US6430576B1
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Distributing and synchronizing objects
Assignee: Apple Inc
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Filing: 1999-05-10
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Granted: 2002-08-06
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Expires: 2019-05-10
Abstract
Abstract A method and apparatus for distributing and synchronizing objects. One or more embodiments of the invention provide for distributing copies of the objects locally. By copying objects (including the data and behavior for the object) into local address space, the object's methods may be executed locally thereby avoiding excessive network traffic. The state of the various object copies across a network may not be synchronized due to local changes and modifications. To synchronize the objects, one or more embodiments of the invention provide for the use of a policy that specifies conditions as to when objects are synchronized. Embodiments of the invention provide flexibility in setting the policy to accommodate varying applications. For example, a policy may provide for synchronization that is based temporally (e.g., every 10 minutes or daily at 10:00 P.M.). Alternatively, a policy may provide for synchronization based on the type or number of messages transmitted. In one or more embodiments, a default policy may be utilized that provides for the synchronization of local objects whenever a client issues a request from the remote server. In such an embodiment, the remote server transmits any updated object information when it responds to the local object request. The updated object information may be utilized to synchronize the objects.
Inventors
- 👤 Patrick Gates
- 👤 Craig Federighi
- 👤 Eric Noyau
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-02 17:14
CPC Classifications
H; H04; H04L; H04L67/00; H04L67/01; H04L67/10; H04L67/1095; G; G06; G06F; G06F16/00; G06F16/10; G06F16/17; G06F16/178; G06F16/18; G06F16/182; G06F16/20; G06F16/27; H04L43/00; H04L43/16; H04L61/00; H04L61/45; H04L61/4553; G06F8/00; G06F8/60; G06F8/65; G06F8/656; G06F8/658; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S707/00; Y10S707/99931; Y10S707/99932; Y10S707/99933; Y10S707/99934; Y10S707/99951; Y10S707/99952
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 32
Claim 1
Independent Claim
122 words
A method for synchronizing distributed software objects comprising: copying a first object having data and behavior from a first computer across a network to a second computer creating a second object having data and behavior; executing said second object on said second computer, wherein executing said second object results in modifications to said second object that conflict with said first object; obtaining a policy for synchronizing said objects between said first computer and said second computer wherein said policy utilizes an object graph editing context; and synchronizing said objects between said first computer and said second computer based on said policy wherein said synchronizing comprises transferring and merging only a minimal set of changes between said first object and said second object.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
122 words
A method for synchronizing distributed software objects comprising: copying a first object having data and behavior from a first computer across a network to a second computer creating a second object having data and behavior; executing said second object on said second computer, wherein executing said second object results in modifications to said second object that conflict with said first object; obtaining a policy for synchronizing said objects between said first computer and said second computer wherein said policy utilizes an object graph editing context; and synchronizing said objects between said first computer and said second computer based on said policy wherein said synchronizing comprises transferring and merging only a minimal set of changes between said first object and said second object.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
11 words
The method of claim 1 wherein said policy is temporally based.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
15 words
The method of claim 1 wherein said policy is based on a type of message.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
15 words
The method of claim 1 wherein said policy is based on a quantity of messages.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
12 words
The method of claim 1 further comprising a developer configuring said policy.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
28 words
The method of claim 1 wherein said policy provides for synchronizing at least one object when a request is transmitted from said first computer to said second computer.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
13 words
The method of claim 1 wherein said policy is based on user input.
Claim 9
Independent Claim
89 words
A system comprising: a first computer; an object having data and behavior stored on said first computer; a second computer configured to obtain a copy of said object from said first computer; a policy for synchronizing said object and said copy of said object; an object graph editing context utilized by said policy; and code configured to synchronize said object and said copy of said object based on said policy by transferring and merging only a minimal set of changes between said object and said copy of said object.
Claim 10
Independent Claim
89 words
A system comprising: a first computer; an object having data and behavior stored on said first computer; a second computer configured to obtain a copy of said object from said first computer; a policy for synchronizing said object and said copy of said object; an object graph editing context utilized by said policy; and code configured to synchronize said object and said copy of said object based on said policy by transferring and merging only a minimal set of changes between said object and said copy of said object.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
11 words
The system of claim 8 wherein said policy is temporally based.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
15 words
The system of claim 8 wherein said policy is based on a type of message.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
15 words
The system of claim 8 wherein said policy is based on a quantity of messages.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
14 words
The system of claim 8 wherein said policy may be configured by a developer.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
28 words
The system of claim 8 wherein said policy provides for synchronizing at least one object when a request is transmitted from said first computer to said second computer.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
13 words
The system of claim 8 wherein said policy is based on user input.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
147 words
A computer program product comprising: a computer usable medium having computer readable program code embodied therein configured to synchronize distributed software objects, said computer program product comprising: computer readable code configured to cause a second computer to obtain a copy of an object having data and behavior from a first computer across a network; computer readable code configured to cause a computer to obtain a policy for synchronizing said object and said copy of said object between said first computer and said second computer wherein said policy utilizes an object graph editing context; and computer readable program code configured to cause a computer to synchronize said object and said copy of said object between said first computer and said second computer based on said policy, wherein said synchronizing comprises transferring and merging only a minimal set of changes between said object and said copy of said object.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
147 words
A computer program product comprising: a computer usable medium having computer readable program code embodied therein configured to synchronize distributed software objects, said computer program product comprising: computer readable code configured to cause a second computer to obtain a copy of an object having data and behavior from a first computer across a network; computer readable code configured to cause a computer to obtain a policy for synchronizing said object and said copy of said object between said first computer and said second computer wherein said policy utilizes an object graph editing context; and computer readable program code configured to cause a computer to synchronize said object and said copy of said object between said first computer and said second computer based on said policy, wherein said synchronizing comprises transferring and merging only a minimal set of changes between said object and said copy of said object.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
13 words
The computer program product to claim 15 wherein said policy is temporally based.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
17 words
The computer program product to claim 15 wherein said policy is based on a type of message.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
17 words
The computer program product to claim 15 wherein said policy is based on a quantity of messages.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
16 words
The computer program product to claim 15 wherein said policy may be configured by a developer.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
30 words
The computer program product to claim 15 wherein said policy provides for synchronizing at least one object when a request is transmitted from said first computer to said second computer.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
15 words
The computer program product to claim 15 wherein said policy is based on user input.
Claim 25
Independent Claim
96 words
An apparatus for synchronizing distributed software objects comprising: means for copying an object having data and behavior from a first computer across a network to a second computer; means for obtaining a policy for synchronizing said data and behavior between said first computer and said second computer wherein said policy utilizes an object graph editing context; and means for synchronizing said data and behavior between said first computer and said second computer based on said policy wherein said synchronizing means comprises transferring only a minimal set of changes between said first computer and said second computer.
Claim 26
Independent Claim
96 words
An apparatus for synchronizing distributed software objects comprising: means for copying an object having data and behavior from a first computer across a network to a second computer; means for obtaining a policy for synchronizing said data and behavior between said first computer and said second computer wherein said policy utilizes an object graph editing context; and means for synchronizing said data and behavior between said first computer and said second computer based on said policy wherein said synchronizing means comprises transferring only a minimal set of changes between said first computer and said second computer.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
11 words
The apparatus of claim 22 wherein said policy is temporally based.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
15 words
The apparatus of claim 22 wherein said policy is based on a type of message.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
15 words
The apparatus of claim 22 wherein said policy is based on a quantity of messages.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
15 words
The apparatus of claim 22 further comprising means for configuring said policy by a developer.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
30 words
The apparatus of claim 22 wherein said policy provides for means for synchronizing at least one object when a request is transmitted from said first computer to said second computer.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
13 words
The apparatus of claim 22 wherein said policy is based on user input.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2005-08-05 | 2006-02-04 | 2006-08-06 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2009-08-05 | 2010-02-04 | 2010-08-06 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2013-08-05 | 2014-02-04 | 2014-08-06 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |