Patent Publication Number: US-2021182312-A1

Title: Component-based synchronization of digital assets

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     The present application is a continuation of U.S. application Ser. No. 15/630,740, filed on Jun. 22, 2017. The aforementioned application is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND 
     The advent of computers and computer technologies has provided numerous benefits to individuals. Some of these benefits include the ability to store files on web-based severs to allow access from multiple devices or by multiple users. For example, various file management systems enable an individual, or a group of individuals, to synchronize files across multiple client devices as well as access their files on the cloud (e.g., via the Internet). Despite these and other advantages, conventional file management systems, however, still present several drawbacks. 
     As one example drawback, conventional file management systems often limit an individual&#39;s ability to access a file from multiple locations, particularly if the individual is trying to edit the file at more than one location. For example, conventional file management systems often prevent an individual from modifying a file at one location if the file is also being accessed in another location. Rather, the conventional file management systems limit the individual to read-only at one or each of the locations. 
     In some cases, when an individual attempts to simultaneously access a file from a second location, many conventional file management systems require that the individual create a duplicate copy of the file before the individual can make any changes to the file. The practice of creating duplicate copies creates several problems. For example, creating a copy doubles the amount of storage needed to store the file. This includes doubling the amount of storage at each location where the files are stored. 
     Further, by creating copies of a file, conventional file management systems waste bandwidth transmitting file copies. For instance, when a copy is created on a client device, the client device transmits a full copy of the file to the remote storage location. Further, if the file is synchronized to additional devices, the file management system then transmits the copy of the file to each of those locations. As the size of the file increases, the amount of wasted bandwidth also increases. 
     As another example, creating a file copy untethers the copy from the original file. For instance, by having multiple copies of a file (e.g., the file and the copy), an individual can easily become confused as to which file is the most current file. For example, if one or more copies of the file include modifications, an individual is left on their own to figure out which copies contain which modifications, whether to merge modifications between multiple copies, and/or whether to delete one or more copies as a duplicate or outdated version. Further, these file copies clutter up the individual&#39;s client device (e.g., multiple copies of the same file begin to appear in folders and directories). As a result, individuals are confused as to what to do with each file copy, and in some cases, incorrectly remove a file that included correct revisions. 
     Accordingly, these along with additional problems and issues exist with regard to conventional file management systems. Hence, there remains a need for an improvement in the area of file management within a computing device as well as between computing devices. 
     BRIEF SUMMARY 
     One or more embodiments of the present disclosure include systems and methods that provide improved local and remote synchronization of digital assets. In particular, in one or more embodiments, the systems and methods manage digital assets by separating each digital asset (a digital image, file, etc.) into intrinsic components that make up the digital asset (layers, pages, etc.) and storing the components as separate individual files. This allows the methods and systems to store and synchronize the components individually rather that the entire digital assets when changes are made to the digital asset. 
     A component includes content within a defined boundary of a digital asset and is modifiable without affecting other components of the digital asset, such as a layer of an image or a page of a document. The systems and methods assign identifiers to each component. Using the identifiers, the systems and methods generate a database mapping that connects each component to the corresponding file, where the mapping indicates the version of the digital asset. In some example embodiments, the disclosed systems and methods detect an update to a component of the digital asset. For example, an application makes a modification to the component. In response to detecting the update, the systems and methods store an updated file for the updated component as well as assign an identifier to the updated component. The systems and methods then generate a modified mapping that replaces the original identifier of the component with the updated identifier of the updated component. In this manner, the modified mapping denotes the updated version of the digital asset, which includes the modification to the component. In addition, when the digital asset is stored on another client device, the systems and methods need only send the updated component and the modified mapping to the other client device to provide the other device with the updated version of the digital asset rather than sending the entire updated file to the other client device. 
     These and additional features and advantages of one or more embodiments of the present disclosure are outlined in the description which follows, and in part will be obvious from the description, or may be learned by the practice of such example embodiments. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The disclosure describes one or more embodiments with additional specificity and detail through the use of the accompanying drawings, as briefly described below. 
         FIG. 1  illustrates an example digital asset database that includes digital asset mappings in accordance with one or more embodiments. 
         FIG. 2  illustrates example components associated with various versions of a digital asset in accordance with one or more embodiments. 
         FIG. 3  illustrates an example schematic diagram of the digital asset synchronization system in accordance with one or more embodiments. 
         FIG. 4  illustrates a block diagram of an environment in which a digital asset synchronization system can operate in accordance with one or more embodiments. 
         FIG. 5  illustrates a sequence diagram of multiple applications simultaneously accessing a digital asset in accordance with one or more embodiments. 
         FIG. 6  illustrates a sequence diagram of efficiently transmitting components of a digital asset in accordance with one or more embodiments. 
         FIG. 7  illustrates a sequence diagram of resolving conflicts between a component of a digital asset in accordance with one or more embodiments. 
         FIG. 8  illustrates a sequence diagram of managing simultaneous updates to the same component of a digital asset between a client device and a remote server in accordance with one or more embodiments. 
         FIG. 9  illustrates a state diagram of the digital asset synchronization system generating and modifying a mapping for a digital asset in accordance with one or more embodiments. 
         FIG. 10  illustrates an example flow diagram of a method for accessing the digital assets in accordance with one or more embodiments. 
         FIG. 11  illustrates an example flow diagram of a method for managing a digital asset across multiple user devices in accordance with one or more embodiments. 
         FIG. 12  illustrates a block diagram of an exemplary computing device in accordance with one or more embodiments. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     One or more embodiments of the present disclosure include a digital asset synchronization system that provides improved local and remote synchronization of digital assets. In particular, the digital asset synchronization system manages digital assets by separating each digital asset into its intrinsic components and storing/synchronizing the components individually rather that the entire digital assets. To demonstrate, in one or more embodiments, the digital asset synchronization system identifies components of a digital asset. Upon identifying the components of a digital asset, the digital asset synchronization system assigns identifiers that uniquely identify each component. The digital asset synchronization system stores each of the components of the digital asset as an independent file. In other words, the digital asset synchronization system stores components of a digital asset individually rather than storing all the components of a digital asset together as a monolithic file. The digital asset synchronization system then using the mapping to compile the individual components to provide an application access to the digital asset. When a component is modified, the digital asset synchronization system, stores an updated version of the component and syncs the updated version of the component rather than storing and synchronizing an updated version of the entire digital asset. 
     Continuing the above example, upon detecting the update to the component, the digital asset synchronization system creates a copy of the component (e.g., a new independent file) having the modification. In addition, the digital asset synchronization system assigns an identifier to the modified component. The digital asset synchronization system then generates a modified mapping that replaces the identifier of the original component in the original mapping with the identifier of the modified component. In this manner, the original mapping represents the previous version of the digital asset, and the modified mapping represents the updated version of the digital asset. Further, because the only difference between the two versions of the digital asset is a single modified component, the digital asset synchronization system reuses, without creating a copy of the other components of the digital asset to maintain the two versions. 
     Along similar lines, the digital asset synchronization system needs only to send the newly created component and the modified mapping to other devices to provide the devices with the updated version of the digital asset. Sending only modified components rather than an entire modified copy of the digital asset significantly reduces the bandwidth needed to sync updates to the digital asset across devices. In addition, the other devices can replace the mapping with the modified mapping and the original component with the modified component. Further, the other devices can remove the previous mapping along with the original component, or keep both sets to maintain a version history of the digital asset. 
     By employing a component framework for each digital asset, the digital asset synchronization system can enable multiple applications on the same or different client devices to simultaneously access the same digital asset without requiring each application to create a separate copy of the entire digital asset. For example, if the two applications are on the same device, both applications use the same digital asset database to access and display the digital asset. Then, when one application modifies a component of the digital asset, the digital asset synchronization system provides the updated component to the other application via the digital asset database. When the two applications are remote from each other, each application interfaces with a digital asset database, which provides each other with component updates. In other words, when the digital asset synchronization system sends a modified component from a local digital asset database to a remote digital asset database, any applications using the remote digital asset database automatically receive the modified component. 
     In one or more embodiments, when two applications (either local or remote to each other) access components of a digital asset, the two applications may modify different components at the same time. For example, two users are each using an application to modify a different component within their respective applications. However, in some embodiments, the digital asset synchronization system detects a conflict between different versions of the same component of a digital asset. In these embodiments, the digital asset synchronization system stores the different versions of the component as separate files and the digital asset synchronization system adds the two or more versions to the same mapping, often in place of the original base component. 
     Upon updating the mapping to include each branch of the component, an application presents the modified digital asset to a user. The user, within the application, can easily discern that two (or more) separate components that have been added to the digital asset. In addition, the user can quickly remove or merge the component(s) added to the digital asset to arrive at the correctly modified digital asset. Alternatively, if desired, the digital asset synchronization system enables the user can easily revert to the previous versions of the component/digital asset. 
     As mentioned above, the digital asset synchronization system in one or more embodiments interfaces with a remote digital asset database. For example, the digital asset synchronization system communicates with a remote digital asset database to maintain an up-to-date version of a digital asset on a local client device, in a cloud storage location, and/or on other client devices. As the digital asset synchronization system detects updates to components on the local client device, the digital asset synchronization system can provide the updated components to the remote digital asset database, which can then distribute the updated components to the other client device(s). 
     In some embodiments, a client device is not continuously connected to the remote digital asset database. For example, a client device that is a mobile device can intermittently connect to networks. In these embodiments, a user may perform a number of modifications to a single component on a local client device while the client device is offline from the remote digital asset database. While offline, the digital asset synchronization system can record each modification to the component. When the client device again connects with the remote digital asset database, the digital asset synchronization system provides the remote digital asset database with a copy of each of modified component. In turn, the remote digital asset database generates a version mapping of the digital asset for each received modification and associates each version mapping with a previous version of the digital asset. 
     As briefly described above, the digital asset synchronization system provides many advantages over conventional file management systems. For example, the digital asset synchronization system provides increased flexibility and improved computing functionality by enabling simultaneous access and editing of the same digital asset by multiple users, applications, and/or devices. When the digital asset synchronization system detects a change in one component of a digital asset, the digital asset synchronization system automatically propagates the change to other users, applications, and/or devices simultaneously accessing the digital asset. Conventional systems and methods typically do not enable simultaneous access and editing of the same digital asset by multiple users, applications, and/or devices. Furthermore, when a conflict with a component is detected, the digital asset synchronization system intelligently resolves the conflict as described in greater detail below. 
     In addition, the digital asset synchronization system enables a computing device to perform functions faster than conventional file management systems. In particular, the digital asset synchronization system can utilize the efficiencies gained by synchronizing only modified components of a digital asset rather than synchronizing the entire digital asset. As detailed herein, the digital asset synchronization system provides improved efficiencies to a client device by reducing the computing resources needed by the client device to synchronize and store a digital asset. Further, the digital asset synchronization system provides faster access to (e.g., faster search) and presentation of the digital asset, which results in the digital asset synchronization system improving the functionality of the client device itself (e.g., the digital asset synchronization system accesses, displays, and edits digital asset faster than conventional systems and methods). 
