Context-driven multi-user communication

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10242082-B2
Application number	US-201414569575-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Dec 12, 2014
Priority date	Dec 12, 2014
Publication date	Mar 26, 2019
Grant date	Mar 26, 2019

Abstract

A context-driven multi-user system may include distributed computing resource(s) that replicate proper subset(s) of user-relevant context data to computing device(s). A replication server may receive an update record corresponding to stored context data and determine propagation records based at least in part thereon. Each propagation record may correspond to a respective, different proper subset of the context data. The replication server may transmit the propagation records to respective replication clients. A replication client may receive a propagation record and modify local context data in response. The replication client may receive a data record and determine an update record in response and using the local context data. The computing device may transmit the determined update record. A server may receive a query specification referencing a data source and transmit the query specification to a replication client of the multi-user system, the client corresponding to the data source.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A method of replicating data using a replication server of a multi-user system, the method comprising:
storing context data on the replication server, the context data related to interaction(s) of one or more user(s) with or via the multi-user system;
receiving, from a first one of a plurality of replication clients of the multi-user system, an update record corresponding to less than all of the stored context data;
modifying the stored context data based at least in part on the received update record;
using the replication server, automatically determining a plurality of propagation records based at least in part on the received update record, wherein: each of the plurality of propagation records corresponds to a respective, different proper subset of the stored context data;
transmitting each of the propagation records of the plurality of propagation records to respective ones of the replication clients via one or more communications interfaces;
determining a match between stored trigger conditions and at least one of:
the update record, or
at least part of the stored context data; and

in response to the match:
selecting data from the stored context data based at least in part on stored input criteria;
providing the selected data to an observer unit;
determining whether the observer unit operates under security restrictions;
carrying out computer program instructions of the observer unit in a restricted-privilege execution configuration to prevent unsigned plugins from executing based on a determination that the observer unit operates under security restrictions;
receiving a second update record from the observer unit based on a determination that the observer unit does not operate under security restrictions; and
modifying the stored context data based at least in part on the received second update record.

2. The method as claim 1 recites, wherein:
the update record corresponds to a first replication client and a computing device;
the stored context data includes first information regarding a configuration of the computing device and second information different from the first information, wherein the second information is associated with a second replication client;
the plurality of propagation records includes:
a first propagation record including the first information and omitting the second information; and
a second propagation record including the second information and omitting the first information; and

the transmitting further includes transmitting the first propagation record to the second replication client and transmitting the second propagation record to the first replication client.

3. The method as claim 1 recites, further comprising:
receiving, from a second, different one of the plurality of replication clients, a second update record corresponding to less than all of the stored context data;
using the replication server, automatically determining a plurality of second propagation records based at least in part on the received second update record, wherein each of the second propagation records corresponds to a respective, different proper subset of the stored context data; and
transmitting the plurality of second propagation records via one or more communications interfaces, wherein at least one of the propagation records and at least one of the second propagation records are transmitted to a selected one of the plurality of replication clients.

4. The method as claim 1 recites, further comprising:
using the replication server, automatically determining a second plurality of propagation records based at least in part on the received second update record, wherein each of the propagation records corresponds to a respective, different proper subset of the stored context data; and
transmitting the propagation records of the second plurality of propagation records to respective ones of the replication clients via the one or more communications interfaces.

5. The method as claim 1 recites, wherein:
the receiving includes accepting data of the update record in response to a signal from the first one of the plurality of replication clients; and
the transmitting includes transmitting respective notification signals to respective ones of the replication clients.

6. The method as claim 1 recites, further comprising:
storing a snapshot of the stored context data separate from the stored context data;
processing the stored snapshot using a machine-learning algorithm; and
modifying the stored context data based at least in part on an output of the machine-learning algorithm.

7. The method as claim 6 recites, the machine-learning algorithm including a neural-network training algorithm.

8. A replication server for replicating data in a multi-user system, comprising:
a communication interface;
one or more processing units operably coupled to the communications interface; and
one or more computer storage media having stored thereon instructions that, when executed by the one or more processing units, cause the one or more processing units to perform operations comprising:
storing context data on the replication server, the context data related to interaction(s) of one or more user(s) with or via the multi-user system;
receiving, from a first one of a plurality of replication clients of the multi-user system, an update record corresponding to less than all of the stored context data;
modifying the stored context data based at least in part on the received update record;
using the replication server, automatically determining a plurality of propagation records based at least in part on the received update record, wherein: each of the plurality of propagation records corresponds to a respective, different proper subset of the stored context data;
transmitting each of the propagation records of the plurality of propagation records to respective ones of the replication clients via the communications interface;
determining a match between stored trigger conditions and at least one of:
the update record, or
at least part of the stored context data; and

in response to the match:
selecting data from the stored context data based at least in part on stored input criteria;
providing the selected data to an observer unit;
determining whether the observer unit operates under security restrictions;
carrying out computer program instructions of the observer unit in a restricted-privilege execution configuration to prevent unsigned plugins from executing based on a determination that the observer unit operates under security restrictions;
receiving a second update record from the observer unit based on a determination that the observer unit does not operate under security restrictions; and
modifying the stored context data based at least in part on the received second update record.

9. The replication server of claim 8 recites, wherein:
the update record corresponds to a first replication client and a computing device;
the stored context data includes first information regarding a configuration of the computing device and second information different from the first information, wherein the second information is associated with a second replication client;
the plurality of propagation records includes:
a first propagation record including the first information and omitting the second information; and
a second propagation record including the second information and omitting the first information; and

the transmitting further includes transmitting the first propagation record to the second replication client and transmitting the second propagation record to the first replication client.

10. The replication server of

Assignees

• Microsoft Technology Licensing Llc

Inventors

• Hardin David Alan

Classifications

• G06F16/275 Primary

  Synchronous replication · CPC title

• G06F16/245

  Query processing · CPC title

• G06N20/00

  Machine learning · CPC title

• G06F16/24565

  Triggers; Constraints · CPC title

• G06F11/1415

  at system level · CPC title