Electrical computers and digital processing systems: multicomput – Distributed data processing – Client/server
Reexamination Certificate
2000-11-16
2004-05-04
Maung, Zarni (Department: 2153)
Electrical computers and digital processing systems: multicomput
Distributed data processing
Client/server
C709S204000, C707S793000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06732144
ABSTRACT:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
This application is based upon and claims the benefit of priority from the prior Japanese Patent Application No. 11-330235, filed Nov. 19, 1999, the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a communication method for synchronously processing data between a plurality of devices and an electronic device therefor. In particular, the present invention relates to a communication method and an electronic device that have been modified so as to synchronize data in a wireless or wired network such that a network configuration is dynamically changed.
In recent years, apart from a personal computer, in a portable information processing terminal such as a portable cellular phone, a palm top computer or a wrist watch, personal data such as a telephone number (address) directory, schedule data, a task list, an E-mail can be managed and stored. Using this function, data is shared by using duplicate data in order to use the same data at home or outside as well as in office between electronic devices such as a personal computer or a portable information processing terminal. As a technique for keeping coincidence of a plurality of shared data, a data synchronization processing is known. For example, in the case where an attempt is made to share personal data such as an address directory or a schedule between a personal computer and a portable information processing terminal, duplication of data is created, and original data is held in the host and the duplicate data is held in each device other than the host. In the case where a change occurs with these items of data, the changed data is exchanged between these devices, whereby data consistency is maintained. This method is referred to as data synchronization.
As a typical computer program for data synchronization, Intelli Sync (Intelli Sync User's Guide Rev 3.1 Puma TECHNOLOGY 1999) is known. This enables data synchronization between personal computers or between a personal computer and a portable information processing terminal. This program enables data synchronization between two personal computers, one personal computer and one portable information processing terminal, or one personal computer and two portable information processing terminals.
In the case of this system, however, a device serving as a server must be participated in data synchronization processing. In the case where three or more devices share data, there applies a restriction that data synchronization cannot be performed between two devices other than server. Therefore, for example, in the case where a personal computer connected to a network is used as a server, thereby causing two portable information processing terminals to include the duplicate data, even if an attempt is made to use duplicate data after updated in one portable information processing terminal by the other portable information processing terminal outside, data synchronization processing cannot be performed by these portable information processing terminals other than server. Stated another way, the conventional data synchronization processing is performed between the server and the client in a one-to-one manner. It is not possible to perform the data synchronization processing in a one-to-plural manner.
Furthermore, in general, it is required to provide communication settings for a data synchronization party, settings regarding type of synchronization data, or setting of a method of solving a problem during data conflict. These settings are conventionally provided by a user operating an input device of a personal computer or portable information processing terminal through the setting screen displayed on a display device of the personal computer or portable information processing terminal and inputting data. This means that at least the display device and input device of the portable terminal device are required. Therefore, in the conventional method, because of a restriction specific to device such as a wrist watch including device size, for example, it is very difficult to provide settings of data synchronization in a device having only a limited input device or display device.
BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a communication method and electronic device that enables data synchronization between arbitrary devices without requiring a server.
According to the present invention, there is provided a communication method for synchronizing data between a plurality of arbitrary devices using a wireless or wired network, the communication method comprising a member registration step and a data synchronization step. In the member registration step, a device specified as a master by a user transmits to a device specified as a slave by the user a certificate indicating that the slave belongs to a data synchronization group that performs a data synchronization processing and a priority to be used when the slave performs the data synchronization processing, and then, the slave is registered as a member of the data synchronization group. In the data synchronization step, it is determined using the certificate whether or not one slave and one or more other slaves capable of making wireless or wired communication belong to the same data synchronization group, and the data synchronization processing is performed through wireless or wired communication in accordance with the priority between the slaves which are determined to belong to the same data synchronization group.
In this communication method, apart from the data synchronization step of actually processing data synchronization, the member registration step is provided for the purpose of specifying a target device for data synchronization. At this member registration step, the certificate and priority are transmitted from a device specified as the master to a device specified as the slave, whereby the slave can be registered as a member of the data synchronization group. The certificate and priority are provided to each member, whereby data synchronization can be easily performed between slaves even if the master is absent, as long as these devices are registered in the same data synchronization group.
In this case, as to whether or not the slaves capable of making wireless or wired communication belong to the same group, it is determined by exchanging the certificate between the slaves. Thus, even if a master does not exist, data synchronization can be performed reliably and safely between the slaves. In the case where a conflict occurs during data synchronization processing between slaves, such conflict can be solved by the priority assigned to each slave at the member registration step. Therefore, each slave may hold only the certificate and priority assigned to each slave itself, making it unnecessary to set data or the like concerning a communication party for data synchronization. Hence, a device having only its limited input device and display device can be used as a device targeted for synchronization. Further, as in a wired or wireless network such that a network configuration is dynamically changed, even in a case of use under environment that makes it difficult to provide data for statically specifying a communication party for data synchronization, a device that is such data synchronization party can be reliably specified.
The data synchronization step can be performed between one master and one or more arbitrary slaves having a certificate indicating that these slaves belong to the same group as well as between slaves.
In addition, there is no need to specify a master and a slave by devices, and an arbitrary device can be specified as a master or slave of the data synchronization group by data targeted for data synchronization. One device may function as a slave of the data synchronization group for one set of data or may function as a master of the data synchronization group for another set of data. Alternatively, one device may function as a slave of two dat
Amano Shin-ya
Imai Toru
Kizu Sachio
Muranaga Tetsuro
Natsubori Shigeyasu
Edelman Bradley
Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba
Maung Zarni
Oblon & Spivak, McClelland, Maier & Neustadt P.C.
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