Collaborative Editing Delta Buffering for Concurrent Edit Sync
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing real-time collaborative editing platforms face significant processing challenges, particularly with high numbers of concurrent users and edits, due to the complexity of operational transformations required to maintain object consistency.
Innovation Solution
A computer-implemented method involving a first client application that maintains a local version of an electronic object and a local buffer with local deltas, receives server deltas, composes them, and transforms the composed server delta against local deltas for efficient editing.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If operational transformation synchronisation protocols are used to maintain object consistency in real-time collaborative editing, then multiple users can simultaneously view and edit the same electronic object, but the processing overhead becomes significant when the number of concurrent users and edits is high
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the editing operations into discrete deltas that can be independently tracked and transformed. Each edit is represented as a separate delta object containing specific transformation instructions, allowing the system to process only relevant portions of the editing history rather than entire documents. This segmentation reduces the computational burden of operational transformations by breaking down complex editing sequences into manageable units.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the parameter representation of editing operations by using delta objects with explicit transformation parameters instead of traditional operational transformation approaches. Each delta contains parameters that define the edit operation and its transformation requirements, enabling more efficient processing and reducing the complexity associated with high-concurrency collaborative editing.
2Reliability
If traditional operational transformation is applied to every edit from multiple users, then object consistency is maintained, but the synchronization performance degrades with high numbers of concurrent users and edits
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by pre-processing edit operations into standardized delta formats with embedded transformation parameters before they reach the synchronization layer. This preliminary structuring of edit data allows for more efficient runtime processing and reduces the computational overhead during actual synchronization operations, thereby improving performance while maintaining consistency.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses copying by creating delta representations of edit operations that can be replicated and transformed independently. Instead of directly transforming every original edit operation, the system works with copied delta representations that contain the essential transformation information, reducing the processing burden on the main synchronization pathway while preserving the ability to maintain object consistency.
Data Source
AI summary
Described herein is a computer implemented method for editing an electronic object. The method includes maintaining a local version of the electronic object and a local buffer that includes one or more local deltas. A plurality of server deltas are received from a server system, each server delta being in respect of a remote edit made to the electronic object. The plurality of server deltas are composed to generate a single composed server delta which is then transformed against the one or more local deltas to generate a transformed server delta. The local version of the electronic document is then edited by applying the transformed server delta to the local version of the electronic document.