SYNCHRONIZATION IMPROVEMENTS

• US 20090307280A1
• Filed: 09/22/2008
• Published: 12/10/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 06/06/2008
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Original Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Inventors: McCarthy, Brendan A., Guenther, Carsten
• Application Number:
  US12/235,537
• Publication Number:
  US 20090307280A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/275 Synchronous replication
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/9562 Bookmark management
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/10 Office automation; Time management

Abstract

Synchronization architectures, methods, systems, and computer readable media are described. A synchronization session is initiated between a first data processing system and a second data processing system. A first data, representing changes, is transmitted from the first data processing system to the second data processing system prior to completing a negotiation of a synchronization mode in the synchronization session for synchronizing data between the first data processing system and the second data processing system.

Claims

1. A machine implemented method for processing data, the method comprising:

initiating, at a first data processing system, a synchronization session between the first data processing system and a second data processing system;

transmitting first data representing changes, the first data being transmitted from the first data processing system to the second data processing system prior to completing a negotiation of a synchronization mode in the synchronization session for synchronizing data between the first data processing system and the second data processing system.

2. The method as claimed in claim 1 wherein the data which is synchronized comprises structured data in at least one of the following dataclasses:

(a) contacts information;

(b) to do information;

(e) calendar information; and

(d) web browsing bookmarks.

3. The method as in claim 1 wherein the synchronization session occurs through a wireless communication protocol and wherein the negotiation determines whether to transmit all data within at least one dataclass or just changes in the dataclass since a prior synchronization.

4. The method as in claim 3 wherein the negotiation uses synchronization anchors exchanged between the first and the second data processing systems.

5. The method as in claim 4 wherein the first data comprises data changed in the dataclass since a prior synchronization.

6. The method as in claim 5 wherein the method further comprises:

determining a synchronization mode after transmitting the first data.

7. The method as in claim 6 wherein data within each dataclass is independent of data in other dataclasses.

8. The method as in claim 7 wherein the first data can specify no changes.

9. The method as in claim 6 wherein the initiating and the transmitting are done by at least one command sent within a single message in a communication protocol.

10. A machine implemented method for processing data, the method comprising:

transmitting first data in a first message, in a synchronization session, from a first data processing system to a second data processing system, the first data representing changes in structured data maintained by the first data processing system in a dataclass;

transmitting, in the first message, a command requesting the second data processing system to commit to storing the first data in a storage device controlled by the second data processing system.

11. The method as in claim 10 wherein the first data comprises structured data in at least one of the following dataclasses:

(a) contacts information;

(b) calendar information;

(c) to do information; and

(d) web browsing bookmarks.

12. The method as in claim 11 wherein the synchronization session occurs through a wireless communication protocol and wherein synchronization anchors are exchanged during the synchronization session.

13. The method as in claim 11 wherein data within each dataclass is independent of data in other dataclasses.

14. A machine implemented method for processing data, the method comprising:

receiving, by a second data processing system, an initiation of a synchronization session between a first data processing system and the second data processing system;

receiving, by the second data processing system, first data representing changes, the first data being received by the second data processing system prior to completing a negotiation of a synchronization mode in the synchronization session for synchronizing data between the first data processing system and the second data processing system.

15. The method as in claim 14 wherein the first data comprises structured data in at least one of the following dataclasses:

(a) contacts information;

(b) calendar information;

(c) to do information; and

(d) web browsing bookmarks.

16. A machine implemented method for processing data, the method comprising:

receiving first data in a first message, in a synchronization session, by a second data processing system from a first data processing system, the first data representing changes in structured data maintained by the first data processing system in a dataclass;

receiving, in the first message, a command requesting the second data processing system to commit to storing the first data in a storage device controlled by the second data processing system.

17. The method as in claim 16 wherein the first data comprises structured data in at least one of the following dataclasses:

(a) contacts information;

(b) calendar information;

(c) to do information; and

(d) web browsing bookmarks.

18. A machine-readable storage medium storing instructions which when executed by a data processing system cause the data processing system to perform a method of processing data, the method comprising:

initiating, at a first data processing system, a synchronization session between the first data processing system and a second data processing system;

transmitting first data representing changes, the first data being transmitted from the first data processing system to the second data processing system prior to completing a negotiation of a synchronization mode in the synchronization session for synchronizing data between the first data processing system and the second data processing system.

19. The machine-readable storage medium as claimed in claim 18 wherein the data which is synchronized comprises structured data in at least one of the following dataclasses:

(a) contacts information;

(h) to do information;

(c) calendar information; and

(d) web browsing bookmarks.

20. The machine-readable storage medium as in claim 18 wherein the synchronization session occurs through a wireless communication protocol and wherein the negotiation determines whether to transmit all data within at least one dataclass or just changes in the dataclass since a prior synchronization.

21. The machine-readable storage medium as in claim 20 wherein the negotiation uses synchronization anchors exchanged between the first and the second data processing systems.

22. The machine-readable storage medium as in claim 21 wherein the first data comprises data changed in the dataclass since a prior synchronization.

23. The machine-readable storage medium as in claim 22 wherein the method further comprises:

determining a synchronization mode after transmitting the first data.

24. The machine-readable storage medium as in claim 23 wherein data within each dataclass is independent of data in other dataclasses.

25. The machine-readable storage medium as in claim 24 wherein the first data can specify no changes.

26. The machine-readable storage medium as in claim 23 wherein the initiating and the transmitting are done by at least one command sent within a single message in a communication protocol.

