US20160316002A1 - Access to supplemental data based on identifier derived from corresponding primary application data - Google Patents

Abstract

Primary data for an application is stored at a remotely located first server such as cloud storage. A user of the application may wish to modify or add to the primary data to create supplemental data for which storage is not supported in the first server. Configurations herein include a way to store the supplemental data (e.g., edits, additions, etc.) on a second server at a second storage service provider (e.g. a corporate intranet). Different instances of the application executing on different computer devices by that same user can retrieve the primary data from the first storage service provider as well as retrieve the supplemental data from the second storage service provider.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION(S)
• This application is a Continuation of, and claims priority to U.S. patent application Ser. No. 13/315,304, filed Dec. 9, 2011, entitled “ACCESS TO SUPPLEMENTAL DATA BASED ON IDENTIFIER DERIVED FROM CORRESPONDING PRIMARY APPLICATION DATA,” which application is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety
BACKGROUND
• In areas of computer and network technologies, the terms “cloud” and “cloud computing” are often used as metaphors for certain network technologies such as the Internet, which is an abstraction of an underlying network infrastructure of computers, routers, servers, etc., that supports connectivity amongst many different types of computer resources.
• So-called “cloud computing” is a natural evolution of the widespread adoption of virtualization, service-oriented architecture, autonomic, and utility computing. In certain cases, cloud computing abstracts the user from having to be an expert in or having to control certain application features; such features are managed by services in the cloud and the cloud storage is often provided by a third party entity known as a cloud storage service provider. Accordingly, cloud computing can provide a way to increase capacity or add capabilities to a computer system for user within an entity such as corporation (that is a separate entity that the cloud storage service provider), without the need to invest in new infrastructure, train new personnel, license new software, etc. Conventional cloud computing technologies provide users with example services such as remote document management and storage, email and contact management and the like, regardless of which device a user uses to connect to the cloud. In this manner, a user can access a document in the cloud on one computing device such as a desktop computer at his or her office, and then later access the same document from another computing device, such as his or her home computer. Applications that access cloud storage an do so using a set of standardized and well published application programming interfaces (APIs) and preset cloud storage data formats.
• The cloud is thus instrumental in providing useful services to respective users and a respective device operated by a user may rely heavily or completely on services provided by the cloud. This provides the ability to execute an instance of a computer application on any of multiple different computers without the hassles of having to store the data associated with the application in a restrictive location such as a single computer device.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION
• Use of conventional techniques such as cloud computing that enable execution of different instances of a software application on different computing devices can suffer from deficiencies. For example, suppose a third party cloud storage service provides cloud storage of specific data in a specific data format using a specific API (e.g. contact data in a given predetermined record format or data format such as XML). Multiple third party software companies may each develop and sell software programs (e.g. contact manager software) that accesses the data stored in the cloud in this specific data format. One vendor of such software might desire to create a new or updated version of the software that enables a user to add supplemental data to their contact information. As an example, the new version of the software may allow a user to identify contact information for people as being preferred or a favorite. In such cases, the cloud storage service provider may not support storage of this supplemental data since the predefined contact record or data format of the cloud storage is not adaptable to enable addition of the supplemental data. This may be the case since many vendors of different software programs that all manage contact data might utilize the same cloud storage service and thus the contact data format does not rapidly adapt to new data storage requirements from certain vendors. When this problem presents itself in conventional situations, the new version of the software must store the supplemental data in a local storage device (e.g. the disk system of that user's desktop computer on which the instance of the new version of the software is presently operating and installed). One problem with this conventional approach is that if the user operates that same software on another computing device (e.g. another instance of the software executing on his or her mobile device), the supplemental data created on the other computer system will not be available to the same version of the software for that same user on the mobile device because the cloud storage does not support storage of the supplemental data and the mobile device has no way to access the local disk of the other computing device that the user used to create the supplemental data.
• Embodiments disclosed herein substantially overcome the deficiencies of the conventional techniques as discussed above. Embodiments herein include one or more ways to store supplemental data (e.g., data associated with modifications or additions to primary data that is stored by the third party storage provider such as cloud storage) at a secondary remote location (e.g., separate from the cloud, or in addition to the cloud storage) accessible by multiple devices operated by the user. As discussed herein, because supplemental data is available to each of the multiple devices, a user who uses a given software application on different computing devices can execute an instance of an application on any of these different devices and the techniques and mechanisms disclosed herein allow those separate instances of software to be provided with the supplemental data stored in a secondary storage location (e.g. a second cloud storage area, or a corporate server accessible to the multiple user computing devices and that supports storage of the supplemental data) in addition to data stored by the cloud.
• In one example a user executes a first instance of an application on a first computer device in a network. Suppose the first instance is a contacts management software program that allows a user to manage contact data for individual people. Via the first instance of the application, the user retrieves primary application data from a first server. This primary application data may be, for example, data stored in a predefined or fixed data format as required for cloud storage (stored by the first server) operated by a given cloud storage vendor. During use of the first instance of the application, the user can operate the first instance to produce supplemental application data that is to be associated with the primary application data. For example, the user may purchase a new version of the contact manager software that enable the user to identify favorite contacts within the primary application data. The first server or first storage service provider (e.g. a cloud computing environment operated by a cloud storage vendor) that stores the primary application data in a given data format may not able to support storage of the supplemental application data since the cloud storage data format does not accommodate storage of the supplemental data. To overcome this problem, the first instance of the application receives the supplemental application data (e.g. from the user) and associates it with the primary application data. For example, in one embodiment, to associate the supplemental data with the primary application data, the first instance of the application computes a unique identifier value (e.g. a hash value) based at least in part on the primary application data. In a specific embodiment, generating the unique identifier value can include applying a hash function to at least a portion of the primary application data to produce the unique identifier value. Other examples are including, in the unique identifier, a hash of a user identity associated with the user operating the first instance of the application. The first instance of the application forwards the unique identifier value as well as the supplemental application data to a second server for subsequent retrieval of the supplemental application data. The second server may be, for example, a server that provides storage on a corporate intranet that is different than the cloud storage but that is also accessible to the user's various computing devices (that each operate independent instances of the contacts manager software program). The second server enables subsequent retrieval of the supplemental application data by any of one or more other instances of the application on user devices via the unique identifier, thus enabling the user experience on each device to include access to the supplemental data, even though the cloud storage (i.e. the first server) does not support storage of the supplement data.
