Patents by Inventor Jack Allen Nichols

Jack Allen Nichols has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Publication number: 20220239741
    Abstract: Dynamic storage management in cloud storage synchronization is provided. A limit may be specified for amount of data associated with hydrated content in local storage. Upon detecting the limit being exceeded, the system may automatically begin to dehydrate files in local storage and replace them with placeholder files. Placeholders may also be specified on by default and content may initially synchronize as placeholders. As the user hydrates content, some files that were previously hydrated may be reverted to the placeholder state as the limit for amount of data in local storage is approached or exceeded. In some examples, specific limits may not be defined, but content may be heuristically dehydrated based on usage and size. In yet another example, the synchronization and local content dehydration may be performed on a per-folder basis.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 19, 2022
    Publication date: July 28, 2022
    Inventors: Jack Allen NICHOLS, Ed AVERETT
  • Patent number: 11368528
    Abstract: Dynamic storage management in cloud storage synchronization is provided. A limit may be specified for amount of data associated with hydrated content in local storage. Upon detecting the limit being exceeded, the system may automatically begin to dehydrate files in local storage and replace them with placeholder files. Placeholders may also be specified on by default and content may initially synchronize as placeholders. As the user hydrates content, some files that were previously hydrated may be reverted to the placeholder state as the limit for amount of data in local storage is approached or exceeded. In some examples, specific limits may not be defined, but content may be heuristically dehydrated based on usage and size. In yet another example, the synchronization and local content dehydration may be performed on a per-folder basis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 20, 2016
    Date of Patent: June 21, 2022
    Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing, LLC
    Inventors: Jack Allen Nichols, Ed Averett
  • Patent number: 11080243
    Abstract: This disclosure generally relates to synchronizing a list of queries made against content hosted by a collaborative workspace environment, or against some other remote computing device, to a local computing device. The methods and system described herein enable a synchronization client associated with the local computing device to synchronize one or more queries (e.g., a most recently used file list on the collaborative workspace environment, a list of shared files on the collaborative workspace environment and the like), along with the content associated with the one or more queries, provided on the collaborative workspace environment to the local computing device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 11, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 3, 2021
    Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing, LLC
    Inventors: Jack Allen Nichols, Jason Fergus Moore
  • Patent number: 11061775
    Abstract: A computing system includes at least one processor and memory storing instructions executable by the at least one processor, wherein the instructions, when executed, cause the computing system to instruct a synchronization engine to synchronize first and second versions of a file, the first version being stored on a first storage system and the second version being stored on a second storage system, receive a backoff indicator corresponding to the file, based on the backoff indicator, instruct the synchronization engine to backoff synchronizing changes to the file, and allow the changes to the file to be synchronized by a co-authoring application, maintain a first set of collaborative metadata indicative of content of the first version of the file, and maintain a second set of collaborative metadata indicative of content of the second version of the file.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 18, 2019
    Date of Patent: July 13, 2021
    Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing, LLC
    Inventors: Jack Allen Nichols, Benjamin M. Yim, Adam Christopher Czeisler, Amnon I. Govrin, Michal Krzysztof Piaseczny, Marcus Eduardo Markiewicz, Daniel Vincent Fiordalis, Jonathan Alexander Bockelman, Marcelo Albuquerque Fernandes Mas, Chris J. Guzak, Michael J. Novak, Juan-Lee Pang, Tyler Kien Beam
  • Patent number: 10936548
    Abstract: Systems, components, devices, and methods for synchronizing files between a local file system and a server are provided. In an example, synchronization of individual files is paused by placing the individual files in a hold state. A non-limiting example method accesses a file stored on the local file system for synchronization with an associated file on the server and determines whether differences between the file and the associated file prevent synchronization. When determined that differences between the file and the associated file prevent synchronization, the method places the file in a hold state. The hold state pauses synchronization of the content in the file with the content of the associated file. In some examples, the method continues to synchronize topological changes to files that have been placed in the hold state and/or resumes synchronization after it is determined that the file is no longer different than the associated file.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 2, 2021
    Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing, LLC
    Inventors: Yisheng Chen, Amnon Itamar Govrin, Francisco Jose Garcia-Ascanio, Jack Allen Nichols
  • Patent number: 10929350
    Abstract: A system to enable a user to generate copies of files at a client device and to cause a file hosting platform to generate backups of these copies in a cloud database without transferring file content data for these files between the client device and the cloud database. When a user copies a file from a first folder on a client device to a second folder on the client device, the system may determine that the file content data for this file is already present in the cloud database. Then, rather than uploading the file content data to the cloud database from the client device, the system may cause a file hosting platform to access the file content data directly from the cloud database to perform a file copy operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 4, 2017
    Date of Patent: February 23, 2021
    Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing, LLC
    Inventors: Neal Robert Christiansen, Ping Xie, Trevor Van Leeuwen, Jack Allen Nichols, Brian David Jones
  • Patent number: 10678809
    Abstract: This disclosure generally relates to synchronizing non-file content items from a collaborative workspace environment to a local computing device. Once the non-file content item has been synchronized to the local computing device, content or other data contained within the non-file content item may be accessed and edited. Once the edits are complete, the updated non-file content item may be provided back to the collaborative workspace environment. The changes may then be provided back to the original non-file content item such that it includes the most recent updates.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 11, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 9, 2020
    Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing, LLC
    Inventors: Jack Allen Nichols, Jason Fergus Moore
  • Patent number: 10616327
    Abstract: Policy based hydration behavior in cloud storage synchronization is provided. In some examples, user intent and defined policy or policies may be examined by a synchronization engine to determine when a synchronization should be aborted and instead redirected to viewing the requested file from the cloud, thereby avoiding the download. The synchronization engine may include a web interface with the ability to display and edit different types of files in this fashion. In addition to redirecting to the cloud, hydration may be blocked entirely in other examples. In a further example, a selective synchronization dialog may be launched to allow the user specify select action(s). A policy that dictates the hydration behavior may be persisted and updated as needed. To implement the policy, required operations on the local machine may be intercepted.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 20, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 7, 2020
    Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing, LLC
    Inventors: Jack Allen Nichols, Ed Averett
  • Patent number: 10592470
    Abstract: Variety of approaches to control file hydration behavior are described. A filter driver initiates operations to control file hydration behavior upon receiving a process identifier (PID) registration from a synchronization engine. Upon receiving a file operation request associated with a placeholder file, a PID and a process name associated with the file operation is identified. A hydration behavior is detected based on the PID or the process name. A decision associated with the file operation request is rendered based on the hydration behavior.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 2, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 17, 2020
    Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing, LLC
    Inventor: Jack Allen Nichols
  • Publication number: 20190213082
    Abstract: A computing system includes at least one processor and memory storing instructions executable by the at least one processor, wherein the instructions, when executed, cause the computing system to instruct a synchronization engine to synchronize first and second versions of a file, the first version being stored on a first storage system and the second version being stored on a second storage system, receive a backoff indicator corresponding to the file, based on the backoff indicator, instruct the synchronization engine to backoff synchronizing changes to the file, and allow the changes to the file to be synchronized by a co-authoring application, maintain a first set of collaborative metadata indicative of content of the first version of the file, and maintain a second set of collaborative metadata indicative of content of the second version of the file.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 18, 2019
