SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR GLOBALLY AND SECURELY ACCESSING UNIFIED INFORMATION IN A COMPUTER NETWORK

• US 20090307362A1
• Filed: 06/08/2009
• Published: 12/10/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 12/13/1996
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Malikie Innovations Limited (Key Patent Innovations Limited)
• Original Assignee: Visto Corporation (Blackberry Limited)
• Inventors: Bui, Hong Q., Quinlan, Sean Michael, Zuleeg, Christopher R., Wagle, Prasad, Mendez, Daniel J., NG, Mason, Cowan, David J., Ying, Christine C., Bailes, R. Stanley, Aptekar-Strober, Joanna A., Riggins, Mark D.
• Granted Patent: US 8,745,167 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 709/229
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/6218 to a system of files or objects, e.g. local or distributed file system or database
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/10 Office automation; Time management

Abstract

A client stores a first set of workspace data, and is coupled via a computer network to a global server. The client may be configured to synchronize portions of the first set of workspace data with the global server, which stores independently modifiable copies of the portions. The global server may also store workspace data which is not downloaded from the client, and thus stores a second set of workspace data. The global server may be configured to identify and authenticate a user seeking global server access from a remote terminal, and is configured to provide access to the first set or to the second set. Further, services may be stored anywhere in the computer network. The global server may be configured to provide the user with access to the services. The system may further include a synchronization-start module at the client site (which may be protected by a firewall) that initiates interconnection and synchronization with the global server when predetermined criteria have been satisfied.

Claims

1-9. -9. (canceled)

10. A smartphone comprising:

a local data store to store a first workspace element;

a communications module to provide an Internet connection; and

a synchronization module to synchronize, via an Internet connection, workspace data between the smartphone and a data store that is remote from the smartphone and that includes an independently modifiable copy of the first workspace element,

wherein the synchronization module;

processes first modification information identifying one or more modifications of the first workspace element;

receives, via an Internet connection, second modification information identifying one or more modifications of the independently-modifiable copy of the first workspace element;

generates a preferred version from the first workspace element and the independently-modifiable copy of the first workspace element; and

stores the preferred version in the local data store.

11. The smartphone of claim 10, wherein the synchronization module transmits said first modification information via an Internet connection.

12. The smartphone of claim 11, wherein the first workspace element is stored in a first format in the local data store, the smartphone further comprising a translator to translate from the first format to a second format that is different from the first format, in order to transmit said first modification information.

13. The smartphone of claim 10, wherein the synchronization module comprises a synchronization-start module that initiates synchronization.

14. The smartphone of claim 10, wherein the synchronization module examines content of the first workspace element and content of the independently-modifiable copy of the first workspace element when the first workspace element and the independently-modifiable copy of the first workspace element have both been modified since a last synchronization.

15. The smartphone of claim 14, wherein the synchronization module determines changes made to the content of the first workspace element and the content of the independently-modifiable copy of the first workspace element and integrates the changes determined to have been made with respect to one of the workspace elements to the other workspace element.

16. The smartphone of claim 10, wherein the first workspace element includes calendar workspace data.

17. The smartphone of claim 10, wherein the first workspace element includes file workspace data.

18. A smartphone comprising:

a local data store to store a first workspace element;

a communications module to provide an Internet connection; and

a synchronization module to synchronize, via an Internet connection, workspace data between the smartphone and a data store that is remote from the smartphone and that includes an independently modifiable copy of the first workspace element,

wherein the synchronization module;

processes first modification information identifying one or more modifications of the first workspace element;

receives, via an Internet connection, second modification information identifying one or more modifications of the independently-modifiable copy of the first workspace element;

selects the first workspace element or the independently-modifiable copy of the first workspace element as a preferred version; and

stores the preferred version in the local data store,

wherein if the independently-modifiable copy is selected as the preferred version it is stored in the local data store.

19. A computer-readable storage medium storing computer readable instructions thereon for execution on a smartphone comprising a local data store for storing a first workspace element and a communications module to provide an Internet connection, the smartphone being capable of synchronizing workspace data, via an Internet connection, between the smartphone and a data store that is remote from the smartphone and that includes an independently modifiable copy of the first workspace element,

the computer readable instructions, when executed on a processor on a smartphone, causing the processor to perform the method comprising:

processing first modification information identifying one or more modifications of the first workspace element;

receiving, via an Internet connection, second modification information identifying one or more modifications of the independently-modifiable copy of the first workspace element;

generating a preferred version of the first workspace element and the independently-modifiable copy of the first workspace element; and

storing the preferred version in the local data store.

20. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 19, wherein the computer readable instructions further cause the processor to transmit the first modification information via an Internet connection.

21. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 19, wherein the first workspace element is stored in a first format in the local data store, the computer readable instructions further causing the processor to translate from the first format to a second format that is different from the first format, in order to transmit said first modification information.

22. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 19, wherein the computer readable instructions further cause a synchronization-start module to initiate synchronization.

23. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 19, wherein the computer readable instructions further cause the processor to examine content of the first workspace element and content of the independently-modifiable copy of the first workspace element when the first workspace element and the independently-modifiable copy of the first workspace element have both been modified since the last synchronization.

24. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 23, wherein the computer readable instructions further cause the processor to determine changes made to the content of the first workspace element and the content of the independently-modifiable copy of the first workspace element and integrate the changes determined to have been made with respect to one of the workspace elements to the other workspace element.

25. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 19, wherein the first workspace element includes calendar workspace data.

26. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 19, wherein the first workspace element includes file workspace data.

27. A computer-readable storage medium storing computer readable instructions thereon for execution on a smartphone comprising a local data store for storing a first workspace element and a communications module to provide an Internet connection, the smartphone being configured to synchronize workspace data, via an Internet connection, between the smartphone and a data store that is remote from the smartphone and that includes an independently modifiable copy of the first workspace element,

the computer readable instructions, when executed on a processor on a smartphone, causing the processor to perform the method comprising:

processing first modification information identifying one or more modifications of the first workspace element;

receiving, via an Internet connection, second modification information identifying one or more modifications of the independently-modifiable copy of the first workspace element;

selecting the first workspace element or the independently-modifiable copy of the first workspace element as a preferred version; and

storing the preferred version in the local data store,

wherein if the independently-modifiable copy is selected as the preferred version it is stored in the local data store.

28. A method of synchronizing workspace data, via an Internet connection, between a smartphone, configured to store a first workspace element in a local data store, and a data store that is remote from the smartphone and that includes an independently modifiable copy of the first workspace element, the method comprising:

processing first modification information identifying one or more modifications of the first workspace element;

receiving, via an Internet connection, second modification information identifying one or more modifications of the independently-modifiable copy of the first workspace element;

generating a preferred version of the first workspace element and the independently-modifiable copy of the first workspace element; and

storing the preferred version in the local data store.

29. The method of claim 28, comprising transmitting said first modification information via an Internet connection.

30. The method of claim 28, wherein the first workspace element is stored in a first format in the local data store, the method further comprising translating from the first format to a second format that is different from the first format, in order to transmit said first modification information.

31. The method of claim 28, further comprising initiating synchronization from a synchronization-start module on the smartphone.

32. The method of claim 28, further comprising examining content of the first workspace element and content of the independently-modifiable copy of the first workspace element when the first workspace element and the independently-modifiable copy of the first workspace element have both been modified since the last synchronization.

33. The method of claim 32, further comprising determining changes made to the content of the first workspace element and the content of the independently-modifiable copy of the first workspace element and integrating the changes determined to have been made with respect to one of the workspace elements to the other workspace element.

34. The method of claim 28, wherein the first workspace element includes calendar workspace data.

35. The smartphone of claim 28, wherein the first workspace element includes file workspace data.

36. A method of synchronizing workspace data, via an Internet connection, between a smartphone, configured to store a first workspace element in a local data store, and a data store that is remote from the smartphone and that includes an independently modifiable copy of the first workspace element, the method comprising:

generating first modification information identifying one or more modifications of the first workspace element;

transmitting said first modification information via an Internet connection;

receiving, via an Internet connection, second modification information identifying one or more modifications of the independently-modifiable copy of the first workspace element;

selecting the first workspace element or the independently-modifiable copy of the first workspace element as a preferred version; and

storing the preferred version in the local data store,

wherein if the independently-modifiable copy is selected as the preferred version it is stored in the local data store.

37. A smartphone comprising:

a local data store for storing a first workspace element;

communication means for providing an Internet connection; and

synchronizing means for synchronizing workspace data, via an Internet connection, between the smartphone and a data store that is remote from the smartphone and that includes an independently modifiable copy of the first workspace element;

the synchronizing means;

processing first modification information identifying one or more modifications of the first workspace element;

receiving, via an Internet connection, second modification information identifying one or more modifications of the independently-modifiable copy of the first workspace element;

generating a preferred version of the first workspace element and the independently-modifiable copy of the first workspace element; and

storing the preferred version in the local data store.

38. The smartphone of claim 37, wherein the synchronization means transmits said first modification information via an Internet connection.

39. The smartphone of claim 37, wherein the first workspace element is stored in a first format in the local data store, the smartphone further comprising a translator to translate from the first format to a second format that is different from the first format, in order to transmit said first modification information.

40. The smartphone of claim 37, wherein the synchronizing means further comprises a synchronization-start module that initiates synchronization.

41. The smartphone of claim 37, wherein the synchronizing means examines content of the first workspace element and content of the independently-modifiable copy of the first workspace element when the first workspace element and the independently-modifiable copy of the first workspace element have both been modified since the last synchronization.

42. The smartphone of claim 37, wherein the synchronizing means determines changes made to the content of the first workspace element and the content of the independently-modifiable copy of the first workspace element and integrates the changes determined to have been made with respect to one of the workspace elements to the other workspace element.

43. The smartphone of claim 37, wherein the first workspace element includes calendar workspace data.

44. The smartphone of claim 37, wherein the first workspace element includes file workspace data.

45. A smartphone comprising:

a local data store for storing a first workspace element;

communication means for providing an Internet connection; and

synchronizing means for synchronizing workspace data, via an Internet connection, between the smartphone and a data store that is remote from the smartphone and that includes an independently modifiable copy of the first workspace element;

the synchronizing means;

processing first modification information identifying one or more modifications of the first workspace element;

receiving, via an Internet connection, second modification information identifying one or more modifications of the independently-modifiable copy of the first workspace element;

selecting the first workspace element or the independently-modifiable copy of the first workspace element as a preferred version; and

storing the preferred version in the local data store,

wherein if the independently-modifiable copy is selected as the preferred version it is stored in the local data store.