• Further details of example embodiments will be provided below in reference to the figures and detailed description and claims. Note that this preliminary discussion of example embodiments does not specify every embodiment and/or incrementally novel aspect of the present disclosure or claimed invention(s). Instead, this brief description only presents general embodiments and corresponding points of novelty over conventional techniques. For additional details and/or possible perspectives (permutations) of the invention(s), and additional points of novelty, the reader is directed to the Detailed Description section and corresponding figures of the present disclosure as further discussed below. In addition to providing additional details associated with different embodiments, the Detailed Description below includes a further summary of embodiments. Accordingly, this brief description does not limit the scope of the invention and/or accompanying claims.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
• The foregoing and other objects, features, and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following more particular description of preferred embodiments herein, as illustrated in the accompanying drawings in which like reference characters refer to the same parts throughout the different views. The drawings are not necessarily to scale, with emphasis instead being placed upon illustrating the embodiments, principles, concepts, etc.
• FIG. 1 is an example diagram of a network environment in which a first instance of an application initiates generation and subsequent storage of supplemental application data at a second server according to embodiments herein.
• FIG. 2 is an example diagram of a network environment in which the first instance of the application generates a unique identifier value for subsequent indexing to supplemental application data at the second server according to embodiments herein.
• FIG. 3 is an example diagram of a network environment in which a second instance of an application initiates retrieval of stored supplemental application data from the second server according to embodiments herein.
• FIG. 4 is a more specific example diagram of a network environment in which the second instance of the application initiates retrieval of stored supplemental application data from the second server using a unique identifier value according to embodiments herein.
• FIG. 5 is an example diagram illustrating use of unique identifier values mapping primary application data and supplemental application data according to embodiments herein.
• FIG. 6 is an example diagram illustrating use of the primary application data and the supplemental application data by an application instance to display information in a graphical user interface according to embodiments herein.
• FIG. 7 is an example diagram illustrating example computer architecture for implementing instances of an application according to embodiments herein.
• FIG. 8 is a flowchart illustrating an example method of generating a unique identifier value for subsequent retrieval of corresponding supplemental application data according to embodiments herein.
• FIG. 9 is an example diagram illustrating generation of a unique identifier value based on retrieved primary application data for subsequent retrieval of corresponding supplemental application data according to embodiments herein.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
• Example embodiments disclosed herein provide mechanisms that enable a user who uses multiple instances of a software application on different computing devices (e.g. the same program on a laptop computer, desktop computer and mobile device) to have access to all data created by those application instances. This system accommodates situations where some of the data (i.e., primary data) created and stored by the application is stored in cloud storage that may be, for example, operated by a third party vendor that has a limited or predefined data format. If the application enables a user to create supplemental data (e.g. a new version of application might provide for enhanced user features that require storage of supplement user data that cannot be stored in cloud storage given the data format limitations), the mechanisms disclosed herein all the application to store this supplemental data in secondary storage provided by a second storage service provider (e.g. non-cloud storage operated by a corporate intranet that the user's computing devices have access to).
• According to one embodiment, primary data for an application can be stored at a remotely located first storage service provider in a cloud computing environment. As used herein, the term primary data includes data that the application can store in a first service provider on a first server that may be, for example, a cloud server. A user of the application may wish to modify the primary data in a way that is not supported by the first storage service provider. Such modifications, additions, or the like are referred to herein as supplemental data which cannot be stored in the first server operated by the first storage service provider (i.e. cannot be stored in the cloud for example because the cloud storage does not provide for this supplemental data in its data or record format). In other words, the first storage service provider may not support storage of the changes and/or additions (supplemental data) that the user would like to make to the primary data and that the user would like to be able to access on any of his or her computing devices. A conventional solution is to store the supplemental data locally in the user's device. However, in such conventional solutions, the user would not be able to (or it would be difficult for the user to) use the application on multiple devices while having access to this supplemental data. This is problematic when a user moves from one device to another and expects all data, changes and additions to be available on all devices.
• To free a user from being restricted to executing an application on only a single computer device while having access to all data, configurations herein provide mechanisms and techniques to store modification data (e.g., supplemental application data such as, for example, edits or additions associated with the primary application data) at a second storage service provider over a network connection. Using the system disclosed herein, different instances of the application executing on different computer devices can retrieve the primary data from the first storage service provider (e/.g. from a cloud operated by a third party vendor) as well as retrieve the supplemental application data from the second storage service provider (e.g. a corporate intranet server operated by an employer of the user of the software and which is a different entity that the third party cloud storage service provider). Thus, a respective user is not restricted to executing an instance of the application on only a single machine and is able to gain access to both primary and supplement data on multiple user computing devices.
• FIG. 1 is an example diagram of a network environment in which a first instance of an application generates and stores supplemental application data at a second server according to embodiments herein.
• In this example thenetwork environment100 includes multiple storage service providers120 (e.g., storage service provider120-1, storage service provider120-2, etc.), andnetwork190. Storage service provider120-1 includes server110-1 and a respective repository180-1 in which to store data. Storage service provider120-1 may be a cloud storage service in this example operated by a given cloud server storage provider. Storage service provider120-2 includes server110-2 and a respective repository180-2 in which to store data. Storage service provider120-2 may be a corporate intranet in this example. It is to be understood that the storage service providers120 may be the same or different entity, corporation or organization.