     As an additional advantage, the digital asset synchronization system provides bandwidth efficient synchronization between devices such that only a fraction of a digital asset is transmitted when a modification occurs. Further, the digital asset synchronization system enables maintaining numerous versions of a digital asset, both locally and remotely, with little additional storage cost, unlike conventional file management systems, which require saving full copies each version of a digital asset. 
     Further, as a result of the digital asset synchronization system providing simultaneous access to components between applications on a client device, the individual applications do not need to provide inter-process communications (IPC) when a component changes within the application. Rather, the digital asset synchronization system detects, manages, and coordinates the modified component across multiple applications. This feature is particularly relevant in sandboxed systems and similar environments, where applications are prevented from using IPC to communication with other applications on a client device. 
     Moreover, the digital asset synchronization system provides improved flexibility by enabling the digital asset synchronization system to operate with a range of digital assets, regardless of their type (e.g., images, documents, presentations, videos, animations, infographics, and other types). Additional benefits, advantages, features, and characteristics of the digital asset synchronization system are described below with respect to the figures, which describe one or more embodiments of the digital asset synchronization system. 
     Referring now to the Figures,  FIG. 1  illustrates example components belonging to corresponding digital assets, linked by a digital asset database. In particular,  FIG. 1  illustrates a digital asset database  100  that includes multiple digital asset mappings  102  (or simply “mappings  102 ”). As shown, the digital asset database  100  includes an image asset mapping  102   a,  a document asset mapping  102   b,  and a digital video asset mapping  102   c.  The digital asset database  100  can be located on a client device or a server device, as described further below. 
     As an overview, and mentioned above, the term “digital asset,” as used herein, generally refers to digital data having a corresponding right to use. For instance, a user is authorized to create, view, modify, and/or delete a digital asset. Examples of a digital asset, include but are not limited to, documents such as word documents, spreadsheets, and presentations; electronic messages; images such as illustrations, animations, and photographs; videos; audio content; three-dimensional data; and other digital data that a user can transmit between computing devices. 
     The term “component” refers to a portion of a digital asset. A particular set of components makes up a digital asset (e.g., a digital asset version). In general, each component of a digital asset is modifiable without affecting other components of the digital asset. In some instances, however, a limited number of components are linked, and changes to one component affect a few other components. In addition, the style (e.g., framework) of a component is based on boundaries within a digital asset, and is often based on the digital asset&#39;s type. For example, an image includes layers and sub-layers as components; a video or video project includes shorter video segments, titles, and static graphics as components; a document includes pages, canvases, artboards, text and image boxes, rows, columns, and/or graphics as components; and a three-dimensional model includes meshes, maps, scenes, and skins as components. In other cases, a user can select the boundaries/parameters for components of a digital asset. 
     Each component is associated with an independent file. As used herein, the term “independent file” (or simply “file”) generally refers to digital data individually recorded in a storage medium. As such, one file can be accessed, modified, transmitted, and/or removed separately from other data files. Because components are discrete portions of a digital asset, each component can be stored on a computing device as an individual file, in a file location or directory that is not dependent on where other components of the digital asset are stored. Thus, in contrast to a monolithic file, which stores all data belonging to the file in a single location, components of a digital asset can be stored as files distributed across a storage medium (e.g., a local database or cloud storage), such as on one or more client devices and/or remote server devices. 
     Returning to  FIG. 1 , the digital asset synchronization system uses one of the mappings  102  within the digital asset database to access one or more digital assets. To demonstrate, each mapping includes a listing of components  104  that make up a digital asset. In some embodiments, a mapping defines an order, priority, or arrangement of components of the digital asset, as described below. As an example mapping, the image asset mapping  102   a  includes layer components  104   a  that belong to a digital image asset. In this manner, the digital asset synchronization system uses the image asset mapping  102   a  to access each of the layer components  104   a  of the digital image asset. As a note, while  FIG. 1  simply labels components belonging to the image asset mapping  102   a,  one will appreciate that the description provided with regard to the layer components  104   a  likewise apply to other components belonging to other digital assets. 
     As mentioned above, in many embodiments, the style (e.g., framework) of a component is based on a digital asset&#39;s type to which the component belongs. As one example, a digital image has the component framework of layers, which include both visible layers and non-visible layers (e.g., layers that include metadata about the image). Other examples of components being based on a digital asset&#39;s type are provided above. 
     As shown in  FIG. 1 , each of the layer components  104   a  includes an identifier (“ID”) and a file location (“File”). In general, an identifier uniquely labels each component that makes up a digital asset. The digital asset synchronization system uses the identifiers to list which layers to include in the image asset mapping  102   a  for a digital image. In other words, the image asset mapping  102   a  lists the identifiers of the layers that make up the digital image. Additional detail regarding the digital asset synchronization system assigning identifiers for a digital asset is provided below. 
     Generally, the file location associated with each of the components links the component&#39;s identifier to the component&#39;s file. As mentioned above, the files store data for components of a digital asset can be distributed across a storage medium. For example, some files are stored in one directory (e.g., a folder) while other files are stored in another directory. In another example, some files are stored in cloud storage. As such, the digital asset database  100  maintains a record (i.e., the file location) of where the file for a component in a mapping  102  is stored. In this manner, the digital asset synchronization system uses a mapping for a digital asset to identify where files for the digital asset are located, as the files could be located in various locations within a storage medium. 
     In one or more embodiments, the digital asset synchronization system performs a step for mapping an identifier for each of the components to a distributed file associated with the component. As mentioned above, and as further described below, the digital asset synchronization system generates the mapping  102  by linking identifiers for each component of a digital asset to an independent file that includes the contents of a corresponding component. 
     Turning now to  FIG. 2 , additional description is now provided regarding the digital asset synchronization system creating and maintaining multiple versions of a digital asset. In particular,  FIG. 2  illustrates layers (e.g., components) associated with various version mappings of a digital asset (e.g., a digital image). As shown in  FIG. 2 , each version  206  of the digital asset includes an image asset version mapping  202  (or simply “version mapping  202 ”) having various layer components  204 . In addition, each version mapping  202  in  FIG. 2  can represent an example image asset mapping  102   a  from  FIG. 1  that maps components (i.e., components  104 ) to an identifier and a file location. For instance, each version mapping  202  references components  204  that make up a particular version  206  of the digital asset. 
     To illustrate,  FIG. 2  shows that Version  1  of the digital image has a version mapping  202  that includes the components of Layer  1 , Layer  2 , and Layer  3 . In this manner, when an application, such as a digital asset application, opens Version  1  of the digital image, the digital asset synchronization system provides the application with the version mapping  202  for Version  1 , which enables the application to identify Layer  1 , Layer  2 , and Layer  3  as the components of Version  1 , locate the files corresponding to these layers, and access these layers in the correct order, priority, or arrangement. In this manner, the application can display Version  1  of the digital image to a user as a single file. For purposes of explanation, the actions of identifying components, locating corresponding files, and accessing the files are simply referred to as accessing the layers for the remainder of  FIG. 2 . 
     When a user or an application modifies a component of the digital asset, the digital asset synchronization system copies the component being modified and applies the changes to the copied component. Then, the digital asset synchronization system updates the version mapping  202  to reflect the change in version  206  of the digital asset. As illustrated, Version  2  has a version mapping  202  that includes Layer  1 , Layer  2 . 1 , and Layer  3 . In other words, the version mapping  202  for Version  2  includes the updated Layer  2 , which is Layer  2 . 1 , as well as the other remaining layers (i.e., Layer  1  and Layer  3 ). In particular, the digital asset synchronization system replaces the identifier of Layer  2  with the identifier of Layer  2 . 1 . 
     The digital asset synchronization system, in one or more embodiments, generates a new version mapping  202  of the digital image each time a layer is modified. For example, when preserving a version history of the digital image, the digital asset synchronization system creates a copy of Version l&#39;s version mapping  202  and replaces the identifier of Layer  2  with the identifier of Layer  2 . 1  within the copy, which then becomes the version mapping  202  for Version  2  of the digital image. In this manner, the version mapping  202  for Version  2  provides users or applications with access to layers that make up Version  2  of the digital image. 
     In some embodiments, rather than preserving a version history, the digital asset synchronization system replaces the current version mapping with the updated identifier and file location such that only one version mapping  202  of the digital image (e.g., the current version) is maintained. In these embodiments, the digital asset synchronization system can also remove all components not used in the current version, such as removing Layer  2 , which is only used in a previous version of the digital image (e.g., Version  1 ). 
     It should be noted that when creating multiple versions of a digital asset, the digital asset synchronization system utilizes efficiencies from previous versions. For example, the version mappings for both Version  1  and Version  2  of the digital image access the same file for Layer  1  and Layer  3 , rather than creating a full duplicate copy of every component/file or the digital asset. When a digital asset has a large number of components, the storage/processing/speed cost savings is not insignificant. These cost savings can lead to the same or faster processing times without requiring additional storage in a storage medium. In addition, as shown, the cost savings of not having to save full copies of each version further increase as the digital asset synchronization system creates additional versions of a digital asset. 
     As shown with Version  3 , the digital asset synchronization system receives an additional layer to the digital asset. For example, a user, through an application, adds another layer (e.g., Layer  4 ) to the digital asset. In response to detecting a new layer, the digital asset synchronization system creates a new file to store the layer, assigns an identifier to the layer, and associates the new layer with its identifier and file. In addition, the digital asset synchronization system creates a new/updated version mapping  202  that includes the new layer, which the digital asset synchronization system associates with a new digital asset version  206 . As illustrated, the version mapping  202  for Version  3  includes Layer  1 , Layer  2 . 1 , Layer  3 , and Layer  4  and enables an application to access each of these layers and present Version  3  of the digital image to a user. 
     Version  4  of  FIG. 2  illustrates the digital asset synchronization system receiving and updating the version mapping  202  for the digital asset based on receiving an update to Layer  2 . 1 , shown as Layer  2 . 2 . Further, Version  5  illustrates a version mapping  202  when the digital asset synchronization system has removed a layer from the digital asset. As shown, Version  5  of the digital image removes Layer  3  from the version mapping  202 . For example, a user, through an application, deletes Layer  3  from the digital image. In response, the digital asset synchronization system creates a new version mapping that includes Layer  1 . 1 , Layer  2 . 2 , and Layer  4 , but not Layer  3 . 
     As mentioned above, in one or more embodiments, the digital asset synchronization system maintains a version history for a digital asset. For example, the digital asset synchronization system saves Versions  1 - 5  of the digital image shown in  FIG. 2  along with each modified and newly created component/file. Further, the digital asset synchronization system keeps the component/file for Layer  3 , such that user can access previous versions of the digital asset (e.g., Versions  1 - 4 ) that include Layer  3 . 
     Just as an application can load a previous version mapping to access a previous version of a digital asset, in some embodiments, the digital asset synchronization system enables a user to access previous versions of a component itself. For example, if upon an application provides a user with Version  5  of the digital image, and the user desires to revert from Layer  2 . 2  to Layer  2 . 1  or Layer  2 . 0 , then the digital asset synchronization system can enable such without affecting other layers of the digital image. In particular, the digital asset synchronization system enables the application to display Layer  2 . 1  or Layer  2  in place of Layer  2 . 2  without affecting Layer  4 , which was added after Layer  2 . 1  was modified. For instance, in response to rolling back Layer  2 . 2  to Layer  2 , the digital asset synchronization system creates a new version  206  (e.g., Version  6 ) having a version mapping  202  of Layer  1 , Layer  2 , and Layer  4 . In this manner, the digital asset synchronization system enables a user to “undo” each component individually without affecting other components of a digital asset. 
