Independent synchronization of file data and file metadata

摘要

A method including storing a first data object and metadata associated with the first data object at a computing device, storing metadata at the computing device for which a second data object associated with the metadata is not stored at the computing device, and displaying, in the appearance of a single file system, information identifying both the first data object and the second data object.

主权项

1. A method comprising:
storing a first data object and corresponding first metadata at a computing device, wherein the first data object and the first metadata are synchronized respectively with a first remote data object and corresponding first remote metadata at a remote computing device; storing second metadata without storing a second data object corresponding to the second metadata at the computing device, wherein the second metadata is synchronized with a second remote metadata that corresponds to second remote data object at the remote computing device; displaying, in the appearance of a single file system, information identifying the first data object indicating that both the first data object and the first metadata are stored at the computing device, and information identifying the second data object indicating that the second data object is not stored at the computing device but the second metadata corresponding to the second data object is stored at the computing device, wherein the first data object and the second data object correspond, respectively, to two separate and different files; receiving a user request at the computing device to selectively synchronize the second data object independently of the first data object in the single file system when the second data object is not stored at the computing device; in response to receiving the user request to synchronize the second data object:
accessing the second remote data object from the remote computing system; andstoring the second remote data object as the second data object at the computing device, wherein the second metadata and the second data object being stored at the computing device are synchronized respectively with the second remote metadata and the second remote data object at the remote computing device; receiving a user selection to selectively unsynchronize the first data object independently of the second data object in the single file system; and in response to receiving the user selection to unsynchronize the first data object:
removing the first data object from the computing device to free at least some of the storage space of the computing device consumed by the first data object; andretaining the first metadata associated with the first data object on the computing device after removing the first data object from the computing device.