• Network190 can include resources such as the Internet, mobile phone network, etc., and can further include one or more computer devices115 that can be operated by a same user or different users.
• Each of the computer devices115 can execute an instance ofapplication140 on behalf of one or more users. In this example, computer device115-1 executes application instance140-1 and computer device115-2 executes application instance140-2. In accordance with further embodiments, the same computer device can be used to execute thedifferent application instances140. The application instances140-1 and140-2 can be executed at the same or different times. In this example, the storage service provider120-1 may be a cloud storage system operated by a third party cloud storage service (the first storage service provider) accessible over a public network such as the Internet. In contrast, in this same example, storage service provider120-2 may be storage available within a corporate intranet that is only accessible to authorized users ofapplication instances140. The user of the application instances140-1 and140-2 may be an employee of the company (e.g. second storage service provider120-2) who operates and/or controls access to the second server110-2.
• In general, as will be discussed in the following figures and text of this application, during execution, the application instance140-1 operates on a client device and communicates with server110-1 to produce and initiate storage of primary application data210-1 (also referred to as primary data) in repository180-1 (e.g. storage of data in the cloud that requires or may be limited by a specific predefined data format). In this example, assume that the user of the computer device115-1 also produces supplemental data250-1 (also referred to as supplemental application data). The supplemental data250-1 may be produced from a user operating instances of theapplication140. Examples of supplemental data250-1 include a user providing an indication of favorites for given contacts in his or her contact list. This example is not meant to be limiting. The supplemental data250-1 is any data that is produced by the application140 (either instance140-1 or140-2) that cannot be stored along with the primary application data210-1 by the first server110-1 operated by the first storage service provider120-1. There may be many reasons why the supplemental data250-1 cannot be stored with the primary data210-1. Examples include one or more situations in which a data format, record format, protocol, data type, size, security requirement, or other aspect or characteristic of the supplemental application data250-1 is not technically supported, compatible with, or allowed to be stored by the storage server provider120-1.
• By way of example, the storage service provider120-1 may not be configured to store certain types of data such as the supplemental data250-1 in repository180-1 because the data or record format required to store primary data210-1 is not able to be extended in the cloud storage (i.e. by data stored by the first storage service provider120-1) to include the supplemental data. This situation may exist if many entities have different software applications that store data using cloud storage provided by the first storage service provider120-1 and the cloud storage data format is not updated frequently. By contrast, a software vendor of theapplication140 may release new releases of theapplication140 that enable a user to add additional information (e.g. identifying a given contact as a favorite contact) that was not present in earlier versions or releases of theapplication140. In this example, this new favorites contact information is the supplemental data250-1 that is not supported for storage by the first storage service provider120-1. Via communications with server110-2 as explained herein, the application instance140-1 initiates storage of the supplemental data in repository180-2.
• Accordingly, a portion of application data can be stored at multiple different locations innetwork environment100. For example, a first portion of application data can be stored in repository180-1; a second portion of the application can be stored in repository180-2; and so on. The system disclosed herein allows the multiple instances of theapplication140 that operate on different devices115 to identify situations in which there is supplemental application data available (i.e. stored in a secondary location120-2,180-2) and allows access (read, write, update) to this supplemental data without requiring modifications to data formats, protocols, storage mechanism and the like associated with the applications primary storage service provider120-1 (e.g. a cloud storage environment). The system overcomes issues that arise, for example, when asoftware application140 is initially released in a first version that allows access to a predefined data format that is operable to store data (referred to as primary data) in cloud storage. Theapplication140 may then be modified in a newer release to allow a user to create, store and/or update additional data, referred to as supplemental data250-1. The cloud storage may be provided by a third party storage service that does not allow modification of data types, storage formats, or the like. As a specific example, the first storage service provider120-1 may not update the cloud storage data format to support storage of this supplemental data250-1. The system disclosed herein enables storage and access to this supplemental data250-1 by storing it using a second server110-2. As such, the system enables theapplication140 to be modified and still use the cloud storage (e.g.120-1) for storage of primary application data, while allowing the secondary or supplemental storage provider120-2 to store the additional supplemental data250-1. The system further enables different instances of theapplication140 that a given user may operate on different computer systems (e.g. laptop, desktop and mobile devices) to all identify the existence of both the primary and supplement application data and to access these two sets of data for that user.
• FIG. 2 is an example diagram of a network environment in which the first instance of an application generates a unique identifier value for indexing supplemental application data according to embodiments herein.
• For example, as shown, a user executes application instance140-1 on a first computer device115-1. Via the application instance140-1, the user retrieves primary application data210-1 via communications with server110-1 of storage service provider120-1. The user provides input to the application instance140-1 to use the primary application data210-1 for any suitable purpose such as to display information in a graphical user interface.
• Note that if the primary application data210-1 is not yet stored in the repository180-1, the user can provide input to the application instance140-1 to create such data and store it in repository180-1.
• In this example, during use of application instance140-1, the user produces supplemental application data250-1 with respect to primary application data210-1 that is stored in repository180-1. The supplemental application data250-1 can indicate enhancements, modifications, edits, additional information, etc., with respect to the primary application data210-1. Thus, supplemental application data250-1 can be associated in some way with primary application data210-1. By way of a non-limiting example, as will be discussed later in this specification, the primary application data210 can be contacts information, enabling the user to communicate with one or more other persons in the network environment.
• As mentioned, assume in this example, that the storage service provider120-1 and server110-1 storing the primary application data210-1 is not able to support storage of the supplemental application data250-1 produced by the user. In accordance with embodiments herein, the application instance140-1 receives the supplemental application data250-1 inputted from the user of computer device115-1. As explained herein, theapplication140 executing on computer device115-1 associates the supplemental application data250-1 with the primary application data210-1. For example, in one embodiment, to associate the supplemental application data250-1 with the primary application data210-1, the application instance140-1 utilizesprocessing function225 to compute a unique identifier value230-1 based on, for example, at least a portion of the primary application data210-1. In a specific embodiment, theprocessing function225 generates the unique identifier value230-1 by applying a hash function to at least a portion of the primary application data210-1 in combination with a user identity of a user operating first instance of the application. This produces a unique identifier value for the supplemental application data to allow access to the supplemental application data by the user of a second instance of the application on another device. In this manner, as the user operated the same software on different devices, the supplemental application data will be a available to each instance.
