Distributed method for synchronizing and updating bookmarks on multiple computer devices

• US 8,001,077 B2
• Filed: 12/14/2005
• Issued: 08/16/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 12/14/2005
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Elliott, Mark E., Kelley, Edward E.
• Primary Examiner(s): Timblin; Robert
• Assistant Examiner(s): Richardson; James E
• Application Number:
  US11/306,016
• Publication Number:
  US 20070136306A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,071 Days
• Field of Search: 707/615, 707/614, 707/616, 707621-623, 715/206
• US Class Current: 707/614
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/9562 Bookmark management

Abstract

Multiple computer devices are networked, and each computer device stores a bookmark database. A user can add delete or change bookmarks on any of the computer devices. Alterations made to a bookmark database are stored locally. Every alteration is time stamped. If a bookmark is deleted, it is marked as deleted, but not erased from the local bookmark database. Bookmark databases stored on other computer devices are unaffected by changes made to the bookmark database stored on the local device. In order to update and synchronize all the bookmark databases, the local device receives the data from all the other bookmark databases. Then, the time stamps for each bookmark are compared, and the bookmarks with the most recent time stamps are assembled in a new master bookmark database. The new master bookmark database is then sent to all participating devices in the network.

Claims

1. A method for combining bookmarks from a plurality of personal computer devices communicating through or directly with each other through a network interconnecting the personal computer devices, comprising the steps of:

a) storing on each personal computer device of said plurality of personal computer devices a bookmark database, wherein each bookmark in each bookmark database includes a URL, a bookmark time stamp, and a deletion indicator;

b) altering a bookmark database stored on any of the personal computer devices, wherein altering can be any of adding a bookmark, changing the URL of a bookmark, or changing a deletion indicator of a bookmark;

c) providing a new time stamp to any bookmark altered in step (b);

d) comparing, according to time stamp, corresponding bookmarks from a plurality of bookmark databases of respective personal computer devices of said plurality of personal computer devices, wherein said comparing step occurs at or between any of said plurality of personal computer devices; and

e) combining bookmark databases of respective personal computer devices of said plurality of personal computer devices to create a master bookmark database on any one of said plurality of personal computer devices from bookmarks with the most recent time stamps as found by said comparing step, wherein bookmarks indicated as deleted are not included in the master bookmark database.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein before step (d) bookmark databases from multiple personal computer devices are transmitted to a single personal computer device, and wherein the single personal computer device performs steps (d) and (e).

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the master bookmark database is created on a single personal computer device.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein steps (d) and (e) can be triggered manually.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of transmitting the master bookmark database to at least one personal computer device.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein every bookmark has a bookmark identifier, and corresponding bookmarks in different databases have the same bookmark identifier.

7. A personal computer device for creating a master bookmark database available to other personal computer devices communicating through or directly with each other through a network interconnecting the personal computer devices, comprising:

a) a computer readable memory device storing a bookmark database, wherein each bookmark in the bookmark database has a URL, a bookmark time stamp, and a deletion indicator;

b) software instructions stored in the memory device for performing the following steps;

1) altering a bookmark database stored on the personal computer device, wherein altering can be any of adding a bookmark, changing the URL of a bookmark, or changing a deletion indicator of a bookmark;

2) providing a new time stamp to any bookmark altered in step (1);

3) comparing, according to time stamp, corresponding bookmarks from a plurality of bookmark databases stored on the personal computer device and respective ones of the personal computer devices, wherein said comparing step occurs at said personal computer device or between said personal computer device and any of said plurality of personal computer devices;

4) combining bookmark databases of respective personal computer devices of said plurality of personal computer devices to create a master bookmark database on any one of said personal computer devices from bookmarks with the most recent time stamps as found by said comparing step, wherein bookmarks indicated as deleted by the deletion indicator are not included in the master bookmark database; and

c) a processor device for implementing the software instructions, and

5) transmitting the master bookmark database to at least one networked personal computer device after step (4).

8. A method for sharing bookmarks among a plurality of personal computer devices communicating through or directly with each other through a network interconnecting the personal computer devices, comprising the steps of:

a) storing on each personal computer device of said plurality of personal computer devices a bookmark database, wherein each bookmark in each bookmark database includes a URL, a bookmark time stamp, and a deletion indicator;

b) altering a bookmark database stored on any of the personal computer devices, wherein altering can be any of adding a bookmark, changing the URL of a bookmark, or changing a deletion indicator of a bookmark;

c) providing a new time stamp to any bookmark altered in step (b);

d) comparing, according to time stamp, corresponding bookmarks from a plurality of bookmark databases of respective personal computer device of said plurality of personal computer devices, wherein said comparing step occurs at or between any of said plurality of networked personal computer devices;

e) combining bookmark databases of respective personal computer devices of said plurality of personal computer devices to create a master bookmark database on any one of said plurality of personal computer devices from bookmarks with the most recent time stamps, wherein bookmarks indicated as deleted are not included in the master bookmark database; and

f) transmitting the master bookmark database to at least one personal computer device.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein before step (d) bookmark databases from personal multiple computer devices are transmitted to a single personal computer device, and wherein the single personal computer device performs steps (d), (e) and (f).

10. The method of claim 8, wherein the master bookmark database is created on a single personal computer device.

11. The method of claim 8, wherein steps (c), (d), (e) and (f) can be triggered manually.

12. The method of claim 8, wherein every bookmark has a bookmark identifier, and corresponding bookmarks in different databases have the same bookmark identifier.