US 9,286,315 B2Granted

Resolving synchronization conflicts based on state information

AssigneeApollo Education Group, Inc.

InventorsLocke David Berkebile, Isabel George, David Le, Manish Upendran, Ted Wong, Sravanthi Deshmukh, Jongwoo Lee

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Abstract

Techniques are described for resolving document change conflicts based on state information. A document management system records, at a client device, changes that a user made to a root client-side instance of a document bundle to create a modified client-side instance of the document bundle, wherein the changes were made while the client device was not connected to a remote storage service. After the changes are recorded, the client device is connected to the remote storage service. In response to determining that a conflict has occurred, the document management system selects a particular resolution action, based, at least in part, on state information associated with at least one of: a user that made the changes, an instance of the document bundle, or the client device on which the changes were made. The document management system then resolves the conflict by performing the particular resolution action.

Claims31

Dependent claims

A method comprising:

a client device saving a root identifier that identifies a root client-side instance of a document bundle;
wherein the root identifier comprises one or more of:
a unique instance identifier of the root client-side instance of the document bundle,
a first hash identifier created by hashing one or more pieces of metadata for the root client-side instance of the document bundle, or
a second hash identifier created by hashing the entire root client-side instance of the document bundle including state information stored in metadata for the root client-side instance of the document bundle;
recording, at the client device, one or more changes that are made to the root client-side instance of the document bundle to create a modified client-side instance of the document bundle, wherein the one or more changes were made while the client device was not connected to a remote storage service implemented by one or more computing devices;
wherein the remote storage service maintains a server-side instance of the document bundle;
wherein the remote storage service allows multiple client devices to make changes to the server-side instance of the document bundle;
while the client device is connected to the remote storage service after the one or more changes are recorded, performing the steps of:
determining, based at least in part on the root identifier, whether a conflict has occurred by determining whether information for the server-side instance of the document bundle matches information for the root client-side instance of the document bundle;
in response to determining that a conflict has occurred because the information for the server-side instance of the document bundle does not match the information for the root client-side instance of the document bundle, selecting a particular resolution action, of a plurality of available resolution actions, based, at least in part, on at least one of:
the location of a user type, of a user that made the one or more changes to the modified client-side instance of the document bundle, within a hierarchy of three or more user types,
state information associated with the modified client-side instance of the document bundle, or
state information associated with the client device on which the one or more changes to the modified client-side instance of the document bundle were made;
wherein the plurality of available resolution actions include at least:
changing the server-side instance of the document bundle to match the modified client-side instance of the document bundle, and
leaving the server-side instance of the document bundle unchanged;
and
resolving the conflict by performing the particular resolution action.

16 more elements

One or more non-transitory computer-readable media storing one or more sequences of instructions which, when executed by one or more processors, cause:

a client device saving a root identifier that identifies a root client-side instance of a document bundle;
wherein the root identifier comprises one or more of:
a unique instance identifier of the root client-side instance of the document bundle,
a first hash identifier created by hashing one or more pieces of metadata for the root client-side instance of the document bundle, or
a second hash identifier created by hashing the entire root client-side instance of the document bundle including state information stored in metadata for the root client-side instance of the document bundle;
recording, at the client device, one or more changes that are made to the root client-side instance of the document bundle to create a modified client-side instance of the document bundle, wherein the one or more changes were made while the client device was not connected to a remote storage service;
wherein the remote storage service maintains a server-side instance of the document bundle;
wherein the remote storage service allows multiple client devices to make changes to the server-side instance of the document bundle;
while the client device is connected to the remote storage service after the one or more changes are recorded, performing the steps of:
determining, based at least in part on the root identifier, whether a conflict has occurred by determining whether information for the server-side instance of the document bundle matches information for the root client-side instance of the document bundle;
in response to determining that a conflict has occurred because the information for the server-side instance of the document bundle does not match the information for the root client-side instance of the document bundle, selecting a particular resolution action, of a plurality of available resolution actions, based, at least in part, on at least one of:
the location of a user type, of a user that made the one or more changes to the modified client-side instance of the document bundle, within a hierarchy of three or more user types,
state information associated with the modified client-side instance of the document bundle, or
state information associated with the client device on which the one or more changes to the modified client-side instance of the document bundle were made;
wherein the plurality of available resolution actions include at least:
changing the server-side instance of the document bundle to match the modified client-side instance of the document bundle, and
leaving the server-side instance of the document bundle unchanged;
and
resolving the conflict by performing the particular resolution action.