• The application instance140-1 forwards the unique identifier value230-1 to the server110-2. The application instance140-1 also forwards supplemental application data250-1 to second storage service provider120-2 for storage in repository180-2. The unique identifier230-1 and supplemental application data250-1 may be transmitted separately or together in a single record to the second storage service provider120-2. In one embodiment, the storage service provider120-2 associates the unique identifier value (UIV)230-1 with the supplemental application data250-1 by including an entry of the UIV230-1 and a pointer to the supplemental application data250-1 inmap260.
• In one embodiment, the UIV230-1 inmap260 serves as an index to the supplemental application data250-1. For example, as discussed, the application instance140-1 initiates storage of the supplemental application data250-1 in repository180-2 of storage service provider120-2 because storage service provider120-1 is unable to or is not configured to store the supplemental application data250-1.
• As discussed above, the application instance140-1 also notifies the storage service provider120-2 that the unique identifier value230-1 corresponds to the supplemental application data250-1. Thus, in one embodiment, the application instance140-1 effectively produces the UIV230 as an index entry inmap260. For example, the entry inmap260 associates the UIV230-1 with a pointer to the supplemental application data250-1 stored in the repository180-2.
• The server110-2 of the storage service provider120-2 enables subsequent retrieval of the supplemental application data250-1 by any of one or more other instances of theapplication140 operating innetwork environment100. Generally, and as will be explained in more detail below, this is done by having any instance of theapplication140, upon execution, computing the UIV value for a retrieved set of primary application data210-1 and then transmitting this to the supplemental application data server110-2. The server110-2 can use the UID to check the map160 to determine if any supplemental application data250-1 exists.
• A given user may execute application instance140-1 at a first point in time. The given user may execute application instance140-2 at a later time. Via access to the storage service providers120, the given user is able to save modifications (e.g., via supplemental application data) in storage service provider120-2 and retrieve them at a later time using an instance of theapplication140 executed on the same or different computer device.
• FIG. 3 is an example diagram of a network environment in which a user operating a second instance of an application initiates retrieval of stored supplemental application data from the second server according to embodiments herein using the UIV230.
• As shown, the application instance140-2 communicates with storage service provider120-1 to retrieve primary data stored in repository180-1. Application instance140-2 produces the UIV130 and communicates the UIV130 to the storage service provider120-2 to retrieve supplemental data from repository180-2. As mentioned, and as further discussed below, the ability to store and retrieve the supplemental application data from storage service provider120-2 using a UIV enables one or more users to execute an instance of theapplication140 from a computer device at any location innetwork environment100 without losing data or having to store the data locally in the computer device.
• FIG. 4 is an example diagram of a network environment in which the second instance of the application initiates retrieval of stored supplemental application data from the second server using a unique identifier value according to embodiments herein.
• Assume in this example that a user innetwork environment100 initiates execution of application instance140-2 on a respective computer device such as115-2 (FIG. 1).
• The application instance140-2 displays a graphical user interface for viewing by the user. Via input with respect to the graphical user interface, a user can request to view data (either primary or supplemental) associated with theapplication140 that happens to be stored in either or both repository180-1 and repository180-2.
• In this example, assume that the user of application instance140-2 operates the graphical user interface to display information requiring at least the retrieval of primary application data210-1 from repository180-1. In response to the input, the application instance140-2 retrieves the primary application data210-1 from the storage service provider120-1. As discussed below, the graphical user interface of application instance140-2 can be operated by the user in a manner (e.g. user requests to see his or her favorite contacts) that requires the application instance140-2 to retrieve the supplemental application data250-1.
• Recall in this example that the server110-1 of storage service provider120-1 is unable to store the supplemental application data250-1 in repository180-1 (e.g. the supplemental data250-1 is not storable in a cloud storage system). By way of a non-limiting example, the supplemental application data250-1 can indicate special features to apply when displaying data on the graphical user interface and the data, record format, protocol or other operation of the cloud storage system provided by the provider120-1 does not support storage of this supplemental data250-1.
• In one embodiment, the application instance140-2 performs a query to server110-2 to check whether modification or supplemental application data is available for retrieval from storage service provider120-2. As explained below, this is done by computing a UIV130 for the primary data210-1 and sending this UIV value to the secondary (supplemental) storage service provider1202. If there is supplemental application data available for primary application data210-1, the application instance initiates retrieval of such data from storage service provider120-2.
• To retrieve the supplemental application data250-1, subsequent to retrieving a copy of the primary application data210-1, the application instance140-2 produces a unique identifier value (the same UIV that was previously generated by the application instance140-1) based at least in part on processing (i.e. retrieving) of the primary application data210-1 retrieved from server110-1. For example, in one embodiment, the application instance140-2 applies aprocessing function225 such as a hash function to at least a portion of the primary application data210-1 to produce the unique identifier value230-1. The hash function can include hashing some portion or multiple different portions or all of the primary application data210-1 to get the UIV130-1. The user identity can be included in this hash to produce a UIV230-1 to can be used to associate the specific proper set of supplemental application data250 for that application (i.e. for that version) for that user.
• In one embodiment, theprocessing function225 is the same processing function used by the firs application instance140-1 to produce unique identifier value230-1 when the supplemental application data was initially produced.
• In this example, assuming the primary application data210-1 has not changed since the application instance140-1 stored primary application data210-1 in repository180-1, theprocessing function225 of application instance140-2 produces the same index value that the application instance140-1 generated when initiating storage of the supplemental application data250-1 in storage service provider120-2.
• For example, the application instance140-2 produces unique identifier value230-1 based on primary application data210-1. In this instance, the unique identifier value230-1 produced by the application instance140-2 is the same as the unique identifier value230-1 produced by the application instance140-1 because both instances ofapplication140 apply the same processing function to the same primary application data210-1.
• Application instance140-2 utilizes the unique identifier value230-1 it just produced as an index to identify supplemental application data to retrieve from storage service provider120-2. For example, the application instance140-2 initiates retrieval of the supplemental application data250-1 by forwarding the unique identifier value230-1 it produced to the server110-2. The server110-2 maps the unique identifier value230-1 to a location in which the supplemental application data250-1 is stored in repository180-2.
