Data Synchronization Policies

• US 20130064336A1
• Filed: 09/09/2011
• Published: 03/14/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 09/09/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Inventors: Schadt, Gyorgy K., Brezak, John E., Nichols, David A., Jakubowski, Patrick R., Desai, Ronakkumar N., Shekel, Oded Y., Hwang, Albert
• Granted Patent: US 9,449,016 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 375/354
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/1787 Details of non-transparently synchronising file systems

Abstract

Techniques for data synchronization policies are described. In one or more implementations, techniques may be employed to set data synchronization (“sync”) policies for devices in a data sync environment. The sync policies specify parameters for sync operations in the sync environment, such as how frequently data sync operations are performed, what types of data are synced to particular devices, how frequently particular types of data are synced, and so on. In implementations, the sync policies consider the number of devices that are participating in a sync environment and attributes of the devices in specifying parameters for sync operations. Data can be synchronized among devices in the sync environment based on the sync policies.

Claims

1. A computer-implemented method, comprising:

aggregating a set of synchronization policies for devices in a synchronization environment, one or more of the synchronization policies specifying data synchronization parameters based on a number of sync participants in the synchronization environment;

synchronizing the set of synchronization policies to the devices; and

performing one or more data synchronization operations among the devices based on the set of synchronization policies.

2. A method as described in claim 1, wherein the one or more synchronization policies specify that a frequency with which data synchronization operations are performed is determined based on a number of the devices that are active in the synchronization environment.

3. A method as described in claim 1, wherein at least one of the synchronization policies specifies that high interest data is to be synced to one or more of the devices more frequently than other types of data.

4. A method as described in claim 1, wherein at least one of the synchronization policies is based on a device type for one or more of the devices.

5. A method as described in claim 1, wherein the synchronization policies are managed by a synchronization service external to the devices, and wherein at least one of the synchronization policies specifies that the devices are to periodically query the synchronization service for changes to the synchronization policies or query the synchronization service for changes to the synchronization policies in response to a notification from the synchronization service.

6. A method as described in claim 1, wherein the data sync environment is associated with at least a first service level and a second service level, and wherein at least one of the synchronization policies specifies more frequent data synchronization operations for a device subscribing to the first service level than for a device subscribing to the second service level.

7. A method as described in claim 1, wherein at least one of the synchronization policies specifies, for a user with more devices registered in the sync environment than for a user with fewer devices registered in the synchronization environment, at least one of:

more frequent data synchronization operations, a higher data bandwidth allotment, a larger amount of data per synchronization operation, or a larger amount of data stored by a synchronization service.

8. A method as described in claim 1, further comprising:

ascertaining that at least one of the devices is subscribing to a service data collection of multiple service data collections available in the synchronization environment,

wherein said performing comprises synchronizing data between the service data collection and a client data collection on the at least one device, and wherein at least one of the synchronization policies specifies a maximum data storage amount for one or more of the service data collections.

9. A method as described in claim 8, further comprising discontinuing synchronization of the service data collection to the at least one device in response to one of a user unsubscribing from the service data collection or an expiration of a subscription to the service data collection.

10. A method as described in claim 9, further comprising deleting the service data collection without deleting a corresponding client data collection in response to ascertaining that no devices are subscribing to the service data collection.

11. A method as described in claim 1, further comprising presenting a sync user interface via one of the devices than enables one or more synchronization parameters to be specified for multiple of the devices.

12. A method as described in claim 1, wherein the synchronization environment is associated with a synchronization service, and wherein the method further comprises discontinuing data synchronization to one or more of the devices in response to an expiration of a registration of the one or more devices with the synchronization service.

13. A computer-implemented method, comprising:

receiving an indication of a change associated with a device in a synchronization environment;

notifying a different device in the synchronization environment of the change such that the different device can change one or more synchronization policy values based on the change; and

performing one or more data synchronization operations in the synchronization environment based on the change.

14. A method as described in claim 13, wherein the change comprises an activation of the device into the synchronization environment or a disconnection of the device from the synchronization environment.

15. A method as described in claim 14, wherein said performing comprises:

increasing the frequency of data synchronization operations if the change comprises an activation of the device into the synchronization environment;

or

decreasing the frequency of data synchronization operations if the change comprises a disconnection of the device from the synchronization environment.

16. A method as described in claim 13, wherein said change comprises a new geographic location for the device, and wherein the one or more data synchronization operations are performed based on the new geographic location.

17. A computer-implemented method, comprising:

ascertaining that a device subscribes to a data collection of multiple data collections available to be synchronized to the device;

synchronizing data from the data collection to the device; and

discontinuing synchronization of the data collection to the device in response to one of a user unsubscribing from the data collection or an expiration of a subscription to the data collection for the device.

18. A method as described in claim 17, wherein said unsubscribing is responsive to the user uninstalling an application associated with the data collection.

19. A method as described in claim 18, wherein the sync user interface is further configured to enable a user to renew a subscription to one or more other data collections.

20. A method as described in claim 17, wherein the data collection is stored at a synchronization service, and wherein the method further comprises deleting the data collection from the synchronization service in response to ascertaining that no devices are subscribing to the data collection.