KR20020003674A - Data synchronization system and method thereof - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE: A system for synchronizing data and a method thereof are provided to perform a data synchronization between clients who wish to share data and between a client and a server and between servers in real time without an additional operation by a user. CONSTITUTION: A synchronization server(30) is connected to a client(10) through a network(20). A plurality of affiliated clients(41-47) is connected to the synchronization server(30) through the network(20). A file checking unit(11) checks whether a change is generated in a file. A scheduling unit(12) performs a schedule operation for requesting a log-in process to the synchronization server(30) per a set time. A connection unit(13) performs a log-in process when a signal in accordance with a file change from the file checking unit(11) or a signal displaying that a set time is passed from the scheduling unit(12). A synchronization processing unit(14) performs a data upload/download with the synchronization server(30). A log-in server(31) performs a certifying process of a client(10). A data server(32) transmits a file list of files stored in the corresponding working folder in accordance with a request of the client(10), and updates the file list whenever a file is transmitted by an upload or download process of the client(10). A user information database(33) stores information of the client(10). The affiliated clients(41-47) perform a data synchronization to the client(10).

Description

DATA SYNCHRONIZATION SYSTEM AND METHOD THEREOF

The present invention relates to a data synchronization system and method, and more particularly, to a data synchronization system and method for synchronizing data at a client to a server in real time via a wired or wireless network.

Due to the development of high speed network, data exchange through the network is active, but users still need to use file transfer protocol (FTP) if they want to share their data with others or transfer data from home to company. You have to access your company's FTP, upload it, then come to your company and use FTP again on your computer to get the data.

Due to this inconvenience, various methods for synchronizing data between computers or computers and servers have been proposed.

There is a synchronization system capable of exchanging data with a personal computer (personal computer), PDA (personal digital assistants), Yahoo home page, etc. with its own synchronization protocol among the data synchronization. The synchronization system's protocol is to synchronize the address book file itself by parsing files that store calendars, address books, notes, and tasks, and then supplement each other's differences in the two data. Rather, it analyzes files and updates them.

Also, a program called "Document Bags" is a program for sharing and synchronizing personal documents built into Windows, which synchronizes "Document Bags" via a serial connection on a floppy disk or notebook.

For example, when editing a document in the "Document Bag", the user must manually specify the target file to be updated and issue a command where he wants to synchronize. Therefore, there is an inconvenience in that the user has to manually give a synchronization command manually where the user wants to synchronize, and also, there is a disadvantage in that synchronization is performed with a serial or floppy disk without synchronization through a network.

In addition, there is a recent data transmission and backup system via the Internet, which is a data backup system (X-drive, Net Drive, Web drive, etc.) through a virtual drive, which is a virtual drive on the explorer of the user's computer. After creating, the virtual drive connects to a server on the Internet, and when a user accesses the virtual drive, the data is transferred to the server.

However, this system is for data backup rather than data synchronization, and the data is retrieved from the server whenever there is user's operation, so there is no immediate data backup.

In addition, there is a system for transmitting the data of the client to the server through scheduling (scheduling), but in this case, the data backup to the server and data synchronization with the server is not performed.

Therefore, the technical problem to be achieved by the present invention is to make data synchronization in real time between the client or the server and the server that wants to share data without a separate user operation.

1 is a diagram schematically illustrating a data synchronization method according to an embodiment of the present invention.

2 is a diagram showing the structure of a data synchronization system according to an embodiment of the present invention.

3 is a flowchart illustrating a driving process of a server according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

4 is an exemplary diagram of a file in which a configuration scheme of a server according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention is stored.

5A to 5C are flowcharts showing in detail a data synchronization method according to an embodiment of the present invention.

In order to achieve this technical problem, a real-time data synchronization system according to a feature of the present invention, a system for performing data synchronization between a plurality of clients over a network,

The client's data is stored in a work folder assigned to each client, and the server index includes at least one data server that transmits a server index to a client connecting through a network, where the server index is a list of data stored in the work folder. The client accesses the data server through the network and requests a server index when a data change occurs, and compares and analyzes the server index and the client index, where the client index is a list of data owned by the client. According to the analysis result, data synchronization with the data server is performed. At this time, the client selectively performs upload or download or file deletion with the data server according to a result of comparing the server index and the client index.

Meanwhile, in addition to the case where a file change occurs, the client may request a server index from the data server at every set time.

In addition, a data synchronization system according to an aspect of the present invention includes a database in which authentication information for authentication processing for each client and an address of a data server managing data of the client are stored; And comparing authentication information input from a client connected through a network with authentication information stored in the database, and transmitting an authentication key and an address of a data server managing data of the client to the client according to the comparison result. It further includes a login server.

In this case, when the data change occurs, the client requests login to the login server, receives the authentication key and the address of the data server, accesses the data server of the address, provides the authentication key, and requests a server index. The data server provides a server index corresponding to the client when the authentication key is legal.

Here, in order to secure data, when the authentication information transmitted from the client and the authentication information stored in the database match, the login server may generate the authentication key by encrypting the authentication information of the client. The data server decrypts the authentication key transmitted from the client, generates authentication information, compares the generated authentication information with the authentication information stored in the database, and transmits a server index to the client according to the comparison result.

On the other hand, after the data synchronization with the client is performed, the data server transmits a synchronization command to another client that wants to synchronize the data with the client, the client receiving the data synchronization command from the data server described above Request a server index to the data server as shown.

In accordance with another aspect of the present invention, a data synchronization method includes: a plurality of clients wishing to synchronize data through a network, at least one of which is connected to a client via a network, and the data of the client is stored in a work folder allocated to each client; A data synchronization method of a system including the above data server and a login server for performing client authentication processing,

Logging in to the login server via the network when data change occurs in the client; Performing, by the login server, an authentication process of the client, and transmitting an authentication key and an address of a data server storing data of the client to an authenticated client; The client accessing a data server having an address sent from the login server and requesting a server index, wherein the server index is a list of data stored in a working folder; The data server sending the server index to the client; And comparing and analyzing the server index and the client index, wherein the client index is a list of data owned by the client, and performing data synchronization with the data server according to the analysis result.

In the log-in step, the client may log in to the log-in server every set time. In the step of performing the data synchronization, the client may upload or upload the data to or from the data server according to a comparison result of the server index and the client index. Perform download or file deletion selectively.

In addition, the data synchronization method according to another aspect of the present invention, the data server after the data synchronization with the client, the step of transmitting a synchronization command to another client that wants to synchronize the data with the client; And logging in to the login server by the client receiving the synchronization command from the data server.

Hereinafter, exemplary embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

In the data synchronization system according to the present invention, the entire contents of a specific local folder of a client are synchronized with a specific folder in a corresponding account of a server through a wired or wireless network, and data synchronization between the clients is performed according to the synchronization with the server. .

1 shows a brief data synchronization method according to the present invention.

As shown in FIG. 1, when there is a change in a file in a designated folder in a client or when a schedule time arrives, a connection is automatically established with a server. The difference between the two and the data is uploaded or downloaded according to the analysis result, the data is synchronized between the client and the server. At this time, if synchronization with other clients is set, the synchronization command is transmitted from the server to the client, and accordingly, the client also logs in to the server and downloads the changed data, thereby synchronizing data between the clients. do.

The structure of a data synchronization system according to an embodiment of the present invention having this feature is shown in FIG.

As shown in FIG. 2, a data synchronization system according to an embodiment of the present invention includes a client 10, a synchronization server 30 connected to a client 10 through a network 20, and a network ( And a plurality of affiliated clients 41 to 4n connected to the synchronization server 30 via 20.

The client 10 includes a file monitoring unit 11 that monitors whether a change has occurred in a file stored in a set folder, and a scheduling unit 12 which performs a scheduling operation to apply for a login to the synchronization server 30 at every set time. And a connection unit 13 for logging in to the synchronization server 30 when the signal corresponding to the file change is output from the file monitoring unit 11 or a signal indicating the set time elapsed from the scheduling unit 12, and the synchronization server 30. And a synchronization processor 14 for uploading data, downloading data, and the like. Meanwhile, when the synchronization command is transmitted from the synchronization server 30, the connection unit 13 logs in to the synchronization server 30 regardless of whether a file change occurs or whether the setting time has elapsed.

