Server-mediated structured data synchronization for multi-client collaboration
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current collaborative online spreadsheet applications face challenges in enabling seamless multi-client collaboration and update of structured data elements across geographically distributed users, lacking efficient mechanisms for data synchronization and management.
Innovation Solution
The system allows client systems to publish and access structured data elements through a server, using unique identifiers for synchronization, enabling multiple clients to collaborate by sharing and updating data elements while maintaining local customizations and tracking changes.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If multiple geographically distributed clients collaborate on structured data elements, then collaboration capability is improved, but data synchronization complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a server as an intermediary component that mediates between multiple client systems. The server receives structured data elements from publishing clients, stores them in a centralized database, and distributes them to subscribing clients. This intermediary architecture simplifies the synchronization complexity by centralizing the coordination function, allowing multiple clients to collaborate without direct peer-to-peer complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent segments the data synchronization system into distinct functional components: publishing clients that originate data, subscribing clients that consume data, and a server that manages the distribution. This segmentation allows each component to have well-defined responsibilities, reducing the overall system complexity while enabling multi-client collaboration.
2Ease of operation
If clients publish and access structured data elements through a server, then data accessibility is improved, but system latency increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements preliminary action by having clients subscribe to data elements before they are needed. The server maintains a publication list that tracks which clients are interested in which data elements, allowing for efficient retrieval. Additionally, the system establishes communication channels in advance, enabling rapid data distribution when updates occur without requiring real-time connection establishment.
3Reliability
If unique identifiers are used for data element synchronization, then data consistency is improved, but identifier management complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies self-service by having the server automatically generate and assign unique identifiers to structured data elements without requiring manual intervention from clients. The server maintains its own identifier namespace and distribution mechanism, eliminating the need for clients to manage identifiers independently. This approach ensures data consistency through centralized identifier management while reducing the complexity burden on individual clients.
Data Source
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AI summary
Tools and techniques for providing multi-client collaboration to access and update structured data elements are disclosed. Client systems may present user interfaces that provide libraries of published data elements that are available for collaboration. The clients may request selected data elements, while referencing unique identifiers associated with the selected data elements. Those clients that publish data elements for collaboration by others may present user interfaces that provide representations of candidate structured data elements, and receive selections of those data elements chosen for publication. The publishing clients may then send the selected data elements for publication. The client systems may interact with servers or collaboration services, which may receive structured data elements that the clients have published for access by others. The servers may define respective unique identifiers for the published data elements, and may send the structured data elements and corresponding unique identifiers to various client systems.