Task-context architecture for efficient data sharing

• US 9,936,018 B2
• Filed: 12/14/2013
• Issued: 04/03/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 09/27/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: McAfee, LLC
• Original Assignee: McAfee, LLC
• Inventors: Kulkarni, Dattatraya, Nalluri, Srikanth, Halder, Kamlesh, Krishnapur, Venkatasubrahmanyam, Shankar, Shailaja, Dhruw, Kaushal Kumar, Gadde, Kranthikumar
• Primary Examiner(s): Henderson, Esther B
• Application Number:
  US14/912,318
• Publication Number:
  US 20160212208A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,571 Days
• Field of Search: None
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 9/5072 Grid computing
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/06 specially adapted for file transfer, e.g. file transfer protocol [FTP]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/1095 Replication or mirroring of data, e.g. scheduling or transport for data synchronisation between network nodes

Abstract

To provide a more seamless experience across multiple devices, task streaming systems and methods allow a user to create “task-contexts” and manage metadata of files stored across multiple data storage devices and user preferences associated with capabilities of the multiple devices for operating on the file. Furthermore, the task streaming systems and methods are provided to allow task-contexts to be shared from one device to another device. A task-context specifies one or more files and one or more operations to be performed on the one or more files. By providing a task-context from one device to the other device, a user can accomplish a task with a particular file and seamlessly transition between devices with minimal disruption and effort.

Claims

1. A machine readable non-transitory storage medium having instructions stored thereon, wherein the instructions when executed by at least one processor cause the at least one processor to perform the following:

receiving, from a first device, a first metadata for identifying one or more files stored on the first device and for identifying one or more user preferences associated with capability(-ies) of the first device for operating on different types of files;

receiving, from a second device, a second metadata for identifying one or more files stored on the second device and for identifying one or more user preferences associated with capability(-ies) of the second device for operating on different types of files;

receiving, from the first device, a task-context metadata tag identifying a file, an operation, and the second device, wherein the file is selected from a plurality of files stored on a plurality of devices and the operation is selected from available operation(s) of the second device for operating on the file; and

transmitting to the second device, a notification of the task-context metadata tag.

2. The machine readable non-transitory storage medium of claim 1, wherein the instructions when executed by the at least one processor cause the at least one processor to further perform the following:

generating the available operation(s) of the second device for operating on different types of files based on the one or more user preferences associated with capability(-ies) of the second device and one or more capabilities for converting the file to a format suitable for some of the one or more user preferences associated with capability(-ies) of the second device.

3. The machine readable non-transitory storage medium of claim 1, wherein the instructions when executed by the at least one processor cause the at least one processor to further perform the following:

retrieving the file;

converting the file to a format suitable for some of the one or more user preferences associated with capability(-ies) of the second device; and

providing the second device access to the converted file.

4. The machine readable non-transitory storage medium of claim 1, the instructions when executed by the at least one processor cause the at least one processor to further perform the following:

adding the task-context metadata tag to a task list associated with the second device;

maintaining the task list associated with the second device when the second device is not communicating with a task streaming manager; and

pushing the task list associated with the second device when the second device communicably connects with the task streaming manager.

5. The machine readable non-transitory storage medium of claim 1, the instructions when executed by the at least one processor cause the at least one processor to further perform the following:

providing, to the first device, the second metadata and available operations associated with capability(-ies) of the second device for operating on different types of files; and

providing, to the second device, the first metadata and available operations associated with capability(-ies) of the first device for operating on different types of files.

6. The machine readable non-transitory storage medium of claim 1, the instructions when executed by the at least one processor cause the at least one processor to further perform the following:

receiving one or more of the following;

(i) update(s) to metadata associated with files stored on the second device;

(ii) update(s) to metadata associated with files stored on one or more networked storage devices; and

(iii) update(s) to one or more user preferences associated with capability(-ies) on the second device for operating on different types of files; and

providing, to the first device, one or more of the following;

(i) update(s) to metadata associated with files stored on the second device;

(ii) update(s) to metadata associated with files stored on one or more networked storage devices; and

(iii) update(s) to available operations associated with capability(-ies) on the second device for operating on different types of files.

