Run-time engine implemented on a computing device allowing synchronization of records during application execution
View Patent ↗A first database implemented on a remote device such as a handheld computer may be reconciled with a corresponding second database implemented on a host computer during execution of an application program on the handheld device. In addition, the application program may be executed according to program instructions stored in an application program file located in the remote device. The databases may be reconciled by first commencing execution of the application program. Then, during the course of program execution, a synchronization instruction located in said application program file is retrieved. The synchronization instruction is executed by establishing a communications link between the handheld computer and the host computer. Subsequently, any differences between the first database and the second database are reconciled. Furthermore, embodiments of the invention contemplate that in addition to reconciling all of the databases located on the handheld and host computers, less than all of the databases may be reconciled to reduce the amount of time required to execute the reconciliation process. In addition, after reconciliation control may be returned to the calling application program, or to another application, as determined by the application designer.
1. A method of synchronizing data between a host device connected to a handheld computer, comprising:
executing, on said handheld computer, a first application to execute a synchronization instruction comprising a control parameter identifying a second application to which control of said handheld computer is passed after completion of data synchronization;
launching, on said handheld computer, a first data synchronization process in response to said executing said synchronization instruction from said first application on said handheld computer; and
launching, on said host device, a second data synchronization process in response to said executing said synchronization instruction from said first application on said handheld computer;
wherein said first data synchronization process and said second synchronization process synchronize, over a data connection, data stored in said handheld computer with data stored in said host device.
2. The method of synchronizing data between a host device connected to a handheld computer according to claim 1 , further comprising:
establishing a TCP/IP communication link between said host device and said handheld computer for synchronizing said data.
3. The method of synchronizing data between a host device connected to a handheld computer according to claim 1 , wherein:
said synchronization instruction identifies data for synchronization.
4. The method of synchronizing data between a host device connected to a handheld computer according to claim 3 , wherein:
said data includes data stored in at least one database in said handheld computer that is synchronized with data stored in an associated database in said host device.
5. The method of synchronizing data between a host device connected to a handheld computer according to claim 1 , further comprising:
extracting said control parameter from said synchronization instruction; and
storing said control parameter in memory in said handheld computer.
6. The method of synchronizing data between a host device connected to a handheld computer according to claim 5 , wherein said executing a synchronization instruction further comprises:
retrieving said stored control parameter from said memory; and
executing said synchronization instruction with said retrieved control parameter.
7. The method of synchronizing data between a host device connected to a handheld computer according to claim 1 , wherein:
said executing said synchronization instruction from said first application further comprises executing said synchronization instruction in response to an event.
8. The method of synchronizing data between a host device connected to a handheld computer according to claim 7 , wherein:
said event comprises selecting a button or icon displayed by said first application on said handheld computer.
9. The method of synchronizing data between a host device connected to a handheld computer according to claim 7 , wherein:
said event comprises selecting a menu item displayed by said first application on said handheld computer.
10. The method of synchronizing data between a host device connected to a handheld computer according to claim 7 , wherein:
said event comprises one of selecting a form and closing a form displayed on said handheld computer.
11. A system for synchronizing data between a first database and a second database, comprising:
a handheld computer, comprising a first database, to execute a first application to initiate a synchronization instruction, and to launch a first synchronization process on said handheld computer in response to said synchronization instruction; and
a host device, comprising a second database, to connect to said handheld computer over a data connection and to launch a second synchronization process in response to said synchronization instruction initiated on said handheld computer, said second synchronization process and said first synchronization process synchronizing said first database on said handheld computer with said second database on said host device;
wherein said synchronization instruction comprises a control parameter identifying a second application to which control of said handheld computer is passed after completion of said first synchronization process.
12. The system for synchronizing data between a first database and a second database according to claim 11 , wherein said handheld computer further comprises:
a runtime engine executing said first application; and
a memory storing a program file received from said host device, said program file including said synchronization instruction executed by said handheld computer.
13. The system for synchronizing data between a first database and a second database according to claim 12 , wherein:
said runtime engine is configured to retrieve said synchronization instruction from said program file and execute said synchronization instruction.
14. The system for synchronizing data between a first database and a second database according to claim 13 , wherein:
a first synchronization process is launched on said handheld computer and a second synchronization process is launched on said host device for synchronizing in response to said execution of said synchronization instruction.
15. The system for synchronizing data between a first database and a second database according to claim 13 , wherein:
said host device further comprises an integrated design environment configured to generate said first application and said program file, said first application and said program file being downloaded to said handheld computer from said host device through a communication link.
16. A data synchronization system, comprising:
a host computer comprising a first database;
a handheld computer to connect to said host computer through a data connection, said handheld computer comprising a second database; and
a first application, executable on at least one of said host computer and said handheld computer, to execute a synchronization instruction to synchronize data between said first database and said second database, said synchronization instruction comprising a control parameter identifying a different second application to which control of said handheld computer is passed after completion of data synchronization.
17. The data synchronization system according to claim 16 , wherein:
said data connection is a wireless connection between said handheld computer and said host computer.
18. The data synchronization system according to claim 16 , wherein:
said data connection is a TCP/IP communication link between said handheld computer and said host computer.
19. The data synchronization system according to claim 16 , further comprising:
a button or icon displayed by said first application on said at least one of said host computer and said handheld computer.
20. The data synchronization system according to claim 16 , further comprising:
a menu item displayed by said first application on said at least one of said host computer and said handheld computer.