Systems and methods for synchronizing computer systems through an intermediary file system share or device

• US 7,401,104 B2
• Filed: 07/12/2004
• Issued: 07/15/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 08/21/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
• Inventors: Echeruo, Okechkwu Chima, Novik, Lev, Pohlmann, Nils H., Thomas, Michael W., Shah, Darshatkumar
• Primary Examiner(s): Corrielus; Jean M
• Application Number:
  US10/889,423
• Publication Number:
  US 20050223047A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,464 Days
• Field of Search: 707/10, 707/204
• US Class Current: 707/620
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/1787 Details of non-transparently synchronising file systems
• 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: Y10S 707/99955 Archiving or backup

Abstract

The invention is directed to systems and methods for the synchronization of two clients both utilizing a common storage platform (e.g., the new storage platform of the related inventions) to synchronize through an intermediary that is not using the same common storage platform (e.g., instead using a legacy storage platform that does not itself support synchronization for the new storage platform). Data is synchronized using the existing capabilities of the intermediary but where the data structure of the clients is preserved. An “adapter” is used to enable a client to interact with an intermediary by compensating for the intermediaries inability to preserve the data structure elements inherent to the client'"'"'s storage platform. Specific embodiments are directed to either or both upload-syncing data from a client to a intermediary and/or download-syncing data from an intermediary to a client. Certain additional embodiments are further directed to compaction of data on the intermediary.

Claims

1. A method for synchronizing at least two computer systems, comprising the following steps:

providing at least two client computer systems, wherein each client computer system utilizes a first storage platform;

providing an intermediary computer system, wherein the intermediary computer system utilizes a second storage platform different from and lacking support for synchronization for the first storage platform;

connecting the intermediary computer system to each client computer system;

providing a synchronization adapter to each client computer system enabling the client computer system to logically synchronize with the intermediary computer system;

synchronizing each client computer system with the intermediary computer system via the adapter resident on each client computer system; and

synchronizing each client computer system with the other client computer systems by means of the intermediary computer system.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the synchronization of the client computer systems is utilized to support a data-sharing operation.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the synchronization of the client computer systems is utilized to support an end-user roaming.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the first storage platform is an Item-based storage platform.

5. The method of claim 4, further comprising the step of serializing a change enumeration for a client computer system as at least one file stored on said intermediary computer system.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein said files include at least one of a file for change data, a file for prerequisite knowledge, and a file for learned knowledge.

7. The method of claim 5, further comprising the step of performing a send sync operation between a first client computer system and said intermediary computer system, said send sync operation comprising:

determining learned knowledge for the intermediary computer system;

preparing a first set of necessary changes for said intermediary computer system when changes in said first client computer system are not reflected in said learned knowledge of said intermediary computer system; and

serializing said set of necessary changes and writing same to said intermediary computer system.

8. The method of claim 7, said send sync operation comprising:

acquiring write mode process locks; and

releasing write mode process locks.

9. The method of claim 5, further comprising the step of performing a receive sync operation between a first client computer system and said intermediary computer system, said receive sync operation comprising deserializing a set of necessary changes from the intermediary computer system and applying same to said first client computer system.

10. The method of claim 9, said receive sync operation further comprising:

acquiring read mode process locks; and

releasing read mode process locks.

11. The method of claim 5, further comprising the step of performing a compaction operation between a first client computer system and said intermediary computer system.

12. A system for synchronizing at least two computer systems, said system comprising:

at least two client computer systems each having a microprocessor and a memory, wherein each client computer system utilizes a first storage platform;

an intermediary computer system having a microprocessor and a memory, wherein said intermediary computer system utilizes a second storage platform different from and lacking support for synchronization for the first storage platform;

at least one subsystem for connecting the intermediary computer system to each client computer system;

logically synchronizing each client computer system with the intermediary computer system via a synchronization adapter resident on each client computer system; and

synchronizing each client computer system with the other client computer systems via the synchronization adapter resident on each client computer system.

13. The system of claim 12, further comprising at least one subsystem so that said synchronization between said client computer systems is utilized to support a data-sharing operation.

14. The system of claim 12, further comprising at least one subsystem so that said synchronization between said client computer systems is utilized to support an end-user roaming.

15. The system of claim 12, wherein the first storage platform is an Item-based storage platform.

16. The system of claim 15, further comprising at least one subsystem for serializing a change enumeration for a client computer system as at least one file stored on said intermediary computer system.

17. The system of claim 16, said at least one file comprising at least one of a file for change data, a file for prerequisite knowledge, and a file for learned knowledge.

18. The system of claim 16, further comprising the step of performing a send sync operation between a first client computer system and said intermediary computer system, said send sync operation comprising:

determining learned knowledge for the intermediary computer system;

preparing a first set of necessary changes for said intermediary computer system when changes in said first client computer system are not reflected in said learned knowledge of said intermediary computer system; and

serializing said set of necessary changes and writing same to said intermediary computer system.

