Microsoft Example Patent for Data synchronization management

Invented by Anand Vibhor, Bhavyan Bharatkumar Mehta, Amey Vijaykumar Karandikar, Parag Gokhale, Commvault Systems Inc

Data synchronization management is becoming increasingly important in today’s digital world. With the exponential growth of data and the rise of cloud computing, businesses are finding it crucial to keep their data synchronized across various platforms and devices. This has led to the emergence of a market specifically dedicated to data synchronization management. The market for data synchronization management is driven by the need for businesses to ensure that their data is consistent, accurate, and up-to-date across all systems. This is particularly important in industries such as finance, healthcare, and e-commerce, where even a slight discrepancy in data can have significant consequences. One of the key factors driving the growth of this market is the increasing adoption of cloud-based solutions. As more businesses move their operations to the cloud, they require efficient and reliable ways to synchronize data between their on-premises systems and cloud platforms. Data synchronization management solutions provide the necessary tools and technologies to achieve this seamless integration. Another factor contributing to the market growth is the proliferation of mobile devices. With the widespread use of smartphones and tablets, businesses need to ensure that their data is synchronized across all these devices. This is particularly important for sales teams, field workers, and remote employees who rely on real-time data access to perform their tasks effectively. Furthermore, the market for data synchronization management is also driven by the increasing complexity of data integration. As businesses adopt multiple software applications and platforms, they face the challenge of integrating data from various sources. Data synchronization management solutions offer a centralized platform to manage and synchronize data from different systems, ensuring consistency and accuracy. The market for data synchronization management is highly competitive, with numerous vendors offering a wide range of solutions. These solutions vary in terms of features, scalability, and integration capabilities. Some vendors specialize in specific industries or use cases, while others offer more generic solutions that cater to a broader customer base. In addition to traditional data synchronization management solutions, the market is also witnessing the emergence of innovative technologies such as real-time data synchronization and data virtualization. Real-time data synchronization enables businesses to synchronize data instantaneously, ensuring that all stakeholders have access to the most up-to-date information. Data virtualization, on the other hand, allows businesses to access and manipulate data from multiple sources without physically moving or replicating it. As the market for data synchronization management continues to grow, businesses need to carefully evaluate their requirements and choose the right solution that aligns with their needs. Factors such as scalability, security, ease of use, and integration capabilities should be considered when selecting a data synchronization management solution. In conclusion, the market for data synchronization management is witnessing significant growth due to the increasing need for businesses to keep their data consistent and accurate across multiple platforms and devices. With the rise of cloud computing, mobile devices, and complex data integration, businesses are turning to data synchronization management solutions to ensure seamless data synchronization. As the market evolves, businesses must stay informed about the latest trends and technologies to make informed decisions and stay ahead of the competition.

The Commvault Systems Inc invention works as follows

In general, it is disclosed a data management system that allows files (and/or data) to be synchronized between two or more computing devices. This can also include a backup. The synchronization policies specify which files are to be synchronized according to selected criteria, including file metadata and location information. In general, the first step is to copy files from a client computer device into secondary storage. Then, the files that need to be synced are selected from secondary storage and copied to another client computing device. Also, synced files can be accessed and viewed through a cloud or remote file access interface.

Background for Data synchronization management

Global businesses recognize the commercial value and seek cost-effective, reliable ways to secure their information while minimizing productivity. Information protection is often part and parcel of an organizational process.

A company may back up important computing systems like web servers, file servers, web server, etc. as part of its daily, weekly or monthly maintenance plan. A company might also protect the computing systems of each employee, such as those used in an accounting, marketing, or engineering department.

Companies continue to look for innovative ways to manage data growth and protect data, given the ever-growing volume of data under their control. Companies often use migration techniques to move data to cheaper storage and data reduction techniques to reduce redundant data, prune lower priority data, and so forth.

Enterprises are also increasingly viewing their stored data as an asset. Customers are also looking for solutions to not only manage and protect their data, but also make the most of it. Solutions that provide data analysis, better data presentation, access and features, data synchronization and other similar capabilities are increasingly in demand.

