Selective information subset synchronization based on single user action

• US 6,636,897 B1
• Filed: 09/28/1999
• Issued: 10/21/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 09/28/1999
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
• Inventors: Sherman, Roman, Schwitters, Chad A., Mansour, Peter M.
• Primary Examiner(s): Powell, Mark R.
• Assistant Examiner(s): VU, THONG H
• Application Number:
  US09/406,948
• Time in Patent Office: 1,484 Days
• Field of Search: 709/200, 709/204, 709/206, 709/248, 709/315, 707/201, 707/8, 707/204
• US Class Current: 709/248
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/27 Replication, distribution or synchronisation of data between databases or within a distributed database system; Distributed database system architectures therefor
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/275 Synchronous replication
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99952 Coherency, e.g. same view to multiple users

Abstract

An apparatus and method for selectively synchronizing a subset of objects of an object set between first and second object stores. A subset of objects is defined as a plurality of selected objects of the object set. A selection identifier corresponding to an exclusive synchronization mode designation is received. Where the selection identifier corresponds to a first identification state, all of the objects of the object set are synchronized. Where the selection identifier corresponds to a second state, only the subset of objects is synchronized, whereby the plurality of objects comprising the subset of objects can be designated for synchronization without individual designation of the objects targeted for synchronization.

Claims

1. A method for selectively synchronizing a subset of objects of an object set between first and second object stores, the method comprising:

defining the subset of objects as a plurality of selected objects of the object set;

receiving a selection identifier corresponding to a synchronization mode to be used for multiple subsequent synchronizing acts until receipt of a different selection identifier;

setting the synchronization mode based on the selection identifier to a first identification state or a second identification state;

synchronizing all of the objects of the object set when the synchronization mode is set to the first identification state; and

synchronizing only the subset of objects and prohibiting synchronization of the objects in the object set which are not among the subset of objects when the synchronization mode is set to the second identification state.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising changing the identification state of the synchronization mode upon toggling of the selection identifier.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising establishing a connection between first and second computing systems prior to synchronizing any objects between the first and second object stores.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising providing an interface for a user to enter the selection identifier.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein synchronizing all of the objects of the object set comprises availing all of the objects of the object set for synchronization when the synchronization mode is set to a first identification state, and limiting synchronization to particular ones of the objects of the object set in accordance with a second selective synchronization process.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein synchronizing only the subset of objects comprises availing only the objects of the subset of objects for synchronization when the synchronization mode is set to a second identification state, and limiting synchronization to particular ones of the objects of the subset in accordance with a second selective synchronization process.

7. A computer-readable medium having computer-executable instructions for performing the steps recited in claim 1.

8. A method for selectively synchronizing a subset of folders of an e-mail folder hierarchy between a server computer and a client computer, the method comprising:

defining the subset of the e-mail folder hierarchy as a collection of the folders forming a predetermined branch of the e-mail folder hierarchy;

facilitating single-action entry of a synchronization mode designator to be used for multiple subsequent synchronizing acts;

setting a synchronization mode based on the synchronization mode designator to a first synchronization mode or a second synchronization mode;

synchronizing all of the folders of the e-mail folder hierarchy when the synchronization mode designator corresponds to the first synchronization mode; and

synchronizing only the folders forming the predetermined branch of the e-mail folder hierarchy and prohibiting synchronization of the folders which are not among the predetermined branch of the e-mail folder hierarchy when the synchronization mode designator corresponds to the second synchronization mode.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein synchronizing only the predetermined branch comprises prohibiting synchronization of the folders external to the predetermined branch of the e-mail folder hierarchy until the synchronization mode designator is changed to correspond to the first synchronization mode.

10. The method of claim 8, wherein synchronizing all of the folders of the email folder hierarchy comprises permitting synchronization of all of the folders of the e-mail folder hierarchy until the synchronization mode designator is changed to correspond to the second synchronization mode.

11. The method of claim 8, wherein synchronizing only the predetermined branch comprises further limiting the folders of the predetermined branch to be synchronized in accordance with a second selective synchronization method.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein the second selective synchronization method comprises:

defining a predetermined user action as an implicit user request for synchronization of a group of folders within the predetermined branch associated with the predetermined user action;

assigning a flag to each of the folders in the group of folders upon recognition of a user action corresponding to the predetermined user action; and

synchronizing only the folders having the flag assigned thereto.

13. The method of claim 8, wherein synchronizing all of the folders of the email folder hierarchy comprises limiting the folders of the e-mail folder hierarchy to be synchronized in accordance with a second selective synchronization method.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein the second selective synchronization method comprises:

defining a predetermined user action as an implicit user request for synchronization of a group of folders associated with the predetermined user action;

assigning a flag to each of the folders in the group of folders upon recognition of a user action corresponding to the predetermined user action; and

synchronizing only the folders having the flag assigned thereto.

15. The method of claim 8, wherein facilitating single-action entry comprises providing a computer-implemented toggle switch via a user interface.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein providing a computer-implemented software toggle switch via a user interface comprises providing a selectable icon on a graphical user interface which allows optional designation of exclusive synchronization of the defined subset of folders.