• The server110-2 retrieves the supplemental application data250-1 from repository180-2 and forwards it to the application instance140-2. The application instance140-2 thus receives the supplemental application data250-1 from the server110-2.
• In one embodiment, the application instance140-2 utilizes the retrieved primary application data210-1 to identify primary settings information. The application instance140-2 utilizes the retrieved supplemental application data250-1 to identify modifications with respect to the primary settings as specified by the primary application data210-1.
• In this manner, each of multiple different application instances of the same executed application can access application data stored at one or more different locations in a cloud without having to store the data locally in a single computer device, which would potentially restrict usage of the application.
• As mentioned, the primary application data210-1 and the corresponding supplemental application data250-1 can be contacts information used in an address book application. In such an embodiment, when the user initiates an action, command, etc., in which application data cannot be written back to storage service provider120-1 located innetwork environment100, the application instance140-1 creates a unique identifier value230-1 (e.g., an index value, a hash-based key, etc.) based on properties of the primary application data210-1 (e.g., specific contact information). The application instance140-1 uses the unique identifier value230-1 as a key or index value to store the additional contact information that is identified only by the key. For example, in one embodiment, the client or application instance140-1 then transmits the unique identifier value230-1 to storage service provider120-2. The server110-2 stores the unique identifier value (e.g., key, index value, hash value, etc.) and allows the supplemental application data250-1 to be provided (via the mechanisms disclosed herein) to any client (e.g.,application instance140 in network environment100) that has access to the address book and respective application data.
• In one embodiment, when the application instance140-2 attempts synchronization, the application instance140-2 produces a unique identifier value for each of the contacts as specified by the primary application data stored and retrieved from storage service provider120-1. The application instance140-2 forwards the unique identifier values to the server110-2 to check whether supplemental data is available for each respective contact. If so, the server120-2 forwards the appropriate supplemental application data to application instance140-2. Via retrieval of the primary application data and the supplemental application data for each contact in an address book, the application instance140-2 can be properly synchronized.
• In certain cases, there may not be any supplemental application data for a given set of primary data stored in repository180-1. In such an instance, the application instance140-2 utilizes only the primary application data retrieved from storage service provider120-1 to initiate display of corresponding information in the graphical user interface.
• FIG. 5 is an example diagram illustrating use of unique identifier values to map primary application data with supplemental application according to embodiments herein.
• As previously discussed, the user of arespective application140 initiates storage of multiple sets of primary application data210 (e.g., primary application data210-1, primary application data210-2, primary application data210-3, etc.) in repository180-1 of storage service provider120-1. As mentioned, by way of a non-limiting example, the primary application data can be contact information.
• As previously discussed, a respective user can modify the primary application data via generation of supplemental application data. In this example, the user produces supplemental application data250-1.
• In a manner as previously discussed, the respective application instance140-1 produces unique identifier value230-1 and initiates storage of the supplemental application data250-1 and unique identifier value230-1 at storage service provider120-2.
• As further shown in this example, the user produces supplemental application data250-3 associated with primary application data210-3. The respective application instance140-1 produces unique identifier value230-3 and initiates storage of the unique identifier value250-3 and corresponding supplemental application data250-3 in storage service provider120-2.
• As mentioned, map260 stores the association between the unique identifier values and the supplemental data produced for respective primary application data.
• In one embodiment, the storage service provider120-2 can store supplemental data for each of multiple different users. In such an instance, the map can be configured to group the identifier values on a per user basis. For example, the application instance requesting to retrieve the supplemental application data can also provide a user identifier to the server110-2 when checking for availability of supplemental application data.
• Via the user's identifier, the storage service provider120-2 can identify a corresponding group of unique identifier values to check in the map260 (rather than checking all unique identifier values in the map260) in order to identify whether supplemental application data is stored in the storage service provider120-2 for the user.
• FIG. 6 is an example diagram illustrating use of the primary application data and the supplemental application data by an application instance according to embodiments herein.
• Assume in this example that the primary application data produced by the respective user via application instance140-1 corresponds to contact information of entries in an address book. For example, assume that primary application data210-1 includes information (e.g., name, e-mail information, phone information, etc.) associated with a first contact such as Joseph Smith; assume that primary application data210-2 includes information associated with a second contact such as John Doe; assume that primary application data210-3 includes information associated with a third contact such as David Johnson; and so on.
• As previously discussed, the primary application data210 can be produced by the user or some other resource.
• The storage service provider120-1 is able to store certain information such as name, e-mail information, phone number, etc. associated with a respective contact. However, assume in this example that theapplication140 supports functionality such as bolding text to indicate a favorite) in the contact information when it is displayed in a graphical user interface, adding of extra text for display near a contact, etc.
• As noted above there are several reasons why the storage service provider120-1 may not support storage of such information. As mentioned, the application instance can be configured to initiate creation of supplemental application data250 in such situations. For example, application instance140-1 produces supplemental application data250-1 to indicate selection of highlighting Joseph Smith as a favorite; application instance140-1 produces supplemental application data250-3 to indicate additional information (e.g., company and title information) to be displayed for entry David Johnson; and so on. When the application instance140-1 is written (e.g. coded) by a developer (e.g. a software engineer), the developer can utilize the mechanisms disclosed herein to store supplemental application data250 within the supplemental storage service provider120-2 for any data that cannot be stored as primary data210 in the primary storage service provider120-1. Application programming interfaces (APIs) can be provided for general functionality disclosed herein such as retrieval of primary application data, creation of a UIV, and communication of the UIV and storage and retrieval of supplemental application data with the supplemental storage service provider120-2.
• In a manner as previously discussed, the application instance140-1 initiates storage of the supplemental application data and corresponding unique identifier values in storage service provider120-2.
• When the same of different user initiates execution of application instance140-2 to view the contacts information innetwork environment100, the application instance140-2 initiates retrieval of the primary application data. Via application of theprocessing function225 to all or a selected portion of the primary application data, the application instance140-2 initiates generation of unique identifier values and retrieval of respective supplemental application data. In this instance, the application instance initiates retrieval of supplemental application data250-1, supplemental application data250-3, etc., and applies the settings as specified by the supplemental application data to the contacts information eventually displayed in the address book in contacts manager graphical user interface630.
