Conflict Resolution
First Claim
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1. A method of collaboratively authoring a data file comprising:
- identifying at a first authoring application implemented on a first computing device an editing conflict existing between a user copy of the data file and a master copy of the data file;
merging the user copy of the data file and the master copy of the data file to generate a merged copy of the data file;
displaying the merged copy of the data file to the user of the first authoring application;
presenting to a user a toggle interface enabling the user to toggle between displaying the identified editing conflict and hiding the identified editing conflict, the toggle interface being presented when the editing conflict is identified and remaining until the identified editing conflict has been resolved, wherein the merged copy of the data file is freely editable by the user both when the identified editing conflict is displayed and when the identified editing conflict is hidden; and
providing a resolution interface enabling the user to provide resolution instructions for the identified editing conflict when the user toggles to displaying the identified editing conflict.
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Abstract
Embodiments of a collaborative authoring environment enable a user to resolve editing conflicts arising when synchronizing a user copy of a data file with a master copy of the data file. Content updates may be synchronized separately from metadata updates. Metadata updates may be synchronized automatically, whereas content updates may be synchronized only when any identified editing conflicts are resolved. When an editing conflict is identified, the user interface of the authoring application may be configured to toggle between displaying and hiding the identified editing conflicts.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. A method of collaboratively authoring a data file comprising:
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identifying at a first authoring application implemented on a first computing device an editing conflict existing between a user copy of the data file and a master copy of the data file; merging the user copy of the data file and the master copy of the data file to generate a merged copy of the data file; displaying the merged copy of the data file to the user of the first authoring application; presenting to a user a toggle interface enabling the user to toggle between displaying the identified editing conflict and hiding the identified editing conflict, the toggle interface being presented when the editing conflict is identified and remaining until the identified editing conflict has been resolved, wherein the merged copy of the data file is freely editable by the user both when the identified editing conflict is displayed and when the identified editing conflict is hidden; and providing a resolution interface enabling the user to provide resolution instructions for the identified editing conflict when the user toggles to displaying the identified editing conflict. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. A computer readable storage medium storing executable instructions, which perform a method of resolving editing conflicts when executed by a computing device, the editing conflicts existing between a user copy of a data file and a master copy of the data file, the method comprising:
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presenting a display window to a user of the computing device, the display window including an editing area, a summary area, and a resolution interface, wherein the resolution interface is configured to enable the user to provide resolution instructions for identified conflicting content selected by the user; displaying any content locks and content of the user copy including any identified conflicting content within the editing area of the display window, wherein the user may edit the content of the user copy including the identified conflicting content freely in the editing area, the identified conflicting content being annotated to distinguish the identified conflicting content from non-conflicting content; displaying the identified conflicting content and any identified conflicting content locks within the summary window; and presenting a toggle interface to the user, wherein selection of the toggle interface by the user removes any annotations to the identified conflicting content within the editing area of the display window. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15)
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16. A system for collaboratively editing a data file comprising:
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a storage device on which a master copy of the data file is stored, the master copy having master content and master locks; a user device on which a user copy of the data file is stored, the user copy having user content and user locks, the user content being generated based on the master content and the user locks being generated based on the master locks; an authoring application being implemented on the user device, the authoring application being configured to receive from the storage device master content updates indicating any changes to the master content and master lock updates indicating any changes to the master locks, the authoring application also being configured to identify any editing conflicts between the user copy of the data file and the master content updates and between the user copy and the master lock updates, and wherein the authoring application automatically instantiates any changes to the master locks when the changes to the master locks do not conflict with any changes to the user locks; and
wherein the authoring application automatically instantiates any changes to the master content only when no editing conflicts are identified by the authoring application. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19, 20)
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Specification