Method and system for content synchronization and detecting synchronization recursion in networks

• US 7,739,411 B2
• Filed: 04/05/2007
• Issued: 06/15/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 08/11/2006
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.
• Inventors: Kwon, Wonseok, Oh, Seung Jae, Messer, Alan, Huang, Jian, Rahman, Mahfuzur
• Primary Examiner(s): Chan; Wing F
• Assistant Examiner(s): Thieu; Benjamin M
• Application Number:
  US11/784,464
• Publication Number:
  US 20080040511A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,167 Days
• Field of Search: 709/248, 709/217, 709/201, 709/232, 709/225, 707/2, 707/10, 707/200, 711/141, 711/147, 711/174
• US Class Current: 709/248
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/1095 Replication or mirroring of data, e.g. scheduling or transport for data synchronisation between network nodes

Abstract

A method and system implementing a process for content synchronization that detects and prevents synchronization recursion in CDS transfer operations. A synchronization relationship is formed between the CDS containers in multiple devices. Then content synchronization processes are performed based on that relationship to avoid synchronization recursion.

Claims

1. A method of synchronizing content in a network including two or more devices, the method comprising:

providing a content directory service (CDS) in each device, wherein each CDS comprises a hierarchical structure of containers for storing data objects, wherein each container includes a globally unique identification; and

creating a synchronization relationship between each pair of devices among said two or more devices for synchronizing objects in selected containers, wherein each object includes a globally unique identification, such that a combination of said synchronization relationship with one or more existing synchronization relationships, is free of a recursive synchronization loop, wherein creating a synchronization relationship further includes;

detecting whether creating the synchronization relationship creates a loop in combination with one or more existing synchronization relationships; and

upon not detecting a loop, creating the synchronization relationship, otherwise, terminating the creation of the synchronization relationship.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein creating a synchronization relationship further includes creating the synchronization relationship only if a combination of said synchronization relationship with one or more existing synchronization relationships is free of a recursive synchronization loop.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein detecting if creating the synchronization relationship between a pair of devices creates a loop in combination with one or more existing synchronization relationships, further includes determining if a destination root object or one of its lineages has the same ancestor SyncID as that of an origin root object, indicating that the synchronization relationship will create a loop.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein detecting if creating the synchronization relationship between a source device and a sink device creates a loop in combination with one or more existing synchronization relationships, further includes:

the sink device determining if a destination root object or one of its lineages has the same ancestor SyncID as that of an origin root object, indicating that the synchronization relationship will create a loop; and

the source device determining if a destination root object or one of its lineages has the same ancestor SyncID as that of an origin root object, indicating that the synchronization relationship will create a loop.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein detecting if creating the synchronization relationship between a source device and a sink device creates a loop in combination with one or more existing synchronization relationships, further includes:

the sink device determining if a destination root object or one of its lineages, in the source device has the same ancestor SyncID as that of an origin root object in the sink device, indicating that the synchronization relationship will create a loop; and

the source device determining if a destination root object or one of its lineages, in the sink, has the same ancestor SyncID as that of an origin root object in the source device, indicating that the synchronization relationship will create a loop.

6. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

performing loop detection during a synchronization operation based on a synchronization relationship, to detecting the presence of a synchronization loop.

7. The method of claim 6 wherein performing loop detection during a synchronization operation further includes determining if the same copies of a synchronization root object are created in the descendants of the root object, indicating a synchronization loop.

8. The method of claim 7 further comprising terminating the synchronization operation upon detecting a synchronization loop.

9. The method of claim 7 further comprising upon detecting a synchronization loop, terminating the synchronization operation and reporting an error.

10. A synchronizing system for synchronizing content in a network, comprising:

two or more electronic devices including a content directory service (CDS), wherein each CDS comprises a hierarchical structure of containers for storing data objects; and

employing a processor including a synchronization module that is configured for creating a synchronization relationship between each pair of devices among said two or more electronic devices for synchronizing objects in selected containers, wherein a combination of said synchronization relationship with one or more existing synchronization relationships, is free of a recursive synchronization loop, wherein the synchronization module further includes;

a loop detector that is configured for detecting if creating the synchronization relationship creates a loop in combination with one or more existing synchronization relationships; and

a creation module that is configured such that, if a loop is not detected, then the creation module creates the synchronization relationship, otherwise, the creation module terminates the creation of the synchronization relationship.

11. The system of claim 10 wherein the synchronization module is further configured for creating a a synchronization relationship only if a combination of said synchronization relationship with one or more existing synchronization relationships is free of a recursive synchronization loop.

12. The system of claim 10 wherein the detector is further configured for determining if a destination root object or one of its lineages has the same ancestor SyncID as thin of an origin root object, indicating that the synchronization relationship will create a loop.

13. The system of claim 10 wherein the synchronization module further comprises a recursion detector that is configured for performing loop detection during a synchronization operation based on a synchronization relationship, to detect the presence of a synchronization loop.

