Method and apparatus for a file sharing and synchronization system

Abstract

A computer-implemented method is provided for managing and sharing picture files. In one embodiment of the present invention, the method comprises providing a server platform and providing a datastore on the server platform for maintaining full resolution copies of the files shared between a plurality of sharing clients. A synchronization engine is provided on the server platform and is configured to send real-time updates to a plurality of sharing clients when at least one of the sharing clients updates or changes one of said files. A web interface may also be provided that allows a user to access files in the datastore through the use of a web browser.

1 . A computer-implemented method for managing and sharing picture files, the method comprising: 
 providing a server platform;    providing a datastore on said server platform for maintaining full resolution copies of the files shared between a plurality of sharing clients;    providing a synchronization engine on said server platform configured to send real-time updates to a plurality of sharing clients when at least one of the sharing clients updates or changes one of said files; and    providing a web interface that allows a user to access files in the datastore through the use of a web browser.    
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1  using the synchronization engine to send updates to each of the sharing clients when one of the sharing clients changes metadata for one of the picture files.  
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1  wherein said picture files includes video files.  
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1  wherein said picture files includes slideshows.  
     
     
         5 . A computer-implemented method for sharing a data object amongst multiple clients and distributing changes made to the data object among the clients, the method comprising: 
 sending the data object from at least one sharing client to a synchronization engine so that a data object copy resides at each sharing client;    receiving, at the synchronization engine, changes to the data object from one of the sharing clients; and    distributing the changes from the sharing client that originated the changes to the clients not aware of the changes so that the data object and data object copies may reflect the changes.    
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 5  wherein the data object is a picture file.  
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 5  wherein the data object is an email message.  
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 5  wherein the data object is distributed to only a subset of the sharing clients.  
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 5  wherein the data object is distributed to only a subset of the sharing clients and is not distributed to a larger set of the sharing clients until released by the user for wider distribution.  
     
     
         10 . A computer-implemented method for managing emails from personal, web-based email services, the method comprising: 
 providing a server platform;    providing a mailstore on said server platform for maintaining copies of the emails obtained from the various personal, web-based email services;    providing a synchronization engine on said server platform configured to send real-time updates to a plurality of sharing clients when at least one of the sharing clients updates or changes one of said emails; and    providing a web interface that allows a user to access email files in the mailstore through the use of a web browser.    
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 10  further comprising updating the inbox of the appropriate personal, web-based email services to reflect changes or deletions made by the user in the mailstore on the server platform.