The synchronization server 30 transmits a file list of files stored in the working folder to the client 10 and uploads the file to the client 10 according to the client's request. It includes a data server 32 for updating the file list at every file transfer by downloading and the like, and a user information database 33 for storing client information.

The login server 31 may generate an authentication unit 311 for performing authentication processing based on the client information stored in the user information database 33, and generate an authentication key for the authenticated client and transmit the generated authentication key to the client 10. The authentication key generation unit 312 is included. At this time, the authentication key generation unit 312 transmits the address of the data server 32 in which the data of the client 10 is stored to the client 10 together with the authentication key, so that the client 10 corresponds to the data server. (32) to allow connection.

The data server 32 may be at least one, and a working folder is assigned to each client, and the data to be processed by the client for each working folder, that is, the data storage unit 321 and the client 10 are stored. A decryption unit 322 for decrypting the transmitted authentication key and comparing the information stored in the user information database 33 to confirm whether the user is a legitimate user, or a data storage unit 321 when the connected client is a legitimate user. Data processing unit 323 for transmitting a list of files stored in the corresponding working folder of the client to the client 10, the data processing unit 323 when a file is completed transfer when uploading and downloading with the client 10 The file list is updated in real time every time. Then, the synchronization command is transmitted to the affiliated clients 41 to 4n connected to the network 20 so that data synchronization with the client 10 is performed. The working folder may be utilized as a web service by interworking with a hyper text transfer protocol (HTTP) daemon on the data server 32.

The user information database 33 stores information about a client who wishes to receive data synchronization according to the present invention. For example, client information such as an identification number (hereinafter, referred to as ID) and password for logging in for each client, an address of a data server where data is stored, an address of a client, an e-mail address, and the like may be stored.

The alliance clients 41 to 4n are clients that want to synchronize data with the client 10, and each component may be the same as the client 10.

The network 20 includes a wired and wireless network (also an internet or future network), and any communication device capable of accessing the synchronization server 30 through a wired or wireless network is used as the client 10. For example, as the client 10, various communication devices such as a computer, a notebook computer, a PDA, a mobile communication terminal, and a TV with Internet access may be used. In addition, the client 10 may be a server when data synchronization between servers is desired. For example, the synchronization server 30 may be a master server, and the client 10 may be a slave server.

Hereinafter, for convenience of description, the list of files stored in the folder of the client is called "client index", and the list of files stored in the working folder of the data server is called "server index".

Based on this structure, the operation of the real-time data synchronization system according to the embodiment of the present invention will be described.

The startup program of the synchronization server 30 operates as a daemon on Unix, and FIG. 3 shows a daemon program execution process in a synchronization server according to an embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 4 shows a configuration scheme of the synchronization server. The file in which is stored is illustrated.

The startup program of the synchronization server 30 reads a file in which a configuration scheme is stored, for example, a syncfolder.config file (S100 to S110), and then checks the login server list and data server list recorded in the file, Determine which server is registered in the list.

If it is registered in the login server list of the configuration scheme file, it forks to the login server module and waits for the client to log in (S120 to S130). If it is registered in the data server list, it forks to the data server module. Wait for login (S140 to S150).

After that, the startup program itself is terminated, and both the login server module and the data server module may be executed on one computer, or only one may be executed. As a result, when the login system and the working system are physically separated from each other, consistency can be maintained in maintaining them, and the working system, that is, the data server, can be easily increased as needed.

Each of the servers 31 and 32 of the synchronization server 30 according to the present invention performs the corresponding function according to the contents of the list stored in the configuration file, as described above. Hereinafter, referring to FIGS. 5A to 5C. The data synchronization process between the login server, data server, and client is described in detail.

5A through 5C are flowcharts illustrating a data synchronization method according to an embodiment of the present invention.