7. An apparatus for managing task streaming between a first device and a second device remote from the first device, the apparatus comprising:

at least one memory element;

at least one processor coupled to the at least one memory element; and

a task streaming manager that when executed by the at least one processor is configured to;

receive, from a first task streaming client on the first device, a first metadata for identifying one or more files stored on the first device and one or more user preferences associated with capability(-ies) of the first device for operating on different types of files;

receive, from a second task streaming client on the second device, a second metadata for identifying one or more files stored on the second device and one or more user preferences associated with capability(-ies) of the second device for operating on different types of files;

receive, from the first task streaming client, a task-context metadata tag identifying a file, an operation, and the second device, wherein the file is selected using the first task streaming client from a plurality of files stored on a plurality of devices including the first device, the second device, and one or more networked storage devices, and the operation is selected using the first task streaming client from available operations of the second device for operating on the file; and

transmit, to the second task streaming client, a notification of the task-context metadata tag.

8. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein the task streaming manager is further configured to:

generate the available operation(s) of the second device for operating on different types of files based on the one or more user preferences associated with capability(-ies) of the second device and one or more capabilities of the task streaming manager for converting the file to a format suitable for some of the one or more user preferences associated with capability(-ies) of the second device.

9. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein the task streaming manager is further configured to:

retrieve the file;

convert the file to a format suitable for some of the one or more user preferences associated with capability(-ies) of the second device; and

provide the second task streaming client access to the converted file.

10. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein the task streaming manager is further configured to:

add the task-context metadata tag to a task list associated with the second device;

maintain the task list associated with the second device when the second device is not communicating with the task streaming manager; and

push the task list associated with the second device when the second device communicably connects with the task streaming manager.

11. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein the task streaming manager is further configured to:

provide, from the task streaming manager to the first task streaming client, the second metadata and available operations associated with capability(-ies) of the second device for operating on different types of files; and

provide, from the task streaming manager to the second task streaming client, the first metadata and available operations associated with capability(-ies) of the first device for operating on different types of files.

12. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein the task streaming manager is further configured to:

receive, at the task streaming manager, one or more of the following;

(i) update(s) to metadata associated with files stored on the second device;

(ii) update(s) to metadata associated with files stored on one or more networked storage devices; and

(iii) update(s) to one or more user preferences associated with capability(-ies) on the second device for operating on different types of files; and

provide, from the task streaming manager to the first task streaming client, one or more of the following;

(i) update(s) to metadata associated with files stored on the second device;

(ii) update(s) to metadata associated with files stored on one or more networked storage devices; and

(iii) update(s) to available operations associated with capability(-ies) on the second device for operating on different types of files.

13. A method for managing task streaming between a first device and a second device remote from the first device, the method comprising:

receiving, at a task streaming manager from a first task streaming client on the first device, a first metadata for identifying one or more files stored on the first device and one or more user preferences associated with capability(-ies) of the first device for operating on different types of files;

receiving, at the task streaming manager from a second task streaming client on the second device, a second metadata for identifying one or more files stored on the second device and one or more user preferences associated with capability(-ies) of the second device for operating on different types of files;

receiving, at the task streaming manager from the first task streaming client, a task-context metadata tag identifying a file, an operation, and the second device, wherein the file is selected using the first task streaming client from a plurality of files stored on a plurality of devices including the first device, the second device, and one or more networked storage devices, and the operation is selected using the first task streaming client from available operation(s) of the second device for operating on the file; and

transmitting, from the task streaming manager to the second task streaming client, a notification of the task-context metadata tag.

14. The method of claim 13, further comprising:

generating the available operation(s) of the second device for operating on different types of files based on the one or more user preferences associated with capability(-ies) of the second device and one or more capabilities of the task streaming manager for converting the file to a format suitable for some of the one or more user preferences associated with capability(-ies) of the second device.

15. The method of claim 13, further comprising:

retrieving the file;

converting the file, at the task streaming manager, to a format suitable for some of the one or more user preferences associated with capability(-ies) of the second device; and

providing the second task streaming client access to the converted file.

16. The method of claim 13, further comprising:

adding the task-context metadata tag to a task list associated with the second device;

maintaining the task list associated with the second device when the second device is not communicating with the task streaming manager; and

pushing the task list associated with the second device when the second device communicably connects with the task streaming manager.

17. The method of claim 13, further comprising:

providing, from the task streaming manager to the first task streaming client, the second metadata and available operations associated with capability(-ies) of the second device for operating on different types of files; and

providing, from the task streaming manager to the second task streaming client, the first metadata and available operations associated with capability(-ies) of the first device for operating on different types of files.

18. The method of claim 13, further comprising:

receiving, at the task streaming manager, one or more of the following;

(i) update(s) to metadata associated with files stored on the second device;

(ii) update(s) to metadata associated with files stored on one or more networked storage devices; and

(iii) update(s) to one or more user preferences associated with capability(-ies) on the second device for operating on different types of files; and

providing, from the task streaming manager to the first task streaming client, one or more of the following;

(i) update(s) to metadata associated with files stored on the second device;

(ii) update(s) to metadata associated with files stored on one or more networked storage devices; and

(iii) update(s) to available operations associated with capability(-ies) on the second device for operating on different types of files.

19. A machine readable non-transitory storage medium having instructions stored thereon for task streaming between a first device and a second device remote from the first device, wherein the instructions when executed by at least one processor cause the at least one processor to perform the following:

providing, from a first task streaming client on the first device to a task streaming manager, metadata for identifying one or more files stored on the first device and one or more user preferences associated with capability(-ies) of the first device for operating on different types of files;

receiving one or more user selections, at the first task streaming client on the first device, of;

a file, an operation to be performed on the second device with the file, and the second device, wherein the file is selected from a plurality of files stored on a plurality of devices and the operation is selected from available operation(s) of the second device for operating on the file; and

transmitting, from the first task streaming client to the task streaming manager, a task-context metadata tag identifying the file, the operation, and the second device, to enable the task streaming manager to notify the second device of the task-context metadata tag using a second task streaming client on the second device.

20. The machine readable non-transitory storage medium of claim 19, wherein the plurality of files stored on a plurality of devices comprise files stored on the first device, the second device, and/or one or more networked storage devices.

21. The machine readable non-transitory storage medium of claim 19, wherein the instructions when executed by the at least one processor cause the at least one processor to further perform the following:

receiving, at the first task streaming client from the task streaming manager, available operation(s) associated with capability(-ies) of the second device for operating on different types of files.

22. The machine readable non-transitory storage medium of claim 19, wherein the instructions when executed by the at least one processor cause the at least one processor to further perform the following:

upon receiving a selection of the file, determining the available operation(s) suitable for operating on the file by the second device based on a type of the file; and

rendering, for displaying on a user interface, the available operation(s) suitable for operating on the file to enable a user at the first task streaming client to select one or more of the operation(s) as the operation.

23. The machine readable non-transitory storage medium of claim 19, wherein the instructions when executed by the at least one processor cause the at least one processor to further perform the following:

detecting, using a listener of the first task streaming client on the first device, for update(s) to the metadata for identifying the one or more files stored on the first device and/or update(s) to the one or more user preferences associated with capability(-ies) on the first device for operating on different types of files; and

if any updates are detected, transmitting the update(s) from the first task streaming client to the task streaming manager.

24. The machine readable non-transitory storage medium of claim 19, wherein the instructions when executed by the at least one processor cause the at least one processor to further perform the following:

receiving, at the first task streaming client from the task streaming manager, one or more of the following;

(i) update(s) to metadata associated with files stored on the second device;

(ii) update(s) to metadata associated with files stored on one or more networked storage devices; and

(iii) update(s) to operation(s) associated with capability(-ies) on the second device for operating on different types of files.

25. The machine readable non-transitory storage medium of claim 19, wherein the instructions when executed by the at least one processor cause the at least one processor to further perform the following:

receiving login credentials at the first task streaming client at the first device; and

providing the login credentials from the first task streaming client to the task streaming manager to allow the task streaming manager to retrieve metadata associated with files stored on one or more networked storage devices.

26. An apparatus for task streaming between a first device and a second device remote from the first device, the apparatus comprising:

at least one memory element;

at least one processor coupled to the at least one memory element; and

a first task streaming client on the first device that when executed by the at least one processor is configured to;

provide, to a task streaming manager, metadata for identifying one or more files stored on the first device and one or more user preferences associated with capability(-ies) of the first device for operating on different types of files;

provide a user interface for a user to create a task context;

receive, through the user interface, one or more user selections of;

a file, an operation to be performed on the second device with the file, and the second device, wherein the file is selected from a plurality of files stored on a plurality of devices and the operation is selected from available operation(s) of the second device for operating on the file; and

transmit, to the task streaming manager, a task-context metadata tag identifying the file, the operation, and the second device, to enable the task streaming manager to notify the second device of the task-context metadata tag using a second task streaming client on the second device.

27. A method for task streaming between a first device and a second device remote from the first device, the method comprising:

providing, from a first task streaming client on the first device to a task streaming manager, metadata for identifying one or more files stored on the first device and one or more user preferences associated with capability(-ies) of the first device for operating on different types of files;

providing a user interface using the first task streaming client on the first device for a user to create a task context;

receiving, through the user interface, one or more user selections of;

a file, an operation to be performed on the second device with the file, and the second device, wherein the file is selected from a plurality of files stored on a plurality of devices and the operation is selected from available operation(s) of the second device for operating on the file; and

transmitting, from the first task streaming client to the task streaming manager, a task- context metadata tag identifying the file, the operation, and the second device, to enable the task streaming manager to notify the second device of the task-context metadata tag using a second task streaming client on the second device.

28. A machine readable non-transitory storage medium having instructions stored thereon for task streaming between a first device and a second device remote from the first device, wherein the instructions when executed by at least one processor cause the at least one processor to perform the following:

receiving, from a task streaming manager at a second task streaming client on the second device, a first metadata for identifying one or more files stored on the first device and one or more user preferences associated with capability(-ies) of the first device for operating on different types of files; and

receiving, from the task streaming manager at the second task streaming client, a notification of a task-context metadata tag identifying a file, an operation, and the second device, wherein the file is selected using a first task streaming client on the first device from a plurality of files stored on a plurality of devices and the operation is selected using the first task streaming client from available operations of the second device for operating on the file.

29. The machine readable non-transitory storage medium of claim 28, wherein the instructions when executed by the at least one processor cause the at least one processor to further perform the following:

rendering the notification of the task-context metadata tag for display on the second device.

30. The machine readable non-transitory storage medium of claim 28, wherein the instructions when executed by the at least one processor cause the at least one processor to further perform the following:

providing a user interface using the second task streaming client to allow a user to indicate an acceptance to execute the operation on the file as identified by the task-context metadata tag.

31. The machine readable non-transitory storage medium of claim 28, wherein the instructions when executed by the at least one processor cause the at least one processor to further perform the following:

executing, using the second device, the operation on the file as identified by the task-context metadata tag.

32. An apparatus for task streaming between a first device and a second device remote from the first device, the apparatus comprises:

at least one memory element;

at least one processors coupled to the at least one memory element; and

a second task streaming client on the second device that when executed by the at least one processors is configure to;

receive, from a task streaming manager, a first metadata for identifying one or more files stored on the first device and one or more user preferences associated with capability(-ies) of the first device for operating on different types of files;

receive, from the task streaming manager, a notification of a task-context metadata tag identifying a file, an operation, and the second device, wherein the file is selected using a first task streaming client on the first device from a plurality of files stored on a plurality of devices and the operation is selected using the first task streaming client from available operations of the second device for operating on the file; and

provide, using the second task streaming manager, a user interface for providing the notification to a user of the second device.

33. A method for task streaming between a first device and a second device remote from the first device, the method comprising:

receiving, from a task streaming manager at a second task streaming client on the second device, a first metadata for identifying one or more files stored on the first device and one or more user preferences associated with capability(-ies) of the first device for operating on different types of files; and

receiving, from the task streaming manager at the second task streaming client, a notification of a task-context metadata tag identifying a file, an operation, and the second device, wherein the file is selected using a first task streaming client on the first device from a plurality of files stored on a plurality of devices and the operation is selected using the first task streaming client from available operations of the second device for operating on the file; and

providing, using the task streaming manager at the second task streaming client, a user interface for providing the notification to a user of the second device.