Object identification and data communication during an object synchronization process
First Claim
1. A method of selecting objects to be synchronized between a first device and a second device, the method comprising:
- calling an object identification function from a synchronization manager in the first device;
in response to being called, the object identification function identifying a first volume that is accessible to the first device and identifying objects associated with the first volume that have been modified since previously synchronizing the first volume; and
the object identification function identifying the identified objects to the synchronization manager, wherein the synchronization manager is configured to synchronize the identified objects between the first device and the second device.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A synchronization system synchronizes objects between a portable computer and a desktop computer. Prior to synchronization, the system selects objects to be synchronized between the two computers. A synchronization manager in the portable computer calls an object identification function which identifies a volume that is accessible to the portable computer. The object identification function also identifies objects that are associated with the identified volume and that have been modified since previously synchronizing the identified volume. The object identification function then identifies the identified objects to the synchronization manager, which is able to synchronize the identified objects between the portable computer and the desktop computer. The identification of objects is performed for each accessible volume in the portable computer. The system also provides for the communication of arbitrary data between the portable computer and the desktop computer during a synchronization process. The desktop computer requests communication of a particular set of data between the two computers. The particular set of data is not associated with the pre-defined data exchanged during the synchronization process. The set of data is then communicated between the two computers as requested during the synchronization process.
164 Citations
30 Claims
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1. A method of selecting objects to be synchronized between a first device and a second device, the method comprising:
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calling an object identification function from a synchronization manager in the first device;
in response to being called, the object identification function identifying a first volume that is accessible to the first device and identifying objects associated with the first volume that have been modified since previously synchronizing the first volume; and
the object identification function identifying the identified objects to the synchronization manager, wherein the synchronization manager is configured to synchronize the identified objects between the first device and the second device. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
calling a data communication function to request communication of a particular set of data between the first device and the second device, wherein the particular set of data is not associated with any pre-defined data exchanged during a synchronization process; and
in response to being called, the data communication function communicating the particular set of data between the first device and the second device.
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11. One or more computer-readable memories containing a computer program that is executable by a processor to perform the method recited in claim 1.
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12. A method of communicating data between a portable computer and a desktop computer during a synchronization process, wherein the synchronization process causes the exchange of pre-defined data between the portable computer and the desktop computer, the method comprising:
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calling a data communication function to request communication of a particular set of data between the portable computer and the desktop computer, wherein the particular set of data is not associated with the pre-defined data exchanged during the synchronization process; and
in response to being called, the data communication function communicating the particular set of data between the portable computer and the desktop computer. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16)
calling an object identification function from a synchronization manager in the portable computer;
in response to being called, the object identification function identifying objects that have been modified since a previous synchronization cycle; and
the object identification function identifying the identified objects to the synchronization manager.
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16. One or more computer-readable memories containing a computer program that is executable by a processor to perform the method recited in claim 12.
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17. One or more computer-readable media having stored thereon a
computer program comprising the following steps: -
receiving a request to identify objects that have been modified since a previous object synchronization process, wherein the request is generated by a synchronization manager;
identifying objects that have been modified since a previous object synchronization process; and
identifying the identified objects to the synchronization manager, wherein the synchronization manager is configured to synchronize the identified objects between a first device and a second device. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23)
requesting communication of a particular set of data between the first device and the second device, wherein the particular set of data is not associated with any pre-defined data exchange during a synchronization process; - and
communicating the particular set of data between the first device and the second device.
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24. An apparatus comprising:
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a communications interface;
a synchronization manager coupled to the communications interface, wherein the synchronization manager is configured to synchronize e objects between the apparatus and a computing device; and
an application synchronization module having a function that is callable by where synchronization manager, wherein the application synchronization module responds by identifying objects that have been modified since a previous synchronization process, and wherein the application synchronization module is further configured to identify the identified objects to the synchronization manager. - View Dependent Claims (25, 26, 27, 28)
calling a data communication function to request communication of a particular set of data between a first device and a second device, wherein the particular set of data is not associated with any pre-defined data exchanged during a synchronization process; and
in response to being called, the data communication function communicating the particular set of data between the first device and the second device.
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29. One or more computer-readable media having stored thereon a computer program comprising the following steps:
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accepting a function call that activates an associated function;
returning a set of parameters, the set of parameters comprising;
an indicator of whether additional volumes remain to be analyzed for objects that require synchronization;
an indicator of the type of object being identified;
a pointer to a list of object IDs stored on a particular volume;
an indicator of which objects in the list of object IDs have changed since previously synchronizing the particular volume;
an indicator of a volume ID of the particular volume; and
a pointer to the particular volume.
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30. One or more computer-readable media having stored thereon a computer program comprising the following steps:
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accepting a set of parameters, the set of parameters comprising;
a direction indicator indicating whether data is to be communicated from a first device to a second device or from the second device to the first device;
an indicator of the type of data to be communicated between the first device and the second device;
a pointer identifying the beginning of the data to be communicated; and
an indicator of the number of bytes of data to be communicated returning the identified data to the first device or the second device depending on the direction indicator.
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Specification