Global Equivalency Sets for Peer-to-Peer Data Synchronization
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing synchronization systems face challenges in identifying truly corresponding records across multiple devices, leading to issues like record duplication and incorrect deletion, especially when changes occur in identity data or when devices have not synchronized with each other.
Innovation Solution
The use of a globally unique identification datum (GID) is introduced to associate and verify records across devices, creating a Global Equivalency Set (GES) to ensure accurate synchronization by comparing UUIDs and resolving conflicts through a synchronization server that maintains GID information.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If identity data (e.g., name) is used to identify corresponding records during synchronization, then the system is simple to implement, but record duplication occurs when identity data changes
Solution Approach 1:
The identification mechanism is segmented into two independent parts: identity data (name, email, etc.) for human-readable reference and GID (globally unique identifier) for precise system-level identification. This segmentation allows the system to maintain simplicity through identity data while ensuring reliability through GID, resolving the contradiction between ease of implementation and accuracy of record identification.
Solution Approach 2:
GID acts as an intermediary between identity data and the synchronization system. Instead of directly using identity data for record matching, the system uses GID as a mediator that uniquely identifies records regardless of identity data changes. This intermediary mechanism prevents record duplication while maintaining the simplicity of identity-based reference.
2Ease of operation
If snapshots of data are used for comparison during synchronization, then the synchronization process is straightforward, but the system cannot identify previously deleted records
Solution Approach 1:
GID is assigned to records in advance, before synchronization occurs. This preliminary assignment of unique identifiers allows the system to track records across synchronization cycles, including deleted records. When a record is deleted, its GID is retained in the snapshot, enabling the system to identify and properly handle previously deleted records during subsequent synchronizations.
3Adaptability or versatility
If multiple devices synchronize independently with a central device, then each device can access data, but inconsistencies propagate when devices have not synchronized with each other
Solution Approach 1:
GID provides a universal identification mechanism that works across all devices in the synchronization network, regardless of which device a record was created on. Each device can independently synchronize with any other device, and the GID ensures that corresponding records are correctly identified and matched, preventing inconsistency propagation while maintaining data accessibility across all devices.
Data Source
AI summary
Systems and methods for synchronization including the use of a global equivalency identification datum or set of datum. A universally unique identification datum may be associated with each independently created associated data set. In some embodiments, a synchronization server software element may be responsible for maintaining synchronization for a plurality of clients, including software elements or devices. A record believed to be new by the software elements may verify that the record is actually new. In some embodiments, verification of the record's newness involves assuming that the local ID is a global identification datum and comparing that datum to the all the sets of datum that the Sync-Server knows about. The synchronization server software element may use a table to hold information for all of the records known to that element. In some embodiments these records may have been deleted in the past.