    Publication date: July 11, 2019
    Inventors: Jack Allen NICHOLS, Benjamin M. Yim, Adam Christopher Czeisler, Amnon I. Govrin, Michal Krzysztof Piaseczny, Marcus Eduardo Markiewicz, Daniel Vincent Fiordalis, Jonathan Alexander Bockelman, Marcelo Albuquerque Fernandes Mas, Chris J. Guzak, Michael J. Novak, Juan-Lee Pang, Tyler Kien Beam
  • Publication number: 20190171729
    Abstract: A system to enable a user to generate copies of files at a client device and to cause a file hosting platform to generate backups of these copies in a cloud database without transferring file content data for these files between the client device and the cloud database. When a user copies a file from a first folder on a client device to a second folder on the client device, the system may determine that the file content data for this file is already present in the cloud database. Then, rather than uploading the file content data to the cloud database from the client device, the system may cause a file hosting platform to access the file content data directly from the cloud database to perform a file copy operation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 4, 2017
    Publication date: June 6, 2019
    Inventors: Neal Robert CHRISTIANSEN, Ping Xie, Trevor Van Leeuwen, Jack Allen Nichols, Brian David Jones
  • Patent number: 10282255
    Abstract: A synchronization engine detects a notification of a change to a file. It determines whether an application associated with the file has indicated that the file is to be synchronized by the application. If so, the changes to the file are synchronized between a cloud-based storage system and a local disk by the application. Collaborative metadata, associated with the synchronized file, is updated to indicate a state of a copy of the file on the local disk and a copy of the file in the cloud-based storage system. The collaborative metadata is stored by the synchronization engine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 4, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 7, 2019
    Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing, LLC
    Inventors: Jack Allen Nichols, Benjamin M. Yim, Adam Christopher Czeisler, Amnon I. Govrin, Michal Krzysztof Piaseczny, Marcus Eduardo Markiewicz, Daniel Vincent Fiordalis, Jonathan Alexander Bockelman, Marcelo Albuquerque Fernandes Mas, Chris J. Guzak, Michael J. Novak, Juan-Lee Pang, Tyler Kien Beam
  • Publication number: 20190079986
    Abstract: This disclosure generally relates to synchronizing non-file content items from a collaborative workspace environment to a local computing device. Once the non-file content item has been synchronized to the local computing device, content or other data contained within the non-file content item may be accessed and edited. Once the edits are complete, the updated non-file content item may be provided back to the collaborative workspace environment. The changes may then be provided back to the original non-file content item such that it includes the most recent updates.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 11, 2017
    Publication date: March 14, 2019
    Applicant: Microsoft Technology Licensing, LLC
    Inventors: Jack Allen NICHOLS, Jason Fergus MOORE
  • Publication number: 20190079949
    Abstract: This disclosure generally relates to synchronizing a list of queries made against content hosted by a collaborative workspace environment, or against some other remote computing device, to a local computing device. The methods and system described herein enable a synchronization client associated with the local computing device to synchronize one or more queries (e.g., a most recently used file list on the collaborative workspace environment, a list of shared files on the collaborative workspace environment and the like), along with the content associated with the one or more queries, provided on the collaborative workspace environment to the local computing device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 11, 2017
    Publication date: March 14, 2019
    Applicant: Microsoft Technology Licensing, LLC
    Inventors: Jack Allen NICHOLS, Jason Fergus MOORE
  • Patent number: 10133622
    Abstract: Disclosed herein are systems, methods, and software for enhancing error detection in data synchronization operations. In an implementation, log data reported by a device is received and incorporated into an event database indicating interleaved events related to data synchronization threads on the device. The event database is queried to extract a listing of events in the event database, the listing of events comprising events potentially associated with at least one error condition in the data synchronization threads. The listing of events is processed to identify one or more patterns from among the interleaved events that indicate the at least one error condition in the data synchronization threads. Responsive to identifying the one or more patterns, an indication of the at least one error condition in the data synchronization threads is communicated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 24, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 20, 2018
    Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing, LLC
    Inventors: Jack Allen Nichols, Ryan Gordon Zacher, György Keresztély Schadt, Rayyan Jaber, Erik Hampton Soderberg
  • Publication number: 20180084045
    Abstract: Dynamic storage management in cloud storage synchronization is provided. A limit may be specified for amount of data associated with hydrated content in local storage. Upon detecting the limit being exceeded, the system may automatically begin to dehydrate files in local storage and replace them with placeholder files. Placeholders may also be specified on by default and content may initially synchronize as placeholders. As the user hydrates content, some files that were previously hydrated may be reverted to the placeholder state as the limit for amount of data in local storage is approached or exceeded. In some examples, specific limits may not be defined, but content may be heurstically dehydrated based on usage and size. In yet another example, the synchronization and local content dehydration may be performed on a per-folder basis.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 20, 2016
    Publication date: March 22, 2018
    Applicant: MICROSOFT TECHNOLOGY LICENSING, LLC
    Inventors: Jack Allen Nichols, Ed Averett
  • Publication number: 20180084044
    Abstract: Policy based hydration behavior in cloud storage synchronization is provided. In some examples, user intent and defined policy or policies may be examined by a synchronization engine to determine when a synchronization should be aborted and instead redirected to viewing the requested file from the cloud, thereby avoiding the download. The synchronization engine may include a web interface with the ability to display and edit different types of files in this fashion. In addition to redirecting to the cloud, hydration may be blocked entirely in other examples. In a further example, a selective synchronization dialog may be launched to allow the user specify select action(s). A policy that dictates the hydration behavior may be persisted and updated as needed. To implement the policy, required operations on the local machine may be intercepted.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 20, 2016
    Publication date: March 22, 2018
    Applicant: MICROSOFT TECHNOLOGY LICENSING, LLC
    Inventors: Jack Allen Nichols, Ed Averett
  • Publication number: 20180046635
    Abstract: Variety of approaches to control file hydration behavior are described. A filter driver initiates operations to control file hydration behavior upon receiving a process identifier (PID) registration from a synchronization engine. Upon receiving a file operation request associated with a placeholder file, a PID and a process name associated with the file operation is identified. A hydration behavior is detected based on the PID or the process name. A decision associated with the file operation request is rendered based on the hydration behavior.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 2, 2016
    Publication date: February 15, 2018
    Applicant: MICROSOFT TECHNOLOGY LICENSING, LLC
    Inventor: Jack Allen Nichols
  • Publication number: 20180039652
    Abstract: Symbolic link based placeholders are used for cloud stored data synchronization. To synchronize cloud stored data, placeholders may be implemented as bidirectional symbolic links to a location that has a custom virtual file system (VFS) mounted. When a symbolic link is opened, the operating system may be directed to the custom VFS. The custom VFS may hydrate the file through a synchronization engine, and place the hydrated file at the location of the original symbolic link. The custom VFS may then redirect back to the primary file system of the operating system to allow the operation on the file to complete. Complexity and resource consumption may be reduced by passing placeholder requests instead of all requests through the custom VFS.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 2, 2016
    Publication date: February 8, 2018
    Applicant: MICROSOFT TECHNOLOGY LICENSING, LLC
    Inventor: Jack Allen Nichols
  • Publication number: 20170270136
    Abstract: Systems, components, devices, and methods for synchronizing files between a local file system and a server are provided. In an example, synchronization of individual files is paused by placing the individual files in a hold state. A non-limiting example method accesses a file stored on the local file system for synchronization with an associated file on the server and determines whether differences between the file and the associated file prevent synchronization. When determined that differences between the file and the associated file prevent synchronization, the method places the file in a hold state. The hold state pauses synchronization of the content in the file with the content of the associated file. In some examples, the method continues to synchronize topological changes to files that have been placed in the hold state and/or resumes synchronization after it is determined that the file is no longer different than the associated file.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 30, 2016
    Publication date: September 21, 2017
    Applicant: Microsoft Technology Licensing, LLC.
    Inventors: Yisheng Chen, Amnon Itamar Govrin, Francisco Jose Garcia-Ascanio, Jack Allen Nichols