a uniquely identifiable target entity;
• means for communicating with a limited access source database;
• means, associated with said target control apparatus, for requesting up-to-date data from the limited access source database for a given uniquely identifiable target entity;
• means, associated with said target control, for returning a list of items, selected from a table of data obtained from the source database and which table is limited to only data to which the target entity is entitled to access, to said source control;
• and
• means, associated with said target control, for storing the latest version of the selected data received from said source database.