Microsoft Technology Licensing, LLC

Ed Averett

Jack Allen Nichols

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.

Dynamic storage management in cloud storage synchronization

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.

Growing community of inventors

Bellevue, WA, United States of America

Ed Averett