Server side techniques for reducing database workload in implementing selective subfolder synchronization in a cloud-based environment

• US 9,558,202 B2
• Filed: 08/27/2013
• Issued: 01/31/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 08/27/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Box Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Box Incorporated
• Inventors: Lockhart, Kimber, Platti, Adam, Ebertz, Joy, Silva, Nicholas
• Primary Examiner(s): Singh, Amresh
• Application Number:
  US14/010,851
• Publication Number:
  US 20140059002A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,253 Days
• Field of Search: 707/620
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/178 Techniques for file synchronisation in file systems

Abstract

Techniques are disclosed for reducing database workload in implementing selective subfolder synchronization in a cloud-based environment. In one embodiment, a method comprises, in response to a selection, from a user, of a first synchronization state of a first folder in the workspace, synchronizing content of the first folder in the workspace with a corresponding folder on devices of a user (and collaborators) based on the first synchronization state. The workspace is shared among the user and one or more collaborators of the user. In some embodiments, the method further comprises determining the first synchronization state of the first folder based on synchronization states of one or more folders, other than the first folder, that are related to the first folder. The entries can be configured to identify hierarchical relationships between the one or more folders and the first folder on a per-user basis.

Claims

1. A method for synchronizing selective folders in a workspace of a cloud-based environment, the method comprising:

determining a current synchronization state of a first folder in a workspace shared among a user and one or more collaborators of the user based on synchronization states of one or more child folders included inside the first folder, wherein the one or more child folders is in one of an unsynchronized state or a synchronized state, wherein the determining includes searching a database for entries of folders that are related to the first folder and comprises;

if at least one folder in the one or more child folders is unsynchronized, then the current synchronization state of the first folder is determined to be partially synchronized, and wherein a number of entries in the database is less than a total number of the folders that are related to the first folder;

providing, to a user, options for at least one user-selectable synchronization state of the first folder based on the current synchronization state of the first folder;

receiving input associated with the user-selectable synchronization state of the first folder in the workspace based on the current synchronization state of the first folder; and

input associated with the user-selectable synchronization state of the first folder.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

synchronizing content of the first folder in the workspace with a corresponding folder on a device of a respective collaborator based on the user-selectable synchronization state.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the determining is performed on a per-user basis.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein

searching the database for entries of the folders that are related to the first folder is based on an identifier of the first folder.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein the entries are configured to identify hierarchical relationships between the folders that are related to the first folder and the first folder on a per-user basis.

6. The method of claim 4, wherein the identifier of the first folder is supplied from a client on a device of the user.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

updating, in the database, entries of the folders that are related to the first folder for the user and the one or more collaborators to reflect the input associated with the user-selectable synchronization state.

8. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

updating, in the database, entries of the folders that are related to the first folder for the user and the one or more collaborators when the first folder is deleted.

9. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

updating, in the database, entries of the folders that are related to the first folder for the user and the one or more collaborators when the first folder is moved to another location.

10. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

updating, in the database, entries of the folders that are related to the first folder for the user and the one or more collaborators when a respective collaborator is removed from collaborating on the first folder.

11. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

updating, in the database, entries of the folders that are related to the first folder for the user and the one or more collaborators when a collaboration privilege of a respective collaborator is modified to prevent the respective collaborator from accessing the first folder.

12. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

updating timestamps of the folders that are related to the first folder for the user and the one or more collaborators to reflect the input associated with the user-selectable synchronization state.

13. The method of claim 1, wherein the synchronizing is performed when the user modifies collaboration privileges for the one or more collaborators.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein modification of collaboration privileges is on a per-folder basis.

15. The method of claim 1, wherein the input is received from a device of the user.

16. The method of claim 1, wherein the input is received from a web interface of a host server of the cloud-based environment.

17. The method of claim 1, wherein the determining comprises:

if each folder in the one or more child folders is synchronized, then the current synchronization state of the first folder is determined to be synchronized.

18. The method of claim 1, wherein the determining comprises:

if each folder in the one or more child folders is unsynchronized, then the current synchronization state of the first folder is determined to be unsynchronized.

