Systems and methods for the implementation of a peer-to-peer rule-based pull autonomous synchronization system

• US 20050262371A1
• Filed: 08/30/2004
• Published: 11/24/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 05/03/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
• Inventors: Luke, Hok-Sum Horace, Williams, David W., Berkes, Otto G., Blanco, Victor Keith
• Granted Patent: US 7,395,446 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 713/400
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/178 Techniques for file synchronisation in file systems
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/1834 implemented based on peer-to-peer networks, e.g. gnutella p2p communication protocols H04L67/104
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/1095 Replication or mirroring of data, e.g. scheduling or transport for data synchronisation between network nodes
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/329 in the application layer [OSI layer 7]

Abstract

The present invention relates to a synchronization system that utilizes a synchronization wizard (“PullSync”) residing on a first computer device to request and receive (or “pull”) data from a second computer device. The first computer device (the “syncer”) copies files from shared folders on the second computer device (the “syncee”) in accordance with specific pull-synchronization rules (PSRs) established on the syncer that define the scope and extent of the synchronization. This copying occurs over a network connection using existing and well-defined protocols by which one computer system is able to view and copy files from the available shared folders of a second computer system, and the PullSync wizard software needs to exist only on the first computer system (the syncer) to utilize these existing networking protocols (including existing security/authentication protocols) to selectively copy files from the second computer system.

Claims

1. A method for synchronizing a first computer system with a second computer system, said first computer system comprising a software component for pull-synchronization, said method (the “

synchronization operation”

) comprising;

said first computer system establishing a network connection between said first computer system and said second computer system or utilizing an existing network connection between same (the “

connection element”

);

said first computer system viewing at least one file on said second computer system (the “

viewing element”

);

said first computer system ascertaining whether any of said at least one file on said second computer system needs to be copied to said first computer system in order for said first computer system to be synchronized with said second computer system (the “

logical element”

); and

said first computer system copying at least one file from said second computer system over said network connection using a standard networking protocol (the “

copying element”

);

wherein said second computer system, for the synchronization operation comprising the aforementioned elements, utilizes only a standard networking protocol functionality for said synchronization operation.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein said second computer system is not aware that it is being synced (as a syncee) with said first computer system (as a syncer).

3. The method of claim 1 wherein said network connection of said connection element is a wireless connection.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein said first computer system is a mobile computer system with a dynamic network connection to said second computer system such that said first computer system may at certain times be capable of performing said connection element (and the elements that follow) and that may at certain other times not be able to perform said connection element (and the elements that follow).

5. The method of claim 1 wherein said synchronization operation further comprises the utilization of existing standard network security protocols with regard to said network connection between said first computer system and said second computer system.

6. The method of claim 1 wherein said logical element is performed by said first computer system in accordance with a set of synchronization rules.

7. The method of claim 6 wherein said set of synchronization rules define at least one sync parameter from among the following plurality of sync parameters:

a set of computer systems for syncing;

a set of folders on computer systems for syncing;

a set of files on computer systems for syncing;

a set of characteristics for files on computer systems for syncing; and

a combination of at least two of the foregoing sync parameters.

8. The method of claim 6 wherein said set of synchronization rules further comprise a subset of rules for managing and maintaining said files on said first computer system.

9. The method of claim 6 wherein said first computer system actively seeks out at least one additional computer system with which to sync utilizing the synchronization operation, and wherein a set of synchronization rules further comprise a subset of rules for managing the frequency of attempting to perform the synchronization operation.

10. A method for two-directional peer-to-peer synchronization for at least two computer systems in a network wherein each of said at least two computer systems uses a pull-only synchronization software component, said method (the “

synchronization operation”

) comprising;

said first computer system establishing a network connection between said first computer system and said second computer system or utilizing an existing network connection between same (the “

connection element”

);

said first computer system viewing at least one file on said second computer system (the “

viewing element”

);

said first computer system ascertaining whether any of said at least one file on said second computer system needs to be copied to said first computer system in order for said first computer system to be synchronized with said second computer system (the “

logical element”

);

said first computer system copying at least one file from said second computer system over said network connection using a standard networking protocol (the “

copying element”

);

said second computer system establishing a network connection between said second computer system and said first computer system or utilizing an existing network connection between same (the “

connection element”

);

said second computer system viewing at least one file on said first computer system (the “

viewing element”

);

said second computer system ascertaining whether any of said at least one file on said first computer system needs to be copied to said second computer system in order for said second computer system to be synchronized with said first computer system (the “

logical element”

); and

said second computer system copying at least one file from said first computer system over said network connection using a standard networking protocol (the “

copying element”

);

wherein said elements of said first computer system are performed independently from said elements of said second computer system, and wherein said second computer system, for the synchronization operation comprising the aforementioned elements performed by said first computer system, utilizes only a standard networking protocol functionality, and wherein said first computer system, for the synchronization operation comprising the aforementioned elements performed by said second computer system, utilizes only a standard networking protocol functionality.