     As previously discussed, the digital asset synchronization system can detect and apply updates based on one or more components of a digital asset being modified, which affects the mapping for the digital asset. In one or more embodiments, the digital asset synchronization system performs a step for modifying the mapping based on detecting an update to a first component of the digital asset such that the modified mapping defines an updated version of the digital asset. In additional to the description above, further description regarding detecting component updates and modifying digital asset mappings is provided below. 
     As mentioned above, a synchronization system can create, maintain, and manage digital assets including a digital asset mapping within a digital asset database.  FIG. 3  illustrates an example digital asset management system  300  of which the digital asset synchronization system  301  (or simply “synchronization system  301 ”) forms a part to aid in digital asset management. One or more computing devices  303  (e.g., a client device and/or a server device) can implement the digital asset management system  300 . 
     In some embodiments, the digital asset management system  300  operates on both a client device and a server device that are in communication with one another, for example, to facilitate syncing digital assets between the devices. To illustrate,  FIG. 4  below provides an example environment where a digital asset management system operates on a client device and a remote digital asset management system operates on a server device. 
     As shown in  FIG. 3 , digital asset management system  300  supports a digital asset synchronization system  301  that includes multiple elements. In particular, the digital asset synchronization system  301  includes a digital asset manager  302 , a digital asset synchronizer  304 , and a digital asset database  306 . The digital asset manager  302  includes a component identifier  308 , a component mapper  310 , and version tracker  312 . The digital asset database  306  includes components  314  and version mappings  316 . The digital asset database  306  can include the example digital asset databases described above in connection with  FIG. 1  and  FIG. 2 . 
     The digital asset management system  300  and the digital asset synchronization system  301  can comprise computer-executable instructions that, when executed by one or more computing devices cause the corresponding one or more computing device to perform a number of actions, as discussed in more detail below. 
     The digital asset manager  302  generally facilitates identifying, accessing, and modifying digital assets, including components of a digital asset. As part of this process, the digital asset manager  302  employs the component identifier  308 . In general, the component identifier  308  identifies components of a digital asset. For example, when a user creates a new digital asset in an application, the component identifier  308  assigns an identifier to each component within the digital asset. In another example, the component identifier  308  identifies components from an existing digital asset, such as a digital asset received from another application or a remote source. 
     The component identifier  308  can determine which style of components to identify for a digital asset based on the digital asset&#39;s type. For example, the component identifier  308  accesses a lookup table that lists one or more component frameworks for each digital asset type. In one or more embodiments, a user provides input to change the default framework for a specific digital asset or for all digital assets having a particular type. In addition, a user can provide input specifying the framework granularity level of components for a digital asset or digital asset type (e.g., whether a text document has should divide components based on paragraphs, headings, sections, and/or pages). In some embodiments, the framework granularity is tied to the size of a digital asset (e.g., multiple documents divide components by page while single page documents divide components by paragraph). 
     The component identifier  308 , in various embodiments, assigns an identifier to a component using an assignment algorithm that ensures each component is given a unique identifier. In some embodiments, the component identifier  308  uses the name/identifier of the digital asset to which a component belongs as part of the component&#39;s identifier. In various embodiments, the component identifier  308  increments the identifier of subsequent versions of a component, such that a subsequent version of a component references back to one or more previous versions of the component. 
     In one or more embodiments, the component identifier  308  identifies a component, in part, based on a hashing of the contents within the digital asset. In this manner, the identifier for each component also provides an indication of whether the component includes duplicative content. For example, the component identifier  308  can easily identify that two components (within the same or different digital assets) are identical. If so, the component identifier  308  can map both components to the same file, thus, further reducing storage space. 
     Further, by using hashes as identifiers, the component identifier  308  can determine when a component has been modified such that the component matches a previous version of the same component. To demonstrate, briefly returning to  FIG. 2 , if Layer  2 . 2  was an exact match to Layer  2 , the component identifier  308  determines the same hash identifier for both layers. Upon detecting the match, the component identifier  308  maps Layer  2 . 2  to the file associated with Layer  2  rather than creating a new file. 
     In embodiments where the component identifier  308  does not use a hash of a component&#39;s contents to determine an identifier, the component identifier  308  can still hash the contents of a component and associate the hash with the component. For example, the component identifier  308  lists a component&#39;s hashing in the mapping or as metadata within the digital asset database  306 . In this manner, the component identifier  308  can determine when components share the same content and can reference the same file within a storage medium. 
     As mentioned above, the digital asset manager  302  includes a component mapper  310 . The component mapper  310 , in general, generates mappings for a digital asset. More specifically, the component mapper  310  maps components to a digital asset as well as maps components to corresponding files. In this manner, the component mapper  310  lists the identifiers of each component in a digital asset within a mapping to indicate that the components make up the digital asset. 
     As part of listing components in a mapping, the component mapper  310  can assign an order (i.e., priority) to each listed component. The component mapper  310  can order the identifiers in the mapping based on a number of factors. For example, the component mapper  310  determines the order based on appearance arrangement in the digital asset (e.g., left-to-right, top-to-bottom, front-to-back, and/or beginning-to-end), framework hierarchy, identifier name, and/or creation/modification date. Further, as components of the digital asset change, the component mapper  310  add, remove, modify, or replace an identifier. 
     In addition, the component mapper  310  can map components to corresponding files. For example, as part of generating a mapping for a digital asset, the component mapper  310  connects an identifier of a component to a file that stores the content of the component. For instance, the component mapper  310  includes the file name and location within the mapping. Because a digital asset can have components with their content stored in files distributed across different locations and directories within one or more storage mediums, mapping each component to a file that stores its content enables applications to access each component of a digital asset and present the digital asset to a user as a monolithic file. 
     As described above, two or more components can include identical content. In these embodiments, the component mapper  310  maps multiple identifiers to the same file because the contents of the two components are identical. For example, when two components have matching content, the component mapper  310  includes the components separately in the digital asset mapping, but maps both components to the same file. In alternative embodiments, the component mapper  310  maps components with matching content to separate files, such as when the component mapper  310  forgoes checking the contents of each component to reduce processing needs on a computing device. 
     As shown in  FIG. 3 . the digital asset manager  302  also includes a version tracker  312 . As described above, a digital asset is commonly associated with multiple versions. In embodiments where the digital asset synchronization system  301  maintains a version history for a digital asset, the version tracker  312  stores previous version mappings associated with the digital asset. For example, the version tracker  312  stores prior version mappings  316  of a digital asset as well as a list of files connected to components of those prior versions in the digital asset database  306 . 
     In one or more embodiments, the version tracker  312  limits the number of stored prior version mappings based on a constraint. For example, the constraint can be time-based, such as all versions less than one week or one month old. In another example, the constraint is number-based, such as the three, five, or ten most recent version mapping. In a different example, the constraint is storage sized-based, such as fewer than 50 megabytes or less that 5% of the storage space on a storage medium (or a space allotted to the digital asset synchronization system  301 ). 
     Along similar lines, the version tracker  312  can discard former files that are linked only to version mappings being discarded. For example, if a file of video segment component is last referenced by an obsolete version mapping of a video asset, the version tracker  312  removes the file of the video segment component when removing the obsolete version mapping. Additionally, and/or alternatively, the version tracker  312  can routinely run a cleaning algorithm that removes unused files (e.g., “garbage collection”) and discard those files that are not referenced by any stored version mappings. 
     As mentioned above, in some embodiments, the digital asset synchronization system  301  enables a user to revert a single component to a prior version without modifying other components of a digital asset. As such, the version tracker  312  can maintain a listing that associates current components with their previous versions. As part of this listing, the version tracker  312  tracks that file that corresponds to previous component version. As with the above, the version tracker  312  may store a limited number of files for previous versions of a component. 
     In one or more embodiments, the version tracker  312  is optionally included as part of the digital asset manager  302 . For example, a synchronization system  301  may not include a version tracker  312  because the digital asset synchronization system  301  does not maintain version histories of digital assets on the client device. In these instances, the digital asset synchronization system  301  on the client device can remove previous version mappings and unused files. In some embodiments, the client device temporarily maintains previous version mappings and prior component versions, for example, until the digital asset synchronization system  301  on the client device syncs with a server device or a user quits an application accessing the digital asset. 
     A synchronization system  301  located on a server device, such as a remote digital asset synchronization system, can store the prior version mapping and corresponding files for digital assets. Thus, when a synchronization system  301  on a client device requests a prior version of a digital asset, the version tracker  312  on the remote digital asset synchronization system provides the client device with a version mapping corresponding to the request version and files missing on the client device. In addition, in some embodiments, a synchronization system  301  on a client device maintains a smaller number of prior version mappings than on a server device. 
     As shown in  FIG. 3 , the digital asset synchronization system  301  also includes a digital asset synchronizer  304 . In general, the digital asset synchronizer  304  enables multiple users, applications, and/or devices to simultaneously access a digital asset. In addition, the digital asset synchronizer  304  facilitates synchronizing a digital asset between multiple devices, such as between multiple client devices and/or between a client device and a server device. 
     To demonstrate, in one or more embodiments, the digital asset synchronizer  304  detects when components of a digital asset are being accessed from multiple locations. For instance, the digital asset synchronizer  304  communicates with the digital asset database  306  to detect when one or more applications (or users or devices) are viewing and/or modifying components of a digital asset. For example, the digital asset synchronizer  304  recognizes a system call indicating that an application is requesting access to the digital asset database  306 . Likewise, the digital asset synchronizer  304  determines when the application has finished accessing components of a digital asset. 
     The digital asset synchronizer  304 , as mentioned, can detect when a modification occurs within a digital asset being accessed simultaneously by multiple applications (or users or devices). For example, the digital asset synchronizer  304  recognizes when the digital asset manager updates the digital asset mapping for a digital asset being simultaneously accessed. In some embodiments, upon detecting a change by a first application, the digital asset synchronizer  304  sends an indication (e.g., a direct message or multicast message) to the other applications to indicate that the mapping has been modified with the modified component. Alternatively, the digital asset synchronizer  304  indicates to the other applications that the digital asset mapping for the digital asset has changed, upon which the other applications can interface with the digital asset database  306  to locate and apply the change. Additional description regarding simultaneous access to a digital asset is provided in connection with  FIG. 5  below. 
     In addition, the digital asset synchronizer  304 , as mentioned, can also perform conflict resolution between multiple applications (or users or devices) modifying the same component of a digital asset. In general, when multiple applications access a digital asset, the applications infrequently modify the same component at the same time; rather the applications modify different components. As described in the above paragraph, the digital asset synchronizer  304  facilitates updating each application to display a component modified by another application simultaneously accessing the same digital asset at the same time. 
     In the instance that multiple applications modify the same component at the same time, the digital asset synchronizer  304  can resolve the conflict within the digital asset. In one or more embodiments, the digital asset synchronizer  304  resolves the conflict by creating one or more additional components that include the conflicting modifications. For example, if App  1  and App  2  both make a modification to Layer  1  of a digital image, the digital asset synchronizer  304  replaces the original pre-modified Layer  1  with both Layer  1  from App  1  and Layer  1  from App  2  within the mapping. Alternatively, the digital asset synchronizer  304  also includes the original pre-modified Layer  1  in addition to both Layer  1  from App  1  and Layer  1  from App  2  in the mapping for the digital asset. 
