Metered Network Synchronization

Abstract

Metered network synchronization techniques are described. A current network connection of a computing device is checked as to whether the current network connection has been identified as a metered network. Access by a synchronization engine of the computing device to communicate via the current network connection to synchronize data of the computing device with another computing device is managed based at least in part on a setting associated with the metered network.

1 - 20 . (canceled) 
     
     
         21 . A method comprising:
 accessing synchronization settings for a particular computing device that is associated with a particular user account, the synchronization settings indicating that:
 first data of the particular computing device is designated for synchronization when a current network connection of the particular computing device is metered, and 
 second data of the particular computing device is not designated for synchronization when the current network connection of the particular computing device is metered; 
   checking whether the current network connection of the particular computing device is metered;   when the current network connection is not metered, synchronizing the first data and the second data with another computing device that is also associated with the particular user account, the first data and the second data being synchronized over the current network connection via a cloud service; and   when the current network connection is metered, synchronizing the first data and not the second data with the another computing device, the first data being synchronized over the current network connection via the cloud service.   
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 21 , wherein the current network connection is a metered cellular connection when the first data and not the second data is synchronized. 
     
     
         23 . The method of  claim 21 , wherein the current network connection is an unmetered cellular connection when the first data and the second data are synchronized. 
     
     
         24 . The method of  claim 21 , wherein the current network connection is a metered Wi-Fi connection when the first data and not the second data is synchronized. 
     
     
         25 . The method of  claim 24 , wherein the current network connection is an unmetered Wi-Fi connection when the first data and the second data are synchronized. 
     
     
         26 . The method of  claim 25 , further comprising:
 automatically identifying the metered Wi-Fi connection as metered.   
     
     
         27 . The method of  claim 21 , the first data comprising user settings for one or more applications of the particular computing device. 
     
     
         28 . The method of  claim 27 , the second data comprising one or more files of the particular computing device. 
     
     
         29 . The method of  claim 27 , the second data comprising a backup image of the particular computing device. 
     
     
         30 . A computing device comprising:
 one or more processors; and   one or more computer-readable storage media comprising instructions stored thereon that, when executed by the one or more processors, cause the one or more processors to:   access synchronization settings for a particular computing device that is associated with a particular user account, the synchronization settings indicating that:
 first data of the particular computing device is designated for synchronization when a current network connection of the particular computing device has a particular status, and 
 second data of the particular computing device is not designated for synchronization when the current network connection of the particular computing device has the particular status; 
   check whether the current network connection of the particular computing device has the particular status;   when the current network connection does not have the particular status, synchronize the first data and the second data with another computing device that is also associated with the particular user account, the first data and the second data being synchronized over the current network connection via a cloud service; and   when the current network connection has the particular status, synchronize the first data and not the second data with the another computing device, the first data being synchronized over the current network connection via the cloud service.   
     
     
         31 . The computing device of  claim 30 , the particular status being a metered status. 
     
     
         32 . The computing device of  claim 31 , the particular status being a metered roaming status. 
     
     
         33 . The computing device of  claim 30 , wherein the instructions, when executed by the one or more processors, cause the one or more processors to:
 identify one or more characteristics of the current network connection; and   based at least on the one or more characteristics, determine whether the current network connection has the particular status.   
     
     
         34 . The computing device of  claim 30 , the synchronization settings being designated via user input to the computing device. 
     
     
         35 . The computing device of  claim 30 , the particular status relating to available bandwidth of the current network connection. 
     
     
         36 . The computing device of  claim 30 , the particular status relating to a particular time when the current network connection has a particular limitation. 
     
     
         37 . The computing device of  claim 30 , the particular status relating to a particular time of day when the current network connection has a bandwidth limitation. 
     
     
         38 . A computer-readable storage medium storing instructions which, when executed by one or more processors, cause the one or more processors to perform acts comprising:
 obtaining synchronization settings for a first computing device associated with a particular user account;   determining whether a current network connection of the first computing device has a particular status; and   based at least on whether the current network connection of the first computing device has the particular status, selectively synchronizing data of the first computing device with at least one other computing device that is also associated with the particular user account.   
     
     
         39 . The computer-readable storage medium of  claim 38 , provided in the first computing device. 
     
     
         40 . The computer-readable storage medium of  claim 38 , the particular status indicating whether the current network connection has a particular limitation for use.