27. A machine-readable storage medium storing instructions which when executed by a data processing system cause the data processing system to perform a method of processing data, the method comprising:

transmitting first data in a first message, in a synchronization session, from a first data processing system to a second data processing system, the first data representing changes in structured data maintained by the first data processing system in a dataclass;

transmitting, in the first message, a command requesting the second data processing system to commit to storing the first data in a storage device controlled by the second data processing system.

28. The machine-readable storage medium as in claim 27 wherein the first data comprises structured data in at least one of the following dataclasses:

(a) contacts information;

(b) calendar information;

(c) to do information; and

(d) web browsing bookmarks.

29. The machine-readable storage medium as in claim 28 wherein the synchronization session occurs through a wireless communication protocol and wherein synchronization anchors are exchanged during the synchronization session.

30. The machine-readable storage medium as in claim 28 wherein data within each dataclass is independent of data in other dataclasses.

31. A machine-readable storage medium storing instructions which when executed by a data processing system cause the data processing system to perform a method of processing data, the method comprising:

receiving, by a second data processing system, an initiation of a synchronization session between a first data processing system and the second data processing system;

receiving, by the second data processing system, first data representing changes, the first data being received by the second data processing system prior to completing a negotiation of a synchronization mode in the synchronization session for synchronizing data between the first data processing system and the second data processing system.

32. The machine-readable storage medium as in claim 31 wherein the first data comprises structured data in at least one of the following dataclasses:

(a) contacts information;

(b) calendar information;

(c) to do information; and

(d) web browsing bookmarks.

33. A machine-readable storage medium storing instructions which when executed by a data processing system cause the data processing system to perform a method of processing data, the method comprising:

receiving first data in a first message, in a synchronization session, by a second data processing system from a first data processing system, the first data representing changes in structured data maintained by the first data processing system in a dataclass;

receiving, in the first message, a command requesting the second data processing system to commit to storing the first data in a storage device controlled by the second data processing system.

34. The machine-readable storage medium as in claim 33 wherein the first data comprises structured data in at least one of the following dataclasses:

(a) contacts information;

(b) calendar information;

(c) to do information; and

(d) web browsing bookmarks.

35. A data processing system comprising:

means for initiating, at a first data processing system, a synchronization session between the first data processing system and a second data processing system;

means for transmitting first data representing changes, the first data being transmitted from the first data processing system to the second data processing system prior to completing a negotiation of a synchronization mode in the synchronization session for synchronizing data between the first data processing system and the second data processing system.

36. The data processing system as claimed in claim 35 wherein the data which is synchronized comprises structured data in at least one of the following dataclasses:

(a) contacts information;

(b) to do information;

(c) calendar information; and

(d) web browsing bookmarks.

37. The data processing system as in claim 35 wherein the synchronization session occurs through a wireless communication protocol and wherein the negotiation determines whether to transmit all data within at least one dataclass or just changes in the dataclass since a prior synchronization.

38. The data processing system as in claim 37 wherein the negotiation uses synchronization anchors exchanged between the first and the second data processing systems.

39. The data processing system as in claim 38 wherein the first data comprises data changed in the dataclass since a prior synchronization.

40. The data processing system as in claim 39, further comprising:

means for determining a synchronization mode after transmitting the first data.

41. The data processing system as in claim 40 wherein data within each dataclass is independent of data in other dataclasses.

42. The data processing system as in claim 41 wherein the first data can specify no changes.

43. The data processing system as in claim 40 wherein the initiating and the transmitting are done by at least one command sent within a single message in a communication protocol.

44. A data processing system comprising:

means for transmitting first data in a first message, in a synchronization session, from a first data processing system to a second data processing system, the first data representing changes in structured data maintained by the first data processing system in a dataclass;

means for transmitting, in the first message, a command requesting the second data processing system to commit to storing the first data in a storage device controlled by the second data processing system.

45. The data processing system as in claim 44 wherein the first data comprises structured data in at least one of the following dataclasses:

(a) contacts information;

(b) calendar information;

(c) to do information; and

(d) web browsing bookmarks.

46. The data processing system as in claim 45 wherein the synchronization session occurs through a wireless communication protocol and wherein synchronization anchors are exchanged during the synchronization session.

47. The data processing system as in claim 45 wherein data within each dataclass is independent of data in other dataclasses.

48. A data processing system comprising:

means for receiving, by a second data processing system, an initiation of a synchronization session between a first data processing system and the second data processing system;

means for receiving, by the second data processing system, first data representing changes, the first data being received by the second data processing system prior to completing a negotiation of a synchronization mode in the synchronization session for synchronizing data between the first data processing system and the second data processing system.

49. The data processing system as in claim 48 wherein the first data comprises structured data in at least one of the following dataclasses:

(a) contacts information;

(b) calendar information;

(c) to do information; and

(d) web browsing bookmarks.

50. A data processing system comprising:

means for receiving first data in a first message, in a synchronization session, by a second data processing system from a first data processing system, the first data representing changes in structured data maintained by the first data processing system in a dataclass;

means for receiving, in the first message, a command requesting the second data processing system to commit to storing the first data in a storage device controlled by the second data processing system.

51. The data processing system as in claim 50 wherein the first data comprises structured data in at least one of the following dataclasses:

(a) contacts information;

(b) calendar information;

(c) to do information; and

(d) web browsing bookmarks.