Method and apparatus for a file sharing synchronization system

• US 10,515,070 B2
• Filed: 10/02/2015
• Issued: 12/24/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 11/08/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Dropbox, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Dropbox, Inc.
• Inventors: Strong, Jack Benjamin, Thomas, Gibu
• Primary Examiner(s): Trujillo, James
• Assistant Examiner(s): Khoshnoodi, Fariborz
• Application Number:
  US14/873,197
• Publication Number:
  US 20160028814A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,544 Days
• Field of Search: 707706, 707709
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/1767 Concurrency control, e.g. optimistic or pessimistic approaches
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/182 Distributed file systems
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/2365 Ensuring data consistency and integrity
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/48 Retrieval characterised by using metadata, e.g. metadata not derived from the content or metadata generated manually
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/51 Indexing; Data structures therefor; Storage structures
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/06 specially adapted for file transfer, e.g. file transfer protocol [FTP]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/1095 Replication or mirroring of data, e.g. scheduling or transport for data synchronisation between network nodes

Abstract

A computer-implemented method is provided for managing and sharing picture files. In one embodiment of the present invention, the method comprises providing a server platform and providing a datastore on the server platform for maintaining full resolution copies of the files shared between a plurality of sharing clients. A synchronization engine is provided on the server platform and is configured to send real-time updates to a plurality of sharing clients when at least one of the sharing clients updates or changes one of said files. A web interface may also be provided that allows a user to access files in the datastore through the use of a web browser.

Claims

1. A method for aggregating and synchronizing messages associated with a user, the method comprising:

maintaining, for a user by a synchronization server within a local database of the synchronization server, a single virtual e-mail account to manage e-mails for multiple remote e-mail accounts associated with the user, wherein the multiple remote e-mail accounts are associated with databases of remote servers accessible by the user using a browser;

aggregating, by the synchronization server, e-mails from the multiple remote e-mail accounts into the single virtual e-mail account maintained by the synchronization server;

maintaining, by the synchronization server, copies of the e-mails from the multiple remote e-mail accounts separately from the remote servers;

aggregating, by the synchronization server, contacts from the multiple remote e-mail accounts into a central contact list associated with the single virtual e-mail account;

providing, by the synchronization server, non-browser access to the single virtual e-mail account comprising the aggregated e-mails from the multiple remote e-mail accounts by way of a client application running on a computer associated with the user and without requiring the user to access the remote servers;

receiving, by the synchronization server, an update to at least one of the e-mails; and

automatically synchronizing, by the synchronization server and in response to receiving the update to the at least one of the e-mails, the received update within the single virtual e-mail account in real time.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising propagating the received update to a plurality of computing devices associated with the user.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein receiving the update to the at least one of the e-mails comprises determining a move of the at least one of the e-mails.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising notifying a remote e-mail account associated with an updated message of the update.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving, at the synchronization server, a notification that an e-mail associated with one of the multiple remote e-mail accounts was deleted; and

sending, by the synchronization server, the notification of deletion to a plurality of client devices associated with the user.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein aggregating the e-mails from the multiple remote e-mail accounts comprises identifying the multiple remote e-mail accounts through multiple browsers.

7. The method of claim 6, further comprising maintaining, by the synchronization server, a perpetual connection with at least one of the multiple remote e-mail accounts in order to receive updates and synchronize the received updates in real time.

8. A non-transitory computer-readable medium for aggregating and synchronizing messages associated with a user comprising instructions that, when executed by one or more processors, cause a computer device to:

maintain, for a user by a synchronization server within a local database of the synchronization server, a single virtual e-mail account to manage e-mails for multiple remote e-mail accounts associated with the user, wherein the multiple remote e-mail accounts are associated with databases of remote servers accessible by the user using a browser;

aggregate, by the synchronization server, e-mails from the multiple remote e-mail accounts into with the single virtual e-mail account maintained by the synchronization server;

maintain, by the synchronization server, copies of the e-mails from the multiple remote e-mail accounts separately from the remote servers;

aggregate, by the synchronization server, contacts from the multiple remote e-mail accounts into a central contact list associated with the single virtual e-mail account

provide, by the synchronization server, non-browser access to the single virtual e-mail account comprising the aggregated e-mails from the multiple remote e-mail accounts by way of a client application running on a computer associated with the user and without requiring the user to access the remote servers;

receive, by the synchronization server, an update to at least one of the e-mails; and

automatically synchronize, by the synchronization server and in response to receiving the update to the at least one of the e-mails, the received update within the single virtual e-mail account in real time.

9. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 8, further comprising instructions that, when executed by the one or more processors, cause the computer device to propagate the received update to a plurality of computing devices associated with the user.

10. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 8, wherein the instructions, when executed by the one or more processors, cause the computer device to receive the update to the at least one of the e-mails by determining a move of the at least one of the e-mails.

11. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 8, further comprising instructions that, when executed by the one or more processors, cause the computer device to notify a remote e-mail account associated with an updated message of the update.

12. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 8, further comprising instructions that, when executed by the one or more processors, cause the computer device to:

receive a notification that an e-mail associated with one of the multiple remote e-mail accounts was deleted; and

send the notification of deletion to a plurality of client devices associated with the user.

13. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 8, wherein the instructions, when executed by the one or more processors, cause the computer device to aggregate the e-mails from the multiple remote e-mail accounts by identifying the multiple remote e-mail accounts through multiple browsers.

14. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 13, further comprising instructions that, when executed by the one or more processors, cause the computer device to maintain a perpetual connection with at least one of the multiple remote e-mail accounts in order to receive updates and synchronize the received updates in real time.

15. A system comprising:

at least one processor; and

a non-transitory computer-readable medium comprising instructions that, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the system to;

maintain, for a user by a synchronization server within a local database of the synchronization server, a single virtual e-mail account to manage e-mails for multiple remote e-mail accounts associated with the user, wherein the multiple remote e-mail accounts are associated with databases of remote servers accessible by the user using a browser;

aggregate, by the synchronization server, e-mails from the multiple remote e-mail accounts into the single virtual e-mail account maintained by the synchronization server;

maintain, by the synchronization server, copies of the e-mails from the multiple remote e-mail accounts separately from the remote servers;

aggregate, by the synchronization server, contacts from the multiple remote e-mail accounts into a central contact list associated with the single virtual e-mail account;

provide, by the synchronization server, non-browser access to the single virtual e-mail account comprising the aggregated e-mails from the multiple remote e-mail accounts by way of a client application running on a computer associated with the user and without requiring the user to access the remote servers

receive, by the synchronization server, an update to at least one of the e-mails; and

automatically synchronize, by the synchronization server and in response to receiving the update to the at least one of the e-mails, the received within the single virtual e-mail account in real time.

16. The system of claim 15, further comprising instructions that, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the system to propagate the received update to a plurality of computing devices associated with the user.

17. The system of claim 15, wherein the instructions, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the system to receive the update to the at least one of the e-mails by determining a move of the at least one of the e-mails.

18. The system of claim 15, further comprising instructions that, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the system to:

receive a notification that an e-mail associated with one of the multiple remote e-mail accounts was deleted; and

send the notification of deletion to a plurality of client devices associated with the user.

19. The system of claim 15, wherein the instructions, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the system to aggregate the e-mails from the multiple remote e-mail accounts by identifying the multiple remote e-mail accounts through multiple browsers.

20. The system of claim 19, further comprising instructions that, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the system to maintain a perpetual connection with at least one of the multiple remote e-mail accounts in order to receive updates and synchronize the received updates in real time.