16 more elements

A method comprising:

a client device saving a root identifier that identifies a root client-side instance of a document bundle;
wherein the root identifier comprises one or more of:
a unique instance identifier of the root client-side instance of the document bundle,
a first hash identifier created by hashing one or more pieces of metadata in the root client-side instance of the document bundle, or
a second hash identifier created by hashing the entire root client-side instance of the document bundle including state information stored in metadata for the root client-side instance of the document bundle;
recording, at the client device, one or more changes that are made to the root client-side instance of the document bundle to create a modified client-side instance of the document bundle, wherein the one or more changes were made while the client device was not connected to a remote storage service implemented by one or more computing devices;
wherein the remote storage service maintains a server-side instance of the document bundle;
wherein the remote storage service allows multiple client devices to make changes to the server-side instance of the document bundle;
while the client device is connected to the remote storage service after the one or more changes are recorded, performing the steps of:
determining, based at least in part on the root identifier, whether a conflict has occurred by determining whether information for the server-side instance of the document bundle matches information for the root client-side instance of the document bundle;
in response to determining that a conflict has occurred because the information for the server-side instance of the document bundle does not match the information for the root client-side instance of the document bundle:
identifying a first attribute value that is associated with a particular attribute of first state information for the modified client-side instance of the document bundle,
wherein the first attribute value of the particular attribute of the first state information describes at least one of:
the modified client-side instance of the document bundle, or
the client device on which the one or more changes to the modified client-side instance of the document bundle were made,
identifying a second attribute value that is associated with the particular attribute of second state information for the server-side instance of the document bundle,
wherein the particular attribute of the second state information corresponds to the particular attribute of the first state information, and
wherein the second attribute value of the particular attribute of the second state information describes at least one of:
the server-side instance of the document bundle, or
the client device on which changes to the server-side instance of the document bundle were made,
determining that a position of the first attribute value is higher, in a hierarchy of attribute values for the particular attribute, than a position of the second attribute value in the hierarchy, and
based, at least in part, on determining that the position of the first attribute value is higher, in the hierarchy, than the position of the second attribute value, selecting a particular resolution action of a plurality of available resolution actions;
and
resolving the conflict by performing the particular resolution action.

21 more elements

A method comprising:

a client device saving a root identifier that identifies a root client-side instance of a document bundle;
wherein the root identifier comprises one or more of:
a unique instance identifier of the root client-side instance of the document bundle,
a first hash identifier created by hashing one or more pieces of metadata for the root client-side instance of the document bundle, or
a second hash identifier created by hashing the entire root client-side instance of the document bundle including state information stored in metadata for the root client-side instance of the document bundle;
recording, at the client device, one or more changes that are made to the root client-side instance of the document bundle to create a modified client-side instance of the document bundle, wherein the one or more changes were made while the client device was not connected to a remote storage service implemented by one or more computing devices;
wherein the remote storage service maintains a server-side instance of the document bundle;
wherein the remote storage service allows multiple client devices to make changes to the server-side instance of the document bundle;
while the client device is connected to the remote storage service after the one or more changes are recorded, performing the steps of:
determining, based at least in part on the root identifier, whether a conflict has occurred by determining whether information for the server-side instance of the document bundle matches information for the root client-side instance of the document bundle;
in response to determining that a conflict has occurred because the information for the server-side instance of the document bundle does not match the information for the root client-side instance of the document bundle:
determining whether a particular attribute value, of a particular attribute of state information for the modified client-side instance of the document bundle, conforms to a historical trend for values of the particular attribute of state information for the modified client-side instance of the document bundle,
wherein the particular attribute value of the particular attribute of state information describes at least one of:
a user that made the one or more changes to the modified client-side instance of the document bundle,
the modified client-side instance of the document bundle, or
the client device on which the one or more changes to the modified client-side instance of the document bundle were made,
based, at least in part, on determining that the particular attribute value conforms to the historical trend for values of the particular attribute of state information for the modified client-side instance of the document bundle, selecting a particular resolution action, of a plurality of available resolution actions,
wherein the plurality of available resolution actions include at least:
changing the server-side instance of the document bundle to match the modified client-side instance of the document bundle, and
leaving the server-side instance of the document bundle unchanged;
and
resolving the conflict by performing the particular resolution action.