     A user, upon viewing the modified digital image, will likely detect that the digital image includes more than one version of Layer  1 . In response, the user can correct any error by removing, editing, or merging one or more of the layers. Alternatively, the digital asset synchronizer  304  can create one or more versions of the digital image that each includes a version of Layer  1 . Additional description regarding solving conflicts between a component of a digital asset is provided in connection with  FIG. 7  below. 
     In addition, the digital asset synchronizer  304  performs synchronizations between multiple client devices and/or between a client device and a server device. In a number of embodiments, a digital asset is synchronized across multiple devices. The digital asset synchronizer  304  detects component modifications (as described above) and sends (i.e., pushes) modified version mappings and corresponding missing files to other devices. In addition, the digital asset synchronizer  304  can requests (i.e., pulls) version mappings and missing files from other devices. Additional description regarding transmitting components of a digital asset is provided in connection with  FIG. 6  below. 
     As shown in  FIG. 3 , the digital asset synchronization system  301  includes the digital asset database  306 . One will appreciate that, in some embodiments, the digital asset database  306  is located apart from the digital asset synchronization system  301 , such as on a separate computing device. As illustrated, the digital asset database  306  includes components  314  and version mappings  316 . The components  314  can include corresponding files that store the content of the components. Alternatively, the components  314  indicate file locations of the corresponding files, which are stored in a separate location, such as in another storage medium of the computing device hosting the digital asset synchronization system  301 . 
     The digital asset database  306  can provide transactional guarantees to a user. As further described below, in one or more embodiments, the digital asset database  306  employs a multi-step process to record components and mappings for a digital asset to ensure data integrity. In addition, the digital asset database  306  can indicate when a particular component is in use by a user or application, which enables the digital asset synchronization system to more efficiently detect when changes occur to the component. Further, the digital asset database  306  can perform routine clean-up (e.g., garbage collection) to remove any components and/or files that are no longer in use (e.g., not referenced by either current or previous versions/mappings of digital assets). 
     In addition, the digital asset database  306  can be implemented using various protocols and designs. For example, the digital asset database  306  can comprise a SQL or SQLite database. As another example, the digital asset database  306  is a Mongo or other type of database. Further, as mentioned, the digital asset database  306  can be stored locally on a client device or as part of cloud-based storage. 
     The elements  301 - 316  of the digital asset management system  300  and can include software, hardware, or both. For example, the elements  301 - 316  can include one or more instructions stored on a computer-readable storage medium and executable by processors of one or more computing devices, such as a client device or server device. When executed by the one or more processors, the computer-executable instructions of the digital asset management system  300  can cause the computing device(s) to perform the feature learning methods described herein. Alternatively, the elements  301 - 316  can include hardware, such as a special-purpose processing device to perform a certain function or group of functions. Alternatively, the elements  301 - 316  of the digital asset management system  300  can include a combination of computer-executable instructions and hardware. 
     Furthermore, the elements  301 - 316  of the digital asset management system  300  may, for example, be implemented as one or more operating systems, as one or more stand-alone applications, as one or more modules of an application, as one or more plug-ins, as one or more library functions or functions that may be called by other applications, and/or as a cloud-computing model. Thus, the elements  301 - 316  may be implemented as a stand-alone application, such as a desktop or mobile application. Furthermore, the elements  301 - 316  may be implemented as one or more web-based applications hosted on a remote server. The elements  301 - 316  may also be implemented in a suite of mobile device applications or “apps.” To illustrate, the elements  301 - 316  may be implemented in an application, including but not limited to ADOBE CREATIVE CLOUD software. “ADOBE,” and “CREATIVE CLOUD” are either registered trademarks or trademarks of Adobe Systems Incorporated in the United States and/or other countries. 
     As mentioned above, the digital asset management system  300  can reside on a client device, a server device, or both. To illustrate,  FIG. 4  shows an environment  400  that includes both a client device  402  and a server device  404 , each hosting a version of the digital asset management system. As shown, the client device  402  includes a digital asset management system  407  having a digital asset synchronization system  408 , while the server device  404  includes a remote digital asset management system  413  remote digital asset synchronization system  414 . The digital asset management system  407  and the remote digital asset management system  413  embody of the digital asset management system  300  described above in connection with  FIG. 3 . Likewise, both the digital asset synchronization system  408  and the remote digital asset synchronization system  414  embody of the digital asset synchronization system  301  described above in connection with  FIG. 3 . 
     As shown in further detail, the client device  400  includes a digital asset application  406  (or simply “application  406 ”) and the digital asset database  410  (within the digital asset synchronization system  408 /digital asset management system  407 ), which stores digital assets  412 . The server device  404  includes the remote digital asset synchronization system  414  within the remote digital asset management system  413 , which stores user information  420  and remote digital assets  418  (which correspond to the digital assets  412  on the client device  402 ). 
     As further illustrated, the client device  402  communicates with the server device  404  via a network  422 . Although  FIG. 4  illustrates a particular arrangement of devices and elements, various additional arrangements are possible. For example, the environment  400  can include any number of client devices. 
     The client device  402  may represent various types of client devices. For example, in some embodiments, the client device  402  may be a non-mobile device, such as a desktop or server, or another type of client device. In other embodiments, the client device  402  may be a mobile device, such as a mobile telephone, a smartphone, a PDA, a tablet, a laptop, a wearable device, etc. Additional details with respect to the client devices are discussed below with respect to  FIG. 12 . 
     In various embodiments, one or more users interface with the client device  402  to access digital assets, either directly on the client device  402  (e.g., digital assets  412 ), or remotely on the server device  404  (e.g., remote digital assets  418 ) via the network  422 . As used herein, a user may be an individual (i.e., human user), a group, a business, or another entity. For example, co-workers using multiple client devices share a set of digital assets. In this example, each co-worker client device maintains an up-to-date copy of the shared digital assets, which synchronizes via the server device  404 . 
     As shown in  FIG. 4  and as mentioned above, the client device  402  includes an application  406 . The application  406  can communicate with the digital asset management system  407  and the digital asset synchronization system  408  to access one or more of the digital assets  412  in the digital asset database  410 . In general, an application enables a user to create, view, copy, modify, and/or delete a digital asset. In some cases, an application relates to a specific type of digital asset. For example, an application is a word-processing application that interfaces with digital documents. As another example, an application is an image editing/creating application that interfaces with digital images. 
     As mentioned, the application  406  accesses the digital assets  412 . To demonstrate, the application  406  interfaces with the digital asset management system  407  and the digital asset synchronization system  408  to obtain a mapping for a digital asset. As described above, the application  406  uses the mapping to identify the components that make up the digital asset as well as the file locations where the content of those components are stored (as the components can be stored in files distributed across the client device  402 ). With access to the components, the application  406  presents (e.g., displays) the digital asset to a user as a single monolithic file. 
     As further mentioned, the application  406 , in one or more embodiments, enables a user to modify (e.g., create, change, delete) one or more components of a digital asset. For instance, if the digital asset is an image having multiple layers, the application  406  enables a user to edit content within a layer. In addition, the application  406  can enable the user to add or remove layers. Upon the application  406  creating or modifying a digital asset, the digital asset management system  407  and the digital asset synchronization system  408  detect changes to the components of the digital asset, updates the mapping for the digital asset, and modifies one or more corresponding files, as described above. 
     The application  406 , in some embodiments, can communicate with the remote digital asset management system  413  and the remote digital asset synchronization system  414  to directly access remote digital assets  418 . For example, the application  406  provides (e.g., displays a preview of) one or more of the remote digital assets  418  to a user and enables the user to select a digital asset to fully display or modify within the application  406 . Further, in some embodiments, the application  406  accesses previous versions of a digital asset and/or specific component from the remote digital asset database  416 , such as when the digital asset database  410  on the client device  402  does not maintain previous versions of the digital asset, but the remote digital asset database  416 does maintain previous versions. 
     In one or more embodiments, the client device  402  includes multiple applications. For example, a user accesses the same digital asset simultaneously using two or more applications on the client device  402 . As previously mentioned, when the user modifies the component within one application, the digital asset management system  407  and the digital asset synchronization system  408  cause the other applications to update to reflect the change in the digital asset. 
     When the client device  402  is synchronizing the digital assets  412  with the remote digital asset management system  413  and the remote digital asset synchronization system  414  on the server device  404 , the application  406  can update, in real-time or near-real-time, the digital asset that a user is accessing. For example, a user is viewing a digital video using the application  406  on the client device  402 , and another user updates the digital video at another client device. Upon the digital asset synchronization system  408  receiving the updated components (e.g., video segments, graphics, or titles), the digital asset management system  407  and the digital asset synchronization system  408  notify the application  406  of the updated components such that the application  406  can provide the updated digital video to the user. In some cases, the application  406  updates the digital video as the user is watching the video, without requiring additional action by the user. 
     The server device  404 , as shown, includes the remote digital asset management system  413  and the remote digital asset synchronization system  414 . The remote digital asset management system  413  and that remote digital asset synchronization system  414  can be embodiments of the remote digital asset management systems and the digital asset synchronization systems described above. For example, the remote digital asset synchronization system  414  includes a remote digital asset database  416  (or simply “remote database  416 ”) that stores remote digital assets  418 . The remote digital assets  418  are copies of the digital assets  412  stored on the client device  402 . In other words, when full synced, the digital assets  412  stored on the client device  402  are also stored on the remote database  416 . 
     In addition, the remote database  416  often includes more digital assets than found on a client device, in short, because the client device does not locally sync a user&#39;s entire digital asset collection. Generally, the server device  404  has a larger storage capacity than a client device, especially mobile client devices. For example, the remote database  416  can store a full collection of digital assets while a client device only maintains a partial collection. As another example, as a result of the additional storage capacity of the server device  404 , the remote database  416  stores one or more previous versions of a digital asset (e.g., version mapping and component files) or a component as mentioned above. In this manner, the remote digital asset management system  413  and the remote digital asset synchronization system  414  can provide a previous version to a client device upon request. 
     The remote database  416 , in one or more embodiments, also includes user information  420 . For example, the remote database  416  maintains digital assets for a multitude of users. As such, the remote digital asset management system  413  and the remote digital asset synchronization system  414  associate each digital asset with one or more users that have rights to the digital asset. Because the remote digital asset management system  413  and/or the remote digital asset synchronization system  414  can store each component of a digital asset in files distributed across the remote database (or in another storage location), the remote digital asset management system  413  and/or the remote digital asset synchronization system  414  can store files from different users together. For example, the remote digital asset synchronization system  414  stores a first set of files from User  1  and User  2  together in a first directory and a second set of files from User  1  and User  2  in a second directory. As such, the remote digital asset management system  413  and/or the remote digital asset synchronization system  414  can use the user information  420  to identify components of a digital asset belonging to a particular user. In some instances, the remote digital asset management system  413  and/or the remote digital asset synchronization system  414  add the user information  420  to the mapping of a remote digital asset that is stored in the remote database  416   
     As a note, while only one server device  404  is shown in  FIG. 4 , one will appreciate that the remote digital asset management system  413  and the remote digital asset synchronization system  414  can operate across multiple server devices, or be located on separate devices. Further, while the remote digital asset synchronization system  414  and the remote database  416  are illustrated on the server device  404 , in some embodiments, the remote database  416  is stored on a separate computing device, or set of computing devices. For example, the remote database  416  is distributed across a cloud-based storage network. 
