Read-Only Folder Sync That Preserves Local File Modifications
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Solution Overview
Problem
Sharees can bypass read-only permissions on cloud-based synchronized files, leading to overwriting of their local changes during synchronization, resulting in loss of modifications.
Innovation Solution
A method for cloud-based read-only folder synchronization that detects modifications to a subset of files on a local device, identifies them as local content, and retrieves the original files from the server to preserve changes while maintaining read-only permissions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If read-only permissions are enforced on cloud-shared files, then file integrity and authorization requirements are maintained, but user modifications made locally are lost during synchronization cycles
Solution Approach 1:
The system segments files into two distinct categories: cloud-hosted files (subject to read-only permissions) and local content (user modifications). This segmentation allows the system to apply different permission rules to different parts of the same file, preserving both cloud file integrity and local user modifications without conflict during synchronization.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies local quality by allowing read-write permissions at the local device level for specific portions of files (local content) while maintaining read-only permissions at the cloud level for the original files. This enables different permission characteristics in different locations within the same file system hierarchy.
2Stability of the object's composition
If synchronization cycles overwrite read-only files from the server, then cloud file consistency is maintained, but local user changes are lost
Solution Approach 1:
The synchronization process segments files into cloud-hosted portions and local content portions. During synchronization, only the cloud-hosted files are overwritten from the server, while local content is preserved and excluded from overwriting, thus maintaining both cloud consistency and local changes.
Solution Approach 2:
The system extracts local user modifications from the overall file structure and stores them as separate local content. This extraction allows the synchronization process to treat local changes independently from cloud files, preventing them from being overwritten while maintaining cloud file consistency.
3Adaptability or versatility
If read-only permissions are applied to shared files, then authorization requirements are met, but users cannot modify files they need to customize locally
Solution Approach 1:
The system applies local quality by implementing different permission modes for different parts of the file system: cloud files maintain read-only permissions for compliance, while local content directories provide read-write permissions for customization. This allows users to customize files locally without violating cloud permission requirements.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent segments the file access model into two distinct access paths: read-only access to cloud-hosted files for compliance, and read-write access to local content for customization. This segmentation enables both authorization requirements and file customization to coexist without conflict.
Data Source
AI summary
A system and method are provided for synchronizing read-only folders from a cloud-based server. Users can set permissions when sharing folders with other users. The permissions are enforced by client devices of the users downloading content of the folders from the server. A folder at a user's client from the shared domain may include locally modified content and shared content. Based on an indication of a change by a second user to the folder at the server, the user's client modifies a local folder. To prevent local changes made by the user from being overwritten, the user's client identifies the folder containing locally-modified content as a local content folder not to be synchronized between the plurality of clients.