Synchronization view

• US 7,870,097 B2
• Filed: 02/09/2006
• Issued: 01/11/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 10/23/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
• Inventors: Fisher, Oliver G., Dunn, Melissa W., Perlow, Jon, Erickson, Paul, Park, Vivien
• Primary Examiner(s): Cottingham; John R.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Allen; Nicholas E
• Application Number:
  US11/276,003
• Publication Number:
  US 20060117368A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,797 Days
• Field of Search: 707/621
• US Class Current: 707/621
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/273 Asynchronous replication or reconciliation
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99942 Manipulating data structure, e.g. compression, compaction, compilation
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99943 Generating database or data structure, e.g. via user interface
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99953 Recoverability
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99955 Archiving or backup

Abstract

Systems and methods are disclosed for synchronizing data stored in remote stores. Data stored in locations such as computer applications, consumer electronic devices and Internet websites is synchronized with a central database within a computer device. The computer device may also store constraints that limit the type of data that may be synchronized with individual stores. A graphical user interface may use different formats or icons to distinguish between data stored in a store and data included within the central database.

Claims

1. A method of synchronizing data that is related and that is stored in a plurality of stores, the method comprising:

(a) storing in a computing device a first publisher record, which includes a first version of contact information that identifies a subject and that is synchronized with information stored in a first remote store,

(b) upon synchronization of the first remote store with the computing device, updating the first publisher record to include additional contact information that includes an edit of the first version;

(c) updating a composite record to include the additional contact information, wherein the composite record includes a compilation of contact information that identifies the subject and that is received from the plurality of stores;

(d) determining that adding the additional contact information to a second publisher record is not allowed, wherein the second publisher record includes a second version of contact information that identifies the subject and that is synchronized with information stored in a second remote store of a remote device; and

(e) causing the additional contact information to be displayed in a distinctive format on a display of the remote device, thereby indicating that the additional contact information is not editable using the remote device.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the distinctive format includes characters having a distinctive darkness level.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the distinctive format includes an icon.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

(f) analyzing another synchronization mapping record of a third publisher record to determine that adding the additional contact information to the third publisher record is allowed, wherein the third publisher record includes a third version of contact information that identifies the subject and that is synchronized with information stored in a third remote store of another remote device.

5. The method of claim 4, further including:

(g) adding the additional contact information to the third publisher record, thereby editing the third version of contact information to include the additional contact information.

6. The method of claim 5, further including:

(h) causing the additional contact information to be displayed in a format, which is consistent with formatting of other information of the third version, on a display of the third remote device, thereby indicating that both the additional contact information and the other information are editable using the other remote device.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein determining that adding the additional contact information to the second publisher record is not allowed comprises referencing a synchronization mapping record, which includes rules that govern synchronization of data within the second remote store.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the data stored on the first remote store comprises calendar data.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the data stored on the first remote store comprises a digital certificate.

10. A computer readable medium containing computer readable instructions for causing a computing device to perform the steps comprising:

(a) storing on the computing device a first publisher record, which includes a first version of contact information that identifies a person and that is synchronized with information stored in a first remote store,

(b) upon synchronization of the first remote store with the computing device, updating the first publisher record to include additional contact information that includes an edit of the first version;

(c) updating a composite record to include the additional contact information, wherein the composite record includes a compilation of contact information that identifies the person and that is received from the plurality of stores;

(d) referencing a synchronization mapping record of a second publisher record to determine that adding the additional contact information to the second publisher record is not allowed, wherein the second publisher record includes a second version of contact information that identifies the person and that is synchronized with information stored in a second remote store of a remote device;

(e) causing the additional contact information to be displayed in a distinctive format on a display of the remote device, thereby indicating that the additional contact information is not editable using the remote device;

(f) analyzing another synchronization mapping record of a third publisher record to determine that adding the additional contact information to the third publisher record is allowed, wherein the third publisher record includes a third version of contact information that identifies the person and that is synchronized with information stored in a third remote store of another remote device;

(g) adding the additional contact information to the third publisher record, thereby editing the third version of contact information to include the additional contact information; and

(h) causing the additional contact information to be displayed in a format, which is consistent with formatting of other information of the third version, on a display of the third remote device, thereby indicating that both the additional contact information and the other information are editable using the other remote device.