System and method for synchronizing objects between two devices

• US 7,127,509 B2
• Filed: 04/15/2004
• Issued: 10/24/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 10/12/1998
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
• Inventors: Wu, Charles
• Primary Examiner(s): Follansbee, John
• Assistant Examiner(s): PATEL, ASHOKKUMAR B
• Application Number:
  US10/825,832
• Publication Number:
  US 20040210641A1
• Time in Patent Office: 922 Days
• Field of Search: 709/248, 709/224, 709/225, 707/201
• US Class Current: 709/224
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/275 Synchronous replication
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/1095 Replication or mirroring of data, e.g. scheduling or transport for data synchronisation between network nodes
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/329 in the application layer [OSI layer 7]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 9/40 Network security protocols
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99952 Coherency, e.g. same view to multiple users

Abstract

A synchronization system synchronizes objects between a portable computer and a desktop computer. The portable computer is capable of communicating with a storage volume that can become inaccessible to the portable computer. The system identifies storage volumes currently available to the portable computer and identifies storage volumes previously accessible to the potable computer, but not currently accessible to the portable computer. Objects contained in storage volumes that are currently accessible to the portable computer are then synchronized between the base computer and the portable computer. During the synchronization process, the system ignores objects stored on volumes that are not currently accessible to the portable computer.

Claims

1. A method of synchronizing objects between two devices when some of the objects are intermittently unavailable on one of the devices, comprising:

creating a list of the objects to update on a first computing device and a second computing device, wherein the objects on the second computing device are updated using corresponding objects on the first computing; and

if an object is on the list, then instructing the second computing device to refrain from updating the object when the first computing device cannot access the corresponding objects; and

wherein the method prevents the devices from deleting an object when its corresponding object on the other device is unavailable during synchronization processes that try to automatically delete such objects.

2. The method as recited in claim 1, further comprising removing the object from the list when the corresponding object is permanently removed from the first device.

3. A method maintaining contemporaneous data items within corresponding objects when one of the corresponding objects has new data items, comprising:

listing pairs of corresponding objects, wherein a first member of each pair resides on a first computing device and a second member of each pair resides on a second computing device;

synchronizing each available pair of objects with new data items from either object in the pair; and

protecting an object and the data items it contains from deletion during synchronization if a corresponding object in a listed pair is unavailable; and

wherein the method prevents devices from deleting an object when its corresponding object is unavailable during synchronization processes that try to automatically delete such objects.

4. A method of maintaining contemporaneous corresponding objects on a first and a second device, comprising:

creating a list of corresponding objects prior to the synchronization;

during synchronization, determining if an object on the list exists in the first device;

if the object does not exist in the first device then determining if the object exists in the second device; and

if the object exists in the second device then protecting the object from deletion caused by the synchronization and allowing the first device to access the object or providing the object to the first; and

wherein the method prevents devices from deleting an object when its corresponding object is unavailable throughout synchronization processes that try to automatically delete such objects.

5. A synchronization method for computing devices, comprising:

creating a list of corresponding objects stored on two computing devices;

communicatively coupling the two computing devices for synchronization; and

preventing deletion of the object during synchronization when the corresponding object is unavailable and the object is on the list; and

wherein the method prevents devices from deleting an object when its corresponding object is unavailable during synchronization processes that try to automatically delete such objects.