11. A system for synchronizing a first computer system with a second computer system, said first computer system comprising a software component for pull-synchronization, said system (the “

synchronization system”

) comprising at least one subsystem for;

said first computer system establishing a network connection between said first computer system and said second computer system or utilizing an existing network connection between same (the “

connection subsystem component”

);

said first computer system viewing at least one file on said second computer system (the “

viewing subsystem component”

);

said first computer system ascertaining whether any of said at least one file on said second computer system needs to be copied to said first computer system in order for said first computer system to be synchronized with said second computer system (the “

logical subsystem component”

); and

said first computer system copying at least one file from said second computer system over said network connection using a standard networking protocol (the “

copying subsystem component”

);

wherein said second computer system, for the synchronization system comprising the aforementioned subsystem components, utilizes only a standard networking protocol functionality for said synchronization system.

12. The system of claim 11 further comprising at least one subsystem whereby said second computer system is not aware that it is being synced (as a syncee) with said first computer system (as a syncer).

13. The system of claim 11 further comprising at least one subsystem whereby said network connection of said connection subsystem component is a wireless connection.

14. The system of claim 11 further comprising at least one subsystem whereby said first computer system is a mobile computer system with a dynamic network connection to said second computer system such that said first computer system may at certain times be capable of performing said connection subsystem component (and the subsystem components that follow) and that may at certain other times not be able to perform said connection subsystem component (and the subsystem components that follow).

15. The system of claim 11 further comprising at least one subsystem whereby said synchronization system further comprises the utilization of existing standard network security protocols with regard to said network connection between said first computer system and said second computer system.

16. The system of claim 11 further comprising at least one subsystem whereby said logical subsystem component is performed by said first computer system in accordance with a set of synchronization rules.

17. The system of claim 16 further comprising at least one subsystem whereby said set of synchronization rules define at least one sync parameter from among the following plurality of sync parameters:

a set of computer systems for syncing;

a set of folders on computer systems for syncing;

a set of files on computer systems for syncing;

a set of characteristics for files on computer systems for syncing; and

a combination of at least two of the foregoing sync parameters.

18. The system of claim 16 further comprising at least one subsystem whereby said set of synchronization rules further comprise a subset of rules for managing and maintaining said files on said first computer system.

19. The system of claim 16 further comprising at least one subsystem whereby said first computer system actively seeks out at least one additional computer system with which to sync utilizing the synchronization system, and wherein a set of synchronization rules further comprise a subset of rules for managing the frequency of attempting to perform the synchronization system.

20. A system for two-directional peer-to-peer synchronization for at least two computer systems in a network wherein each of said at least two computer systems uses a pull-only synchronization software component, said system (the “

synchronization system”

) comprising at least one subsystem for;

said first computer system establishing a network connection between said first computer system and said second computer system or utilizing an existing network connection between same (the “

connection subsystem component”

);

said first computer system viewing at least one file on said second computer system (the “

viewing subsystem component”

);

said first computer system ascertaining whether any of said at least one file on said second computer system needs to be copied to said first computer system in order for said first computer system to be synchronized with said second computer system (the “

logical subsystem component”

);

said first computer system copying at least one file from said second computer system over said network connection using a standard networking protocol (the “

copying subsystem component”

);

said second computer system establishing a network connection between said second computer system and said first computer system or utilizing an existing network connection between same (the “

connection subsystem component”

);

said second computer system viewing at least one file on said first computer system (the “

viewing subsystem component”

);

said second computer system ascertaining whether any of said at least one file on said first computer system needs to be copied to said second computer system in order for said second computer system to be synchronized with said first computer system (the “

logical subsystem component”

); and

said second computer system copying at least one file from said first computer system over said network connection using a standard networking protocol (the “

copying subsystem component”

);

wherein said subsystem components of said first computer system are performed independently from said subsystem components of said second computer system, and wherein said second computer system, for the synchronization system comprising the aforementioned subsystem components performed by said first computer system, utilizes only a standard networking protocol functionality, and wherein said first computer system, for the synchronization system comprising the aforementioned subsystem components performed by said second computer system, utilizes only a standard networking protocol functionality.