     As described above, the client device  402  communicates with the server device  404  to synchronize digital assets. More specifically, the digital asset management system  407  and the digital asset synchronization system  408  on the client device  402  communicate with the remote digital asset management system  413  and the remote digital asset synchronization system  414  to share one or more digital assets. For example, the client device  402  sends (e.g., uploads) digital asset data including newly created digital assets, modified components (including digital asset mappings and modified files), and/or other data to the server device  404 . Similarly, the client device  402  receives (e.g., downloads) corresponding digital asset data from the server device  404 . Upon downloading digital asset data, the client device  402  can send a confirmation indication to the server device  404  indicating successful receipt of the digital asset data. 
     The client device  402  and server device  404 , in one or more embodiments, exchange digital asset data in parallel. In other words, the client device  402  can both upload and download digital asset data together. Further, the server device  404 , in some embodiments, synchronizes digital asset data between multiple client devices at the same time. 
     As described above,  FIGS. 1 and 2  illustrate a framework of a digital asset database and digital assets, while  FIGS. 3 and 4  illustrate example embodiments of the digital asset management system and the digital asset synchronization system. Proceeding forward,  FIGS. 5-8  illustrate example implementations of the digital asset management system and the digital asset synchronization system. In particular,  FIG. 5  illustrates enabling concurrent accesses to a digital asset by multiple applications;  FIG. 6  illustrates efficiently transmitting components of a digital asset;  FIG. 7  illustrates the resolving conflicts between a component of a digital asset; and  FIG. 8  illustrates managing simultaneous updates to the same component of a digital asset between a client device and a remote server. 
     As mentioned,  FIG. 5  illustrates a sequence diagram of multiple applications simultaneously accessing a digital asset. As shown,  FIG. 5  includes a first digital asset application  502  (or simply “first application  502 ”), second digital asset application  504  (or simply “second application  504 ”), and a digital asset synchronization system  506  (or simply “synchronization system  506 ”) having a digital asset database  508 . While not illustrated for simplicity, the digital asset synchronization system  506  can reside on a digital asset management system, as described above. 
     For explanatory purposes,  FIG. 5  is described in the context of the first application  502 , the second application  504 , and the digital asset synchronization system  506  being co-located on a client device operated by a single user. One will appreciate, however, that other configurations yield similar outcomes as those described below. An example of another configuration is where the first application  502  and the second application  504  are located on different client devices, operated by the same or different users. Another example configuration is where one or both applications are located on a server device, which one or more users access through a client device. For instance, a web browser on a client device provides a user with access to a cloud-based application hosted on a server device. In another configuration, the digital asset synchronization system  506  can be hosted on a client device and/or a server device, as previously described. 
     As shown in  FIG. 5 , the digital asset synchronization system  506  receives requests from the each of the applications to access to a digital asset. In particular, the first application  502  requests  510   a  access to a digital asset. Likewise, the second application requests access  510   b  to the same digital asset. In particular, the first application  502  and the second application  504  each send a request to the digital asset synchronization system  506  that identifies the digital asset. 
     Upon receiving each of the requests, the digital asset synchronization system  506  identifies  512  the components of the digital asset. In particular, the digital asset synchronization system  506  looks up the digital asset&#39;s digital asset mapping within the digital asset database  508 , which indicates the components that make up the digital asset. The mapping also includes file locations for each component, as each component has its content is stored in a separate file that can be distributed across a storage medium (e.g., the client device). Additional description of a digital asset mapping is provided above with regard to  FIG. 1 . 
     The digital asset synchronization system  506 , upon identifying the components of the requested digital asset, provides access to the applications. As shown, the digital asset synchronization system  506  provides  514   a  the first application  502  with access to the components of the digital asset. Likewise, the digital asset synchronization system  506  provides  514   b  the second application  504  with access to the same components of the digital asset. For example, the digital asset synchronization system  506  facilitates the applications accessing the digital asset mapping. 
     By accessing the digital asset mapping, each application can locate and open each file that stores the content of each component. Further, each application can use the mapping to order each component within the application. To illustrate,  FIG. 5  shows the first application  502  displaying  516   a  and the second application  504  simultaneously displaying  516   b  the digital asset. In particular, both the first application  502  and the second application  504  display the digital asset to the user as a monolithic file while simultaneously accessing the same component files. 
     In some embodiments, as described above, an application also enables a user to modify a digital asset. For example, the first application  502  provides tools that enable the user to add, remove, or edit components within the digital asset, as described above. To illustrate, the first application  502  detects and applies  518  edits to a first component of the digital asset. For instance, the first application  502  detects and applies changes to an image layer, document page, three-dimensional mesh, presentation page, video clip, spreadsheet cell, or sketchbook sheet in response to user input. 
     In one or more embodiments, the first application  502  creates a new component that includes the modified first component. Specifically, upon detecting the user changing (or saving a change) to a component (e.g., the first component), the first application  502  and/or the digital asset synchronization system  506  creates a new component that reflects the modifications made to the component within the first application  502 . For instance, the first application  502  and/or the digital asset synchronization system  506  create a new file (e.g., using copy-on-write) that includes the modified contents of the first component. Further, the new file can be located in the same (or different) location as the file for the original first component. In alternative embodiments, the first application  502  directly edits the file associated with the modified component rather than creating a new file. As noted above, during the process of creating and storing the new component, neither the first application  502  nor the digital asset synchronization system  506  copy any other components of the digital asset. 
     In addition to creating a new component and corresponding file, the digital asset synchronization system  506  updates  520  the digital asset mapping of the digital asset. In particular, the digital asset synchronization system  506  replaces the identifier of the original first component in the mapping with an identifier assigned to the modified first component. In this manner, the mapping indicates that the digital asset includes the modified first component (and corresponding new file) rather than the original first component (and corresponding out-of-date/obsolete file). 
     In one or more embodiments, the digital asset synchronization system  506  employs a multi-step process of modifying the mapping with digital asset database  508 . For example, upon detecting a change to a component, the digital asset synchronization system  506  informs the digital asset database  508  that a new file is being written at a specific location. Next, the first application  502  and/or the digital asset synchronization system  506  write the contents of the modified first component to the new file. Then, the digital asset synchronization system  506  confirms to the digital asset database  508  that the file has been written and is ready for use. In this manner, the digital asset synchronization system  506  can prevent a file-writing failure from causing the digital asset database  508  to reference an incomplete or missing file. 
     In some embodiments, the digital asset synchronization system  506  employs journaling (e.g., logging) to ensure that synchronization properly occurs. In general, journaling is the process of logging processes as they occur. In this manner, if a process is interrupted, the digital asset synchronization system  506  can restart the process using the last journal entry. In addition, a journal can indicate when one or more processes (including steps within a process) successfully complete. As such, the digital asset synchronization system  506  can use journaling to restart a process at the point of failure, which prevents duplicative transmissions and processes. 
     As shown in  FIG. 5 , the digital asset synchronization system  506  provides  522  the modified first component of the digital asset to the second application  504 . For example, the digital asset synchronization system  506  sends an indication, such as a message or sub-process operating system call, to the second application  504  informing the second application  504  that the digital asset is updated. Alternatively, the first application  502  sends a direct or multicast message to the second application  504  indicating the update. In some embodiments, the digital asset synchronization system  506  directly indicates that the first component has been replaced with a modified component. In other embodiments, the digital asset synchronization system  506  indicates that the digital asset has been updated and the second application  504  determines from the mapping the components of the digital asset that have updated. 
     Further, the second application  504  updates  524  the digital asset to show the first modified component. For example, the second application  504  scans the updated mapping to determine that the first modified component has replaced the first modified component added. Further, the second application  504  locates the file (e.g., at the file location) containing the first modified component such that the second application  504  can display the modified first component respect to the other components of the digital asset. In this manner, the second application  504  displays an updated version of the digital asset to the user, which is the same updated version displayed to the user by the first application  502 . 
     Optionally, the digital asset synchronization system  506  stores  526  the previous (i.e., original) version of the first component. As mentioned above, the digital asset synchronization system  506  can maintain version histories for a digital asset and/or individual components. In these cases, the digital asset synchronization system  506  stores previous digital asset mappings as well as the files storing the content of the previous components. Maintaining multiple versions of a digital asset is described above, for example, with respect to  FIG. 2 . 
     As mentioned, the digital asset synchronization system  506  can provide the original and modified version of the digital asset to a user by storing two mappings (e.g., the original mapping and modified mapping) and two versions of the first component (e.g., the original first component and the modified first component), along with the other components of the digital asset (of which only a single copy of each component is stored). In a similar manner, the digital asset synchronization system  506  enables a user to create copies of a digital asset without using twice the storage resources. For example, upon a user copying a digital asset, the digital asset synchronization system  506  creates a separate mapping for the copy, where the separate mapping references the same files used by the original digital asset. Then, if the user modifies the copy, the digital asset synchronization system  506  updates only the modified components, as provided above. 
     Turning now to  FIG. 6 , as mentioned above,  FIG. 6  illustrates a sequence diagram of efficiently transmitting components of a digital asset. As shown, the sequence diagram includes a client device  602  and a remote digital asset synchronization system  604  (or simply “remote digital asset synchronization system  604 ”). As shown, the client device  602  includes a digital asset application  606  (or simply “application  606 ”) and a digital asset management system  607  that includes a digital asset synchronization system  608  (or simply “synchronization system  608 ”) having a digital asset database  610 . The remote digital asset synchronization system  604  includes a remote digital asset database  612  (or simply “remote database  612 ”). While not illustrated, a server device having a remote digital asset management system, as described above can host the remote digital asset synchronization system  604 . The elements shown in  FIG. 6  can be example embodiments of corresponding elements described above. 
     In addition, while  FIG. 6  shows a particular configuration of elements, one will appreciate that other configurations achieve similar outcomes as those described below. For example, the application  606  can be located on the remote digital asset synchronization system  604  (e.g., a cloud-based application as previously explained), rather than on the client device  602 . 
     As shown in  FIG. 6 , the client device  602  receives  620  a copy of a digital asset. For example, the remote digital asset synchronization system  604  sends multiple digital assets to the client device  602  to initially sync a collection of digital assets between the devices. In particular, the remote digital asset synchronization system  604  provides a copy of all of the components and a digital asset mapping for the digital asset to the client device  602 . In addition, the digital asset synchronization system  608  on the client device  602  can add the mapping to the digital asset database  610 . In some embodiments, the digital asset synchronization system  608  updates part of the mapping to reflect the local file locations for components of the digital asset. 
     In some embodiments, if the client device  602  includes one or more components of the digital asset, the remote digital asset synchronization system  604  does not send those components. For example, one or more components of the digital asset belong to another digital asset already stored on the client device  602  (e.g., a jpeg file used in a number of documents and/or presentations). As such, the client device  602  updates the mapping for those components of the digital asset to reference the locally stored corresponding files. In this manner, the digital asset synchronization system  608  can provide further efficiencies by not transmitting files that include duplicative data. Likewise, when storing files on the remote digital asset synchronization system  604 , the remote digital asset synchronization system  604  can detect when a file containing component content is duplicative (even across different users) and only store a single version a file. 