As shown in FIG. 5A, the client 10 first performs initialization and then logs in to the synchronization server 30 depending on whether a login condition occurs.

In more detail, the file monitoring unit 11 operates at a predetermined time (for example, 2 to 3 seconds) at intervals to monitor whether or not the files stored in the setting folder in the client 10 are changed, and the file being monitored. If a change occurs in the field, the monitoring operation is terminated and the client index for the corresponding folder is changed according to the change (S200). In addition, the scheduling unit 12 continuously checks the time and stops the scheduling task whenever the set time elapses (S210).

The connection unit 13 of the client 10 outputs a signal according to a file change from the file monitoring unit 11, a signal according to a set time elapsed from the scheduling unit 12, or a synchronization command from the synchronization server 30. If it is transmitted (S220), the login to the synchronization server 30 is performed (S230 to S240). Meanwhile, when the synchronization command is received from the synchronization server 30, the file monitoring unit 11 stops the file monitoring operation, and the scheduling unit 12 also ends the scheduling operation.

When the client 10 requests a login, the authentication unit 311 of the login server 31 first compares the version of the client 10 with the current release version (S250). That is, it is determined whether the version of the program for synchronizing the data of the client 10 and the distribution version match, and if the version of the client is low, the version is automatically upgraded (S260).

After the version check operation is performed, the authentication unit 311 requests authentication information for logging in to the client 10 and accordingly authentication information, that is, an ID and a password, is input from the client 10 (S270 to S280). In step S290, the user information database 33 is searched based on the input ID and password.

If the ID and password input from the client 10 are not stored in the user information database 33, the authentication unit 311 requests retransmission of authentication information along with an error message such as a connection failure indication and performs the authentication process again. (S300 to S320), when authentication information not registered in the user information database 33 more than the set number of times is input, the connection with the client 10 is terminated (S330).

On the other hand, if the ID and password input from the client 10 are registered in the user information database 33, the authentication key generation unit 312 provides the ID and data synchronization service of the client as shown in Fig. 5B. An authentication key is generated by encrypting the validity period that can be received (S340).

In the present invention, when the clients log in, a list of the client's address, name, expiration date, etc. is created, and these lists are stored in the working folder of the client. The validity period is set by the client and transmitted to the server at login, and the time is set longer than the set time, i.e., the scheduling time, for the client's scheduling task. Therefore, within the set validity period, the client starts logging in to the server according to the scheduling time. If the client is running normally, it will log in to the server before the validity period has expired, and the validity period will continue to update. Therefore, in the present invention, the data server 32 considers that the client is terminated when the validity period has passed, and that the client is activated when the validity period has not passed.

Next, the authentication key generation unit 312 searches the user information database 33 based on the ID of the client to find the address of the data server 32 to which the client belongs, that is, the files of the client 10 are stored. Next, the generated authentication key and the address of the data server 32 are transmitted to the client 10 (S350 to S360).

As described above, when the login to the synchronization server 30 of the client 10 is successfully performed and the authentication key and the address of the data server are transmitted from the login server 31, the client 10 moves to the data server 32 having the corresponding address. To be connected (S370). In this case, when the client 10 connects to the data server 32, the address of the client 10 connected in the working folder of the data storage unit 321 is stored. Therefore, after searching the working folder of a specific ID later, the associated clients 41 to 4n that are activated, that is, are currently connected through the network 20 can be known.

When the client 10 connects in the connection standby state, the data server 32 receives an authentication key from the client 10 to which the decryption unit 322 of the data server 32 connects, and then receives the authentication key. The decryption process restores the ID and the valid period of the client (S380), and determines whether the restored ID is stored in the user information database 33 or not (S390). If the authentication key is legal, it is again determined whether the validity period, that is, the period for receiving the data synchronization service, has elapsed (S400). On the other hand, if the authentication key is not legal or the validity period has elapsed, the connection with the client 10 is terminated (S10). The reason for setting the validity period in this way is to block the access of illegal users and to facilitate the partitioning and merging for user management in the data server 32.

