Distribution and synchronization of digital objects

Abstract

Systems and methods are provided to facilitate distribution and synchronization of digital objects between a plurality of computing devices. In an embodiment, a master file catalog is maintained at a central server. As updates are made to digital object(s) on devices associated with the central server, file catalogs are forwarded to the master catalog which is updated accordingly. The master catalog can then be reviewed to facilitate file sharing in a peer-to-peer manner between the devices. In another embodiment, one-way hash pairings are created when a digital object is created/modified. Received hash pairings can be analyzed to facilitate determination of whether two extants of a digital object are the same or different. Utilizing one-way hash pairings enable sensitive information regarding a digital object to remain secure, and sensitive information (and digital objects) is only shared between authenticated devices.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method comprising:
 generating a first hash pair for an initial digital object, the first hash pair comprising a first hash generated based on an original state of the initial digital object, and a second hash generated based on a modified state of the initial digital object; and   saving the initial digital object and the first hash pair.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the original state identifies content of the initial digital object being in an original state, and the modified state identifies the content of the initial digital object has been modified from the original state. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising subsequently re-accessing the initial digital object to facilitate generation of a second digital object, wherein content of the second digital object at the instance of re-accessing comprises the modified content of the initial digital object. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 3 , further comprising:
 modifying the content of the second digital object from the modified content of the initial digital object to a second modified content; and   generating a third hash based on the second modified content.   
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 4 , further comprising generating a second hash pair, the second hash pair generated based on replacing the first hash in the first hash pair with the second hash, and further replacing the second hash in the first hash pair with the third hash 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising forwarding the first hash pair to a first remote device. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 6 , further comprising receiving a request from a second remote device, wherein the request includes an identifier for the initial digital object and an indicator received from the first remote device identifying the location of the initial digital object. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein the request is received from the second remote device via a peer-to-peer communication, and the first hash pair is forwarded to the remote device via a network. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 6 , further comprising forwarding at least one of a time stamp, a device address, a digital signature or a group identifier to the first remote device. 
     
     
         10 . A system comprising:
 a first device comprising a first digital object, the first digital object accompanied with a first hash pair, the first hash pair comprising a first hash generated based upon original content of the first digital object, and a second hash generated based upon modified content of the first digital object, wherein the modified content is generated based upon modification of the original content.   
     
     
         11 . The system of  claim 10 , the first device further comprising a communication component that forwards a communication to a library located on a remote server, the communication including the first hash pair. 
     
     
         12 . The system of  claim 11 , wherein the communication further comprises at least one of a time stamp, a device address, a digital signature or a group identifier. 
     
     
         13 . The system of  claim 11 , wherein the communication between the first device and the remote server is via a network. 
     
     
         14 . The system of  claim 11 , wherein the communication component further receives a request for the first digital object from a second device, the second device is remotely located to the first device, and the first device and second device are communicating with peer-to-peer communication technology. 
     
     
         15 . The system of  claim 13 , wherein in response to receiving the request for the first digital object from the second device, the communication component forwards the first digital object to the second device via the peer-to-peer connection. 
     
     
         16 . The system of  claim 10 , wherein the first device further comprising a processor to facilitate modification of the content of the first digital object, and upon completion of the modification of the content of the first digital object, the processor further generates:
 a second digital object, wherein content of the second digital object comprises the modified content of the first digital object; and   creates a third hash, wherein the third hash is generated based at least in part on the content of the second digital object.   
     
     
         17 . The system of  claim 16 , wherein the processor further configured to generate a second hash pair, the second hash pair comprising the second hash and the third hash. 
     
     
         18 . The system of  claim 17 , wherein the communication forwards the second hash pair to the remote server library. 
     
     
         19 . The system of  claim 18 , wherein the first hash is a one-way hash, the second hash is a one-way hash, and the third hash is a one-way hash. 
     
     
         20 . A computer readable storage medium comprising computer executable instructions that, in response to execution, cause a computing system including a processor to perform operations comprising:
 in response to a digital object being created, generating a first one-way hash, the first one-way hash is a null value hash and indicates that the digital object is a newly created object and comprises null content;   receiving content for the digital object, and in response to receiving a first instruction to store the digital object, generating a second one-way hash, wherein the second one-way hash is generated based at least in part on the received content of the digital object;   storing the digital object in conjunction with the first one-way hash and the second one-way hash, wherein the first one-way hash and the second one-way hash are stored as a first hash pair;   subsequent to storing the digital object, re-accessing and modifying the content of digital object;   in response to receiving a second instruction to store the digital object, generating a third one-way hash, the third one-way hash generated based at least in part on the modified content of the digital object; and   storing the digital object in conjunction with a second hash pair, the second hash pair formed based on replacing the first one-way hash in the first hash pair with the second one-way hash, and further replacing the second one-way hash in the first hash pair with the third one-way hash.