     After the client device  602  receives the digital asset, the digital asset synchronization system  608  provides one or more applications on the client device  602  with access to the digital asset. As shown, the application  606  accesses  622  the digital asset. The application  606  accesses the digital asset, including the components of the digital asset, as previously described. Further, the application  606  receives  624  modifications to the digital asset as well as modifies  626  a component within the digital asset, as also described above. 
     The digital asset synchronization system  608  updates  628  the digital asset mapping to reflect the modified component. In particular, the digital asset synchronization system  608  updates the digital asset database  610  to indicate that the component has been replaced with a modified version of the component, including changing the mapping for the digital asset to reference the new file created to store the contents of the modified component and no longer reference the file associated with the outdated or obsolete (e.g., pre-modified) component. In this manner, the digital asset synchronization system  608  updates the digital asset database  610  to reference the updated version of the digital asset. 
     In addition, as shown in  FIG. 6 , the digital asset synchronization system  608  provides  630  the updated component to the remote digital asset synchronization system  604 . As mentioned, to provide an updated version of a digital asset to the remote digital asset synchronization system  604  (or another client device), the digital asset synchronization system  608  need only send components of the digital asset that have been modified. For example, if the digital asset includes a hundred components, and only five components change, the digital asset synchronization system  608  can send the five changed components to the remote digital asset synchronization system  604 . The remote digital asset synchronization system  604  uses the five modified components and the other ninety-five components to arrive at the updated version of the digital asset. 
     In some embodiments, the digital asset synchronization system  608  also sends a modified digital asset mapping to the remote digital asset synchronization system  604  that defines the components included in the updated digital asset. For example, the updated mapping replaces the component with the modified component. Alternatively, the digital asset synchronization system  608  only sends the modified component, and the remote digital asset synchronization system  604  updates a remote mapping based on the modified component. For example, the remote digital asset synchronization system  604  detects that the modified component replaces the original component. In some instances, the modified component has a name or other identifier that indicates that it is an updated version of the original component. 
     As recently mentioned and as shown, the remote digital asset synchronization system  604  updates  632  the remote digital asset with the modified component. For example, the remote digital asset synchronization system  604  adds the modified component to a storage medium and replaces/modifies a remote mapping of the digital asset in the remote database  612  with an updated mapping received from the client device  602 . In addition, in some embodiments, the remote digital asset synchronization system  604  sends a synchronization confirmation to the digital asset synchronization system  608 , and, in response, the digital asset synchronization system  608  displays to a user that it is synchronized with the remote digital asset synchronization system  604 . 
     Just as the digital asset synchronization system  608  can send single components of an updated digital asset to the remote digital asset synchronization system  604 , the digital asset synchronization system  608  can also receive updated components from the remote digital asset synchronization system  604 , such as another client device or based on a change to the digital asset made on a cloud-based service. To illustrate,  FIG. 6  illustrates the remote digital asset synchronization system  604  receiving  634  updated components for the digital asset from a secondary source (e.g., a remote user, application, or client device). The updated components can include the modified component mentioned above. In addition, for purposes of explanation, the remote digital asset synchronization system  604  receives the updated components from the secondary source after fully synchronizing the modified component mentioned above. 
     Included in receiving the updated components from the secondary source, the remote digital asset synchronization system  604  can also update the remote database  612 , as described above. For example, the remote digital asset synchronization system  604  stores the files corresponding to the updated components. Further, the remote digital asset synchronization system  604  further updates the remote mapping to include the updated component, reference the corresponding files, and archive obsolete components. 
     The remote digital asset synchronization system  604  then provides  636  the updated components to the client device  602 . For instance, the remote digital asset synchronization system  604  pushes (i.e., transmits) the updated components to the digital asset synchronization system  608  on the client device  602 . The remote digital asset synchronization system  604  can also provide an updated mapping that defines the most current version of the digital asset. 
     In response, the digital asset synchronization system  608  updates  638  components of the digital asset within the digital asset database  610  based on the received updated components. For example, the digital asset synchronization system adds new components, replaces modified components, and removes components from the mapping within the digital asset database  610 . Likewise, the digital asset synchronization system  608  modifies, if needed, the file locations of the updated components within the mapping. 
     Upon updating the mapping, the digital asset synchronization system  608  provides  640  the updated components to the application  606 . As mentioned above, in one or more embodiments, the digital asset synchronization system  608  sends a message to the application  606  indicating the change. In other embodiments, the application  606  detects a change to the digital asset database  610  including an update to the digital asset. 
     Regardless of how the application  606  detects that the digital asset database  610  has updated the digital asset, the application  606  identifies which components have changed and displays  642  the updated digital asset to the user. In some embodiments, if a component that a user is actively working with is updated, the application  606  and/or synchronization system  608  creates a separate copy of the component. Alternatively, the application  606  notifies the user that the active component is being modified based on receiving updated components from the secondary source. 
     Along these lines, when displaying an updated digital asset to a user that includes one or more updated components, the application  606  can provide an indication of which components are updated. For example, if the digital asset is a digital image and the application  606  provides a list of layers in a toolbar, the application  606  can bold (or otherwise indicate) which components in the digital asset have been recently updated. 
     In some embodiments, the application  606  (or the digital asset synchronization system  608 ) provides a user with metadata of one or more components. For example, the application  606  provides a user with a timestamp of the last update for a particular component, the device that last updated the component, the user that last updated the component, and the number of component versions. As an additional example, the application  606  indicates to the user whether prior versions of a component are located locally or remotely. 
     As a note,  FIG. 6  illustrates a number of actions (e.g.,  620 - 642 ) that occur between the client device  602  and the remote digital asset synchronization system  604 . While the actions are provided, and described in sequential order for ease of explanation, one will appreciate that many of the actions can occur in parallel. For example, the actions of modifying and syncing the modified component of the digital asset (e.g.,  624 - 632 ) occur at the same time as the actions of syncing and applying the updated components of the digital asset (e.g.,  634 - 642 ). In this manner, the client device  602  both sends the modified component and receives the updated component at the same time. 
     As previously mentioned, when multiple users, applications, or devices each make an edit to a digital asset, the digital asset synchronization system  608  rectifies the edits. Often, the edits are made to different components of the digital asset. However, the digital asset synchronization system  608  occasionally detects when the same component is simultaneously changed at multiple locations. To illustrate,  FIG. 7  shows a sequence diagram of resolving conflicts between the same component of a digital asset. 
     As shown,  FIG. 7  includes the client device  602  and remote digital asset synchronization system  604  of  FIG. 6 . As such, the client device  602  includes the application  606  and the digital asset management system  607  that includes the digital asset synchronization system  608  having the digital asset database  610 . The remote digital asset synchronization system  604  includes the remote database  612  (and can be hosted within a remote digital asset management system on a server device). As with  FIG. 6 , the concepts described in connection with  FIG. 7  apply to multiple configurations besides the configuration shown. 
     As shown in  FIG. 7 , the digital asset synchronization system  608  and the remote digital asset synchronization system  604  synchronize  702  a digital asset, as previously described. Further, the application  606  accesses  704  the digital asset. Accessing the digital asset includes the application  606  displaying the components of the digital asset to the user as a monolithic file, as previously described. 
     Next, the digital asset synchronization system  608  receives  706  a modification to a first component of the digital asset. As such, the digital asset synchronization system  608  updates the digital asset database  610  to reflect the modified first asset, as described above. In this manner, the application  606  and the digital asset synchronization system  608  maintain an updated version of the digital asset. However, the digital asset synchronization system  608  will maintain the original version (e.g., the base version or base branch) of the first component on the client device  602  until the digital asset synchronization system  608  can successfully synchronize the updated versions (e.g., a first update branch) with the remote digital asset synchronization system  604 . 
     Before the digital asset synchronization system  608  successfully synchronizes with the remote digital asset synchronization system  604  with the modified first component, the digital asset synchronization system  608  detects that another modification (e.g., a second update branch) to the first component has occurred. For example, the digital asset synchronization system  608  receives  708  a remote modification to the first component. As such, the digital asset synchronization system  608  currently stores three copies (e.g., the three branches) of the first component: the original copy, the locally modified copy, and the remotely modified copy. 
     Upon receiving the remotely modified component, the digital asset synchronization system  608  detects  710  a conflict in the first component of the digital asset. In other words, the digital asset synchronization system  608  identifies that the original copy of the first component was successfully synchronized with the remote digital asset synchronization system  604 . As such the digital asset synchronization system  608  determines that the locally modified copy and the remotely modified copy are different branches from the original copy. 
     Upon detecting the conflict, the digital asset synchronization system  608  determines a resolution to the conflict. In one or more embodiments, the digital asset synchronization system  608  uses a three-way diff to solve the conflict. For example, the digital asset synchronization system  608  updates the mapping of the digital asset to include both the locally modified copy and the remotely modified copy. In another example, the digital asset synchronization system  608  adds the locally modified copy and the remotely modified copy of the first component to the mapping of the digital asset in addition to the original copy. Alternatively, the digital asset synchronization system  608  selects the most recent copy in the mapping, or the digital asset synchronization system  608  ignores the conflicting copies. 
     Of note, when employing a three-way diff (or another multi-way diff), the digital asset synchronization system  608  need only compare the conflicting components of the digital asset as opposed to the entire digital asset. This is a significant advantage that improves the function of a computing device. To demonstrate, when a file conflict arises in a conventional file management system, the conventional system must obtain three full copies of the conflicted file (e.g., the original version, a first modified version, and a second modified version). If these files are large, such as larger than 100 megabytes, a computing device must store full copies of each file version, even if most of the data is duplicative. Further, conventional systems do not merge these files, but rather leaves it to a user to figure out where the changes in each file occur, and which changes are the most current. This problem further compounds when a file includes additional conflicts. 
     In contrast, the digital asset synchronization system  608  maintains only conflicting components of a digital asset, which are generally small in size. In addition, as mentioned above, the digital asset synchronization system  608  can merge the conflicting components into a single digital asset, which enables a user to quickly recognize and correct any discrepancies. Merging the conflicting components into a single digital asset also reduces clutter on a user&#39;s computing device (e.g., the computing device displays a single file as opposed to multiple copies of a file). Further, because the conflicting components are small in size, the client device  402  uses less computational resources to identify and merge the file. 
     As shown in the illustrated embodiment, the digital asset synchronization system  608  resolves  712  the conflict by creating separate components for the locally modified copy and the remotely modified copy. For example, the digital asset synchronization system  608  replaces the original component in the mapping of the digital asset with one component for the locally modified copy and another component for the remotely modified copy. 
     Next, the digital asset synchronization system updates both the application  606  and the remote digital asset synchronization system  604  with the updated mapping. In particular, the digital asset synchronization system  608  provides  714  the separate remotely modified first component to the application  606 , such that the application  606  adds the remotely modified first component to the existing locally modified first component. In this manner, the application  606  displays both modified versions of the first component to a user within the digital asset. Further, as described above, the application  606  can enable the user to remove, edit, or merge the two first components. 