21. A computer-readable medium comprising computer-readable instructions for synchronizing a first computer system with a second computer system, said first computer system comprising a software component for pull-synchronization, said computer-readable instructions (the “

synchronization instructions”

) comprising instructions for;

said first computer system establishing a network connection between said first computer system and said second computer system or utilizing an existing network connection between same (the “

connection instructions”

);

said first computer system viewing at least one file on said second computer system (the “

viewing instructions”

);

said first computer system ascertaining whether any of said at least one file on said second computer system needs to be copied to said first computer system in order for said first computer system to be synchronized with said second computer system (the “

logical instructions”

); and

said first computer system copying at least one file from said second computer system over said network connection using a standard networking protocol (the “

copying instructions”

);

wherein said second computer system, for the synchronization instructions comprising the aforementioned instructions, utilizes only a standard networking protocol functionality for said synchronization instructions.

22. The computer-readable instructions of claim 21 further comprising instructions whereby said second computer system is not aware that it is being synced (as a syncee) with said first computer system (as a syncer).

23. The computer-readable instructions of claim 21 further comprising instructions whereby said network connection of said connection instructions is a wireless connection.

24. The computer-readable instructions of claim 21 further comprising instructions whereby said first computer system is a mobile computer system with a dynamic network connection to said second computer system such that said first computer system may at certain times be capable of performing said connection instructions (and the instructions that follow) and that may at certain other times not be able to perform said connection instructions (and the instructions that follow).

25. The computer-readable instructions of claim 21 further comprising instructions whereby said synchronization instructions further comprises the utilization of existing standard network security protocols with regard to said network connection between said first computer system and said second computer system.

26. The computer-readable instructions of claim 21 further comprising instructions whereby said logical instructions is performed by said first computer system in accordance with a set of synchronization rules.

27. The computer-readable instructions of claim 26 further comprising instructions whereby said set of synchronization rules define at least one sync parameter from among the following plurality of sync parameters:

a set of computer systems for syncing;

a set of folders on computer systems for syncing;

a set of files on computer systems for syncing;

a set of characteristics for files on computer systems for syncing; and

a combination of at least two of the foregoing sync parameters.

28. The computer-readable instructions of claim 26 further comprising instructions whereby said set of synchronization rules further comprise a subset of rules for managing and maintaining said files on said first computer system.

29. The computer-readable instructions of claim 26 further comprising instructions whereby said first computer system actively seeks out at least one additional computer system with which to sync utilizing the synchronization instructions, and wherein a set of synchronization rules further comprise a subset of rules for managing the frequency of attempting to perform the synchronization instructions.

30. A computer-readable medium comprising computer-readable instructions for two-directional peer-to-peer synchronization for at least two computer systems in a network wherein each of said at least two computer systems uses a pull-only synchronization software component, said computer-readable instructions (the “

synchronization instructions”

) comprising instructions for;

said first computer system establishing a network connection between said first computer system and said second computer system or utilizing an existing network connection between same (the “

connection instructions”

);

said first computer system viewing at least one file on said second computer system (the “

viewing instructions”

);

said first computer system ascertaining whether any of said at least one file on said second computer system needs to be copied to said first computer system in order for said first computer system to be synchronized with said second computer system (the “

logical instructions”

);

said first computer system copying at least one file from said second computer system over said network connection using a standard networking protocol (the “

copying instructions”

);

said second computer system establishing a network connection between said second computer system and said first computer system or utilizing an existing network connection between same (the “

connection instructions”

);

said second computer system viewing at least one file on said first computer system (the “

viewing instructions”

);

said second computer system ascertaining whether any of said at least one file on said first computer system needs to be copied to said second computer system in order for said second computer system to be synchronized with said first computer system (the “

logical instructions”

); and

said second computer system copying at least one file from said first computer system over said network connection using a standard networking protocol (the “

copying instructions”

);

wherein said instructions of said first computer system are performed independently from said instructions of said second computer system, and wherein said second computer system, for the synchronization instructions comprising the aforementioned instructions performed by said first computer system, utilizes only a standard networking protocol functionality, and wherein said first computer system, for the synchronization instructions comprising the aforementioned instructions performed by said second computer system, utilizes only a standard networking protocol functionality.