Shadow Items for Storage Constrained Content Synchronization
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Solution Overview
Problem
Computer systems face storage constraints when synchronizing content items between client devices and a content management system, leading to reduced storage capacity for other items and applications, due to the large space occupied by shared content items.
Innovation Solution
Implementing a constrained synchronization method that uses shadow items, which store only metadata, allowing the client device to determine which content items to remove and replace with shadow items to free up storage space, thereby maintaining access to all shared content items while increasing available storage capacity.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If all shared content items are synchronized to client devices, then content access availability is improved, but storage capacity is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent creates shadow items that are simplified copies of the original content items. These shadow items contain only metadata (name, location, size, modification date) without the actual content data, allowing the file system to recognize and access them while consuming minimal storage space. This resolves the contradiction by providing content access through lightweight replicas rather than full copies.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent extracts only the essential metadata from the full content items, separating the identification information needed for access from the actual content data. This extraction process creates shadow items that maintain access functionality while removing the storage burden of complete content duplication.
2Quantity of substance
If shadow items are used to represent content items, then storage space is freed up, but access speed may be reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a self-service mechanism where the file system automatically recognizes shadow items and transparently retrieves the actual content from the source location when access is requested. This eliminates the need for manual intervention or complex user workflows, maintaining fast access speeds despite the use of shadow items.
Solution Approach 2:
The shadow item acts as an intermediary between the user's access request and the actual content storage location. The file system uses the shadow item's metadata to locate and retrieve the full content efficiently, providing a fast indirect access path that maintains performance while saving storage space.
Data Source
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AI summary
A content management system synchronizes content items across client computing systems connected by a network. Each client device has a storage allocation for synchronized shared content items. If the storage allocation for shared content items on a client device is exceeded by the request to add or edit a content item such that it is enlarged, or open a large content item remote to the client device, a client application or the host of content management system selects content items to remove from residence on the client device but keep remotely on content management system. Upon removal of the selected content items, the client application creates shadow items, representing the content item but only containing the metadata of the content item. This creates sufficient space for the initial request to be completed while maintaining user access to all synchronized shared content items.