Content Synchronization Protocol for Multi-Premises Hosting
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Solution Overview
Problem
Businesses using online content management services face challenges in controlling where their digital content items are hosted and experience slower upload and download speeds due to the need for synchronization across distributed teams and the sensitivity of the content.
Innovation Solution
Implementing a content item synchronization protocol that allows users to host content items on-premises, off-premises, or both, using a system with content item synchronization agents, metadata servers, and block servers to manage content item blocks and namespaces, enabling flexible hosting options and optimizing data transfer.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If content items are hosted on centralized online servers, then accessibility and synchronization are improved, but user control and security are reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The system segments the hosting infrastructure into multiple distributed block servers rather than using a single centralized server. This allows content items to be hosted across multiple locations, providing both accessibility (through distributed access points) and user control (through selection of specific hosting locations and providers).
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a new dimension of control by allowing users to specify hosting preferences along multiple axes: on-premises versus off-premises, and specific block server selection. This multi-dimensional hosting approach enables simultaneous achievement of accessibility and user control.
2Adaptability or versatility
If content items are synchronized across distributed teams, then collaboration is improved, but synchronization time increases
Solution Approach 1:
The synchronization process is segmented into incremental updates rather than complete resynchronization. The system identifies and transfers only the specific content item blocks that have changed, significantly reducing synchronization time while maintaining collaboration capabilities across distributed teams.
Solution Approach 2:
The system implements feedback mechanisms where block servers and synchronization agents continuously report the status of content items. This enables the system to intelligently determine what needs to be synchronized and what is already up-to-date, optimizing synchronization time while maintaining collaboration.
3Ease of operation
If content items are uploaded over the Internet, then remote access is improved, but upload speed decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The system allows different parts of the organization to have different hosting qualities. On-premises block servers provide high-speed local upload capability for nearby users, while off-premises servers provide remote access capability. This local quality differentiation optimizes upload speed for remote users without sacrificing remote access capability.
Data Source
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AI summary
A synchronization protocol for multi-premises hosting of digital content items. In one embodiment, for example, a method comprises the operations of: detecting creation or modification of a content item; determining a content item namespace to which the content item belongs; obtaining a plurality of identifiers of a plurality of block servers to which the content item namespace is assigned; making a selection of one of the plurality of block servers as a target block server; and uploading any content item blocks of the content item to the target block server that are not already stored at the target block server.