19 more elements

One or more non-transitory computer-readable media storing one or more sequences of instructions which, when executed by one or more processors, cause:

a client device saving a root identifier that identifies a root client-side instance of a document bundle;
wherein the root identifier comprises one or more of:
a unique instance identifier of the root client-side instance of the document bundle,
a first hash identifier created by hashing one or more pieces of metadata in the root client-side instance of the document bundle, or
a second hash identifier created by hashing the entire root client-side instance of the document bundle including state information stored in metadata for the root client-side instance of the document bundle;
recording, at the client device, one or more changes that are made to the root client-side instance of the document bundle to create a modified client-side instance of the document bundle, wherein the one or more changes were made while the client device was not connected to a remote storage service;
wherein the remote storage service maintains a server-side instance of the document bundle;
wherein the remote storage service allows multiple client devices to make changes to the server-side instance of the document bundle;
while the client device is connected to the remote storage service after the one or more changes are recorded, performing the steps of:
determining, based at least in part on the root identifier, whether a conflict has occurred by determining whether information for the server-side instance of the document bundle matches information for the root client-side instance of the document bundle;
and
in response to determining that a conflict has occurred because the information for the server-side instance of the document bundle does not match the information for the root client-side instance of the document bundle:
identifying a first attribute value that is associated with a particular attribute of first state information for the modified client-side instance of the document bundle,
wherein the first attribute value of the particular attribute of the first state information describes at least one of:
the modified client-side instance of the document bundle, or
the client device on which the one or more changes to the modified client-side instance of the document bundle were made,
identifying a second attribute value that is associated with the particular attribute of second state information for the server-side instance of the document bundle,
wherein the particular attribute of the second state information corresponds to the particular attribute of the first state information, and
wherein the second attribute value of the particular attribute of the second state information describes at least one of:
the server-side instance of the document bundle, or
the client device on which changes to the server-side instance of the document bundle were made,
determining that a position of the first attribute value is higher, in a hierarchy of attribute values for the particular attribute, than a position of the second attribute value in the hierarchy, and
based, at least in part, on determining that the position of the first attribute value is higher, in the hierarchy, than the position of the second attribute value, selecting a particular resolution action of a plurality of available resolution actions;
and
resolving the conflict by performing the particular resolution action.

22 more elements

One or more non-transitory computer-readable media storing one or more sequences of instructions which, when executed by one or more processors, cause:

a client device saving a root identifier that identifies a root client-side instance of a document bundle;
wherein the root identifier comprises one or more of:
a unique instance identifier of the root client-side instance of the document bundle,
a first hash identifier created by hashing one or more pieces of metadata for the root client-side instance of the document bundle, or
a second hash identifier created by hashing the entire root client-side instance of the document bundle including state information stored in metadata for the root client-side instance of the document bundle;
recording, at the client device, one or more changes that are made to the root client-side instance of the document bundle to create a modified client-side instance of the document bundle, wherein the one or more changes were made while the client device was not connected to a remote storage service;
wherein the remote storage service maintains a server-side instance of the document bundle;
wherein the remote storage service allows multiple client devices to make changes to the server-side instance of the document bundle;
while the client device is connected to the remote storage service after the one or more changes are recorded, performing the steps of:
determining, based at least in part on the root identifier, whether a conflict has occurred by determining whether information for the server-side instance of the document bundle matches information for the root client-side instance of the document bundle;
in response to determining that a conflict has occurred because the information for the server-side instance of the document bundle does not match the information for the root client-side instance of the document bundle:
determining whether a particular attribute value, of a particular attribute of state information for the modified client-side instance of the document bundle, conforms to a historical trend for values of the particular attribute of state information for the modified client-side instance of the document bundle,
wherein the particular attribute value of the particular attribute of state information describes at least one of:
a user that made the one or more changes to the modified client-side instance of the document bundle,
the modified client-side instance of the document bundle, or
the client device on which the one or more changes to the modified client-side instance of the document bundle were made,
based, at least in part, on determining that the particular attribute value conforms to the historical trend for values of the particular attribute of state information for the modified client-side instance of the document bundle, selecting a particular resolution action, of a plurality of available resolution actions,
wherein the plurality of available resolution actions include at least:
changing the server-side instance of the document bundle to match the modified client-side instance of the document bundle, and
leaving the server-side instance of the document bundle unchanged;
and
resolving the conflict by performing the particular resolution action.

19 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.