Patent ID: 7107297

Claim:
A computer implemented method for synchronization and propagation of metadirectory updates, said metadirectory comprising a plurality of joined heterogeneous data sources, said data sources comprising one or more entries having one or more attributes, said method comprising the steps of: receiving by a joiner plug-in a first update operation for a first entry in a first data source; selecting by said joiner plug-in a best match entry of said metadirectory to said first entry in the first data source; applying by said joiner plug-in said update operation to a local temporary copy of said best matching metadirectory entry; comparing by said joiner plug-in said updated local temporary copy to an original unmodified entry in said metadirectory; responsive to said step of comparing finding that one or more differences occurred due to the application of said update operation, creating by said joiner plug-in a differential update command containing only changed fields in said updated temporary copy, thereby omitting operations resulting in no net change to said updated temporary copy; and propagating by said joiner plug-in said differential update command to at least one other joined data source to implement said first update operation.