External Directory Synchronization Without Local Copying
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Solution Overview
Problem
Content management systems do not offer synchronization of content items stored on external drives attached to a client device, posing challenges due to accessibility issues, format differences, and storage capacity limitations.
Innovation Solution
The system generates an anchor object with special attributes that allows synchronization of external directories, such as external hard drives, directly to the content management system without first copying objects to the client device, using a client synchronization service to manage this process.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If content items are synchronized from external drives to content management system, then synchronization capability is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces an intermediary component that acts as a bridge between the external drive and the content management system. This intermediary handles the complexity of external drive integration, format conversion, and accessibility management, allowing the core CMS to remain simple while gaining enhanced synchronization capabilities.
Solution Approach 2:
The system implements a universal synchronization interface that can handle multiple external drive types, formats, and mounting scenarios through a single integrated mechanism. This multi-functional approach allows the system to work with various external storage devices without requiring separate complex integration logic for each device type.
2Quantity of substance
If external directories are synchronized directly without copying to client device, then storage space is saved, but reliability of data access decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a selective copying mechanism where only necessary data is copied to the client device for local access, while the majority of external directory contents are accessed directly from the external drive. This approach minimizes storage space consumption while maintaining data access reliability through a hybrid access model.
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes the dimension of data access by implementing a hierarchical access model that operates at multiple levels: direct external drive access for bulk data, and local cache access for frequently used items. This multi-dimensional access strategy optimizes both storage efficiency and access reliability.
Data Source
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AI summary
The present technology pertains to synchronizing contents of a directory external to a synchronized directory by a content management system. The content management system is configured to synchronize only objects in the synchronized directory. Accordingly, the present technology creates an anchor object that represents the directory external to the synchronized directory within the synchronized directory. The anchor object includes special attributes that indicate to the synchronization client that the anchor object represents an external directory, and allows the contents of that directory to be synchronized directly to a server on the content management system without first storing the contents of the external directory on the hard drive of the client device.