US Patent 8073812 Preserving user intention in distributed data systems

The present invention extends to methods, systems, and computer program products for preserving user intention in distributed data systems. Embodiments of the invention preserve user intention when different copies of the same data are independently edited at different locations. User intent can be preserved without centralized locking or other coordination. Thus, modifications to each copy of the date are appropriately reflected in all other copies of the data such that all copies end up in essentially the same state. Embodiments of the invention can be used in collaborative editing and data replication systems.