Partially replicated distributed database with multiple levels of remote clients

A method of collecting, storing, and retrieving data in a data base system having an enterprise server and at least one workgroup user client, said method comprising:

• (a) creating a transaction in a local database resident on said workgroup user client,
• (b) entering the transaction into a transaction log resident on said workgroup user client, creating a transaction file corresponding thereto in an outbox of said workgroup user client;
• (c) reading said workgroup user client transaction log, while skipping those transactions which originate at the enterprise server,
• (d) creating data files corresponding to the entries therein,
• (e) copying data files corresponding to transactions originating at the workgroup user client to an inbox on the enterprise server, and
• (f) updating the transactions into an enterprise database on the enterprise server.

A method of merging data from one data base into another data base in a data base system having an enterprise server and at least one workgroup user client, said method comprising:

• (a) creating a transaction in a local database resident on said workgroup user client,
• (b) entering the transaction into a transaction log resident on said workgroup user client,
• (c) creating a transaction file corresponding thereto in an outbox of said workgroup user client;
• (d) reading said workgroup user client transaction log, while skipping those transactions which originate at the enterprise server,
• (e) creating data files corresponding to the entries therein,
• (f) copying data files corresponding to transactions originating at the workgroup user client to an inbox on the enterprise server, and
• (g) transferring an update log file from one data base to the other data base to merge the transactions.

An article of manufacture comprising a computer usable medium having computer readable program code means embodied therein for causing collecting, storing, and retrieving data in a database system having an enterprise server, at least one docking client, and at least one workgroup user client, said docking client interposed between said enterprise server and said workgroup user client, the computer readable program means in said article of manufacture comprising:

• (a) computer readable program code means for causing a computer to effect creating a transaction in a local database resident on said workgroup user client, entering the transaction into a transaction log resident on said workgroup user client, and creating a transaction file corresponding thereto in an outbox of said workgroup user client;
• (b) computer readable program code means for causing a computer to effect copying said transaction file to an inbox in the docking client identified to the workgroup user client and updating said transaction file into an agency database resident on said docking client, said agency database including a transaction log;
• and
• (c) computer readable program code means for causing a computer to effect reading said docking client transaction log, skipping those transactions which originate at the enterprise server, creating data files corresponding to the entries therein, copying data files corresponding to transactions originating at the workgroup user client to an inbox on the enterprise server corresponding to the docking server, and updating the transactions into an enterprise database on the enterprise server.

A program storage device readable by a machine, tangibly embodying a program of instructions executable by the machine to perform method steps for collecting, storing, and retrieving data in a database system having an enterprise server, at least one docking client, and at least one workgroup user client, said docking client interposed between said enterprise server and said workgroup user client, said method steps comprising:

• (a) creating a transaction in a local database resident on said workgroup user client, entering the transaction into a transaction log resident on said workgroup user client, and creating a transaction file corresponding thereto in an outbox of said workgroup user client;
• (b) copying said transaction file to an inbox in the docking client identified to the workgroup user client and updating said transaction file into an agency database resident on said docking client, said agency database including a transaction log;
• and
• (c) reading said docking client transaction log, skipping those transactions which originate at the enterprise server, creating data files corresponding to the entries therein, copying data files corresponding to transactions originating at the workgroup user client to an inbox on the enterprise server corresponding to the docking server, and updating the transactions into an enterprise database on the enterprise server.

A method of collecting, storing, and retrieving data in a data base system having an enterprise server, at least one docking client, and at least one workgroup user client, said docking client interposed between said enterprise server and said workgroup user client, said workgroup user client having a docking object comprising at least one member table, with visibility rules, and visibility events resident therein, said method comprising:

• creating a transaction file in a local workgroup user database resident on said workgroup user client;
• copying said transaction file to the docking client identified to the workgroup user client;
• and
• copying data files corresponding to transactions originating at the workgroup user client to the enterprise server, updating the transactions into an enterprise database on the enterprise server, and synchronizing the work group user database and the enterprise database using the docking object if a particular instance of the docking object is visible to the workgroup user client.

A system for managing data, the system having an enterprise server, at least one docking client, and at least one workgroup user client, said docking client interposed between said enterprise server and said workgroup user client, said system further comprising computer readable program code embodied therein and resident on one or more of the computers therein for

• i. creating a transaction file in a local workgroup user database resident on said workgroup user client,
• ii. copying the transaction file to a docking client identified to the workgroup user client;
• and
• iii. copying data files corresponding to transactions originating at the workgroup user client to the enterprise server, updating the transactions into an enterprise database on the enterprise server, and synchronizing the work group user database and the enterprise database using a docking object if a particular instance of the docking object is visible to the workgroup user client.