Incremental data conversion using a syncronization information record

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2017277592-A1
Application number	US-201615080888-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Mar 25, 2016
Priority date	Mar 25, 2016
Publication date	Sep 28, 2017
Grant date	—

Abstract

In one embodiment, techniques are provided for converting data items of a source repository that maintains a CAD description according to a first storage format to data items of an output repository that maintains the CAD description according to a second storage format. A converter gathers data items of the source repository and compares current condition information for them with condition information as of a last successful conversion maintained by a synchronization information record separate from the source repository. The converter determines one or more new or changed data items in the source repository since the last successful conversion, converts new or changed data items to the second storage format of the output repository, and stores them in the output repository, while skipping any unchanged data items. The converter further updates the synchronization information record to include the current condition information for data items in the source repository.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1 . A method for incrementally converting data items of a source repository that maintains a computer aided design (CAD) description according to a first storage format to data items of an output repository that maintains the CAD description according to a second storage format, the method comprising:
gathering, by a converter executing on an electronic device, data items of the source repository that maintains the CAD description according to the first storage format; comparing, by the converter, current condition information for data items of the source repository with condition information as of a last successful conversion maintained by a synchronization information record separate from the source repository, the condition information including at least:
identities of the data items of the source repository as of the last successful conversion,
mappings of the data items of the source repository to corresponding data is items of the output repository produced from conversion thereof, and
state of the data items of the source repository as of the last successful conversion;
in response to the comparing, determining one or more new or changed data items in the source repository since the last successful conversion; converting, by the converter, new or changed data items to the second storage format of the output repository, while skipping any unchanged data items of the source repository; and updating the synchronization information record to include the current condition information for data items in the source repository.

2 . The method of claim 1 , wherein each data item in the source repository is converted to zero or more corresponding data items in the output repository, and the mappings are 1:n mappings, where n is a natural number.

3 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the identities of the data items in the source repository are represented, at least in part, by identifiers (IDs), and the IDs of one or more of the data items in the source repository are different than IDs of one or more data items in the output repository produced from conversion thereof, and the mappings relate the IDs used in the source repository to the IDs used in the output repository.

4 . The method of claim 1 , wherein identities of the data items in the source repository are represented by identifiers (IDs), the IDs of the data items in the source repository are unstable such that at least one ID of a data item in the source repository is changed since the last successful conversion, and identities of the data items in the source repository are represented, at least in part, by a cryptographic hash of contents of the data items.

5 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the first storage format is a file-based storage format that uses one or more files to maintain elements organized into models, associated with levels that define graphical views, and the second storage format is a relational database-based storage format that uses a database including tables to represent elements organized into models and associated with categories and subcategories that define graphical views.

6 . The method of claim 5 , wherein the file-based storage format is a DgnV8 storage format and the relational database-based storage format is a DgnDb storage format.

7 . The method of claim 5 , wherein the gathering further comprises:
accessing a root model within a root file; locating one or more attached models by following a model graph from the root model; and forming a candidate set of models that includes the root model and the one or more attached models.

8 . The method of claim 7 , wherein the comparing further comprises:
for each candidate model in the candidate set of models, comparing current condition information for the model with any corresponding condition information for the model in the synchronization information record; in response to differences between the current condition information for the model and any corresponding condition information for the model in the synchronization information record, identifying the candidate model as new or potentially changed; for each potentially changed model, for each element of the potentially changed model, comparing condition information for the element with any corresponding condition information in the synchronization information record; and in response to differences between the condition information for each element of the potentially changed model and any corresponding condition information in the synchronization information record, identifying the element as new or changed.

9 . The method of claim 8 , wherein the converting further comprises:
for each new or changed model, creating or updating a corresponding model in the output repository; and for each new or changed element, creating or updating a corresponding element in s the output repository.

10 . The method of claim 9 , wherein the updating further comprises:
updating the synchronization information record to include current condition information for each new or potentially changed model and related data items; and updating the synchronization information record to include current condition in formation for each new or changed element and related data items.

11 . A method for maintaining a record of incremental conversions of data items of a source repository that maintains a computer aided design (CAD) description according to a first storage format to data items of an output repository that maintains the CAD description according to a second storage format, the method comprising:
comparing, by a converter executing on an electronic device, current condition information for data items of the source repository that maintains the CAD description according to the first storage format with condition information as of a last successful conversion maintained by a synchronization information record separate from the source repository, the condition information including at least
identities of the data items of the source repository as of the last successful conversion,
mappings of the data items of the source repository to corresponding data items of the output repository produced from conversion thereof, and
state of the data items of the source repository as of the last successful conversion;
in response to the comparing, determining, by the converter, one or more new or changed data items in the source repository since the last successful conversion; and updating the synchronization information record to include the current condition information for data items in the source repository.

12 . The method of claim 11 , wherein each data items in the source repository is converted to zero or more corresponding data items in the output repository, and the mappings are 1:n mappings, where n is a natural number.

13 . The method of claim 11 , wherein the identities of the data items in the source repository are represented, at least in part, by identifiers (IDs), and the IDs of one or more of the data items in the source repository are different than IDs of one or more data items in the output repository produced from conversion thereof, and the mappings relate the IDs used in the source repository to the IDs used in the output repository.

14 . The method of claim 11 , wherein identities of the data items in the source repository are represented by identifiers (IDs), the IDs of the data items in the source repository are unstable such that at least one ID of a data item in the source repository is changed since the last successful conversion, and identities of the data items in the source repository

Assignees

• Bentley Sys Inc

Inventors

• Wilson Samuel W

Classifications

• G06F30/00 Primary

  Computer-aided design [CAD] · CPC title

• G06F11/1451 Primary

  by selection of backup contents · CPC title

• G06F2201/80

  Database-specific techniques · CPC title

• G06F16/258

  Data format conversion from or to a database · CPC title

• G06F16/275

  Synchronous replication · CPC title