Cloud File Synchronization via Watcher-Mediated Conflict Resolution
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Solution Overview
Problem
Managing and synchronizing electronically stored files across multiple computers and devices is challenging due to difficulties in tracking the latest version and accessing changes made by various users simultaneously.
Innovation Solution
Implementing a system with Local and Cloud WATCHERS that monitor changes to file systems, generating work items for concurrent processing, and automatically sharing and synchronizing files across devices through a Cloud Storage System, ensuring that changes are updated and synchronized across all connected systems and devices.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If files are stored on multiple computers and devices for accessibility, then file accessibility is improved, but tracking the latest version becomes difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a cloud storage system as an intermediary that receives files from multiple client computing systems and maintains a centralized repository. This mediator tracks all file versions and distributes them back to clients, solving the version tracking problem while preserving multi-device accessibility. The cloud system acts as the intermediary that coordinates between distributed clients and maintains authoritative version control.
2Productivity
If multiple users can access and modify files simultaneously, then collaboration is improved, but synchronization complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The cloud storage system serves as a mediator that manages simultaneous user access and modifications. It receives files from multiple users, tracks changes, resolves conflicts, and distributes updated versions to all clients. This centralized coordination mechanism enables efficient collaboration while the cloud system absorbs the synchronization complexity, keeping individual client systems relatively simple.
Solution Approach 2:
The system implements feedback mechanisms where the cloud storage system monitors changes made by different users, detects conflicts, and communicates resolution status back to clients. This feedback loop enables collaborative work by informing users of simultaneous changes and coordinating version updates across all participating systems.
3Adaptability or versatility
If automatic synchronization is implemented across all devices, then file availability is improved, but network bandwidth consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of synchronizing all files continuously to all devices, the system implements partial synchronization by monitoring and transmitting only the specific files that have changed. The cloud storage system tracks modifications and selectively replicates only necessary files to relevant clients, reducing unnecessary network traffic while maintaining file availability where needed.
Data Source
AI summary
Aspects of the present disclosure are directed to architectures, methods and systems and structures that facilitate the sharing and synchronization of electronically stored files among and between cloud entities and a number of computers, systems, devices and/or users. One particular exemplary architectural aspect includes the concurrent determination of file system changes within a cloud file system and a client file system, the serial ordering of necessary file system operations in response to the determined file system changes, and the concurrent execution of file system operations such that the cloud file system and the client computer file system are synchronized.