14. The system of claim 13 wherein the recursion detector is further configured for determining if the same copies of a synchronization root object are created in the descendants of the root object, indicating a synchronization loop.

15. The system of claim 14 wherein the recursion detector is further configured for terminating the synchronization operation upon detecting a synchronization loop.

16. A synchronizing system for synchronizing content in a network, comprising:

two or more electronic devices including a content directory service (CDS) in each device, wherein each CDS comprises a hierarchical structure of containers for storing data objects; and

each CDS further comprises a synchronization module that is configured for creating a synchronization relationship between each pair of devices among said two or more electronic devices for synchronizing objects in selected containers, wherein a combination of said synchronization relationship with one or more existing synchronization relationships, is free of a recursive synchronization loop, wherein each synchronization module includes;

a loop detector that is configured for detecting if creating the synchronization relationship creates a loop in combination with one or more existing synchronization relationships; and

a creation module that is configured such that, if a loop is not detected, then the creation module creates the synchronization relationship, otherwise, the creation module terminates the creation of the synchronization relationship.

17. The synchronizing system of claim 16 wherein each synchronization module is further configured for creating a synchronization relationship only if a combination of said synchronization relationship, with one or more existing synchronization relationships is free of a recursive synchronization loop.

18. The synchronizing system of claim 16 wherein the detector is further configured for determining if a destination root object or one of its lineages has the same ancestor SyncID as that of an origin root object, indicating that the synchronization relationship will create a loop.

19. The synchronizing system of claim 16 wherein:

said pair of devices includes a sink device and a source device;

the loop detector of the CDS in the sink device is further configured for determining if a destination root object or one of its lineages has the same ancestor SyncID as that of an origin root object, indicating that the synchronization relationship will create a loop; and

the loop detector of the CDS in the source device is further configured for determining if a destination root object or one of its lineages has the same ancestor SyncID as that of an origin root object, indicating that the synchronization relationship will create a loop.

20. The synchronizing system of claim 16 wherein each synchronization module further comprises a recursion detector that is configured for performing loop detection during a synchronization operation based on a synchronization relationship, to detect the presence of a synchronization loop.

21. The synchronizing system of claim 20 wherein the recursion detector is further configured for determining if the same copies of a synchronization root object are created in the descendants of the root object, indicating a synchronization loop.

22. The synchronizing system of claim 21 wherein the recursion detector is further configured for terminating the synchronization operation upon detecting a synchronization loop.

23. The synchronizing system of claim 16 wherein each object has a unique object identification.

24. The synchronizing system of claim 16 wherein the electronic devices implement a type of UPnP AV protocol.

25. The synchronizing system of claim 16 wherein the network further includes a control point that is configured for initiating a synchronization process.

26. A network, comprising:

a control point;

two or more controlled devices;

a content directory service (CDS) in each device, wherein each CDS comprises a hierarchical structure of containers for storing data objects; and

each CDS further comprises a synchronization module that is configured for creating a synchronization relationship between each pair of devices among said two or more devices for synchronizing objects in selected containers, wherein a combination of said synchronization relationship with one or more existing synchronization relationships, is free of a recursive synchronization loop, wherein each synchronization module includes;

a loop detector that is configured for detecting if creating a synchronization relationship creates a loop in combination with one or more existing synchronization relationships; and

a creation module that is configured such that, if a loop is not detected, then the creation module creates the synchronization relationship, otherwise, the creation module terminates the creation of the synchronization relationship.

27. The network of claim 26 wherein each synchronization module is further configured for creating a synchronization relationship only if a combination of said synchronization relationship with one or more existing synchronization relationships is free of a recursive synchronization loop.

28. The network of claim 26 wherein the detector is further configured for determining if a destination root object or one of its lineages has the same ancestor SyncID as that of an origin root object, indicating that the synchronization relationship will create a loop.

29. The network of claim 26 wherein:

said pair of devices includes a sink device and a source device;

the loop detector of the CDS in the sink device is further configured for determining if a destination root object or one of its lineages has the same ancestor SyncID as that of an origin root object, indicating that the synchronization relationship will create a loop; and

the loop detector of the CDS in the source device is further configured for determining if a destination root object or one of its lineages has the same ancestor SyncID as that of an origin root object, indicating that the synchronization relationship will create a loop.

30. The network of claim 26 wherein each synchronization module further comprises a recursion detector that is configured for performing loop detection during a synchronization operation based on a synchronization relationship, to detect the presence of a synchronization loop.

31. The network of claim 30 wherein the recursion detector is further configured for determining if the same copies of a synchronization root object are created in the descendants of the root object, indicating a synchronization loop.

32. The network of claim 31 wherein the recursion detector is further configured for terminating the synchronization operation upon detecting a synchronization loop.

33. The network of claim 26 wherein each object has a unique object identification.

34. The network of claim 26 wherein the network further includes a control point that is configured for initiating a synchronization process.

35. The network of claim 26 wherein the control point and the devices implement a UPnP AV protocol.