In general, the aspects of the disclosure relate to a management system for data synchronization that can synchronize data (and/or files) between two or more computing devices and back up files. In one embodiment, the user of the data sync management system can specify one or multiple file synchronization policy. In a file synchronization, the user can specify which files to synchronize as well as to what devices and locations. A user can create a file synchronization and specify all files within a certain directory on their laptop to be synchronized. The user can also specify that the files should be synced to their desktop. Optionally, the user can specify a schedule for synchronization and/or whether they want a two-way or one-way file sync. Data backup policies can be used in conjunction with the data synchronization system.

In one embodiment, file synchronization is performed as follows. Specific files are copied or backed up from a source client computing device into a secondary storage. Files to be synchronized will be identified by the synchronization policies and whether they have been modified since the previous backup. If a file that is backed-up (and is to be synchronized), is unchanged compared to its previous backup, it is not synchronized. “Any files that are identified as being for synchronization will be synchronized with the destination client computing device, which is specified in accordance with the synchronization policies of the user.

In one embodiment, the user can specify which files are to be synchronized. The files to be synced may be selected directly or identified in another way, or criteria can be specified to identify them indirectly. Files can be identified, for example, by detecting specified content in the file (such a the presence of one or several specified terms within a file) and/or matching metadata associated with he file to one or more specified parameters (such a filename, owner of the file, directory, date of creation, date of modification, size, type of file, location, Global Positioning System coordinates (GPS), among others). The criteria for identifying files that need to be synced can vary. Files to be synchronized can be identified by identifying files that are in a directory and were created after a specific date.

In one embodiment, the data management system for synchronization may add location information into files that are being backed up. So, a file that is to be synchronized can be identified based on the geographical location where it was created or modified. Location information can include GPS coordinates, for instance, that are gathered by a client computing device, such as a GPS receiver.

In one embodiment, the user of a data synchronization system can access synchronized documents through a remote file access interface or cloud. After authenticating their identity, the user can access their files via a web-browser. In this embodiment, the user may be able to access a list of files at first. A user can then request to access a specific file. The user can then access the requested file by transferring the data from the secondary storage (backup).

In order to summarize the disclosure, some aspects, advantages, and novel features have been described. It is important to note that not all of these aspects, features, or advantages will necessarily be included in any one embodiment of the invention.

The synchronization method described in this embodiment involves: reviewing metadata for each file of a primary copy. This secondary copy is created when the files from the primary copy are copied to secondary storage devices.

According to one aspect, the communicating includes communicating a copy the at least one document that is accessed via the one or multiple secondary storage devices.

According to one aspect, the identifying operation is in response to secondary copies.

According to one aspect, at the very least, some metadata is associated with the files that are part of the secondary copies after the secondary copies have been initiated.

According to one aspect, the first client computing devices creates at least a portion of the metadata for each of the files included in the second copy before the secondary copy operation is initiated.

The method includes: “determining characteristics associated to each of the files in the primary storage device, after initiating the secondary copy operation; for each of these files, the synchronization module generates, based upon the user-defined criteria and the determined features, an indication as to whether the file should be synchronized with the primary storage device, and the secondary storage device. And including the indication along with the metadata associated to the file.

According to one aspect, the metadata accessed includes at least one file name, file owner, file directory, creation date, modification date, file size, file type or geographical location.

The method includes analyzing the content of the file and storing metadata about the content.

According to one aspect, user-defined synchronization requirements specify files for synchronization that are based in part on content metadata indicating a term or terms present within the file.

According to one aspect, at least one of the files communicated to the client computing device 2 replaces an older version of at least one of the files stored in the secondary storage device 2.

The system described in this embodiment is a system that synchronizes files between multiple clients computers by using file data. It comprises: a datastore; and a computer hardware module executing on one or several computer processors. This module can: access file data for each of one of more files in a copy of the file, which was created in a secondary backup operation, in which one or two files from the primary device were copied to secondary storage devices, creating a copy of the file.

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