19. The system of claim 18, said send sync operation comprising:

acquiring write mode process locks; and

releasing write mode process locks.

20. The system of claim 16, further comprising at least one subsystem for performing a receive sync operation between a first client computer system and said intermediary computer system, said receive sync operation comprising deserializing a set of necessary changes from the intermediary computer system and applying same to said first client computer system.

21. The method of claim 20, said receive sync operation further comprising:

acquiring read mode process locks; and

releasing read mode process locks.

22. The system of claim 16, further comprising at least one subsystem for performing a compaction operation between a first client computer system and said intermediary computer system.

23. A hardware control device for synchronizing at least two client computer systems through an intermediary computer system, said hardware control device comprising:

at least two client computer systems each having a microprocessor and a memory;

means for connecting the intermediary computer system to each client computer system, wherein each said client computer system utilizes a first storage system and said intermediary computer system utilizes a second storage platform different from and lacking support for synchronization for the first storage platform;

means for logically synchronizing each client computer system with the intermediary computer system via a synchronization adapter resident on each client computer system; and

means for synchronizing each client computer system with the other client computer systems via the synchronization adapter resident on each client computer system.

24. The hardware control device of claim 23, further comprising means so that said synchronization between said client computer systems is utilized to support a data-sharing operation.

25. The hardware control device of claim 23, further comprising means so that said synchronization between said client computer systems is utilized to support an end-user roaming.

26. The hardware control device of claim 23, wherein said first storage platform is an Item-based storage platform.

27. The hardware control device of claim 26, further comprising means for serializing a change enumeration for a client computer system as at least one file stored on said intermediary computer system.

28. The hardware control device of claim 27, said at least one file comprising at least one of a file for change data, a file for prerequisite knowledge, and a file for learned knowledge.

29. The hardware control device of claim 27, further comprising means for performing a send sync operation between a first client computer system and said intermediary computer system, said send sync operation comprising:

determining learned knowledge for the intermediary computer system;

preparing a set of necessary changes for said intermediary computer system when said first client computer system has changes that are not reflected in said learned knowledge of said intermediary computer system; and

serializing said set of necessary changes and writing same to said intermediary computer system.

30. The hardware control device of claim 29, said send sync operation further comprising:

acquiring write mode process locks; and

releasing write mode process locks.

31. The hardware control device of claim 27, further comprising means for performing a receive sync operation between a first client computer system and said intermediary computer system, said receive sync operation comprising deserializing a set of necessary changes from the intermediary computer system and applying same to said first client computer system.

32. The hardware control device of claim 31, said receive sync operation further comprising:

acquiring read mode process locks; and

releasing read mode process locks.

33. The hardware control device of claim 27, further comprising means for performing a compaction operation between a first client computer system and said intermediary computer system.

34. A computer-readable storage medium having stored thereon computer-executable instructions for synchronizing at least two client computer systems, said computer-executable instructions for performing a process comprising:

providing at least two client computer systems, wherein each client computer system utilizes a first storage platform;

providing an intermediary computer system, wherein the intermediary computer system utilizes a second storage platform different from and lacking support for synchronization for the first storage platform;

connecting the intermediary computer system to each client computer system;

providing a synchronization an adapter to each client computer system enabling the client computer system to logically synchronize with the intermediary computer system;

synchronizing each client computer system with the intermediary computer system via the adapter resident on each client computer system; and

synchronizing each client computer system with the other client computer systems by means of the intermediary computer system.

35. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 34, wherein the synchronization of the client computer systems is utilized to support a data-sharing operation.

36. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 34, wherein the synchronization of the client computer systems is utilized to support an end-user roaming.

37. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 34, wherein the first storage platform is an Item-based storage platform.

38. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 37, further comprising the step of serializing a change enumeration for a client computer system as at least one file stored on.

39. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 38, wherein said files include at least one of a file for change data, a file for prerequisite knowledge, and a file for learned knowledge.

40. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 38 further comprising the step of performing a send sync operation between a first client computer system and said intermediary computer system, said send sync operation comprising:

determining learned knowledge for the intermediary computer system;

preparing a first set of necessary changes for said intermediary computer system when changes in said first client computer system are not reflected in said learned knowledge of said intermediary computer system; and

serializing said set of necessary changes and writing same to said intermediary computer system.

41. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 40, said send sync operation comprising:

acquiring write mode process locks; and

releasing write mode process locks.

42. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 38, further comprising the step of performing a receive sync operation between a first client computer system and said intermediary computer system, said receive sync operation comprising deserializing a set of necessary changes from the intermediary computer system and applying same to said first client computer system.

43. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 42, said receive sync operation further comprising:

acquiring read mode process locks; and

releasing read mode process locks.

44. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 38, further comprising the step of performing a compaction operation between a first client computer system and said intermediary computer system.