Connector Engine for Repository File Sharing Synchronization
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Solution Overview
Problem
The disparity between multi-user content repositories and single-user file sharing services creates complexities in synchronizing content, as multiple users can update, create, rename, or delete files and folders simultaneously, necessitating a mechanism to integrate synchronization services with repository services.
Innovation Solution
A connector system is developed to enable sharing and synchronization between a data repository, such as the Documentum content management platform, and a file sharing/synchronization service, like Syncplicity, using a connector engine and agent that listens for changes, coordinates uploads and downloads, and manages synchronization status, allowing for synchronized content sharing across all connected devices.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If multiple users access and modify content in a repository simultaneously, then content collaboration capability is improved, but synchronization complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a file sharing service as an intermediary layer between multiple users and the content repository. This service manages file synchronization, conflict resolution, and user permissions centrally, preventing direct conflicts in the repository while enabling collaborative access. The intermediary abstracts the complexity of multi-user coordination from the repository system.
Solution Approach 2:
The system segments the synchronization function into a separate file sharing service component, distinct from the content repository. This segmentation allows the repository to focus on content management while the file sharing service handles synchronization complexity, reducing overall system coupling and managing complexity through functional separation.
2Device complexity
If file sharing service is designed for single-user access, then system simplicity is maintained, but multi-user content sharing capability is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The file sharing service is designed with multi-functionality to handle both single-user and multi-user scenarios. It provides universal file synchronization capabilities that work for individual users while also supporting multiple users through centralized permission management and conflict resolution mechanisms, eliminating the need for separate systems.
3Reliability
If content synchronization is implemented without parallel processing, then data consistency is maintained, but synchronization speed decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The synchronization process is segmented into multiple independent threads that can execute in parallel. Each thread handles specific file operations (upload, download, delete, rename) independently, allowing concurrent processing of multiple files while maintaining data consistency through centralized coordination and queuing mechanisms.
Solution Approach 2:
The system implements continuous synchronization through parallel threads that constantly monitor and process file changes. Multiple operations are performed continuously and concurrently rather than sequentially, maximizing synchronization speed while maintaining consistency through proper thread coordination and event queuing.
Data Source
AI summary
A method and system for connecting a content repository and file sharing service for sharing and synchronizing content. An application server includes a connector engine and a connector agent. The connector engine with is configured with a plurality of threads and queues designed to listen for changes at either the file sharing service or the repository, to process those changes in parallel, and to coordinate synchronization of uploads to the file sharing service and downloads to the content repository.