Method and system of associating, synchronizing and reconciling computer files in an operating system
First Claim
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1. A method of associating files in a computing device having an operating system wherein each file in the computing device is identified by a name, characterized by a time-stamp denoting the last time the file was updated, and located on a storage device by a path, comprising the steps of:
- (a) transferring a selected file;
(b) determining if the transfer of the selected file was into a dedicated folder; and
(c) if the transfer of the selected file was into the dedicated folder;
(1) creating a briefcase file of the selected file, the briefcase file being a copy of the selected file and having a name and a time-stamp the same as the name and the time-stamp, respectively, of the selected file, and designating the selected file as a synchronized file; and
(2) storing a last reconciliation time-stamp, the name, time-stamp and the paths of the briefcase file and of the synchronized file into a dedicated synchronization database, wherein the time-stamp being a last reconciliation time-stamp is equal to the time-stamp of the briefcase file, and wherein all files of the same name in the synchronization database are thereby associated to form an associated file set.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A method and system for associating, synchronizing and reconciling files. Associated files are synchronized and their synchronization status reported. Based on the synchronization status, the operating system recommends a preferred reconciliation action. Furthermore, file conflicts are recognized and an application interface for computer applications is provided to allow conflicting files to be merged.
204 Citations
23 Claims
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1. A method of associating files in a computing device having an operating system wherein each file in the computing device is identified by a name, characterized by a time-stamp denoting the last time the file was updated, and located on a storage device by a path, comprising the steps of:
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(a) transferring a selected file; (b) determining if the transfer of the selected file was into a dedicated folder; and (c) if the transfer of the selected file was into the dedicated folder; (1) creating a briefcase file of the selected file, the briefcase file being a copy of the selected file and having a name and a time-stamp the same as the name and the time-stamp, respectively, of the selected file, and designating the selected file as a synchronized file; and (2) storing a last reconciliation time-stamp, the name, time-stamp and the paths of the briefcase file and of the synchronized file into a dedicated synchronization database, wherein the time-stamp being a last reconciliation time-stamp is equal to the time-stamp of the briefcase file, and wherein all files of the same name in the synchronization database are thereby associated to form an associated file set. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3)
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4. A method of enabling the replacing of files in a computer system having an operating system, wherein each file in the computing device is identified by a name, characterized by a time-stamp denoting the last time the file was updated, and located on a storage device by a path, comprising the steps of:
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(a) receiving information that a selected one of a plurality of computer applications, each having an application type, is associated with a corresponding reconciliation handler, (b) storing the application type of the selected computer application in a registry database, (c) storing call information of the corresponding reconciliation handler for the selected computer application in the registry database, (d) detecting a request to replace files of the application type for the selected computer application, (e) retrieving the call information of the corresponding reconciliation handler from the registry database, (f) calling the selected computer application to activate the corresponding reconciliation handler, and (g) providing the name, paths and time-stamps of the files to a reconciliation handler interface. - View Dependent Claims (5)
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6. A computer system for associating files in a computing device, comprising:
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(a) an operating system wherein each file in the computing device is identified by a name, characterized by a time-stamp denoting the last time the file was updated, and located on a storage device by a path; (b) a dedicated folder for receiving a copy of a selected file, the selected file being designated as a synchronized file and the copy in the dedicated folder being designated as a briefcase file; (c) a dedicated synchronization database for storing a last reconciliation time-stamp, the name and the paths of the briefcase file and of the synchronized file; and (d) an association engine for determining which files have the same name in the dedicated synchronization database and are thereby associated to form an associated file set.
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7. A computer system for associating and reporting the state of synchronization of files in a computing device comprising:
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(a) an operating system wherein each file in the computing device is identified by a name, characterized by a time-stamp denoting the last time the file was updated, and located on a storage device by a path; (b) a dedicated folder for receiving a copy of a selected file, the selected file being designated as a synchronized file and the copy in the dedicated folder being designated as a briefcase file; (c) a dedicated synchronization database for storing a last reconciliation time-stamp, the name and the paths of the briefcase file and of the synchronized file; (d) an association engine for determining which files have the same name in the dedicated synchronization database and are thereby associated to form an associated file set; and (e) a synchronization engine for; (1) determining a synchronization status of the associated file set upon an updating event by determining if the briefcase file has been modified and by determining if the synchronized file has been modified; and (2) reporting the synchronization status of the associated file set. - View Dependent Claims (8)
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9. A computer system for associating, synchronizing and reconciling files in a computing device comprising:
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(a) an operating system wherein the operating system is capable of recognizing a plurality of application types, and wherein each file in the computing device is identified by a name, characterized by a time-stamp denoting the last time the file was updated, typed by an application type associated with the file, and located on a storage device by a path; (b) a dedicated folder for receiving a copy of a selected file, the selected file designated as a synchronized file and the copy in the dedicated folder designated as a briefcase file; (c) a dedicated synchronization database for storing a last reconciliation time-stamp, the name and the paths of the briefcase file and of the synchronized file; (d) an association engine for determining which files have the same name in the dedicated synchronization database and are thereby associated to form an associated file set; and (e) a synchronization engine for; (1) determining a synchronization status of the associated file set upon an updating event by determining if the briefcase file has been modified and by determining if the synchronized file has been modified; and (2) reporting the synchronization status of the associated file set; (f) a file manager for; (1) recommending the synchronized file be replaced by the briefcase file if only the briefcase file has been modified; and (2) recommending the briefcase file be replaced by the synchronization file if only the synchronized file has been modified; (g) a registry database for; (1) listing a plurality of reconciliation handlers by application type; and (2) storing call information for each of the plurality of reconciliation handlers; and (h) a reconciliation handler interface for replacing files by; (1) receiving a request to replace files; and (2) calling one of the plurality of reconciliation handlers.