19. A system for synchronizing selective folders in a workspace of a cloud-based environment, the system comprising:

a processor;

a memory having stored thereon instructions which, when executed by the processor, causes the processor to;

determine a current synchronization state of a first folder in a workspace being shared among a user and one or more collaborators of the user based on synchronization states of one or more child folders included inside the first folder, wherein the one or more child folders is in one of an unsynchronized state or a synchronized state, wherein the processor is further caused to search a database for entries of folders that are related to the first folder and comprises;

if each folder in the one or more child folders is synchronized, then the current synchronization state of the first folder is determined to be synchronized, and wherein a number of entries in the database is less than a total number of the folders that are related to the first folder;

providing, to a user, options for at least one user-selectable synchronization state of the first folder based on the current synchronization state of the first folder;

receive a selection of the first synchronization state of the first folder in the workspace based on the original synchronization state of the first folder; and

input associated with the user-selectable synchronization state of the first folder.

20. The system of claim 19, wherein the processor is further caused to:

synchronize content of the first folder in the workspace with a corresponding folder on a device of a respective collaborator based on the user-selectable synchronization state.

21. The system of claim 19, wherein the search the database for entries of the folders that are related to the first folder is based on an identifier of the first folder.

22. The system of claim 21, wherein the entries are configured to identify hierarchical relationships between the folders that are related to the first folder and the first folder on a per-user basis.

23. The system of claim 19, wherein the processor is further caused to:

update, in the database, entries of the folders that are related to the first folder for the user and the one or more collaborators to reflect the input associated with the user-selectable synchronization state, and

update, in the database, entries of the folders that are related to the first folder for the user and the one or more collaborators when a collaboration privilege of a respective collaborator is modified to prevent the respective collaborator from accessing the first folder.

24. The system of claim 19, wherein the processor is further caused to:

if at least one folder in the one or more child folders is unsynchronized, then the current synchronization state of the first folder is determined to be partially synchronized.

25. The system of claim 19, wherein the processor is further caused to:

if each folder in the one or more child folders is unsynchronized, then the current synchronization state of the first folder is determined to be unsynchronized.

26. A method for synchronizing selective folders in a workspace of a cloud-based environment, the method comprising:

determining a current synchronization state of a first folder based on synchronization states of one or more child folders included inside the first folder, wherein the one or more child folders is in one of an unsynchronized state or a synchronized state, wherein the determining includes searching a database for entries of folders that are related to the first folder and comprises;

if each folder in the one or more child folders is unsynchronized, then the current synchronization state of the first folder is determined to be unsynchronized, and wherein a number of entries in the database is less than a total number of the folders that are related to the first folder; and

synchronizing content of the first folder in the workspace with a corresponding folder on a device of the user based on the current synchronization state.

27. The method of claim 26, wherein the

searching the database for entries of the folders that are related to the first folder is based on an identifier of the first folder.

28. The method of claim 26, wherein the determining comprises:

if at least one folder in the one or more child folders is unsynchronized, then the current synchronization state of the first folder is determined to be partially synchronized.

29. The method of claim 26, wherein the determining comprises:

if each folder in the one or more child folders is synchronized, then the current synchronization state of the first folder is determined to be synchronized.

30. A method for synchronizing selective folders in a workspace of a cloud-based environment, the method comprising:

receiving a selection of a first synchronization state of a first folder in the workspace based on an original synchronization state of the first folder, wherein the first folder is included in a workspace shared by a user and one or more collaborators of the user;

searching a database for entries of the folders related to the first folder based on an identifier of the first folder,

wherein the entries are configured to identify hierarchical relationships between the one or more folders and the first folder on a per-user basis,

wherein the database is configured in a way that a number of entries in the database is less than a total number of folders that are related to the first folder;

determining the first synchronization state of the first folder based on synchronization states of one or more folders, other than the first folder, that are related to the first folder, wherein the original synchronization state of the first folder is determined to be one of an unsynchronized state or a partially synchronized state;

selectively synchronizing content of the first folder in the workspace with a corresponding folder on a device of the user based on the first synchronization state of the first folder, wherein the synchronization is performed by the processor regardless of a second synchronization state of a second folder in the workspace, and wherein the first folder is a subfolder of the second folder; and

updating, in a database, entries of the folders that are related to the first folder for the user and the one or more collaborators to reflect the selected first synchronization state.