Adaptive synchronization of service data

Abstract

Techniques are disclosed for synchronizing service data between a data store and a device using the service data. These synchronization techniques may be used with a synchronization method and device that adaptively adjust synchronization parameters, such as the synchronization interval and quantity of synchronized data, on a per-end-user basis in response to actual end-user behavior. In particular, heavy users of service data are rewarded with improved synchronization parameters, such as a combination of shorter synchronization intervals and increased synchronization data quantities, which provides closer to “direct access” performance. Light users of service, on the other hand, are assigned lower cost synchronization parameters, such as longer synchronization intervals and/or decreased synchronization data quantities

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A method of synchronizing service data for a user, comprising: 
 detecting an increase in frequency of use of service data by a service provider on behalf of the user; and    when an increase in frequency of use of service data by a service provider on behalf of the user has been detected, increasing a frequency of synchronization of service data between the service provider and a data storage device associated with the user.    
     
     
         2 . The method of synchronizing service data for a user recited in  claim 1 , further including: 
 detecting a decrease in frequency of use of service data by a service provider on behalf of the user; and    when a decrease in frequency of use of service data by a service provider on behalf of the user has been detected, decreasing a frequency of synchronization of service data between the service provider and a data storage device associated with the user.    
     
     
         3 . The method of synchronizing service data for a user recited in  claim 2 , wherein the frequency of synchronization of service data is decreased by an increasing amount for each decrease in frequency of use of service data below a threshold value and decreased by an decreasing amount for each decrease in frequency of use of service data above the threshold value.  
     
     
         4 . The method of synchronizing service data for a user recited in  claim 1 , wherein the frequency of synchronization of service data is increased by an increasing amount for each increase in frequency of use of service data below a threshold value and increased by a decreasing amount for each increase in frequency of use of service data above the threshold value.  
     
     
         5 . The method of synchronizing service data for a user recited in  claim 1 , further including: 
 when an increase in frequency of use of service data by a service provider on behalf of the user has been detected, increasing a quantity of service data synchronized during synchronization of service data between the service provider and a data storage device associated with the user.    
     
     
         6 . The method of synchronizing service data for a user recited in  claim 5 , wherein the quantity of service data synchronized during synchronization of service data is increased by an increasing amount for each increase in frequency of use of service data below a threshold value and increased by a decreasing amount for each increase in frequency of use of service data above the threshold value.  
     
     
         7 . The method of synchronizing service data for a user recited in  claim 5 , further including: 
 detecting a decrease in frequency of use of service data by a service provider on behalf of the user; and    when a decrease in frequency of use of service data by a service provider on behalf of the user has been detected, decreasing a quantity of service data synchronized during synchronization of service data between the service provider and a data storage device associated with the user.    
     
     
         8 . The method of synchronizing service data for a user recited in  claim 7 , wherein the quantity of service data synchronized during synchronization of service data is decreased by an increasing amount for each decrease in frequency of use of service data below a threshold value and decreased by an decreasing amount for each decrease in frequency of use of service data above the threshold value.  
     
     
         9 . The method of synchronizing service data for a user recited in  claim 1 , wherein the data storage device associated with the user is an institutional database maintained by an institution associated with the user.  
     
     
         10 . The method of synchronizing service data for a user recited in  claim 9 , wherein the data storage device associated with the user is a corporate data store maintained by an employer of the user.  
     
     
         11 . The method of synchronizing service data for a user recited in  claim 9 , wherein the data store is a Microsoft Exchange® database or a Lotus Notes® database.  
     
     
         12 . A method of synchronizing service data for a user, comprising: 
 detecting an increase in a quantity of service data used by a service provider on behalf of the user; and    when an increase in a quantity of service data used by a service provider on behalf of the user has been detected, increasing a quantity of service data synchronized during synchronization of service data between the service provider and a data storage device associated with the user.    
     
     
         13 . The method of synchronizing service data for a user recited in  claim 12 , further including: 
 detecting a decrease in a quantity of service data used by a service provider on behalf of the user; and    when a decrease in a quantity of service data used by a service provider on behalf of the user has been detected, decreasing a quantity of service data synchronized during synchronization of service data between the service provider and a data storage device associated with the user.    
     
     
         14 . The method of synchronizing service data for a user recited in  claim 13 , wherein the quantity of service data synchronized during synchronization of service data is decreased by an increasing amount for each decrease in quantity of service data used by the service provider below a threshold value and decreased by an decreasing amount for each decrease in quantity of service data used by the service provider above the threshold value.  
     
     
         15 . The method of synchronizing service data for a user recited in  claim 12 , wherein the quantity of service data synchronized during synchronization of service data is increased by an increasing amount for each increase in quantity of service data used by the service provider below a threshold value and increased by a decreasing amount for each increase in quantity of service data used by the service provider above the threshold value.  
     
     
         16 . The method of synchronizing service data for a user recited in  claim 12 , further including: 
 when an increase in quantity of service data used by the service provider on behalf of the user has been detected, increasing a frequency of synchronization of service data between the service provider and a data storage device associated with the user.    
     
     
         17 . The method of synchronizing service data for a user recited in  claim 16 , wherein the frequency of synchronization of service data is increased by an increasing amount for each increase in quantity of service data used by the service provider below a threshold value and increased by a decreasing amount for each increase in quantity of service data used by the service provider above the threshold value.  
     
     
         18 . The method of synchronizing service data for a user recited in  claim 16 , further including: 
 detecting a decrease in quantity of service data used by the service provider on behalf of the user; and    when a decrease in quantity of service data used by the service provider on behalf of the user has been detected, decreasing a frequency of synchronization of service data between the service provider and a data storage device associated with the user.    
     
     
         19 . The method of synchronizing service data for a user recited in  claim 18 , wherein the frequency of synchronization of service data is decreased by an increasing amount for each decrease in quantity of service data used by the service provider below a threshold value and decreased by an decreasing amount for each decrease in quantity of service data used by the service provider above the threshold value.  
     
     
         20 . The method of synchronizing service data for a user recited in  claim 12 , wherein the data storage device associated with the user is an institutional data store maintained by an institution associated with the user.  
     
     
         21 . The method of synchronizing service data for a user recited in  claim 20 , wherein the data storage device associated with the user is a corporate data store maintained by an employer of the user.  
     
     
         22 . The method of synchronizing service data for a user recited in  claim 20 , wherein the data store is a Microsoft Exchange® data store, a Microsoft Outlook data store, a Lotus Domino data store or a Lotus Notes® data store.