Virtual Drive Synchronization System for Multi-Client File Editing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing synchronization systems do not enable users to automatically synchronize changes made to objects across multiple devices and shared folders, limiting remote access and editing capabilities.
Innovation Solution
A synchronization system and method that allows users to access and edit objects via a virtual drive, which detects changes and automatically updates corresponding objects across multiple synchronization clients, including local and remote devices, using metadata to manage and synchronize files and folders across a plurality of synchronization clients.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a user accesses objects via a virtual drive on a local client device, then remote access capability is improved, but automatic synchronization of changes across multiple clients is not achieved
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a synchronization server as an intermediary between multiple synchronization clients. The server receives change notifications from clients, manages the synchronization process, and propagates changes to all relevant clients. This mediator architecture enables automatic synchronization across the distributed system while maintaining simple virtual drive access at each client endpoint.
2Ease of operation
If changes are made to objects via a virtual drive, then editing capability is improved, but automatic propagation of changes to all clients is not achieved
Solution Approach 1:
The system implements a feedback mechanism where the synchronization server monitors for changes to synchronized objects, detects modifications made through the virtual drive, and automatically propagates these changes back to all relevant clients. This feedback loop ensures that editing operations performed by any user are automatically distributed to all other clients maintaining copies of the same objects.
3Adaptability or versatility
If multiple synchronization clients maintain copies of the same objects, then accessibility is improved, but coordination of changes across clients is not achieved
Solution Approach 1:
The synchronization server acts as a central coordinator that manages change propagation across multiple clients. When an object is modified on any client, the server receives the change notification, processes the synchronization logic, and distributes the updated object to all other clients that have it synchronized. This intermediary approach simplifies the complexity of peer-to-peer coordination by centralizing the synchronization management.
Data Source
AI summary
A system, method, and computer program for enabling a user to edit and access local and remote objects via a virtual drive, including objects synchronized to a plurality of synchronization clients. A virtual drive is displayed on the user's local client device with all objects, which a user has synchronized to a synchronization server. A user is able to access and edit any object displayed in the virtual drive. In response to detecting a change in an object in the virtual drive, the object is updated on the synchronization server. All remote clients of the user or of any other users who have access to the changed folder are identified and notified of the change. In response to the change being a change to content within the folder, the content of the folder is automatically updated on any identified remote clients that have a corresponding folder.