System and method for providing assured database updates via a one-way data link

A system for assuredly copying information from a reference database to a remote database, the reference database having an associated log file including sequential entries for each change made to the reference database, comprising:

• a send server coupled to a first network;
• a receive server coupled to a second network;
• a one-way data link for unidirectional transfer of information from the send server to the receive server;
• and
• an update application for receiving each set of database update information and for updating the remote database based on entries included in each received set of database update information;
• wherein the reference database is within the send server,
• wherein the send server is configured to read the log file at predetermined intervals, to generate a set of database update information including each new entry in the log file, to provide the new set of database update information with sequence information, to forward each set of database update information to the receive server via the one-way data link and to store each set of database update information in a memory in the send server;
• wherein the send server is also configured to, after processing of all sets of database update information in a current group, to compress all of the stored sets of database update information into a single compressed file and to forward to the single compressed file to the receive server;
• wherein the receive server is configured to receive each set of database update information from the send server via the one-way data link, to extract sequence information from a current set of database update information and to compare the extracted sequence information with sequence information for an immediately previously received set of database update information to determine if the current set of database update information was received in proper sequential order;
• wherein the receive server is also configured to forward the current set of database update information to the update application if the current set of database update information was determined to be received in proper sequential order;
• wherein the receive server is also configured to receive the single compressed file from the send server via the one-way data link, to decompress the single compressed file and to store all of the decompressed sets of database update information from the single compressed file in a memory in the receive server;
• and
• wherein the receive server is also configured to, if the current set of database update information was determined not to be received in proper sequential order, to discard each subsequent set of database update information in the current group, to identify an initial set of database update information in the memory in the receive server that corresponds to a next sequential set of database update information to the previously received set of database update information, and to read and forward the identified initial set of database update information and each subsequent sequential set of database update information in the memory in the receive server to the update application.

A system for assuredly copying information from a reference database to a remote database, the reference database having an associated log file including sequential entries for each change made to the reference database, comprising:

• a send server coupled to a first network;
• a receive server coupled to a second network;
• a one-way data link for unidirectional transfer of information from the send server to the receive server;
• and
• a monitor application for reading the log file at predetermined intervals, for generating a set of database update information including each new entry in the log file, for providing the new set of database update information with sequence information, and for sequentially forwarding each set of database update information to the send server via the first network;
• wherein the send server is configured to forward each received set of database update information to the receive server via the one-way data link and to store each set of database update information in a memory in the send server;
• wherein the send server is also configured to, after receipt of all sets of database update information in a current group, to compress all of the stored sets of database update information into a single compressed file and to forward to the single compressed file to the receive server;
• wherein the remote database is within the receive server;
• wherein the receive server is configured to receive each set of database update information from the send server via the one-way data link, to extract sequence information from a current set of database update information and to compare the extracted sequence information with sequence information for an immediately previously received set of database update information to determine if the current set of database update information was received in proper sequential order;
• wherein the receive server is also configured to update the remote database file based on entries included in the current set of database update information if the current set of database update information was determined to be received in proper sequential order;
• wherein the receive server is also configured to receive the single compressed file from the send server via the one-way data link, to decompress the single compressed file and to store all of the decompressed sets of database update information from the single compressed file in a memory in the receive server;
• and
• wherein the receive server is also configured to, if the current set of database update information was determined not to be received in proper sequential order, to discard each subsequent set of database update information in the current group, to identify an initial set of database update information in the memory in the receive server that corresponds to a next sequential set of database update information to the previously received set of database update information, and to update the remote database based on entries included in the identified initial set of database update information and each subsequent sequential set of database update information in the memory in the receive server.

A system for assuredly copying information from a reference database to a remote database, the reference database having an associated log file including sequential entries for each change made to the reference database, comprising:

• a send server coupled to a first network;
• a receive server coupled to a second network;
• and
• a one-way data link for unidirectional transfer of information from the send server to the receive server;
• wherein the reference database is within the send server,
• wherein the send server is configured to read the log file at predetermined intervals, to generate a set of database update information including each new entry in the log file, to provide the new set of database update information with sequence information, to forward each set of database update information to the receive server via the one-way data link and to store each set of database update information in a memory in the send server;
• wherein the send server is also configured to, after processing of all sets of database update information in a current group, to compress all of the stored sets of database update information into a single compressed file and to forward to the single compressed file to the receive server;
• wherein the remote database is within the receive server;
• wherein the receive server is configured to receive each set of database update information from the send server via the one-way data link, to extract sequence information from a current set of database update information and to compare the extracted sequence information with sequence information for an immediately previously received set of database update information to determine if the current set of database update information was received in proper sequential order;
• wherein the receive server is also configured to update the remote database file based on entries included in the current set of database update information if the current set of database update information was determined to be received in proper sequential order;
• wherein the receive server is also configured to receive the single compressed file from the send server via the one-way data link, to decompress the single compressed file and to store all of the decompressed sets of database update information from the single compressed file in a memory in the receive server;
• and
• wherein the receive server is also configured to, if the current set of database update information was determined not to be received in proper sequential order, to discard each subsequent set of database update information in the current group, to identify an initial set of database update information in the memory in the receive server that corresponds to a next sequential set of database update information to the previously received set of database update information, and to update the remote database based on entries included in the identified initial set of database update information and each subsequent sequential set of database update information in the memory in the receive server.

A method for assuredly copying information from a reference database to a remote database, the reference database having an associated log file including sequential entries for each change made to the reference database, comprising the steps of:

• reading the log file at predetermined intervals, generating a set of database update information including each new entry in the log file, and providing the new set of database update information with sequence information;
• forwarding, in a send server, each set of database update information to a receive server via a one-way data link and storing each set of database update information in a memory in the send server;
• after receipt of all sets of database update information in a current group in the send server, compressing all of the stored sets of database update information into a single compressed file and forwarding the single compressed file to the receive server;
• receiving, in the receive server, each set of database update information from the send server via the one-way data link, extracting sequence information from a current set of database update information and comparing the extracted sequence information with sequence information for an immediately previously received set of database update information to determine if the current set of database update information was received in proper sequential order;
• if the current set of database update information was determined to be received in proper sequential order, updating the remote database based on entries included in the current set of database update information;
• receiving, at the receive server, the single compressed file from the send server via the one-way data link, decompressing the single compressed file and storing all of the decompressed sets of database update information from the single compressed file in a memory in the receive server;
• and
• if the current set of database update information was determined not to be received in proper sequential order, discarding each subsequent set of database update information in the current group, identifying an initial set of database update information in the memory in the receive server that corresponds to a next sequential set of database update information to the previously received set of database update information, and updating the remote database based on entries included in the identified initial set of database update information and each subsequent sequential set of database update information in the memory in the receive server.