US6671701B1
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
System and method to maintain real-time synchronization of data in different formats
Assignee: Bentley Systems Inc
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Filing: 2000-06-05
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Granted: 2003-12-30
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Expires: 2020-06-05
Abstract
Abstract Systems and methods of maintaining data in a synchronized state by simplifying and automating the file conversion process in a continuous and mostly background manner are described. The system cycles through iterations and searches a specified source directory (and its subdirectories) for source files. Any source files it encounters for the first time are converted and stored at a specified destination, creating a destination file. A time and date stamp of the destination or converted file is stored in a database. For source files encountered for the second or subsequent time, the date and time stamps of all of these source files are compared against the database that contains file name, date and time information for the converted or destination files. The system automatically converts any source files that are newer than its corresponding destination file.
Inventors
- 👤 Phil Chouinard
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-02 09:16
CPC Classifications
G; G06; G06F; G06F16/00; G06F16/20; G06F16/25; G06F16/258; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S707/00; Y10S707/99951; Y10S707/99952
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 29
Claim 1
Independent Claim
205 words
A method for synchronizing data files of different formats, comprising: a) receiving a specified location including a plurality of directories or subdirectories, a specified first format, and a specified second format, that is different from the specified first format; b) searching the specified directories or subdirectories during a single iteration for any source files of the specified first format; c) determining if the source files found by the search has been previously converted into the specified second format and if so proceeding to step h), other wise proceed to step d); d) converting only the found the source files into the specified second format; e) storing the converted file at a second specified location; f) storing a time and date stamp of the converted file in a database; g) proceed to step k); h) comparing the time and date stamp of the converted file with a time and date stamp of the corresponding source file; i) updating the converted file when the time and date stamp of the corresponding source file is more recent than the time and date stamp of the converted file; j) storing the time and date stamp of the updated converted file in the database; and k) returning to step a).
Claim 2
Independent Claim
205 words
A method for synchronizing data files of different formats, comprising: a) receiving a specified location including a plurality of directories or subdirectories, a specified first format, and a specified second format, that is different from the specified first format; b) searching the specified directories or subdirectories during a single iteration for any source files of the specified first format; c) determining if the source files found by the search has been previously converted into the specified second format and if so proceeding to step h), other wise proceed to step d); d) converting only the found the source files into the specified second format; e) storing the converted file at a second specified location; f) storing a time and date stamp of the converted file in a database; g) proceed to step k); h) comparing the time and date stamp of the converted file with a time and date stamp of the corresponding source file; i) updating the converted file when the time and date stamp of the corresponding source file is more recent than the time and date stamp of the converted file; j) storing the time and date stamp of the updated converted file in the database; and k) returning to step a).
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
17 words
The method of claim 1 further comprising waiting a predetermined period of time before performing step j).
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
19 words
The method of claim 2 wherein a user interacts with the program to specify the pre-determined period of time.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
18 words
The method of claim 1 wherein the conversion is performed with a translation program stored on a computer.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
13 words
The method of claim 1 wherein the computer is connected to a network.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
20 words
The method of claim 1 wherein a user interacts with the program to specify the source files to be converted.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
21 words
The method of claim 1 wherein a user interacts with the program to specify a destination for storing the converted files.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
18 words
The method of claim 1 further comprising creating a log file of all source files that have converted.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
21 words
The method of claim 8 wherein step b) comprises examining the log file for a listing corresponding to the source file.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
17 words
The method according to claim 1 , wherein the first format is input via a user interface.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
210 words
A computer useable information storage medium storing computer readable program code for causing a computer to perform the steps of: a) receiving a specified location including a plurality of directories or subdirectories, a specified first format, and a specified second format, that is different from the specified first format; b) searching the specified directories or subdirectories during a single iteration for any source files of the specified first format; c) determining if the source files has been previously converted into the specified second format and if so proceeding to step h), otherwise proceeding to step c); d) converting only the found the source files into the specified second format; e) storing the converted file at a second specified location; f) storing a time and date stamp of the converted file in a database; g) proceeding to step k); h) comparing the time and date stamp of the converted file with a time and date stamp of the corresponding source file; i) updating the converted file when the time and date stamp of the corresponding source file is more recent than the time and date stamp of the converted file; j) storing the time and date stamp of the updated converted file in the database; and k) returning to step a).
