User-input scheduling of synchronization operation on a mobile device based on user activity

• US 10,292,120 B2
• Filed: 10/31/2017
• Issued: 05/14/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 11/05/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Inventors: Vargas, Sandra I., Williamson, David R., Hall, Gary W., Foster, Michael A., Balducci, Juan V. Esteve
• Primary Examiner(s): Nguyen, Tuan H
• Application Number:
  US15/799,524
• Publication Number:
  US 20180070324A1
• Time in Patent Office: 560 Days
• 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 67/1095 Replication or mirroring of data, e.g. scheduling or transport for data synchronisation between network nodes
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/329 in the application layer [OSI layer 7]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 9/40 Network security protocols
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4126 The peripheral being portable, e.g. PDAs or mobile phones
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 56/00 Synchronisation arrangements

Abstract

Data is synchronized between a mobile device and a computing device over a wireless link. Synchronization operations are scheduled according to a synchronization schedule that is based on a current time of day. In one embodiment, the day can be divided into different time periods by the user. The user can also specify the frequency with which synchronization operations are to be performed during each specified period.

Claims

1. A device, comprising:

at least one processor; and

a memory coupled to the at least one processor and storing instructions that, when executed by the at least one processor, perform a method, comprising;

determining a synchronization schedule associated with the device;

detecting execution of an action, wherein the execution of the action initiates a synchronization operation that is different from a scheduled synchronization operation specified by the synchronization schedule; and

performing the synchronization operation.

2. The device of claim 1, wherein performing the synchronization operation comprises performing one or more queued message operations.

3. The device of claim 2, wherein the one or more queued message operations are associated with the scheduled synchronization operation.

4. The device of claim 1, wherein the action is performed by an electronic message application.

5. The device of claim 1, wherein the synchronization operation is performed in response to the action being executed when received input indicates that the synchronization operation is to be performed when the action is executed.

6. The device of claim 1, further comprising instructions for associating a time delay with the synchronization operation.

7. The device of claim 6, further comprising instructions for comparing the time delay of the synchronization operation to a time frame associated with the scheduled synchronization operation specified by the synchronization schedule.

8. The device of claim 7, further comprising instructions for executing the scheduled synchronization operation in lieu of the synchronization operation when an amount of time remaining in the time frame is less than the time delay.

9. The device of claim 6, wherein the time delay is specified based, at least in part, on received input.

10. A method, comprising:

determining, using a processor, a synchronization schedule associated with a computing device;

receiving, on a user interface of the computing device, input that indicates an action is to be performed by the computing device, wherein the action initiates a synchronization operation that is different from a scheduled synchronization operation specified by the synchronization schedule; and

performing, by the processor, the synchronization operation when the action is performed.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein the action is associated with an electronic message application executing on the computing device.

12. The method of claim 10, further comprising determining whether received input indicates that the synchronization operation is to be performed in response to the action being performed.

13. The method of claim 10, further comprising associating a time delay with the synchronization operation.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein the time delay is specified based, at least in part, on received input.

15. The method of claim 13, further comprising comparing the time delay of the synchronization operation to a time frame associated with the scheduled synchronization operation specified by the synchronization schedule.

16. The method of claim 15, further comprising executing the scheduled synchronization operation in lieu of the synchronization operation when an amount of time remaining in the time frame is less than the time delay.

17. The method of claim 15, further comprising adjusting an amount of time remaining in the time frame associated with the scheduled synchronization operation specified by the synchronization schedule when the synchronization operation is performed.

18. The method of claim 10, wherein performing the synchronization operation comprises performing synchronization operations for one or more batched items.

19. A computing device, comprising:

at least one processor; and

a memory coupled to the at least one processor and storing instructions that, when executed by the at least one processor, perform a method, comprising;

receiving input that indicates an action is to be executed by the computing device, wherein the action initiates a synchronization operation that is different from a scheduled synchronization operation specified by a synchronization schedule; and

performing the synchronization operation in response to the action being executed by the computing device.

20. The computing device of claim 19, wherein performing the synchronization operation comprises performing a batch synchronization process.