Method and apparatus for a file sharing and synchronization system
AssigneeDropbox, Inc.
InventorsJack Benjamin Strong, Gibu Thomas
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A computer-implemented method is provided for managing and sharing picture files. In one embodiment of the present invention, the method comprises providing a server platform and providing a datastore on the server platform for maintaining full resolution copies of the files shared between a plurality of sharing clients. A synchronization engine is provided on the server platform and is configured to send real-time updates to a plurality of sharing clients when at least one of the sharing clients updates or changes one of said files. A web interface may also be provided that allows a user to access files in the datastore through the use of a web browser.
Claims20
A method for updating metadata, the method comprising:
- while simultaneously providing a data object for editing to a first client device and a second client device:
- receiving, from the first client device, by a synchronization server, a first notification of a first update to metadata associated with the data object;
- receiving, from the second client device, by the synchronization server, a second notification of a second update to the metadata associated with the data object;
- generating updated metadata by:
- based on determining that the first update and the second update edit separate fields, merging the first update and the second update to generate the updated metadata for the data object by including the first update and the second update in the updated metadata;
- or
- based on determining that the first update and the second update edit a same field, merging the first update and the second update to generate the updated metadata by discarding one of the first update or the second update;
- and
- synchronizing, by the synchronization server, the updated metadata with each of a plurality of client devices storing a copy of the data object.
A non-transitory computer readable storage medium comprising instructions that, when executed by at least one processor, cause a computing device to:
- while simultaneously providing a data object for editing to a first client device and a second client device:
- receive, from the first client device, a first notification of a first update to metadata associated with the data object;
- receive, from the second client device, a second notification of a second update to the metadata associated with the data object;
- generate updated metadata by:
- based on determining that the first update and the second update edit separate fields, merging the first update and the second update to generate the updated metadata for the data object by including the first update and the second update in the updated metadata;
- or
- based on determining that the first update and the second update edit a same field, merging the first update and the second update to generate the updated metadata by discarding one of the first update or the second update;
- and
- synchronize the updated metadata with each of a plurality of client devices storing a copy of the data object.
A system, comprising:
- at least one processor;
- and
- a non-transitory computer readable storage medium comprising instructions that, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the system to:
- while simultaneously providing a data object for editing to a first client device and a second client device:
- receive, from the first client device, a first notification of a first update to metadata associated with the data object;
- receive, from the second client device, a second notification of a second update to the metadata associated with the data object;
- generate updated metadata by:
- based on determining that the first update and the second update edit separate fields, merging the first update and the second update to generate the updated metadata for the data object by including the first update and the second update in the updated metadata;
- or
- based on determining that the first update and the second update edit a same field, merging the first update and the second update to generate the updated metadata by discarding one of the first update or the second update;
- and
- synchronize the updated metadata with each of a plurality of client devices storing a copy of the data object.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.