Method and system of associating, synchronizing and reconciling computer files in an operating system

• US 5,897,640 A
• Filed: 03/26/1997
• Issued: 04/27/1999
• Est. Priority Date: 08/08/1994
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
• Inventors: Veghte, William Lewis, Silverman, Andrew Lawrence, Hysom, Shannon Scott, Dickman, David R.
• Primary Examiner(s): Von Buhr, Maria N.
• Application Number:
  US08/832,334
• Time in Patent Office: 762 Days
• Field of Search: 395/618, 395/619, 395/620, 707/201, 707/202, 707/203, 707/204
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/178 Techniques for file synchronisation in file systems
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99953 Recoverability

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.

Claims

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 thereby creating a file copy of the selected file;

(b) detecting a request for association between the selected file and the file copy, and designating the selected file as a first twin file and the file copy as a second twin file; and

(c) storing a last reconciliation time-stamp, the name and the paths of the first twin file and of the second twin file into a dedicated synchronization database, wherein the last reconciliation time-stamp is equal to the time-stamp of the first twin file, and wherein all files of the same name in the dedicated synchronization database are thereby associated to form an associated file set.

2. A method of associating files in a computing device as recited in claim 1 wherein the file selection occurs through a graphical user interface.

3. A computer system for associating files in a computing device comprising:

(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 context menu for requesting association between a selected file and a copy of the selected file, the selected file being designated as a first twin file and the file copy being designated as a second twin file; and

(c) a dedicated synchronization database for storing a last reconciliation time-stamp, the name and the paths of the first twin file and of the second twin 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.

4. A computer system for associating and reporting the state of synchronization of files in a computing device comprising:

(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 context menu for requesting association between a selected file and a copy of the selected file, the selected file being designated as a first twin file and the file copy being designated as a second twin file;

(c) a dedicated synchronization database for storing a last reconciliation time-stamp, the name and the paths of the first twin file and of the second twin 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 first twin file has been modified and by determining if the second twin file has been modified; and

(2) reporting the synchronization status of the associated file set.

5. A computer system for associating and reporting the state of synchronization of files in a computing device as recited in claim 4 further comprising a file system for storing the current time-stamps of files in the computing device, wherein the synchronization engine determines if the first twin file has been modified by comparing the current time-stamp of the first twin file in the file system with the last reconciliation time-stamp in the synchronization database and determines if the second twin file has been modified by comparing the current time-stamp of the second twin file in the file system with the last reconciliation time-stamp in the dedicated synchronization database.

6. A computer system for associating, synchronizing and reconciling files in a computing device comprising:

(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 context menu for requesting association between a selected file and a copy of the selected file, the selected file being designated as a first twin file and the file copy being designated as a second twin file;

(c) a dedicated synchronization database for storing a last reconciliation time-stamp, the name and the paths of the first twin file and of the second twin 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 first twin file has been modified and by determining if the second twin file has been modified; and

(2) reporting the synchronization status of the associated file set;

(f) a file manager for;

(1) recommending the first twin file be replaced by the second twin file if only the second twin file has been modified; and

(2) recommending the second twin file be replaced by the first twin file if only the first twin 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.

7. 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;

(a) creating a drop location for accepting a selected one of the files;

(b) in response to transferring the seleted file to drop location. desigpating the selectd file as a first twin file and creating a second twin file representing a copy of the selected file;

(c) retrieving from a dedicated synchronization database the name and the path of the first twin file, and a last reconciliation time-stamp;

(d) getting the time-stamp of the first twin file; and

(e) comparing the time-stamp of the first twin file with the last reconciliation time-stamp.

8. 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:

(a) tranferring a selected one of the files from a dedicated folder associated with a removable-storage device to a drop location associated with the storage device;

(b) in response to transferring the selected file to the drop location, creating a second twin file reresenting a copy of the selected file and designating. the selected file as a first twin file;

(c) retrieving from a dedicated synchronization database the name and the path of the second twin file, and a last reconciliation time-stamp;

(d) getting the time-stamp of the second twin file; and

(e) comparing the time-stamp of the second twin file with the last reconciliation time-stamp.

9. 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, and having a synchronization engine for determining the status of the associated file set, comprising the steps of:

(a) creating a drop location for accepting a selected one of the files;

(b) in response to transferring the selected file to the drop location, designating the selected file as a first twin file and creating a second twin file representing copy of the selected file;

(c) if neither the first twin file nor the second twin file has been modified, recommending no reconciliation action;

(d) if only the first twin file has been modified, recommending the second twin file be rep) aced by the first twin file;

(e) if only the second twin file has been modified;

recommending the first twin file be replaced by the second twin file; and

(f) if both the first twin file and the second twin file have been modified, reporting that a file conflict exists between the first twin file and the second twin file.

10. A method of recommending a reconciling action for conflicting files in a computing device as recited in claim 9 wherein if the file conflict exists, recommending that the first twin file and the second twin file be merged.

11. A method of recommending a reconciling action for conflicting files in a computing device as recited in claim 10 further comprising the steps of:

(g) if a replacement request for the first twin file is received, passing the update request to a file manager;

(h) if a replacement request for the second twin file is received, passing the update request to the file manager; and

(i) if a merge request for the first twin file and the second twin file is received, passing the merge request to a reconciliation handler interface.

12. A method of recommending a reconciling action for conflicting files in a computing device as recited in claim 9 wherein if the file conflict exists:

(g) determining if a particular one of a plurality of reconciliation handlers is available corresponding to one of a plurality of application programs having an application type associated with one of the files; and

(h) if the particular reconciliation handler is available, recommending that the first twin file and the second twin file be merged.

13. A method of recommending a reconciling action for conflicting files in a computing device as recited in claim 12 wherein the availability of the particular reconciliation handler is determined by the step of determining if the application type is listed in a registry database as having the particular reconciliation handler.

14. A method of recommending a reconciling action for conflicting files in a computing device as recited in claim 12 wherein the merge request is passed to the reconciliation handler interface by calling the particular reconciliation handler and by providing the name, the time-stamps and the paths of the first twin file and of the second twin file to the reconciliation handler interface.

15. 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:

(a) transferring a selected file thereby creating a file copy of the selected file;

(b) detecting a request for association between the selected file and the file copy, and designating the selected file as a first twin file and the file copy as a second twin file; and

(c) storing a last reconciliation time-stamp, the name and the paths of the first twin file and of the second twin file into a dedicated synchronization database, wherein the last reconciliation time-stamp is equal to the time-stamp of the first twin file, and wherein all files of the same name in the dedicated synchronization database are thereby associated to form an associated file set.

16. The computer-readable medium of claim 15, wherein the file selection occurs through a graphical user interface.