If the validity period has not elapsed in step S400, the data processor 323 transmits the corresponding server index to the client 10 according to the request of the client 10.

That is, when a server index request is received from the client 10, the data processing unit 323 searches for a corresponding working folder of the data storage unit 321 based on the ID of the client and creates a server index which is a list of files stored therein. Transmit to 10 (S420).

When the server index is transmitted from the data server 32, the synchronization processing unit 14 of the client 10 compares the client index and the server index to determine whether there is a difference, and according to the comparison result (S430).

Specifically, as shown in FIG. 5C, the synchronization processing unit 14 of the client 10 reads the files stored in the designated folder one by one and compares the read files with the client indexes to determine whether they are new or changed files. It is determined whether the file is intact, and whether the current file state is an upload condition (S440). If the file is a new file or a changed file, the file is uploaded to the data server 32 via the network 20. Accordingly, the data processing unit 323 of the data server 32 performs a client ( The file transmitted from 10) is stored in the working folder of the data storage unit 321 (S460). In this way, the synchronization processing unit 14 performs uploading while analyzing the files stored in the designated folder one by one. In this case, the client index update processing may be performed every time the upload is performed.

On the other hand, the synchronization processor 14 analyzes the server index transmitted from the data server 32, and if there is a list of files that are not in the client index but only in the server index, that is, the data server 32 does not have a specific file in its own folder. In case of requesting the download of the file to the data server 32 (S470 to S480), the data processing unit 323 reads the file from the working folder of the client of the data storage unit 321 to the client 10. send. Therefore, the files in the data server 32 are stored in a specific folder designated to be synchronized with the client 10 (S490 to S500).

The data processing unit 323 of the data server 32 updates the server index whenever a file transfer is completed when uploading or downloading the data to the client 10. As the server index is updated in real time, multiple clients can receive multiple connections.

In contrast, if there is a list of files in the client index but not in the server index, i.e., if there are specific files in its own folder but not in the data server 32, then the synchronization processing unit 14 connects to any data server 32. The client 41-4n determines that the file has been deleted, and deletes the corresponding file stored in the folder designated to be synchronized (S510-S520). Next, a file delete message is sent to the data server 32, and the client index is updated. The synchronization processor 14 compares the client indexes with the server indexes one by one, performs file deletion as described above, and performs a client index update process according to the comparison result.

As described above, the client 10 performs upload, download, file deletion, etc. with the data server 32, and then terminates the connection with the synchronization server 30 (S530), and performs file monitoring and scheduling operations. Resume.

After the connection with the client 10 is terminated, the data processing unit 323 of the data server 32 checks the working folder of the data storage unit 321 to check the currently active affiliated clients 41 to 4n. The synchronization command is transmitted to these affiliated clients 41 to 4n (S540).

Therefore, the affiliated clients 41 to 4n having received the synchronization command from the data server 32 connect to the synchronization server 30 to perform the data synchronization process as described above. As a result, data synchronization with the affiliated clients 41 to 4n is achieved in real time without any separate user operation.

Although the above-described embodiments have described data synchronization between clients and data synchronization between clients and servers, the present invention is not limited thereto, and data transmission and synchronization between servers can be performed according to the data synchronization method described above.

For example, in case of web service, if many users require connection, several servers should be operated to distribute connection request, and same data should be maintained between servers. If the data doesn't change statically, there won't be a problem, but if the data keeps changing, such as bulletin boards, the data must be synchronized between servers. Therefore, even when a master server is located in the center and a slave server is located in various regions to perform web services, data synchronization can be performed between servers according to the data synchronization method described above.

In addition, the data synchronization method according to the present invention can be applied to a web hosting company. Generally, web hosting companies provide FTP and telnet as a way for users to manage their home page or update their data. However, since FTP and telnet are based on Unix, they are not easy for general users to use. have.

Therefore, when the data synchronization method according to the present invention is applied, since a specific folder of an individual user and a server are synchronized, a web page created by a client can be loaded on the server and web services can be made based thereon. In addition, since the user only needs to modify a web page on his or her local computer, the modified file is uploaded directly to the server, and thus no separate operation is required.

