SERVER SIDE TECHNIQUES FOR REDUCING DATABASE WORKLOAD IN IMPLEMENTING SELECTIVE SUBFOLDER SYNCHRONIZATION IN A CLOUD-BASED ENVIRONMENT

• US 20140059002A1
• Filed: 08/27/2013
• Published: 02/27/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 08/27/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Box Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Box Incorporated
• Inventors: Lockhart, Kimber, Silva, Nicholas, Platti, Adam, Ebertz, Joy
• Granted Patent: US 9,558,202 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 707/622
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/178 Techniques for file synchronisation in file systems

Abstract

Techniques are disclosed for reducing database workload in implementing selective subfolder synchronization in a cloud-based environment. In one embodiment, a method comprises, in response to a selection, from a user, of a first synchronization state of a first folder in the workspace, synchronizing content of the first folder in the workspace with a corresponding folder on devices of a user (and collaborators) based on the first synchronization state. The workspace is shared among the user and one or more collaborators of the user. In some embodiments, the method further comprises determining the first synchronization state of the first folder based on synchronization states of one or more folders, other than the first folder, that are related to the first folder. The entries can be configured to identify hierarchical relationships between the one or more folders and the first folder on a per-user basis.

Claims

1. A method for synchronizing selective folders in a workspace of a cloud-based environment, the method comprising:

in response to a selection, from a user, of a first synchronization state of a first folder in the workspace, the workspace being shared among the user and one or more collaborators of the user;

determining the first synchronization state of the first folder based on synchronization states of one or more folders, other than the first folder, that are related to the first folder; and

synchronizing content of the first folder in the workspace with a corresponding folder on a device of a user based on the first synchronization state.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the synchronizing is performed regardless of a second synchronization state of a second folder in the workspace, and wherein the first folder is a subfolder of the second folder.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

synchronizing content of the first folder in the workspace with a corresponding folder on a device of a respective collaborator based on the first synchronization state.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the determining is performed on a per-user basis.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

searching a database for entries of the folders related to the first folder based on an identifier of the first folder.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein the entries are configured to identify hierarchical relationships between the one or more folders and the first folder on a per-user basis.

7. The method of claim 5, wherein the database is configured in a way that a number of entries in the database is less than a total number of folders that are related to the first folder.

8. The method of claim 5, wherein the identifier of the first folder is supplied from a client of the user.

9. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

updating, in a database, entries of the folders that are related to the first folder for the user and the collaborators to reflect the selected first synchronization state.

10. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

updating, in a database, entries of the folders that are related to the first folder for the user and the collaborators when the first folder is deleted.

11. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

updating, in a database, entries of the folders that are related to the first folder for the user and the collaborators when the first folder is moved to another location.

12. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

updating, in a database, entries of the folders that are related to the first folder for the user and the collaborators when a respective collaborator is removed from collaborating on the first folder.

13. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

updating, in a database, entries of the folders that are related to the first folder for the user and the collaborators when a collaboration privilege of a respective collaborator is modified so as to prevent the respective collaborator from accessing the first folder.

14. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

updating timestamps of the folders that are related to the first folder for the user and the collaborators to reflect the selected first synchronization state.

15. The method of claim 1, wherein the synchronizing is performed when the user modifies collaboration privileges for one or more collaborators.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein the modification of collaboration privileges is further on a per-folder basis.

17. The method of claim 1, wherein the selection is received from the user'"'"'s device.

18. The method of claim 1, wherein the selection is received from a web interface of a host server of the cloud-based environment.

19. A system for synchronizing selective folders in a workspace of a cloud-based environment, the system comprising:

a processor;

a memory having stored thereon instructions which, when executed by the processor, causes the processor to;

in response to a selection, from a user, of a first synchronization state of a first folder in the workspace, the workspace being shared among the user and one or more collaborators of the user;

determine the first synchronization state of the first folder based on synchronization states of one or more folders, other than the first folder, that are related to the first folder; and

synchronize content of the first folder in the workspace with a corresponding folder on a device of a user based on the first synchronization state.

20. The system of claim 19, wherein the synchronization is performed by the processor regardless of a second synchronization state of a second folder in the workspace, and wherein the first folder is a subfolder of the second folder.

21. The system of claim 19, wherein the processor is further caused to:

synchronize content of the first folder in the workspace with a corresponding folder on a device of a respective collaborator based on the first synchronization state.

22. The system of claim 19, wherein the processor is further caused to:

search a database for entries of the folders related to the first folder based on an identifier of the first folder.

23. The system of claim 22, wherein the entries are configured to identify hierarchical relationships between the one or more folders and the first folder on a per-user basis.

24. The system of claim 22, wherein the database is configured in a way that a number of entries in the database is less than a total number of folders that are related to the first folder.

25. The system of claim 19, wherein the processor is further caused to:

update, in a database, entries of the folders that are related to the first folder for the user and the collaborators to reflect the selected first synchronization state, and

update, in a database, entries of the folders that are related to the first folder for the user and the collaborators when a collaboration privilege of a respective collaborator is modified so as to prevent the respective collaborator from accessing the first folder.

26. A machine-readable storage medium having stored thereon instructions which, when executed by a processor, causes the processor to:

in response to a selection, from a user, of a first synchronization state of a first folder in a workspace, the workspace being shared among the user and one or more collaborators of the user;

determine the first synchronization state of the first folder based on synchronization states of one or more folders, other than the first folder, that are related to the first folder; and

synchronize content of the first folder in the workspace with a corresponding folder on a device of a user based on the first synchronization state.

27. The medium of claim 26, wherein the processor is further caused to:

search a database for entries of the folders related to the first folder based on an identifier of the first folder;

wherein the entries are configured to identify hierarchical relationships between the one or more folders and the first folder on a per-user basis, and

wherein the database is configured in a way that a number of entries in the database is less than a total number of folders that are related to the first folder.

28. A method for synchronizing selective folders in a workspace of a cloud-based environment, the method comprising:

in response to a selection, from a user, of a first synchronization state of a first folder in the workspace, the workspace being shared among the user and one or more collaborators of the user;

synchronizing content of the first folder in the workspace with a corresponding folder on a device of a user based on the first synchronization state; and

synchronizing content of the first folder in the workspace with a corresponding folder on a device of a respective collaborator based on the first synchronization state

29. The method of claim 28, further comprising:

determining the first synchronization state of the first folder based on synchronization states of one or more folders, other than the first folder, that are related to the first folder.

30. The method of claim 28, further comprising:

searching a database for entries of the folders related to the first folder based on an identifier of the first folder,

wherein the entries are configured to identify hierarchical relationships between the one or more folders and the first folder on a per-user basis, and

wherein the database is configured in a way that a number of entries in the database is less than a total number of folders that are related to the first folder.