     Similarly, the digital asset synchronization system  608  provides  716  the separate locally modified first component to the remote digital asset synchronization system  604 . Because the remote database  612  includes a copy of the remotely modified first component, the digital asset synchronization system  608  need only send the locally modified first component to enable the remote digital asset synchronization system  604  to have the most current version of the digital asset. The remote digital asset synchronization system  604  can confirm the synchronization of the digital asset, at which point, the client device  602  can remove the original first component, if needed, to free up additional storage space. 
       FIG. 8 , as mentioned above, illustrates a sequence diagram of managing multiple updates to components of a digital asset between a client device and a remote server. As shown,  FIG. 8  includes the client device  602  having the application  606  and the digital asset management system  607 . The digital asset management system  607  includes the digital asset synchronization system  608  having the digital asset database  610 . The remote digital asset synchronization system  604  includes the remote database  612  (and can be hosted within a remote digital asset management system on a server device). As with  FIG. 6 , the concepts described in connection with  FIG. 8  apply to multiple configurations besides the configuration shown. 
     As shown in  FIG. 8 , the digital asset synchronization system  608  and the remote digital asset synchronization system  604  synchronize  802  a digital asset, as previously described. Further, the application  606  accesses  804  the digital asset. Accessing the digital asset includes the application  606  displaying the components of the digital asset to the user as a monolithic file, as previously described. 
     Before or while the application  606  is accessing  804  the digital asset, the digital asset synchronization system  608  breaks  806  connection with the remote digital asset synchronization system  604 . For example, the client device  602  works offline or moves outside of network coverage. In another example, a user on the client device  602  pauses synchronization with the remote digital asset synchronization system  604 . Alternatively, the digital asset synchronization system  608  is configured to only periodically sync with the remote digital asset synchronization system  604 . In any case, the disconnection represents the digital asset synchronization system  608  not actively synchronizing with the remote digital asset synchronization system  604  for a period of time. 
     While not actively syncing with the remote digital asset synchronization system  604 , the digital asset synchronization system  608  receives  808  a first modification to a component of the digital asset. In response, the digital asset synchronization system  608  stores  810  the once-modified component as a first updated version of the digital asset. More specifically, as described above, the digital asset synchronization system  608  updates the mapping of the digital asset based on the once-modified component to define the first updated version of the digital asset. Further, the digital asset synchronization system  608  creates and/or stores a new file of the contents of the once-modified component. 
     Additionally, while not actively syncing with the remote digital asset synchronization system  604 , the digital asset synchronization system  608  receives  812  a second modification to the component of the digital asset. In response, the digital asset synchronization system  608  stores  814  the twice-modified component as a second updated version of the digital asset. The digital asset synchronization system  608  can receive any number of modifications to the same component of the digital asset, either from the application  606  or from other applications, while not actively syncing with the remote digital asset synchronization system  604 . 
     As shown, the digital asset synchronization system  608  restores  816  a connection with the remote digital asset synchronization system  604 . For example, the client device  602  regains network access, or a user chooses to re-enable synchronization with the remote digital asset synchronization system  604 . As such, the digital asset synchronization system  608  provides  818  the first updated version and the second updated version of the digital asset. For example, the digital asset synchronization system  608  provides a bulk transmission that includes multiple version updates. If the digital asset synchronization system  608  receives additional changes while not actively syncing with the remote digital asset synchronization system  604 , for example, to other components, the digital asset synchronization system  608  can also send over those modified components as well in the bulk transmission. 
     In response, the remote digital asset synchronization system  604  updates  820  the digital asset to the second updated version that includes the twice-modified component. In addition, the remote digital asset synchronization system  604  also stores  822  the first updated version of the digital asset in a version history for the digital asset. In this manner, the remote digital asset synchronization system  604  creates prior versions for each modified component of the digital asset, even when the prior versions were created on a client device that was not actively in sync with the remote digital asset synchronization system  604 . Further, a user can then access and recall a previous version of the digital asset from the remote digital asset synchronization system  604 , even after the client device  602  removes the previous versions after syncing the modified components. 
       FIG. 9  illustrates a state diagram  900  of the digital asset synchronization system performing a step for mapping, in a database, the identified components of the digital asset to corresponding files that are distributed across the database and a step for modifying the mapping based on detecting an update to a first component of the digital asset such that the modified mapping defines an updated version of the digital asset in accordance with one or more embodiments. The digital asset synchronization system can embody one or more embodiments of the digital asset synchronization systems described above. For example, the digital asset synchronization system is located on a digital asset management system. 
     As shown, the digital asset synchronization system identifies  902  components of a digital asset. In particular, the digital asset synchronization system identifies components that make up a digital asset. As described above, the digital asset synchronization system creates, receives, and/or replaces components that make up a digital asset. In some embodiments, the digital asset synchronization system identifies one or more components of a digital asset as residing in the digital asset database. 
     Next, the digital asset synchronization system maps  904  the identified components to distributed files. As described above, the digital asset synchronization system allocates identifiers to the components, creates independent files for each component in the digital asset database, and associates the identifies for the created files. Additional detail regarding and support for generating a mapping that maps the components to file is provided above in connection with  FIGS. 3-5 . 
     In addition, the digital asset synchronization system provides  906  the mapping to an application, such as a digital asset application.  FIGS. 3-8  above, for example, described how the digital asset synchronization system provides and enables an application to use the mapping for the digital asset to identify the components of the digital asset and access the corresponding files that are distributed across the digital asset database. Upon accessing the files, the application displays the components of the digital asset to a user as a singular file. 
     The digital asset synchronization system detects  908  whether a change has occurred to the digital asset. For example, the digital asset synchronization system receives an indication from the application when the user provides input to change a component of the digital asset, as described above. For instance, a user interacts with the application to add, remove, or modify a component within the digital asset. In turn, the application notifies the digital asset synchronization system of the modification. 
     If the digital asset synchronization system detects a new component, the digital asset synchronization system creates  910  a new component in the database. As described above, when the application modifies a component, the digital asset synchronization system creates a copy of the component being modified (e.g., allocates a new identifier and new corresponding file) and applies any modifications to the component copy, which the digital asset synchronization system temporarily stores in the digital asset database. If the user creates a new component, the digital asset synchronization system creates a new component in the digital asset database. If the user deletes a component, the application indicates the deleted component to the digital asset synchronization system, and the digital asset synchronization system skips the step of creating a new component in the digital asset database. 
     After creating the new component in the database, the digital asset synchronization system modifies  912  to mapping of the digital asset. In short, when updating a component, the digital asset synchronization system modifies the mapping to reference the newly created component in place of the outdated component. If adding a new component to the digital asset, the digital asset synchronization system adds the new component to the mapping. If deleting a component, the digital asset synchronization system removes the component from the mapping. Additional description with respect to modifying the mapping of a digital asset is provided above in connection with  FIGS. 3 and 6-8 . 
     Upon modifying the mapping of the digital asset, the digital asset synchronization system removes/archives  912  the outdated component from the database. For example, the digital asset synchronization system on a client device deletes an outdated component from the digital asset database. In another example, the digital asset synchronization system on the cloud synchronization system archives the outdated component, which can be accessed when a previous version of the digital asset is requested. Additional detail regarding deleting/archiving an outdated component is provided previously. 
     If the digital asset synchronization system does not detect  908  a change to the digital asset within the application, the digital asset synchronization system monitors  916  the application for changes to the digital asset. As shown, the digital asset synchronization system can continuously monitor the application until a change to a component of the digital asset is detected. Alternatively, the digital asset synchronization system does not monitor the application, and the application provides a notification to the digital asset synchronization system when a change occurs. 
       FIGS. 1-9 , the corresponding text, and the examples provide a number of different systems and devices of the digital asset synchronization system in accordance with one or more embodiments. In addition to the foregoing, one or more embodiments can also be described in terms of flowcharts comprising acts in a method for accomplishing a particular result. For example,  FIGS. 10 and 11  illustrate flowcharts of exemplary methods in accordance with one or more embodiments described herein. 
       FIG. 10  illustrates an example flow diagram of a method  1000  for accessing the digital assets. In one or more embodiments, the method  1000  is implemented on one or more computing devices, such as a client device and/or a server device. Further, in some embodiments, the method  1000  is implemented in a digital environment for performing digital asset management on a cloud storage medium. 
     The method  1000  includes an act  1010  of identifying components  104  that make up a digital asset  412 . For example, the act  1010  includes creating one or more components as part of creating a new digital asset. As another example, the act  1010  includes identifying components from an existing digital asset. In some embodiments, identifying the components that make up the digital asset include determining a file type associated with the digital asset, and identifying a framework for the components based on the determined file type. In various embodiments, the act  1010  also includes generating the components that make up the digital asset within the application. 
     The method  1000  also includes an act  1020  of assigning identifiers to each component  104  as well as an act  1030  of storing each component  104  as a file. In particular, the act  1020  can involve assigning identifiers to each of the components of the digital asset. The act  1030  can involve storing each of the components of the digital asset an independent file distributed across a storage medium. The storage medium can be stored on a user device (i.e., client device) or a server device (e.g., a cloud storage device). 
     As shown in  FIG. 10 , the method  1000  further includes an act  1040  of generating a mapping  102  that connects identifiers to independent files. In particular, the act  1040  can involve generating, within a database  100 , a mapping  102  that connects each assigned identifier to a corresponding independent file. In some embodiments, the mapping represents a previous version of the digital asset and the modified mapping represents an updated version of the digital asset. 
     The method  1000  also includes an act  1050  of providing the mapping  102  to an application  406 . In particular, the act  1050  can involve providing the mapping  102  to an application  406  such that the application  406  uses the mapping  102  to access each of the components  104  and display the digital asset as a monolithic file. In some embodiments, the application is located on a client device. In alternative embodiments, the application is a cloud-based application. In addition, the act  1050  can include using the mapping to order, prioritize, or arrange the components within the application. 
     As shown in  FIG. 10 , the method  1000  further includes an act  1060  of detecting an update to a first component. In particular, the act  1060  can involve detecting an update to a first component of the digital asset. For example, the act  1060  includes detecting that a user added, removed, copied, or otherwise modified a component of the digital asset via the application. In some embodiments, the application sends an indication of the update. In one or more embodiments, modifying a component of the digital asset causes changes to be made to the independent file associated with the one component without causing changes to be made to other independent files associated with other components of the digital asset. 
     Additionally, the method  1000  includes an act  1070  of storing an updated file for the updated first component. In particular, the act  1070  can involve storing, in response to detecting the update to the first component, an updated file for the updated first component. In one or more embodiments, the act  1070  also includes creating the updated file upon detecting the update to the first component of the digital asset that is separate from an independent file associated with the first component, where the updated file includes the updates made to the first component. 
     Further, the method  1000  includes an act  1080  of assigning an identifier to the updated first component. In some embodiments, the identifier is based on a hash of the contents of the updated first component. The identifier otherwise uniquely identifies the updated component from other components of the digital asset as well as from other components of other digital assets. 