17. The method of claim 8, wherein synchronizing only the folders of the predetermined branch when in the second synchronization mode comprises overriding exclusive synchronization of the folders forming the predetermined branch by allowing specifically identified folders external to the predetermined branch to be synchronized during electronic connection of the server and client computers.

18. The method of claim 17, further comprising returning to exclusive synchronization of the folders forming the predetermined branch upon a subsequent electronic connection of the server and client computers.

19. A computer program storage medium readable by a computing system and encoding a computer program of instructions for executing a computer process in an e-mail system at a client computer, the computer process selectively synchronizing a subset of folders of an e-mail folder hierarchy between a server computer and the client computer, the computer process comprising:

defining the subset of the e-mail folder hierarchy as a plurality of selected folders of the e-mail folder hierarchy;

facilitating single-action entry of a synchronization mode designator to be used for multiple subsequent synchronizing acts until entry of a different synchronization mode designator;

receiving a selection identifier corresponding to the synchronization mode designator;

setting the synchronization mode designator based on the selection identifier to a first synchronization mode or a second synchronization mode;

permitting synchronization of all of the folders of the e-mail folder hierarchy when the synchronization mode designator is set to the first synchronization mode; and

permitting synchronization of only the subset of folders of the e-mail folder hierarchy when the synchronization mode designator is set to the second synchronization mode, thereby prohibiting synchronization of the folders external to the subset of folders.

20. The computer program storage medium of claim 19, wherein facilitating single-action entry of a synchronization mode designator comprises providing an electronic toggle switch via a user interface.

21. The computer program storage medium of claim 20, wherein providing an electronic toggle switch via a user interface comprises providing a selectable icon on a graphical user interface which allows optional designation of exclusive synchronization of the defined subset of folders.

22. The computer program storage medium of claim 20, wherein providing an electronic toggle switch via a user interface comprises providing a text entry interface which allows keystroke designation of exclusive synchronization of the defined subset of folders.

23. The computer program storage medium of claim 19, wherein the computer process for permitting synchronization of only the subset of folders further comprises limiting the subset of folders to be synchronized in accordance with a computer process comprising:

defining a predetermined user action as an implicit user request for synchronization of a group of folders associated with the predetermined user action;

assigning a flag to each of the folders in the group of folders upon recognition of a user action corresponding to the predetermined user action; and

synchronizing only the folders having the flag assigned thereto.

24. The computer program storage medium of claim 19, wherein the computer process for permitting synchronization of all of the folders of the e-mail folder hierarchy further comprises limiting the folders of the e-mail folder hierarchy to be synchronized in accordance with a computer process comprising:

defining a predetermined user action as an implicit user request for synchronization of a group of folders associated with the predetermined user action;

assigning a flag to each of the folders in the group of folders upon recognition of a user action corresponding to the predetermined user action; and

synchronizing only the folders having the flag assigned thereto.

25. The computer program storage medium of claim 19, wherein permitting synchronization of only the subset of folders of the e-mail folder hierarchy when in the second synchronization mode comprises overriding exclusive synchronization of the subset of folders by allowing specifically identified folders external to the subset of folders to be synchronized during electronic connection of the server and client computers.

26. A computer data signal embodied in a carrier wave readable by a computing system and encoding a computer program of instructions to execute a computer process for selectively synchronizing a subset of folders of an e-mail folder hierarchy between a server computer and a client computer, the computer process comprising:

defining the subset of the e-mail folder hierarchy as a collection of the folders forming a predetermined branch of the e-mail folder hierarchy;

providing an interface for a user to enter a synchronization mode designator set to a first state or a second state to be used for multiple subsequent synchronizing acts until entry of a different synchronization mode designator;

receiving the synchronization mode designator;

synchronizing all of the folders of the e-mail folder hierarchy when the synchronization mode designator is in the first state; and

synchronizing only the collection of folders forming the predetermined branch of the e-mail folder hierarchy and prohibiting synchronization of the folders which are not among the predetermined branch of the e-mail folder hierarchy when the synchronization mode designator is in the second state.

27. The computer data signal of claim 26, wherein the computer process further comprises determining whether the synchronization mode designator is in the first state or the second state.

28. The computer data signal of claim 26, wherein providing an interface for a user to enter a synchronization mode designator comprises providing a selectable icon on a graphical user interface which allows optional designation of exclusive synchronization of the defined subset of folders.

29. The computer data signal of claim 26, wherein providing an interface for a user to enter a synchronization mode designator comprises providing a text entry interface which allows keystroke designation of exclusive synchronization of the defined subset of folders.

30. An apparatus for selectively synchronizing a subset of folders of an e-mail folder hierarchy between a server computer and a client computer, the apparatus in the client computer comprising:

a folder subset definition module defining the subset of the e-mail folder hierarchy as a collection of folders forming a predetermined branch of the e-mail folder hierarchy;

a user interface module facilitating single-action entry of a synchronization mode designator identifying a first synchronization mode or a second synchronization mode to be used for multiple subsequent synchronizing acts until entry of a different synchronization mode designator;

a synchronization module synchronizing all of the folders of the e-mail folder hierarchy when the synchronization mode designator identifies the first synchronization mode, and synchronizing only the folders forming the predetermined branch of the e-mail folder hierarchy and prohibiting synchronization of the folders which are not among the predetermined branch of the e-mail folder hierarchy when the synchronization mode designator identifies the second synchronization mode.