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10. An interface for replacing files in a computing device comprising:
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(a) a registry database for; (1) listing a plurality of reconciliation handlers, each corresponding to one of a plurality of application programs having an application type, each reconciliation handler listed in the registry database by the application type for the corresponding application program; and (2) storing call information for each of the plurality of reconciliation handlers; and (b) a reconciliation handler interface for replacing files by; (1) receiving a request to replace files; and (2) calling a selected one of the application programs to activate its corresponding one of the plurality of reconciliation handlers. - View Dependent Claims (11)
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12. A method of determining the status of synchronization of files in a computing device having an operating system, wherein each file in the computing device is identified by a name, characterized by a time-stamp denoting the last time the file was updated, and located on a storage device by a path, comprising the steps of:
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(a) creating a dedicated folder for maintaining an associated set of files; (b) in response to moving a selected one of tie files into the dedicated folder, creating a briefcase file representing a copy of the selected file; (c) retrieving from a dedicated synchronization database the name and the path of the briefcase file, and a last reconciliation time-stamp; (d) getting the time-stamp of the briefcase file; and (e) comparing the time-stamp of the briefcase file with the last reconciliation time-stamp.
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13. A method of recommending a reconciling action for conflicting files in a computing device having an operating system, wherein each file in the computing device is identified by a name, characterized by a time-stamp denoting the last time the file was updated, and located on a storage device by a path, comprising the steps of:
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(a) creating a dedicated folder for maintaining an associated set of files; (b) in response to moving a selected one of the files into the dedicated folder, creating a briefcase file representing a copy of the selected file and designating the selected files as a synchronized file; (c) if neither the briefcase file nor the synchronized file has been modified, recommending no reconciliation action; (d) if only the briefcase file has been modified, recommending the synchronized file be replaced by the briefcase file; (e) if only the synchronized file has been modified, recommending the briefcase file be replaced by the synchronized file; and (f) if both the briefcase file and the synchronized file have been modified, reporting that a file conflict exists between the briefcase file and the synchronized file. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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19. A computer-readable medium on which is stored a computer program for providing a method of associating files in a computing device having an operating system, wherein each file in the computing device is identified by a name, characterized by a time-stamp denoting the last time the file was updated, and located on a storage device by a path, said computer program comprising instructions which, when executed by a computer, perform the steps of:
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(a) transferring a selected file; (b) determining if the transfer of the selected file was into a dedicated folder; and (c) if the transfer of the selected file was into the dedicated folder; (1) creating a briefcase file of the selected file, the briefcase file being a copy of the selected file and having a name and a time-stamp the same as the name and the time-stamp, respectively, of the selected file, and designating the selected file as a synchronized file; and (2) storing a last reconciliation time-stamp, the name and the paths of the briefcase file and of the synchronized file into a dedicated synchronization database, wherein the last reconciliation time-stamp is equal to the time-stamp of the briefcase file, and wherein all files of the same name in the dedicated synchronization database are thereby associated to form an associated file set. - View Dependent Claims (20, 21)
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22. A computer-readable medium on which is stored a computer program for providing a method of enabling the updating of files in a computer system having an operating system, wherein each file in the computing device is identified by a name, characterized by a time-stamp denoting the last time the file was updated, and located on a storage device by a path, said computer program comprising instructions which, when executed by a computer, perform the steps of:
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(a) receiving information that a selected one of a plurality of computer applications, each having an application type, is associated with a corresponding reconciliation handler, (b) storing the application type of the selected computer application in a registry database, (c) storing call information of the corresponding reconciliation handler for the selected computer application in the registry database, (d) detecting a request to replace files of the application type for the selected computer application, (e) retrieving the call information of the corresponding reconciliation handler from the registry database, (f) calling the selected computer application to activate its corresponding reconciliation handler, and (g) providing the name, paths and time-stamps of the files to a reconciliation handler interface. - View Dependent Claims (23)
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Specification