Mesh-managing data across a distributed set of devices

• US 7,853,669 B2
• Filed: 05/04/2007
• Issued: 12/14/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 05/04/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
• Inventors: Devlin, William D., Moromisato, George P., Ozzie, Raymond E., Andrews, Anthony D., Edelstein, Noah B., Parasnis, Abhay V., Sagar, Akash J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Najjar; Saleh
• Assistant Examiner(s): KOROBOV, VITALI A
• Application Number:
  US11/744,777
• Publication Number:
  US 20080276181A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,320 Days
• Field of Search: 709/204, 709/217, 709/203, 719/331
• US Class Current: 709/217
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/178 Techniques for file synchronisation in file systems
• 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: H04L 67/025 for remote control or remote monitoring of applications
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/1097 for distributed storage of data in networks, e.g. transport arrangements for network file system [NFS], storage area networks [SAN] or network attached storage [NAS]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/568 Storing data temporarily at an intermediate stage, e.g. caching

Abstract

Data files, applications and/or corresponding user interfaces may be accessed at a device that collaborates in a mesh. The mesh may include any number or type of devices that collaborate in a network. Data, applications and/or corresponding user interfaces may be stored within a core object that may be shared over the mesh. Information in the core object may be identified with a corresponding user such that a user may use any collaborating device in the mesh to access the information. In one example, the information is stored remotely from a device used to access the information. A remote source may store the desired information or may determine the storage location of the desired information in the mesh and may further provide the desired information to a corresponding user.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

storing a core object on a storage device, wherein a network includes the storage device and a plurality of computing devices, and wherein the core object comprises a data file and an application corresponding to the data file and a user interface associated with the application and the data file, and wherein the core object is owned by a user and is not owned by any of the plurality of computing devices;

receiving, at a first computing device of the plurality of computing devices, an identifier that identifies the user;

determining a match between the core object and the identifier that identifies the user wherein the match indicates that the user owns the core object; and

projecting, in response to determining the match, the core object to the first computing device.

2. The method of claim 1 further comprising displaying, by the first computing device, an icon that represents the data file of the core object wherein the icon includes an indication that the data file is not stored locally on the first computing device.

3. The method of claim 2 wherein the projecting includes:

launching the application; and

displaying, by the first computing device, the user interface.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein the storage device is one of the plurality of computing devices other than the first computing device.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein the storage device is the first computing device.

6. The method of claim 2 further comprising:

receiving, at the first computing device, a selection of the icon; and

launching the application.

7. At least one computer-readable device comprising computer-executable instructions that, when executed by a processor of a first computing device of the plurality of computing devices, cause the first device to perform a method comprising:

storing a core object on a storage device, wherein a network includes the storage device and the plurality of computing devices, and wherein the core object comprises a data file and an application corresponding to the data file and a user interface associated with the application and the data file, and wherein the core object is owned by a user and is not owned by any of the plurality of computing devices;

receiving, at the first computing device, an identifier that identifies the user;

determining a match between the core object and the identifier that identifies the user wherein the match indicates that the user owns the core object; and

projecting, in response to determining the match, the core object to the first computing device.

8. The at least one computer-readable device of claim 7 further comprising displaying, by the first computing device, an icon that represents the data file of the core object wherein the icon includes an indication that the data file is not stored locally on the first computing device.

9. The at least one computer-readable device of claim 7 wherein the projecting includes:

launching the application; and

displaying, by the first computing device, the user interface.

10. The at least one computer-readable device of claim 7 wherein the storage device is one of the plurality of computing devices other than the first computing device.

11. The at least one computer-readable device of claim 7 wherein the storage device is the first computing device.

12. The at least one computer-readable device of claim 8 further comprising:

receiving, at the first computing device, a selection of the icon; and

launching the application.

13. A system comprising:

a first computing device configured to be part of a network that includes a plurality of computing devices and a storage device that is configured to store a core object, wherein the core object comprises a data file and an application corresponding to the data file and a user interface associated with the application and the data file, and wherein the core object is owned by a user and is not owned by any of the plurality of computing devices or the first computing device;

the first computing device further configured to receive an identifier that identifies the user;

the first computing device further configured to determine a match between the core object and the identifier that identifies the user wherein the match indicates that the user owns the core object; and

the first computing device further configured to, in response to determining the match, receive a projection of the core object.

14. The system of claim 13 further comprising the first computing device further configured to display an icon that represents the data file of the core object wherein the icon includes an indication that the data file is not stored locally on the first computing device.

15. The system of claim 13 further comprising the first computing device further configured to launch the application and to display the user interface.

16. The system of claim 13 wherein the storage device is one of the plurality of computing devices.

17. The system of claim 13 wherein the storage device is the first computing device.

18. The system of claim 13 further comprising the first computing device further configured to receive a selection of the icon and to launch the application.