31. The apparatus as in claim 30, wherein the user interface module comprises a graphical user interface module to present a selectable icon on the graphical user interface to facilitate optional designation of exclusive synchronization of the defined subset of folders.

32. The apparatus as in claim 30, further comprising a compare module comparing the synchronization mode designator entered by the user to a predetermined code to determine whether the synchronization module is operating in the first synchronization mode or the second synchronization mode.

33. The apparatus as in claim 30, wherein the synchronization module comprises a recursive synchronization module to recursively synchronize the folders having been assigned a synchronization mode designator in a top-down fashion from a top of the e-mail folder hierarchy to a bottom of the e-mail folder hierarchy.

34. A computer program storage medium readable by a computing system and encoding a computer program of instructions for executing a computer process in an e-mail system at a client computer, the computer process selectively synchronizing a subset of folders of an e-mail folder hierarchy between a server computer and the client computer, the computer process comprising:

defining the subset of the e-mail folder hierarchy as a plurality of selected folders of the e-mail folder hierarchy;

facilitating single-action entry of a synchronization mode designator to be used for multiple subsequent synchronizing acts until entry of a different synchronization mode designator, wherein facilitating single-action entry of a synchronization mode designator includes providing at least one electronic toggle switch via a user interface including providing an audio interface which allows voice-activated designation of exclusive synchronization of the defined subset of folders;

receiving a selection identifier corresponding to the synchronization mode designator;

setting the synchronization mode designator based on the selection identifier to a first synchronization mode or a second synchronization mode;

permitting synchronization of all of the folders of the e-mail folder hierarchy when the synchronization mode designator is set to the first synchronization mode; and

permitting synchronization of only the subset of folders of the e-mail folder hierarchy when the synchronization mode designator is set to the second synchronization mode, thereby prohibiting synchronization of the folders external to the subset of folders.

35. The computer program storage medium of claim 34, wherein providing an electronic toggle switch via a user interface further comprises providing a selectable icon on a graphical user interface which allows optional designation of exclusive synchronization of the defined subset of folders.

36. The computer program storage medium of claim 34, wherein providing an electronic toggle switch via a user interface further comprises providing a text entry interface which allows keystroke designation of exclusive synchronization of the defined subset of folders.

37. The computer program storage medium of claim 34, wherein the computer process for permitting synchronization of only the subset of folders further comprises limiting the subset of folders to be synchronized in accordance with a computer process comprising:

defining a predetermined user action as an implicit user request for synchronization of a group of folders associated with the predetermined user action;

assigning a flag to each of the folders in the group of folders upon recognition of a user action corresponding to the predetermined user action; and

synchronizing only the folders having the flag assigned thereto.

38. The computer program storage medium of claim 34, wherein the computer process for permitting synchronization of all of the folders of the e-mail folder hierarchy further comprises limiting the folders of the e-mail folder hierarchy to be synchronized in accordance with a computer process comprising:

defining a predetermined user action as an implicit user request for synchronization of a group of folders associated with the predetermined user action;

assigning a flag to each of the folders in the group of folders upon recognition of a user action corresponding to the predetermined user action; and

synchronizing only the folders having the flag assigned thereto.

39. The computer program storage medium of claim 34, wherein permitting synchronization of only the subset of folders of the e-mail folder hierarchy when in the second synchronization mode comprises overriding exclusive synchronization of the subset of folders by allowing specifically identified folders external to the subset of folders to be synchronized during electronic connection of the server and client computers.

40. A computer data signal embodied in a carrier wave readable by a computing system and encoding a computer program of instructions to execute a computer process for selectively synchronizing a subset of folders of an e-mail folder hierarchy between a server computer and a client computer, the computer process comprising:

defining the subset of the e-mail folder hierarchy as a collection of the folders forming a predetermined branch of the e-mail folder hierarchy;

providing an interface for a user to enter a synchronization mode designator set to a first state or a second state to be used for multiple subsequent synchronizing acts until entry of a different synchronization mode designator, wherein providing an interface for a user to enter a synchronization mode designator includes providing an audio interface which allows voice-activated designation of exclusive synchronization of the defined subset of folders;

receiving the synchronization mode designator;

synchronizing all of the folders of the e-mail folder hierarchy when the synchronization mode designator is in the first state; and

synchronizing only the collection of folders forming the predetermined branch of the e-mail folder hierarchy when the synchronization mode designator is in the second state.

41. The computer data signal of claim 40, wherein the computer process further comprises determining whether the synchronization mode designator is in the first state or the second state.

42. The computer data signal of claim 40, wherein providing an interface for a user to enter a synchronization mode designator comprises providing a selectable icon on a graphical user interface which allows optional designation of exclusive synchronization of the defined subset of folders.

43. The computer data signal of claim 40, wherein providing an interface for a user to enter a synchronization mode designator comprises providing a text entry interface which allows keystroke designation of exclusive synchronization of the defined subset of folders.