# US 2018/0322139 A1 · Methods, computer program products, and systems for automatically synchronizing directory structures across different applications > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2018/0322139 A1 - Document ID: US20180322139A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 16/000,310 - Filed: 2018-06-05 - Published: 2018-11-08 - Earliest claimed: 2008-11-21 - Assignees: AT&T Intellectual Property I, L.P. - Applicants: AT&T Intellectual Property I, L.P. - Inventors: Nicholas S. Huslak; Sharon E. Carter - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20180322139A1 ## CPC - G06F 16/178: Techniques for file synchronisation in file systems - G06F 16/113: {Details of archiving (lifecycle management in storage systems G06F3/0649; point-in-time backing up or restoration of persistent data G06F11/1446)} - G06F 16/13: File access structures, e.g. distributed indices (arrangements of input from, or output to, record carriers G06F3/06) - G06F: ELECTRIC DIGITAL DATA PROCESSING (computer systems based on specific computational models G06N) ## Abstract Directory structures of a messaging application and a personal file manager application are synchronized. A designated layer in the directory structure of the messaging application is associated with the designated layer in the directory structure of the personal file manager application. Each time a folder is created or an existing folder is modified or deleted in the designated layer in the directory structure of the messaging application, a corresponding folder is created, modified, or deleted in the designated layer in the directory structure of the personal file manager application and vice versa. Files or links to files are created in the folders of the messaging application to correspond to files or links to files within folders in the personal file manager application, and vice versa. A folder (and its contents) is deleted in the messaging application to correspond to deletions in the personal file manager application, and vice versa. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A method for synchronizing directory structures, comprising: responsive to a change in a first file of a first directory structure of a first computing device, causing, by a processor, an offer to select between at least two options to be presented to a second computing device, wherein the at least two options include: a copying option to copy the first file to a second directory structure of the second computing device and a link creating option to create a link to the first file in the second directory structure of the second computing device; wherein, based on an indication of selection of the copying option, the first file is copied by the processor to the second directory structure of the second computing device by populating first fields of the second directory structure of the second computing device with data from the first file corresponding to second fields of the first directory structure; and wherein, based on an indication of selection of the link creating option, the link to the first file is created by the processor in the second directory structure the second computing device. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the first fields of the second directory structure to be populated are selected in response to a user input. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the first fields include one or more of: a FROM field, a SUBJECT field, a SIZE field, a RECEIVED field, a TO field, a FILE TYPE field, a NAME field, a DATE MODIFIED field, a TYPE field, or a SIZE field. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the first directory structure corresponds to a messaging application, and the second directory structure corresponds to a personal file manager application. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein responsive to the selection of the link creating option, the first fields of the second directory structure are populated in accordance with the second fields of the first directory structure. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the change in the first directory structure includes at least one of addition of a sub-directory comprising directory contents and creation of a folder. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, further comprising: receiving, by the processor, a third directory structure residing on a third computing device; and associating, by the processor, the third directory structure with the first directory structure residing on the first computing device. ### Claim 8 A computer-readable storage device having a first application, the computer-readable storage device comprising computer-readable instructions that, when executed by a processor, cause the processor to perform operations comprising: responsive to a change in a first file of a first directory structure, causing, by the processor, an offer to select between at least two options to be presented via a second computing device, wherein the at least two options include: a copying option to copy the first file to a second directory structure residing on the second computing device and a link creating option to create a link to the first file in the second directory structure of the second computing device; wherein the first directory structure corresponds to a messaging application, and the second directory structure corresponds to a personal file manager application; wherein, based on a selection of the copying option, the first file is copied to the second directory structure; and wherein, based on a selection of the link creating option, the link to the first file is created in the second directory structure. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The computer-readable storage device of claim 8, wherein the operations further comprise: responsive to a change in the second directory structure, the change including a change in a second file of the second directory structure, causing another offer to select between at least two other options, wherein the at least two other options include: another copying option to copy the second file to the first directory structure and another link creating option to create a link to the second file in the first directory structure; wherein responsive to selection of the other copying option, the second file is copied to the first directory structure; and wherein responsive to selection of the other link creating option, the link to the second file is created in the first directory structure. ### Claim 10 (depends on 8) The computer-readable storage device of claim 8, wherein the first directory structure is distinct from the second directory structure. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The computer-readable storage device of claim 10, wherein, responsive to the selection of the copying option, the first file is copied to the second directory structure by populating first fields of the second directory structure with data from the first file corresponding to second fields of the first directory structure. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The computer-readable storage device of claim 11, wherein the first fields of the second directory structure to be populated are selected in response to a user input. ### Claim 13 (depends on 11) The computer-readable storage device of claim 11, wherein the first fields include one or more of: a FROM field, a SUBJECT field, a SIZE field, a RECEIVED field, a TO field, a FILE TYPE field, a NAME field, a DATE MODIFIED field, a TYPE field, or a SIZE field. ### Claim 14 (depends on 8) The computer-readable storage device of claim 8, wherein the operations further comprise: receiving a third directory structure; and associating the third directory structure with the first directory structure. ### Claim 15 A computing device comprising: a hardware processor; and a hardware memory having stored thereon a first directory structure and instructions which, when executed by the hardware processor of the computing device, cause the hardware processor to perform operations for synchronizing directory structures, comprising: responsive to a change in a first file of the first directory structure, causing, by the processor, an offer to select between at least two options to be presented via a second computing device, wherein the at least two options include: a copying option to copy the first file to a second directory structure of the second computing device and a link creating option to create a link to the first file in the second directory structure of the second computing device; wherein, based on a selection of the copying option, the first file is copied to the second directory structure; and wherein, based on a selection of the link creating option, the link to the first file is created in the second directory structure; wherein the first directory structure includes one or more of: a FROM field, a SUBJECT field, a SIZE field, a RECEIVED field, a TO field, a FILE TYPE field, a NAME field, a DATE MODIFIED field, a TYPE field, or a SIZE field. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) The computing device of claim 15, wherein the operations further comprise: responsive to a change in the second directory structure, the change including a change in a second file of the second directory structure, causing another offer to select between at least two other options, wherein the at least two other options include: i) another copying option to copy the second file to the first directory structure and ii) another link creating option to create a link to the second file in the first directory structure; wherein based on a selection of the other copying option, the second file is copied to the first directory structure; and wherein based on a selection of the other link creating option, the link to the second file is created in the first directory structure. ### Claim 17 (depends on 15) The computing device of claim 15, wherein the first directory structure is distinct from the second directory structure. ### Claim 18 (depends on 15) The computing device of claim 15, wherein the first directory structure corresponds to a messaging application, and the second directory structure corresponds to a personal file manager application. ### Claim 19 (depends on 15) The computing device of claim 15, wherein the change in the first directory structure includes at least one of addition of a sub-directory comprising directory contents and creation of a folder. ### Claim 20 (depends on 16) The computing device of claim 16, wherein the change in the second directory structure includes at least one of addition of a sub-directory comprising directory contents and creation of a folder.