Data replication system and method
First Claim
1. A method of facilitating the formation of groups of trustworthy members, the method comprising:
- inserting an invitation command into the header of a first e-mail message originating from an inviting group member;
sending the first e-mail message to the e-mail client of an invitee;
detecting the invitation command at the invitee'"'"'s e-mail client;
inserting an accept command into the header of a second e-mail message originating from the invitee;
sending the second e-mail message to the e-mail client of the inviting group member; and
detecting the accept command at the inviting group member'"'"'s e-mail client, wherein the invitee becomes a new group member.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
A data replication system and method. The method and apparatus provides for an efficient means of replicating data over a network in the form of a file between two individuals, or within defined groups of individuals, using a variety of devices to access the Internet, including computers, personal data assistants (“PDA”s) and wireless devices. A group is formed through an exchange of invitation, acceptance, and welcome messages. A group member designates a replication directory on the group member'"'"'s computer. Files placed in the directory are replicated and stored in the replication directory of each of the other members of the group. Any change to a replicated file causes a message by one member to be sent to all other members. Changes are conveyed via patches that represent the changes made to a replicated file. Replicated files are saved without replacing previous versions of the replicated file. The group formation and file replication processes are accomplished using existing network protocols.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. A method of facilitating the formation of groups of trustworthy members, the method comprising:
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inserting an invitation command into the header of a first e-mail message originating from an inviting group member;
sending the first e-mail message to the e-mail client of an invitee;
detecting the invitation command at the invitee'"'"'s e-mail client;
inserting an accept command into the header of a second e-mail message originating from the invitee;
sending the second e-mail message to the e-mail client of the inviting group member; and
detecting the accept command at the inviting group member'"'"'s e-mail client, wherein the invitee becomes a new group member. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3)
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4. A method of replicating data among members of a first group, wherein the first group comprises two or more members, and wherein each group member has a group folder for receiving a data set, the method comprising:
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authoring a change to a data set in an authoring member'"'"'s group folder to create a changed data set;
creating a patch data file representing the change applied to the data set;
inserting a patch command into the header of an e-mail message originating from the authoring member, wherein the e-mail message comprises the patch data file;
sending the e-mail message to the e-mail client of each group member;
detecting the patch command at each group member'"'"'s e-mail client; and
applying the patch data file to the data set in the group folder of each group member so as to replicate the changed data set in the group folder of each group member. - View Dependent Claims (5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. A method of replicating data among members of a first group, wherein the group comprises two or more members, and wherein each group member has a group folder for receiving a data set, the method comprising:
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authoring a change to a data set in an authoring member'"'"'s group folder to create a changed data set;
creating a patch data file representing the change applied to the data set;
identifying each group member entitled to receive the patch file;
inserting a patch command into the header of an e-mail message originating from the authoring member, wherein the e-mail message comprises the patch data file;
sending the e-mail message to the e-mail client of each entitled group member;
detecting the patch command at each entitled group member'"'"'s e-mail client; and
applying the patch data file to the data set in the group folder of each entitled group member so as to replicate the changed data set in the group folder of each entitled group member. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
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16. A method of replicating data among members of a plurality of groups, wherein each group comprises two or more members, wherein each group member has a group folder for receiving one or more data sets, and wherein at least one group member is common to two or more of the plurality of groups, the method comprising:
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associating the group folder of the common member with at least two of the groups to which the common member belongs;
receiving a data set in the group folder of the common member from a first group to which the common member belongs; and
replicating the received data set in the group folder of each member of each group associated with the group folder of the common member.
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17. A data replication system (DRS) comprising:
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a DRS message, the DRS message comprising a GROUP element, a VERB element, and an ARGUMENT element;
a group of members, wherein the group is identified by a GROUP element;
a message redirector adapted to;
extract the DRS message from a stream of messages; and
direct the DRS message to the command processor; and
a command processor adapted to;
parse the GROUP element to identify a group to which the DRS message is directed;
parse the VERB element to determine an action to be applied to the group; and
parse the ARGUMENT element to determine an object to which the action will be applied. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20)
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Specification