• In one embodiment, note that the application instance140-2 can initiate further modification to the primary application data information to be displayed in the address book. In such an instance, if a giveninstance140 initiates changes to a set of primary application data stored by storage service provider120-1, the given instance generates a new unique identifier value based on the changes to the set of primary application data and forwards the updated unique identifier value to the server110-2 for storage inmap260. In this manner, the UIV is always “current” with the most up to date set of primary application data. If the user also modifies the corresponding supplemental application data, the application instance also forwards the updated supplemental application data to the storage service provider120-2 for storage and subsequent retrieval. Accordingly, via the updated unique identifier value, another application instance can still retrieve the supplemental application data even though the primary application data has changed and any changes to the supplemental application data are also captured and stored (by storage service provider120-2) for subsequent retrieval.
• FIG. 7 is an example block diagram of a computer system for executing functionality associated withapplication instances140 according to embodiments herein.
• Computer system700 can include one or more computerized devices such as a personal computer, workstation, portable computing device, console, network terminal, processing device, network device, etc., operating as a server, client, etc.
• Note that the following discussion provides a basic embodiment indicating how to execute functionality associated withapplication instances140 according to embodiments herein. However, it should be noted that the actual configuration for carrying out the operations as described herein can vary depending on a respective application. Also, note that each of the servers110-1,110-2, etc., can be configured with similar resources such as a computer readable storage medium and a respective one or more processor device to carry out functionality as discussed herein.
• As shown,computer system700 of the present example includes aninterconnect311 that couples computerreadable storage media312 such as a non-transitory type of computer readable storage media in which digital information can be stored and retrieved.Computer system700 further includes aprocessor device313, I/O interface314, and acommunications interface317.
• I/O interface314 provides connectivity to input/output devices such asrepository780 and, if present, other devices such asdisplay screen730,peripheral devices316, (e.g., keyboard, computer mouse, etc.), etc.
• Computerreadable storage medium312 can be any suitable device such as memory, optical storage, hard drive, floppy disk, etc. In one embodiment, the computerreadable storage medium312 is a storage media (i.e., hardware storage media) configured to store instructions and/or data.
• Communications interface317 enables thecomputer system700 andprocessor device313 to communicate over anetwork190 to retrieve information from and/or forward information to any of multiple different remote resources such as other computers, servers, etc. As mentioned, I/O interface314 enablesprocessor device313 to retrieve respective information fromrepository780.
• As shown, computerreadable storage media312 can be encoded with application instance140 (e.g., software, firmware, etc.) executed byprocessor device313.
• During operation of one embodiment,processor device313 accesses computerreadable storage media312 via the use ofinterconnect311 in order to launch, run, execute, interpret or otherwise perform the instructions of application140-X stored on computerreadable storage medium312.
• Execution of the application140-X produces processing functionality such asprocess141 inprocessor device313. In other words, the application140-X associated withprocessor device313 represents an instance of executingapplication140 within or upon theprocessor device313 in thecomputer system700.
• Those skilled in the art will understand that thecomputer system700 can include other processes and/or software and hardware components, such as an operating system that controls allocation and use of hardware resources to executeapplication140.
• In accordance with different embodiments, note thatcomputer system700 may be any of various types of devices, including, but not limited to, a personal computer system, desktop computer, laptop, notebook, netbook computer, mainframe computer system, handheld computer, workstation, network computer, application server, storage device, a consumer electronics device such as a camera, camcorder, set top box, mobile device, video game console, handheld video game device, a peripheral device such as a switch, modem, router, or in general any type of computing or electronic device.
• Functionality supported byapplication instances140 will now be discussed via flowcharts inFIGS. 8 and 9. Note that there will be some overlap with respect to concepts discussed above forFIGS. 1 through 7. Also, note that the steps in the below flowcharts need not always be executed in the order shown. That is, the steps can be executed in any suitable order.
• FIG. 8 is aflowchart800 illustrating a method of processing primary application data according to embodiments herein.
• Instep810, the application instance140-1 retrieves primary application data210-1. The primary application data210-1 can be retrieved from server110-1 or produced by the user.
• Instep820, the application instance140-1 receives supplemental application data to be associated with the primary application data210-1.
• Instep830, the application instance140-1 computes a unique identifier value230-1 based at least in part on the primary application data210-1.
• Insub-step840, the application instance140-1 applies a processing function such as a hash function to at least a portion (e.g., e-mail address, phone number, etc.) of the primary application data210-1 to produce the unique identifier value230-1 for associating with the supplemental application data250-1.
• Instep850, the application instance140-1 forwards the unique identifier value230-1 to server110-2; the server110-2 enables subsequent retrieval of the supplemental application data250-1 by application instance140-2.
• Instep860, the application instance140-1 initiates storage of the supplemental application data250-1 in server120-2.
• Instep870, the server110-2 initiates storage of an index entry inmap260, associating the unique identifier value230-1 to the supplemental application data250-1 stored in repository180-2.
• FIG. 9 is aflowchart900 illustrating a method of processing application data according to embodiments herein.
• Instep910, the application instance140-2 retrieves primary application data210-1 from server110-1.
• Instep920, the application instance140-2 produces a unique identifier value230-1 based at least in part on the primary application data210-1 retrieved form server110-1.
• In sub-step930, the application instance140-2 applies a hash or other suitable function to at least a portion of the primary application data210-1 to produce the unique identifier value230-1.
• Instep940, the application instance140-2 utilizes the unique identifier value230-1 (as produced by the application instance140-2) as an index to identify the supplemental application data250-1 stored in storage service provider120-2.
• Insub-step950, the application instance140-2 forwards the unique identifier value230-1 to the server110-2. The second server110-2 maps the unique identifier value230-1 as produced by the application instance140-2 to the supplemental application data250-1.
• Instep960, the application instance140-2 initiates retrieval of the supplemental application data250-1 from server110-2.
• Insub-step965, the application instance140-2 receives the supplemental application data250-1 from the server110-2.
• Instep970, the application instance140-2 utilizes the retrieved primary application data140-2 to identify primary settings associated with application instance140-2.
• Instep980, the application instance140-2 utilizes the supplemental application data250-1 to identify modifications with respect to the primary settings as specified by the primary application data210-1.