The invention is susceptible to various modifications and implementations without departing from the scope of the following claims.

As described above, according to the present invention, data synchronization is performed in real time between clients who want to share data or between a client and a server or between servers without a separate user operation.

Thus, even when an individual user wants to share data synchronization between a computer or a laptop used at work and at home, data change is made between the computer and the laptop in real time when a file is changed. For example, if you assign certain sites to your computer's Windows Web browser "Favorites," users will automatically turn on the computer as the same sites are automatically assigned to "Favorites" on your home computer or laptop. You can share and synchronize your data with just one click.

In the case of small and medium-sized enterprises, files are automatically backed up on the server even if important data is not sent to the server.

Web site data can also be stored on the server and the client at the same time, increasing the stability of the data. In the case of a company that provides users with a homepage, it is easier and more convenient for members to provide homepage creation, maintenance, and backup solutions.In the case of users, the homepage is more convenient because the transfer process is automatically made after the homepage is produced. Can be created and managed.

In the case of web hosting companies, the user can manage the home page without using FTP or telnet, and since the server and client are synchronized, the data can be recovered immediately even if the data is lost due to the server's cranking. Can be.

Claims (12)

In a system that performs data synchronization between multiple clients over a network, At least one data server that stores data of the client in a work folder assigned to each client and transmits a server index to the client connecting through a network, where the server index is a list of data stored in the work folder. Including, When the data change occurs, the client accesses the data server through the network and requests a server index. The server index and the client index, where the client index is a list of data owned by the client, are analyzed and analyzed. And data synchronization with the data server. The method of claim 1, And the client selectively performs upload or download or file deletion with the data server according to a result of comparing the server index and the client index. The method of claim 1, And the client requests a server index to the data server every set time. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 3, A database storing authentication information for authentication processing for each client and an address of a data server managing data of the client; And A login that compares authentication information input from a client connected through a network with authentication information stored in the database, and sends an authentication key and an address of a data server managing the client's data to the client according to the comparison result. server Data synchronization system further comprises. The method of claim 4, wherein When the data change occurs, the client requests login to the login server, receives the authentication key and the address of the data server, connects to the data server of the address, provides the authentication key, and requests a server index. And the data server provides a server index corresponding to the client when the authentication key is legal. The method of claim 4, wherein The login server encrypts the authentication information of the client and generates an authentication key when the authentication information transmitted from the client and the authentication information stored in the database match. The data server decrypts the authentication key transmitted from the client to generate authentication information, compares the generated authentication information with the authentication information stored in the database, and transmits a server index to the client according to the comparison result. Characterized by a synchronization system. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 3, And after the data synchronization with the client is performed, the data server transmits a synchronization command to another client that wants to synchronize data with the client. The method of claim 7, wherein And the client requests a server index to the data server when a data synchronization command is sent from the data server. A plurality of clients wishing to synchronize data via a network, at least one data server connected to the client via a network, and storing data of the client in a work folder allocated to each client, and a login server performing client authentication processing. In the data synchronization method of the system comprising: Logging in to the login server via the network when data change occurs in the client; Performing, by the login server, an authentication process of the client, and transmitting an authentication key and an address of a data server storing data of the client to an authenticated client; The client accessing a data server having an address sent from the login server and requesting a server index, wherein the server index is a list of data stored in a working folder; The data server sending the server index to the client; And The client comparing and analyzing the server index and the client index, where the client index is a list of data owned by the client and performing data synchronization with the data server according to the analysis result. Data synchronization method comprising a. The method of claim 9, In the logging in step, the client requests a login to the login server every set time. The method of claim 9, In the performing of the data synchronization, the client selectively performs upload or download or file deletion with the data server according to a result of comparing the server index and the client index. The method according to any one of claims 9 to 11, After the data server performs data synchronization with the client, sending a synchronization command to another client that wants to synchronize data with the client; And Logging in to the login server when the client receives the synchronization command from the data server Data synchronization method further comprising.