File Synchronisation

• US 20070276962A1
• Filed: 12/22/2004
• Published: 11/29/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 12/24/2003
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Nokia Corporation
• Original Assignee: Nokia Corporation
• Inventors: La Pensee, Mark
• Application Number:
  US10/583,824
• Publication Number:
  US 20070276962A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 709/248
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/178 Techniques for file synchronisation in file systems

Abstract

A method for synchronising data between a client device and a server device, at least one of the client device and the server device having synchronisation means, the method comprising: defining a first folder in a memory of the client device; defining a second folder in a memory of the server device; storing in the first folder data items of a certain type to be synchronised from the client device; storing in the second folder data items of the same type to be synchronised from the server device; and associating with each data item stored in the first and second folders an identifier for identifying the item; the client device and the server device being arranged such that a user of the devices cannot create subfolders within the first or second folders; and the synchronisation means being adapted to synchronise data items in the first and second folders on connection of the client device to the server device.

Claims

1. A method for synchronising data between a client device and a server device, at least one of the client device and the server device having synchronisation means, the method comprising:

defining a first folder in a memory of the client device;

defining a second folder in a memory of the server device;

storing in the first folder data items of a certain type to be synchronised from the client device;

storing in the second folder data items of the same type to be synchronised from the server device; and

associating with each data item stored in the first and second folders an identifier for identifying the item;

the client device and the server device being arranged such that a user of the devices cannot create subfolders within the first or second folders; and

the synchronisation means being adapted to synchronise data items in the first and second folders on connection of the client device to the server device.

2. A method as claimed in claim 1 wherein the first and second folders are respectively parts of file systems within the client device and the server device and the file systems are such that any type of data can be stored in such a way that it can be synchronised on connection of the client device to the server device.

3. A method as claimed in claim 1 or claim 2 wherein each data item identifier is unique within the client and server devices.

4. A method as claimed in any preceding claim wherein a data item stored in the first folder or the second folder is associated with a corresponding data item stored in the second folder or the first folder respectively by means of the identifier of the data item.

5. A device for storing data, the device comprising a memory having a first folder, wherein:

the first folder comprises data items of a certain type to be synchronised with a remote device, each data item having an associated identifier for identifying the item;

the device is adapted to prevent a user from creating subfolders within the first folder; and

synchronisation means within the device or the remote device are adapted to synchronise data items in the first folder with the remote device on connection of the device to the remote device.

6. A device according to claim 5 wherein the synchronising means are adapted to synchronise data items in the first folder with corresponding data items stored in a second folder in the memory of the remote device.

7. A device according to claim 5 or claim 6 wherein the first folder is a part of a file system within the device and the file system is such that any type of data can be stored in such a way that it can be synchronised with the remote device on connection of the device to the remote device.

8. A device according to any of claims 5 to 7 wherein each data item identifier is unique within the device.

9. A device according to any of claims 5 to 8 wherein a data item stored within the first folder is associated with a corresponding data item stored in the remote device by means of the identifier of the data item.

10. A system comprising:

a client device comprising a memory having a first folder, the first folder comprising data items of a certain type to be synchronised from the client device;

a server device comprising a memory having a second folder, the second folder comprising data items of the same type to be synchronised from the server device; and

synchronisation means within at least one of the client device and the server device;

wherein

each data item in the first and second folders is associated with an identifier for identifying the data item;

the client device and the server device are adapted to prevent a user of the devices from creating subfolders within the first or second folders; and

the synchronisation means are adapted to synchronise data items in the first and second folders on connection of the client device to the server device.

11. A system according to claim 10 wherein the first and second folders are respectively parts of file systems within the client device and the server device and the file systems are such that any type of data can be stored in such a way that it can be synchronised on connection of the client device to the server device.

12. A system according to claim 10 or claim 11 wherein each data item identifier is unique within the client and server devices.

13. A system according to any of claims 10 to 12 wherein a data item stored in the first folder or the second folder is associated with a corresponding data item stored in the second folder or the first folder respectively by means of the identifier of the data item.