• Using the techniques disclosed herein, each of multiple different instances of the same executed application can access data services provided by a cloud computing environment while still allowing customization of the application by accessing supplemental application data stored at one or more different locations without having to store the supplemental data locally, which would restrict usage of a computer system. In this manner, even though a cloud computing environment may not support additional features, an application utilizing the system disclosed herein can provide additional services for a user and those services (that require storage and access to supplemental data) will be available on different devices used by that user.
• The same processing function used by the different instances of the application to produce the unique identifier values to retrieve the supplemental application data can be unique with respect to the user of the application. Accordingly, only the user's application (amongst may possible applications) will be able to generate the appropriate keys or index values to retrieve the supplemental application data. Thus, embodiments herein can provide a level of security over conventional techniques.
• As mentioned, in an example embodiment, the primary application data and the supplemental application data can pertain to contacts information used in an address book. In such an embodiment, in a first instance of the application, when the user operates the application to create or modify data that cannot be written back to a first storage service provider located in the network, theapplication140 creates a unique identifier value (e.g., an index value, a hash-based key, etc.) based on properties of the primary application data (e.g., specific contact information) and uses this key to store the additional contact information that is identified only by the key. The application then sends this unique identifier value to a second storage service provider. The second storage service provider stores the unique identifier value and allows the supplemental application data to be synchronized to any other instance of that application operated by that user.
• When the second instance of the application attempts synchronization, the second instance of the application produces hash values for each of the contacts. The second instance of the application forwards the hash values (i.e., unique identifier values) to the supplemental server to check whether supplemental data is available for a respective contact. If so, the supplemental server forwards the data to the second instance of the application. Via retrieval of the primary application data from the first storage service provider and retrieval of the supplemental application data for each contact from the second storage service provider, the second instance of the application can be properly synchronized.
• Techniques herein are well suited for use in applications in which multiple instances of software can be executed on multiple disparately located devices connected to a network. However, it should be noted that embodiments herein are not limited to use in such applications and that the techniques discussed herein are well suited for other applications as well.
• Note that embodiments herein can include a configuration of one or more computerized devices, workstations, handheld or laptop computers, or the like to carry out and/or support any or all of the method operations disclosed herein. In other words, one or more computerized devices or processors can be programmed and/or configured to operate as explained herein to carry out different embodiments of the invention.
• Yet other embodiments herein include software programs to perform the steps and operations summarized above and disclosed in detail below. One such embodiment comprises a computer program product including a computer-readable storage medium (i.e., any type of hardware storage medium) on which software instructions are encoded for subsequent execution. The instructions and/or program, when executed in a computerized device having a processor, cause the processor to perform the operations disclosed herein. Such arrangements are typically provided as software, code, instructions, and/or other data (e.g., data structures) arranged or encoded on a non-transitory computer readable storage medium such as an optical medium (e.g., CD-ROM), floppy disk, hard disk, memory stick, etc., or other a medium such as firmware or microcode in one or more ROM, RAM, PROM, etc., or as an Application Specific Integrated Circuit (ASIC), etc. The software or firmware or other such configurations can be installed onto a computerized device to cause the computerized device to perform the techniques explained herein.
• Other embodiments of the present disclosure include software programs and/or respective hardware to perform any of the method embodiment steps and operations summarized above and disclosed in detail below. The ordering of the steps has been added for clarity sake. These steps can be performed in any suitable order.
• It is to be understood that the system, method, apparatus, instructions on computer readable storage media, etc., as discussed herein can be embodied strictly as a software program, as a hybrid of software and hardware, or as hardware alone such as within a processor, or within an operating system or a within a software application. Example embodiments of the invention may be implemented within products and/or software applications such as those manufactured by Microsoft Corporation, Redmond, Wash., USA.
• Additionally, although each of the different features, techniques, configurations, etc., herein may be discussed in different places of this disclosure, it is intended that each of the concepts can be executed independently of each other or, where suitable, the concepts can be used in combination with each other. Accordingly, the one or more present inventions as described herein can be embodied and viewed in many different ways.
• Based on the description set forth herein, numerous specific details have been set forth to provide a thorough understanding of claimed subject matter. However, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that claimed subject matter may be practiced without these specific details. In other instances, methods, apparatuses, systems, etc., that would be known by one of ordinary skill have not been described in detail so as not to obscure claimed subject matter. Some portions of the detailed description have been presented in terms of algorithms or symbolic representations of operations on data bits or binary digital signals stored within a computing system memory, such as a computer memory. These algorithmic descriptions or representations are examples of techniques used by those of ordinary skill in the data processing arts to convey the substance of their work to others skilled in the art. An algorithm as described herein, and generally, is considered to be a self-consistent sequence of operations or similar processing leading to a desired result. In this context, operations or processing involve physical manipulation of physical quantities. Typically, although not necessarily, such quantities may take the form of electrical or magnetic signals capable of being stored, transferred, combined, compared or otherwise manipulated via processing circuitry and/or software. It has proven convenient at times, principally for reasons of common usage, to refer to such signals as bits, data, values, elements, symbols, characters, terms, numbers, numerals or the like. It should be understood, however, that all of these and similar terms are to be associated with appropriate physical quantities and are merely convenient labels. Unless specifically stated otherwise, as apparent from the following discussion, it is appreciated that throughout this specification discussions utilizing terms such as “processing,” “computing,” “calculating,” “determining” or the like refer to actions or processes of a computing platform, such as a computer or a similar electronic computing device, that manipulates or transforms data represented as physical electronic or magnetic quantities within memories, registers, or other information storage devices, transmission devices, or display devices of the computing platform.
• While this invention has been particularly shown and described with references to preferred embodiments thereof, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that various changes in form and details may be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope of the present application as defined by the appended claims. Such variations are intended to be covered by the scope of this present application. As such, the foregoing description of embodiments of the present application is not intended to be limiting. Rather, any limitations to the invention are presented in the following claims.

