Abstract: A method of maintaining a database. The database is a partially replicated database having a central database and a plurality of individual partially replicated databases. Updates made to the central database or to one of the individual, partially replicated databases are selectively propagated to one or more recipient partially replicated databases if the owner of the recipient partially replicated database has visibility to the data being selectively transmitted. This is accomplished by first replicating a group or records as a single logical docking object. A single set of visibility rules is applied to the data content of the entire logical docking unit. The docking object is then applied to the recipient individual partially replicated database if the owner thereof has visibility to the data being transmitted in the single logical docking object. Also disclosed are methods of controlling and logging the propagation of docking objects.

Abstract: A method of maintaining a database. The database is a partially replicated database having a central database and a plurality of individual partially replicated databases. Updates made to the central database or to one of the individual, partially replicated databases are selectively propagated to one or more recipient partially replicated databases if the owner of the recipient partially replicated database has visibility to the data being selectively transmitted. This is accomplished by first replicating a group or records as a single logical docking object. A single set of visibility rules is applied to the data content of the entire logical docking unit. The docking object is then applied to the recipient individual partially replicated database if the owner thereof has visibility to the data being transmitted in the single logical docking object. Also disclosed are methods of controlling and logging the propagation of docking objects.

Abstract: A method of maintaining a database. The database is a partially replicated database having a central database and a plurality of individual partially replicated databases. Updates made to the central database or to one of the individual, partially replicated databases are selectively propagated to one or more recipient partially replicated databases if the owner of the recipient partially replicated database has visibility to the data being selectively transmitted. This is accomplished by first replicating a group or records as a single logical docking object. A single set of visibility rules is applied to the data content of the entire logical docking unit. The docking object is then applied to the recipient individual partially replicated database if the owner thereof has visibility to the data being transmitted in the single logical docking object. Also disclosed are methods of controlling and logging the propagation of docking objects.

Abstract: A partially replicated database is maintained so that updates made to a central database, or to another partially replicated database, are selectively propagated to the partially replicated database. Updates are propagated to a partially replicated database if the owner of the partially replicated database has "visibility" to the data being updated. Visibility is determined by using predetermined rules stored in a rules database. Typically, the stored rules are assessed against data content of a plurality of tables making up a single logical entity, known as a docking object, that is being updated.