System and method for sharing data in a group of mobile devices

摘要

A method and system are provided for sharing data amongst a group of a plurality of mobile devices without requiring a database or server to centrally store the shared data. The shared data is instead stored by each group member individually while controlling the manner in which the shared data is updated. To manage such updates, the shared data is atomized such that individual databases in the shared data are separated or otherwise delineated into one or more records, each record having associated therewith, a value. To maintain a common copy of the shared data at each device, any update is sent to all group members using an intermediate message exchange service that is capable of transmitting a sent message to more than one recipient if necessary. In this way, the updates are multicast to the group. To manage the content of the shared data, each update comprises one or more changes to a current copy of a corresponding record.

主权项

1. A method for updating data stored individually by each member of a group of a plurality of mobile devices, said method comprising:
one of said plurality of mobile devices performing a first modification to data in said one of said plurality of mobile devices by modifying a first value in said data or generating a first new value to be stored in said data while said one of said plurality of mobile devices is not operational for communication with a message exchange service, said data comprising a plurality of values stored to permit existing values to be modified and new values to be added without disrupting other values in the data; and after said one of said plurality of mobile devices becomes operational for communication with said message exchange service:
said one of said plurality of mobile devices sending a first message containing the first modified value or the first new value corresponding to said first modification to said data without incorporating others of said plurality of values, to each other member of said group;said one of said plurality of mobile devices receiving a second message containing a second modified value or a second new value corresponding to a second modification to data in at least another one of said plurality of mobile devices without incorporating others of said plurality of values, said second message configured to be distributed by said other member in said group to all other members in said group;said one of said plurality of mobile devices determining from information associated with said first and second messages if said second modification should be made to said data modified by said first modification in said one of said plurality of mobile devices;wherein said determining from information associated with said first and second messages comprises examining a set of rules prioritizing updates according to a hierarchy of members in said group; andsaid one of said plurality of mobile devices updating said data according to said determining, wherein if said second modification is to be made, said second modified value or said second new value provided in said second message is added to said data without disrupting said other values in said data.