Claims (20)

What is claimed is:

1. A method comprising:

in a first instance of an application:

retrieving primary application data from a first server;

receiving supplemental application data to be associated with the primary application data;

computing a first unique identifier value based at least in part on the primary application data; and

forwarding the first unique identifier value to a second server, the second server enabling subsequent retrieval of the supplemental application data by a second instance of the application using the first unique identifier value.

2. The method as inclaim 1 further comprising:

in the second instance of the application:

retrieving the primary application data from the first server;

computing a second unique identifier value based at least in part on the primary application data; and

utilizing the second unique identifier value produced by the second instance as an index to identify the supplemental application data and retrieve the supplemental application data from the second server.

3. The method as inclaim 2, wherein utilizing the second unique identifier value produced by the second instance includes:

forwarding the second unique identifier value produced by the second instance of the application to the second server, the second server mapping the second unique identifier value to the supplemental application data by comparing the second unique identifier value to the first unique identifier value; and

receiving the supplemental application data from the second server.

4. The method as inclaim 3, further comprising:

operating the first server by a first storage service provider;

operating the second server as a second storage provider; and

wherein the second storage service provider is a different entity than the first storage service provider, and wherein the supplemental application data is data that is unable to be stored as primary application data in the first server.

5. The method as inclaim 2 further comprising:

via the second instance of the application:

utilizing the retrieved primary application data to identify primary settings used by the application; and

utilizing the supplemental application data to identify modifications with respect to the primary settings, the modifications being data that is unable to be stored with the primary application data in the first server.

6. The method as inclaim 1 further comprising:

via the first instance of the application:

storing the supplemental application data in the second server;

producing an index entry associating the first unique identifier value to the supplemental application data stored in the second server; and

storing the index entry to retrieve the supplemental application data from the second server.

7. The method as inclaim 1 further comprising:

via a second instance of the application:

utilizing the first unique identifier value as an index to identify the supplemental application data; and

receiving the supplemental data from the second server.

8. The method as inclaim 1, wherein computing the first unique identifier value based at least in part on the primary application data includes:

applying a hash function to at least a portion of the primary application data an a user identity of a user operating first instance of the application to produce the first unique identifier value for associating with the supplemental application data to allow access to the supplemental application data by the user of a second instance of the application; and

wherein the primary application data at least in part specifies settings information to be used by the first instance of the application; and

wherein the supplemental application data indexed by the first unique identifier value specifies modifications with respect to the primary application data.

9. The method as inclaim 1 further comprising:

via the second instance of the application:

retrieving the primary application data from the first server;

modifying the primary application data;

storing the modified primary application data in the first server;

computing the second unique identifier value based on the modified primary application data; and

forwarding the second unique identifier value for the modified primary application data to the second server, the second unique identifier allowing a subsequent instance of the application to identify supplemental application data associated to the primary application data for a user to the subsequent instance of the application.

10. The method as inclaim 9, wherein the user executes the first instance of the application on a first computer at a first location in a network environment; and

wherein the user executes the second instance and the subsequent instance of the application one at least one second computer at a second location in the network environment.

11. A computer system comprising:

at least one processor device;

at least one storage resource that stores instructions associated with an application, the application executed by the at least one processor device; and

at least one interconnect coupling the at least one processor device and the at least one storage resource, the at least one interconnect enabling the computer system to execute a first instance of the application and perform operations of:

retrieving primary application data from a first server;

computing a unique identifier value based at least in part on the primary application data; and

utilizing the unique identifier value produced by the first instance as an index to identify supplemental application data stored by a second server; and

retrieving the identified supplemental application data from the second server.

12. The computer system as inclaim 11, wherein utilizing the unique identifier value produced by the first instance includes: forwarding the unique identifier value produced by the first instance of the application to the second server, the second server mapping the unique identifier value to the supplemental application data.

13. The computer system as inclaim 12, wherein the supplemental application data is data that is unable to be stored as primary application data in the first server.

14. The computer system as inclaim 11 including a second instance of the application, the second instance of the application executing the following steps prior to utilizing the unique identifier value as an index to identify the supplemental application data:

retrieving the primary application data from the first server;

receiving the supplemental application data to be associated with the primary application data;

computing the unique identifier value based at least in part on the primary application data; and

forwarding the unique identifier value to the second server.

15. The computer system as inclaim 11 including a second instance of the application, wherein the second instance of the application supports operations of:

utilizing the retrieved primary application data to identify primary settings used by the application; and

utilizing the supplemental application data to identify modifications with respect to the primary settings.

16. The computer system as inclaim 11, wherein computing the unique identifier value includes:

applying a hash function to at least a portion of the primary application data to produce the unique identifier value.

17. The computer system as inclaim 16, wherein the primary application data at least in part specifies settings information to be used by the first instance of the application; and

wherein the supplemental application data indexed by the unique identifier value specifies modifications with respect to the primary application data.

18. The computer system ofclaim 17 wherein:

the first server is operated by a first storage service provider;

the second server is operated by a second storage provider; and

wherein the second storage service provider is a different entity than the first storage service provider.

19. A computer-readable hardware storage medium having instructions stored thereon for processing data information, such that the instructions, when carried out by a processing device, cause the processing device to perform operations of:

via a first instance of an executed application:

retrieving primary application data from a first server;

receiving supplemental application data to be associated with the primary application data, the supplemental data being data that is unable to be stored by the first server;

computing a unique identifier value based at least in part on the primary application data; and

forwarding the unique identifier value to a second server, the second server enabling subsequent retrieval of the supplemental application data by a second instance of the application.

20. The computer-readable hardware storage medium as inclaim 19, wherein the instructions when carried out by the processing device cause the processing device to perform operations of:

storing the supplemental application data in the second server;

producing an index entry associating the first unique identifier value to the supplemental application data stored in the second server; and

storing the index entry to retrieve the supplemental application data from the second server.

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