     In one or more embodiments, the method  1000  includes an act  1090  of generating a modified mapping. In particular, the act  1090  can involve generating, within the database  100 , a modified mapping that replaces an assigned identifier of the first component from the mapping  102  with the assigned identifier of the updated first component to connect the assigned identifier of the updated first component to the updated file. In addition, the act  1090  can include receiving, at a cloud storage server device, the updated file as part of detecting the update to the first component of the digital asset. 
     The method  1000  can also include additional acts. In one or more embodiments, the method  1000  includes the acts of providing the mapping to a first application to enable the first application to access the components of the digital asset while providing the mapping to a second application to enable the second application to simultaneously access the components of the digital asset, detecting the update to the first component based on the first application modifying the first component, and providing, in response to generating the modified mapping in the database where the modified mapping to the second application that causes the second application to replace access to the first component with access to the updated first component, and where the modified mapping causes the second application to display an updated version of the digital asset while the second application simultaneously maintains access to the database with the first application. 
     In some embodiments, the method  1000  includes the acts of detecting a first update to a second component based on a first application modifying the second component; detecting, before a second application receives a revised mapping indicating the first update to the second component, a second update to the second component based on the second application modifying the second component; determining that the first update to the second component conflicts with the second component by the second application; storing, in response to determining the conflict, a first file for the first update to the second component and a second file for the second update to the second component, where the first file is assigned a first identifier, and where the second file is assigned a second identifier; generating an updated mapping that replaces an identifier of the second component from the modified mapping with both the first identifier corresponding to the first file and the second identifier corresponding to the second file; and providing the updated mapping to the first application and the second application such the both the first application and the second application display the first update to the second component and the second update to the second component as separate components of the digital asset. 
       FIG. 11  illustrates an example flow diagram of a method  1100  for managing a digital asset across multiple user devices. In one or more embodiments, the method  1100  is implemented on one or more computing devices, such as one or more server devices. For example, the method  1100  is implemented on a server device that has a mapping that identifies components making up a digital asset, where each of the components of the digital asset are stored as independent files distributed across cloud storage, and where each component has a defined boundary within the digital asset and is modifiable without affecting other components of the digital asset. 
     As shown, the method  1100  includes an act  1110  of providing the components  114  of the digital asset to a first user device  402  and a second user device. In particular, the act  1110  can include providing the components of the digital asset to a first user device  402  as well as providing the components  114  of the digital asset to a second user device. A single user can operate both the first user device and the second user device. Alternatively, different users can each operated one of the user devices. In some embodiments, the act  1110  includes sending a copy of the components to the first user device to be stored on the first user device. In alternative embodiments, the act  1110  includes enabling remote access to the components within the cloud storage. 
     The method  1100  also includes an act  1120  of detecting a modified component from the first user device  402 . In particular, the act  1120  can involve detecting, from the first user device  402 , a modified first component of the digital asset. In one or more embodiments, the act  1120  includes detecting that the modified first component includes data indicating that the modified first component is a modified copy of the first component. 
     In addition, the method  1100  includes an act  1130  of modifying the mapping to incorporate the modified first component. In particular, the act  1130  can involve modifying, at the cloud storage database  416 , the mapping to incorporate the modified first component, where the modified mapping defines a modified digital asset. In some embodiments, the act  1130  includes replacing the first component with the modified first component within the mapping of the digital asset. 
     Further, the method  1100  includes an act  1140  of providing the modified mapping to the second user device. In particular, the act  1140  can involve providing the modified mapping and the modified first component to the second user device. In one or more embodiments, the act  1140  enables the second user device to display the modified digital asset to a user associated with the second user device. More particularly, act  1140  can involve the modified mapping and the modified first component to the second user device without providing any unmodified components or the entire modified digital asset. 
     In some embodiments, the method  1100  also includes the acts of receiving, from the first user device, multiple updates to the first component of the digital asset in a bulk transmission; generating, for each received update of the multiple updates to the first component, a version mapping of the digital asset; and associating each version mapping of the digital asset with a previous version of the digital asset. 
     In various embodiments, the method  1100  also includes the acts of receiving a request from the first user device to access a previous version of the digital asset; identifying a previous mapping of the digital asset corresponding to the previous version; determining, based on the previous mapping, one or more previous components associated with the previous versions of the digital asset that are not associated with the modified mapping of the digital asset; and providing, in response to the request, the previous mapping and the one or more previous components to the first user device. 
     The term “digital environment,” as used herein, generally refers to an environment implemented, for example, as a stand-alone application (e.g., a personal computer or mobile application running on a computing device), as a part of an application, as a plug-in for an application, as a library function or functions, as a server device, and/or as a cloud-computing system. A digital medium environment allows the digital asset synchronization system to perform digital asset management and synchronization between and across computing devices. 
     Embodiments of the present disclosure may include or utilize a special-purpose or general-purpose computer including computer hardware, such as, for example, one or more processors and system memory, as discussed in additional detail below. Embodiments within the scope of the present disclosure also include physical and other computer-readable media for carrying or storing computer-executable instructions and/or data structures. In particular, one or more of the processes described herein may be implemented at least in part as instructions embodied in a non-transitory computer-readable medium and executable by one or more computing devices (e.g., any of the media content access devices described herein). In general, a processor (e.g., a microprocessor) receives instructions, from a non-transitory computer-readable medium, (e.g., a memory, etc.), and executes those instructions, thereby performing one or more processes, including one or more of the processes described herein. 
     Computer-readable media can be any available media accessible by a general-purpose or special-purpose computer system. Computer-readable media that store computer-executable instructions are non-transitory computer-readable storage media (devices). Computer-readable media that carry computer-executable instructions are transmission media. Thus, by way of example, and not limitation, embodiments of the disclosure can include at least two distinctly different kinds of computer-readable media: non-transitory computer-readable storage media (devices) and transmission media. 
     Non-transitory computer-readable storage media (devices) includes RAM, ROM, EEPROM, CD-ROM, solid state drives, Flash memory, phase-change memory, other types of memory, other optical disk storage, magnetic disk storage or other magnetic storage devices, or any other medium used to store desired program code means in the form of computer-executable instructions or data structures, and accessible by a general-purpose or special-purpose computer. 
     Computer-executable instructions include, for example, instructions and data which, when executed by a processor, cause a general-purpose computer, special-purpose computer, or special-purpose processing device to perform a certain function or group of functions. In some embodiments, a general-purpose computer executes computer-executable instructions to turn the general-purpose computer into a special-purpose computer implementing elements of the disclosure. The computer executable instructions may be, for example, binaries, intermediate format instructions such as assembly language, or even source code. Although the subject matter has been described in language specific to structural features and/or methods, it is to be understood that the subject matter defined in the appended claims is not necessarily limited to the described features or acts described above. Rather, the described features and acts are disclosed as example forms of implementing the claims. 
       FIG. 12  illustrates a block diagram of an example computing device  1200  that may be configured to perform one or more of the processes described above. One will appreciate that one or more computing devices, such as the computing device  1200  may represent the client devices and server devices described above. In one or more embodiments, the computing device  1200  may be a mobile device (e.g., a mobile telephone, a smartphone, a PDA, a tablet, a laptop, a camera, a tracker, a watch, a wearable device, etc.). In some embodiments, the computing device  1200  may be a non-mobile device (e.g., a desktop computer or another type of client device). Further, the computing device  1200  may be a server device that includes cloud-based processing capabilities. 
     As shown in  FIG. 12 , the computing device  1200  can include one or more processor(s)  1202 , memory  1204 , a storage device  1206 , input/output (“I/O”) interfaces  1208 , and a communication interface  1210 , which may be communicatively coupled by way of a communication infrastructure (e.g., bus  1212 ). While the computing device  1200  is shown in  FIG. 12 , the components illustrated in  FIG. 12  are not intended to be limiting. Additional or alternative components may be used in other embodiments. Furthermore, in certain embodiments, the computing device  1200  includes fewer components than those shown in  FIG. 12 . Components of the computing device  1200  shown in  FIG. 12  will now be described in additional detail. 
     In particular embodiments, the processor(s)  1202  includes hardware for executing instructions, such as those making up a computer program. As an example, and not by way of limitation, to execute instructions, processor(s)  1202  may retrieve (or fetch) the instructions from an internal register, an internal cache, memory  1204 , or a storage device  1206  and decode and execute them. 
     The computing device  1200  includes memory  1204 , which is coupled to the processor(s)  1202 . The memory  1204  may be used for storing data, metadata, and programs for execution by the processor(s). The memory  1204  may include one or more of volatile and non-volatile memories, such as Random-Access Memory (“RAM”), Read-Only Memory (“ROM”), a solid-state disk (“SSD”), Flash, Phase Change Memory (“PCM”), or other types of data storage. The memory  1204  may be internal or distributed memory. 
     The computing device  1200  includes a storage device  1206  includes storage for storing data or instructions. As an example, and not by way of limitation, storage device  1206  can include a non-transitory storage medium described above. The storage device  1206  may include a hard disk drive (HDD), flash memory, a Universal Serial Bus (USB) drive or a combination these or other storage devices. 
     As shown, the computing device  1200  includes one or more I/O interfaces  1208 , which are provided to allow a user to provide input to (such as user strokes), receive output from, and otherwise transfer data to and from the computing device  1200 . These I/O interfaces  1208  may include a mouse, keypad or a keyboard, a touch screen, camera, optical scanner, network interface, modem, other known I/O devices or a combination of such I/O interfaces  1208 . The touch screen may be activated with a stylus or a finger. 
     The I/O interfaces  1208  may include one or more devices for presenting output to a user, including, but not limited to, a graphics engine, a display (e.g., a display screen), one or more output drivers (e.g., display drivers), one or more audio speakers, and one or more audio drivers. In certain embodiments, I/O interfaces  1208  are configured to provide graphical data to a display for presentation to a user. The graphical data may be representative of one or more graphical user interfaces and/or any other graphical content as may serve a particular implementation. 
     The computing device  1200  can further include a communication interface  1210 . The communication interface  1210  can include hardware, software, or both. The communication interface  1210  provides one or more interfaces for communication (such as, for example, packet-based communication) between the computing device and one or more other computing devices or one or more networks. As an example, and not by way of limitation, communication interface  1210  may include a network interface controller (NIC) or network adapter for communicating with an Ethernet or other wire-based network or a wireless NIC (WNIC) or wireless adapter for communicating with a wireless network, such as a WI-FI. The computing device  1200  can further include a bus  1212 . The bus  1212  can include hardware, software, or both that couples components of computing device  1200  to each other. 
     In the foregoing specification, the invention has been described with reference to specific exemplary embodiments thereof. Various embodiments and aspects of the invention(s) are described with reference to details discussed herein, and the accompanying drawings illustrate the various embodiments. The description above and drawings are illustrative of the invention and are not to be construed as limiting the invention. Numerous specific details are described to provide a thorough understanding of various embodiments of the present invention. 
     The present invention may be embodied in other specific forms without departing from its spirit or essential characteristics. The described embodiments are to be considered in all respects only as illustrative and not restrictive. For example, the methods described herein may be performed with less or more steps/acts or the steps/acts may be performed in differing orders. Additionally, the steps/acts described herein may be repeated or performed in parallel with one another or in parallel with different instances of the same or similar steps/acts. The scope of the invention is, therefore, indicated by the appended claims rather than by the foregoing description. All changes that come within the meaning and range of equivalency of the claims are to be embraced within their scope.