US 2014/0373147 A1Published application

Scanning files for inappropriate content during synchronization

AssigneeMicrosoft Corporation

InventorsMarc E. Seinfeld, Daron Spektor, William M. Zintel, Adrian M. Marinescu

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Abstract

The present invention extends to methods, systems, and computer program products for scanning files for inappropriate content during file synchronization. Embodiments of the invention are mindful of the order of operations when scanning files for inappropriate content and in subsequent file processing. In some embodiments, during synchronization, an intermediary server scans a file for inappropriate content. The file is not permitted to be fully downloaded to a client device until the scan determines that the file does not contain inappropriate content. In other embodiments, during synchronization, a client device scans a newer version of a file for inappropriate content. An older version of the file is not deleted until the scan determines that the newer version of the file does not contain inappropriate content. In further embodiments, server side scanning and client side scanning are both used to enhance capabilities for detecting inappropriate content.

Claims20

Dependent claims

At a computer system, the computer system including a processor and system memory, the computer system communicatively coupled to a synchronized distributed storage system, the computer system having a sync client, the sync client configured to synchronize files at the computer system with files at the synchronized distributed storage system, a method for scanning files for inappropriate content during synchronization, the method comprising:

receiving a portion of data for a newer version of a file from the synchronized distributed storage system, the newer version of the file to replace an existing version of the file at the computer system;
identifying a storage location at the computer system to store the portion of data;
receiving any remaining portions of data for the newer version of the file from the synchronized distributed storage system;
storing the remaining portions of data for the newer version of the file at the storage location;
scanning the portions of data stored at the storage location for inappropriate content;
subsequent to and based on the results of the scan:
deleting one of:
the portions of data stored at the storage location and the current version of the file such that one remaining version of the file remains at the computer system;
and
retaining the one remaining version of the file as the new current version of the file.

7 more elements

At a computer system, the computer system including a processor and system memory, the computer system communicatively coupled to a client device and a storage system, the client device configured to download files from the storage system, a method for scanning a downloading file for inappropriate content, the method comprising:

receiving an indication that the client device has initiated downloading a file from the storage system;
indicating to the client device that the computer system intends to scan the file for inappropriate content and that completion of the file download to the client device is not permitted until after the scan completes;
receiving one or more portions of the file from the storage system, the one or more portions of the file also being downloaded to the client device;
scanning the one or more portions of the file for inappropriate content;
subsequent to and based on the results of the scan:
determining if the download to the client device is permitted to complete;
and
performing one of:
permitting the download to complete at the client device or not permitting the download to complete at the client device, based on the determination.

6 more elements

A system, the system comprising:

a distributed storage system;
an intermediary server;
a plurality of client devices;
wherein the intermediary server configured to:
receive an indication that a client device, from among the plurality of client devices has initiated downloading a file from the distributed storage system;
indicate to the client device that the intermediary server intends to scan the file for inappropriate content and that completion of the file download to the client device is not permitted until after the scan completes;
receive one or more portions of the file from the distributed storage system, the one or more portions of the file also being downloaded to the client device;
scan the one or more portions of the file for inappropriate content;
subsequent to and based on the results of the scan:
determine if the download to the client device is permitted to complete;
and
perform one of:
completing the download or not permitting the download to complete, based on the determination;
and
wherein each of the plurality of clients is configured to:
receive the one or more portions of the file from the intermediary server, the file being a newer version of another file at the client device;
storing the one or more portions of the file at the storage location;
scanning the portions of the file stored at the storage location for inappropriate content;
subsequent to and based on the results of the scan:
deleting one of:
the portions of the file at the storage location and the other file such that one remaining version of the other file remains at the client device;
and
retaining the one remaining version of the other file as the new current version of the other file.

20 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.