Mid-tier-based conflict resolution method and system usable for message synchronization and replication

1. A computer-based method for providing a conflict detection and resolution in a mid-tier server of a multi-tier client-server communication system performing message synchronization in a client/mid-tier environment and performing replication in a mid-tier/server environment, comprising the steps of:

(a) defining a client/mid-tier conflict resolution look-up table listing all possible conflict states in the client/mid-tier environment and corresponding action rules;

(b) defining a mid-tier/server conflict resolution look-up table listing all possible conflict states in the mid-tier/server environment and corresponding action rules; and

(c) for any detected conflict state, finding and executing the corresponding action rule.

2. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the method being usable for platform-independent synchronization of multi-tier client-server communication messaging systems capable of supporting multiple messaging servers and applications on different client devices.

3. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the step (c) invoking a conflict resolution routine comprising the steps of: matching of client and server messages, detecting a conflict state whenever an inconsistent to-be-applied operation being found in the matched client and server message pair, and creating, deleting or updating a message database record according to the returned action rule.

4. The method according to claim 3 , wherein the conflict resolution routine being invoked for each client message by a synchronizing module and for each server message by a replicating module for comparing each client message with a corresponding mirror message, replicated from a corresponding server message.

5. A mid-tier server based conflict detection and resolution system of a multi-tier client-server communication system performing message synchronization in a client/mid-tier environment and performing replication in a mid-tier/server environment, comprising:

computer-based means for defining a client/mid-tier conflict resolution look-up table listing all possible conflict states in the client/mid-tier environment and corresponding action rules;

computer-based means for defining a mid-tier/server conflict resolution look-up table listing all possible conflict states in the mid-tier/server environment and corresponding action rules; and

computer-based means for detecting conflict state and finding and executing the corresponding action rule.

6. The system according to claim 5 , wherein the system being usable for platform-independent synchronization of multi-tier client-server communication messaging systems capable of supporting multiple messaging servers and applications on different client devices.

7. The system according to claim 5 , wherein the means for detecting conflict state invoking a conflict resolution means for matching of client and server messages, detecting a conflict state whenever an inconsistent to-be-applied operation being found in the matched client and server message pair, and creating, deleting or updating a message database record according to the returned action rule.

8. The system according to claim 7 , wherein the conflict resolution means being invoked for each client message by a synchronizing module and for each server message by a replicating module for comparing each client message with a corresponding mirror message, replicated from a corresponding server message.

9. A computer usable medium tangibly embodying a program of instructions executable by the computer to perform a computer-based method for providing a conflict detection and resolution in a mid-tier server of a multi-tier client-server communication system performing message synchronization in a client/mid-tier environment and performing replication in a mid-tier/server environment, comprising the steps of:

(a) defining a client/mid-tier conflict resolution look-up table listing all possible conflict states in the client/mid-tier environment and corresponding action rules;

(b) defining a mid-tier/server conflict resolution look-up table listing all possible conflict states in the mid-tier/server environment and corresponding action rules; and

(c) for any detected conflict state, finding and executing the corresponding action rule.

10. The method according to claim 9 , wherein the method being usable for platform-independent synchronization of multi-tier client-server communication messaging systems capable of supporting multiple messaging servers and applications on different client devices.

11. The method according to claim 9 , wherein the step (c) invoking a conflict resolution routine comprising the steps of matching of: client and server messages, detecting a conflict state whenever an inconsistent to-be-applied operation being found in the matched client and server message pair, and creating, deleting or updating a message database record according to the returned action rule.

12. The method according to claim 11 , wherein the conflict resolution routine being invoked for each client message by a synchronizing module and for each server message by a replicating module for comparing each client message with a corresponding mirror message, replicated from a corresponding server message.