Using a file server as a central shared database

• US 20060173932A1
• Filed: 01/31/2005
• Published: 08/03/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 01/31/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
• Inventors: Crevier, Daniel W., Cortright, David S., Grandy, James C.
• Granted Patent: US 7,660,809 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/258 Data format conversion from or to a database
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99943 Generating database or data structure, e.g. via user interface

Abstract

Various entities need to share data among team members working on the same project without investing in specialized server software. To address this need, an existing standard file server is used to host data for sharing among the team. The file server has not been customized to share the data for the particular application. A user creates a special folder for a project at a user specified location on the file server. Data associated with the project is converted to files and stored in a structure of folders used by the file server to represent the data that is shared. Each client that has subscribed to this shared data synchronizes the data on their local computing device with the data on the file server. Security is provided by using the file server'"'"'s built-in access controls.

Claims

1. A method for sharing data, comprising:

converting a set of data items from a first format specific for a first application to a set of standard format files on a storage device, said converting includes storing each data item in a separate file on said storage device;

maintaining a copy of said data items on a first client in said format specific to said first application; and

synchronizing said copy of said data items in said format specific to said first application on said first client with said standard format files on said storage device.

2. A method according to claim 1, wherein:

said storage device is a file server; and

said method further comprises managing access control of said standard format files on said file server using a standard access control mechanism for said file server.

3. A method according to claim 1, wherein:

said converting includes generating file names for said of standard format files based on unique identifiers previously stored in said first format for said set of data items.

4. A method according to claim 3, wherein:

said file names are created by encoding said unique identifiers.

5. A method according to claim 3, wherein said synchronizing includes:

accessing file names and modified times for said standard format files on said storage device;

identifying unique identifiers from said file names;

comparing said identified unique identifiers with unique identifiers stored on said first client;

comparing said modified times for said standard format files to time stamps on said first client;

determining which data items to update based on said comparing said identified unique identifiers and comparing said modified times;

identifying conflicts in said data items based on said comparing said identified unique identifiers and comparing said modified times; and

resolving said conflicts.

6. A method according to claim 1, wherein said converting comprises:

creating a first folder for storing meta data and subfolders;

creating a subfolder for each type of data item; and

storing standard format files in appropriate subfolders based on type of data item.

7. A method according to claim 1, wherein:

said storage device is a file server;

said converting is performed on a second client;

said first client and said second client are remote from said file server;

said first client and said second client are computing devices that communicate with said file server using a network; and

said first application is a personal information management program.

8. One or more processor readable storage devices having processor readable code embodied on said processor readable storage devices, said processor readable code for programming one or more processors to perform a method comprising:

maintaining a first copy of a set of data items on a first client in a format specific to a first application; and

synchronizing said first copy of said data items on said first client with a second copy of said data items stored as a set of standard format files.

9. One or more processor readable storage devices according to claim 8, wherein:

said second copy of said data items are stored on a file server; and

said first client communicates with said file server via a network.

10. One or more processor readable storage devices according to claim 9, wherein:

said synchronizing includes determining which data items to update without accessing content of said standard format files on said file server.

11. One or more processor readable storage devices according to claim 8, wherein said synchronizing further comprises:

maintaining a synchronization map that stores data item identifiers and synchronization times, said second copy of said data items stored as a set of standard format files are on a file server; and

using said synchronization map to determine which data items to add, which data items to update and which data times to delete.

12. One or more processor readable storage devices according to claim 8, wherein said synchronizing further comprises:

maintaining hashes of said data items;

comparing at least a subset of said hashes with at least a subset of said data items on said first client; and

concluding that data items on said first client that match a respective hash are not modified despite a newer modification time.

13. One or more processor readable storage devices according to claim 8, wherein:

said second copy of said data items stored as a set of standard format files are on a file server; and

said method further comprises managing access control of said standard format files on said file server using a standard access control mechanism for said file server.

14. One or more processor readable storage devices according to claim 8, wherein said synchronizing comprises:

accessing file names and modified times for said standard format files;

identifying unique identifiers from said file names;

comparing said identified unique identifiers with unique identifiers stored on said first client;

comparing said modified times for said standard format files to time stamps on said first client; and

determining which data items to update based on said comparing said identified unique identifiers and comparing said modified times.

15. A method for sharing data, comprising:

storing a set of data in a generic file system on a file server;

using an access control mechanism for said file server to provide access control for said set of data;

maintaining a first copy of said set of data on a first client;

maintaining a second copy of said set of data on a second client;

synchronizing said first copy with said set of data on said file server; and

synchronizing said second copy with said set of data on said file server.

16. A method according to claim 15, wherein:

said set of data is associated with a project.

17. A method according to claim 15, wherein:

each data item of said a set of data is stored in a separate file.

18. A method according to claim 17, wherein:

each separate file includes a filename that encodes a unique identifier for a respective data item.

19. A method according to claim 15, wherein said synchronizing said first copy with said set of data on said file server comprises:

starting a countdown timer;

resetting said countdown time if said first copy is modified;

starting a synchronization process between said first copy and said data on said file server when said countdown timer finishes.

20. A method according to claim 15, wherein:

said set of data is stored in a folder structure that includes a folder for each data type, within each folder for each data type is a subfolder for unmodified files and a subfolder for modified files.