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
210 words
A computer useable information storage medium storing computer readable program code for causing a computer to perform the steps of: a) receiving a specified location including a plurality of directories or subdirectories, a specified first format, and a specified second format, that is different from the specified first format; b) searching the specified directories or subdirectories during a single iteration for any source files of the specified first format; c) determining if the source files has been previously converted into the specified second format and if so proceeding to step h), otherwise proceeding to step c); d) converting only the found the source files into the specified second format; e) storing the converted file at a second specified location; f) storing a time and date stamp of the converted file in a database; g) proceeding to step k); h) comparing the time and date stamp of the converted file with a time and date stamp of the corresponding source file; i) updating the converted file when the time and date stamp of the corresponding source file is more recent than the time and date stamp of the converted file; j) storing the time and date stamp of the updated converted file in the database; and k) returning to step a).
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
34 words
The computer useable information storage medium of claim 11 further comprising computer readable program code for causing a computer to perform the step of waiting a predetermined period of time before performing step k).
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
23 words
The computer useable information storage medium of claim 12 wherein a user interacts with the program to specify the pre-determined period of time.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
22 words
The computer useable information storage medium of claim 11 wherein the conversion is performed with a translation program stored on a computer.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
18 words
The computer useable information storage medium of claim 11 wherein the computer is connected to a network .
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
24 words
The computer useable information storage medium of claim 11 wherein a user interacts with the program to specify the source files to be converted.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
25 words
The computer useable information storage medium of claim 11 wherein a user interacts with the program to specify a destination for storing the converted files.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
35 words
The computer useable information storage medium of claim 11 further comprising computer readable program code for causing a computer to perform the step of creating a log file of all source files that have converted.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
25 words
The computer useable information storage medium of claim 18 wherein step b) comprises examining the log file for a listing corresponding to the source file.
Claim 22
Independent Claim
100 words
A method of synchronizing files, comprising: providing a database for storing a plurality of source files, the source files including reference files and main files wherein reference files depend on main files; providing a second database for storing a plurality of destination files that correspond to the source files, wherein the destination files include reference files and main files having the same dependencies as the source files; and updating the destination files if it is a reference file and its corresponding main file has been modified, even if the source file corresponding to the destination file has not been modified.
Claim 23
Independent Claim
100 words
A method of synchronizing files, comprising: providing a database for storing a plurality of source files, the source files including reference files and main files wherein reference files depend on main files; providing a second database for storing a plurality of destination files that correspond to the source files, wherein the destination files include reference files and main files having the same dependencies as the source files; and updating the destination files if it is a reference file and its corresponding main file has been modified, even if the source file corresponding to the destination file has not been modified.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
31 words
The method according to claim 20 further comprising translating the source files from a first format into the destination files of a second format that is different from the first format.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
20 words
The method according to claim 21 further comprising creating a log file of all source files that have been translated.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
19 words
The method according to claim 21 further comprising creating a database containing a time stamp of the destination files.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
35 words
The method according to claim 23 further comprising updating the destination file if a time stamp of the source file is more recent than the time stamp in the database for the corresponding destination file.
Claim 28
Independent Claim
150 words
A method of synchronizing files of different formats, comprising: a) providing files of a first format stored on a storage medium; b) specifying files of the first format to be converted into a second format; c) referencing a mapping table that specifies changes to be made to graphic symbology of the files of the first format; d) converting the specified files into the second format based in part on the mapping table and storing the converted file at a specific location in the storage medium; e) storing a time and date of the conversion in a database; f) comparing the time and date of the conversion with a time a date stamp of the specified file; g) updating the converted file when the time and date stamp of the specified file is more recent than the time and date stamp of a corresponding converted file; and h) repeating steps c)-g).
Claim 29
Independent Claim
150 words
A method of synchronizing files of different formats, comprising: a) providing files of a first format stored on a storage medium; b) specifying files of the first format to be converted into a second format; c) referencing a mapping table that specifies changes to be made to graphic symbology of the files of the first format; d) converting the specified files into the second format based in part on the mapping table and storing the converted file at a specific location in the storage medium; e) storing a time and date of the conversion in a database; f) comparing the time and date of the conversion with a time a date stamp of the specified file; g) updating the converted file when the time and date stamp of the specified file is more recent than the time and date stamp of a corresponding converted file; and h) repeating steps c)-g).
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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) | 2006-12-29 | 2007-06-30 | 2007-12-30 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2010-12-29 | 2011-06-30 | 2011-12-30 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2014-12-29 | 2015-06-30 | 2015-12-30 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |