System for transferring customized hardware and software settings from one computer to another computer to provide personalized operating environments

US 6,963,908 B1
Filed: 11/13/2000
Issued: 11/08/2005
Est. Priority Date: 03/29/2000
Status: Expired due to Fees

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1. A method for transferring the look and feel of at least a first computer-based device to remote computer-based storage, said transfer across HTTP-based networks, said method comprising:

a. downloading a software component to manipulate settings;

b. remotely analyzing said first computer-based device to discover hardware and software settings applicable to said look and feel of said first computer-based device, wherein said settings comprise hardware settings, system settings, attached device settings, application settings, document settings, desktop settings, files, data, e-mail settings, address book settings, bookmarks, and cookies;

c. listing settings available for transfer;

d. downloading instructions to said software component to locate, extract and transfer specified settings from said listed settings, ande. storing and uniquely identifying said transferred settings in said remote storage.

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Abstract

A method and system for transferring information from a first computer-based device to a web site, for temporary storage and later transfer of the stored information from the web site to a second computer-based device. First, a communication link is established between a first computer-based device and the web site. Next, the first computer-based device is scanned, via the web site, to determine the information contained on the first computer-based device. The user then selects which of the scanned information is to be uploaded from the first computer-based device onto the web site for temporary storage. Finally, the selected information is transferred from the first computer-based device onto the web site for temporary storage. Once retrieval of the temporarily stored information is desired, the user establishes a communication link between a second computer-based device and the web site. The second computer-based device is scanned, via the web site, to determine the information contained on the second computer-based device. The temporarily stored information, from the first computer-based device on the web site, is then displayed to the user and the user selects which of this temporary information, from the first computer-based device, is to be downloaded from the web site onto the second computer-based device. The selected information is finally downloaded from the website onto the second computer-based device.

382 Citations

69 Claims

1. A method for transferring the look and feel of at least a first computer-based device to remote computer-based storage, said transfer across HTTP-based networks, said method comprising:
- a. downloading a software component to manipulate settings;
  
  b. remotely analyzing said first computer-based device to discover hardware and software settings applicable to said look and feel of said first computer-based device, wherein said settings comprise hardware settings, system settings, attached device settings, application settings, document settings, desktop settings, files, data, e-mail settings, address book settings, bookmarks, and cookies;
  
  c. listing settings available for transfer;
  
  d. downloading instructions to said software component to locate, extract and transfer specified settings from said listed settings, ande. storing and uniquely identifying said transferred settings in said remote storage.
- View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
- - 2. A method for transferring the look and feel of at least a first computer-based device to remote computer-based storage, as per claim 1, wherein said listing of settings includes supplying an HTML document displaying said list.
  - 3. A method for transferring the look and feel of at least a first computer-based device to remote computer-based storage, as per claim 1, wherein said stored settings are retrieved by one or more requesting devices from said remote storage as identified by said unique identification.
  - 4. A method for transferring the look and feel of at least a first computer-based device to remote computer-based storage, as per claim 3, wherein said retrieval by said one or more requesting devices from said remote storage includes repeating a–
    - c for the requesting device.
  - 5. A method for transferring the look and feel of at least a first computer-based device to remote computer-based storage, as per claim 4, wherein said retrieval by said one or more requesting devices from said remote storage further includes:
    - loading and installing on said requesting device a compatible version of said identified stored settings to provide said look and feel of said first computer-based device to said requesting device.
  - 6. A method for transferring the look and feel of at least a first computer-based device to remote computer-based storage, as per claim 1, wherein said HTTP-based network comprises the Internet.
  - 7. A method for transferring the look and feel of at least a first computer-based device to remote computer-based storage, as per claim 1, wherein said HTTP-based network comprises any of the following networks:
    - Internet, LAN, WAN, virtual LAN, wireless web, or telecommunications based.
  - 8. A method for transferring the look and feel of at least a first computer-based device to remote computer-based storage, as per claim 1, wherein said downloaded instructions comprise mark-up based directives comprises any of the following formats:
    - XML, SGML or HTML.
  - 9. A method for transferring the look and feel of at least a first computer-based device to remote computer-based storage, as per claim 8, wherein said mark-up based directives comprise XML tags which are parsed and executed as per said software component during said locating and extracting.
  - 10. A method for transferring the look and feel of at least a first computer-based device to remote computer-based storage, as per claim 1, wherein said at least a first computer-based device comprises one or more of the following:
    - personal computer systems, laptops, portable computers, net devices, palm computers, and Web and WAP phones.

11. A method for transferring the look and feel of at least a first computer-based device to remote computer-based storage, said transfer across the Internet, said method comprising:
- downloading a software component to manipulate settings;
  
  remotely analyzing said first computer-based device to discover hardware and software settings applicable to said look and feel of said first computer-based device, wherein said settings comprising hardware settings, system settings, attached device settings, application settings, document settings, desktop settings, files, data, e-mail settings, address book settings, bookmarks, and cookies;
  
  listing settings available for transfer;
  
  downloading instructions to said software component to locate, extract and transfer specified settings from said listed settings, said instructions comprising one or more parsed XML directives including XML tags identifying at least type and location of desired settings, and storing said transferred settings and a unique identifier across said Internet to said remote storage.
- View Dependent Claims (12)
- - 12. A method for transferring the look and feel of at least a first computer-based device to remote computer-based storage, as per claim 11, wherein said stored settings are retrieved by one or more requesting devices from said remote storage as identified by said unique identifiers, said retrieval by said one or more requesting devices from said remote storage including repeating a–
    - c for the requesting device and further including loading and installing on said requesting device a compatible version of said identified stored settings to provide said look and feel of said first computer-based device to said requesting device.

13. A system for transferring across a network, computer-based settings, files, and other data, said system comprising:
- a network server and associated computer storage, said network server receiving requests from one or more computer-based devices for transfer of said computer-based settings, files, and other data;
  
  at least a first software plug-in, downloadable from said network server to said requesting computer-based device(s);
  
  one or more mark-up based directive(s) sent from said network server and operative with said downloaded first software plug-in at said requesting computer-based device(s), andwherein, in a load mode, said one or more mark-up based directive(s) are parsed and processed by said first software plug-in to return to said associated computer storage, a selected group of settings, files, and other data associated with said requesting computer-based device(s), wherein said settings comprise hardware settings, system settings, attached device settings, application settings, document settings, desktop settings, files, data, e-mail settings, address book settings, bookmarks, and cookies, and in an unload mode, said one or more mark-up based directive(s) are parsed and processed by said first software plug-in to load and install a version of one or more of selected groups stored within said associated computer storage to said requesting computer-based device(s).
- View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27)
- - 14. A system for transferring across a network, computer-based settings, files, and other data, as per claim 13, wherein said network utilizes the HTTP protocol.
  - 15. A system for transferring across a network, computer-based settings, files, and other data, as per claim 13, wherein said network comprises the Internet.
  - 16. A system for transferring across a network, computer-based settings, files, and other data, as per claim 13, wherein said network comprises any of:
    - HTTP based, Internet, LAN, WAN, virtual LAN, wireless web, or telecommunications based.
  - 17. A system for transferring across a network, computer-based settings, files, and other data, as per claim 13, wherein said mark-up based directive(s) comprise any of the following formats:
    - XML, SGML or HTML.
  - 18. A system for transferring across a network, computer-based settings, files, and other data, as per claim 13, wherein use of said mark-up based directive(s) enables intelligent selection of a subset of available settings, files or data.
  - 19. A system for transferring, across a network, computer-based settings, files, and other data, as per claim 13, wherein said one or more computer-based devices include any of the following:
    - personal computer systems, laptops, portable computers, net devices, palm computers, or Web and WAP phones.
  - 20. A system for transferring, across a network, computer-based settings, files, and other data, as per claim 13, wherein, in a back-up mode, a single computer-based device requests the load and, in a restore mode, the unload.
  - 21. A system for transferring, across a network, computer-based settings, files, and other data, as per claim 13, wherein said system enables personal computer upgrades by loading a first older computer'"'"'s environment comprising said settings, files and other data into said associated storage and thereafter uploading a version of said environment compatible with a new personal computer.
  - 22. A system for transferring, across a network, computer-based settings, files, and other data, as per claim 13, wherein at least one of said one or more mark-up based directive(s) comprises a review directive to analyze existing computer-based settings, files, and other data on said requesting computer-based device.
  - 23. A system for transferring, across a network, computer-based settings, files, and other data, as per claim 13, wherein said system further comprises a converter to translate said stored computer-based settings, files, and other data into various device compatible formats based on said review directive.
  - 24. A system for transferring, across a network, computer-based settings, files, and other data, as per claim 13, wherein at least one of said one or more mark-up based directive(s) provides instructions to said downloaded plug-in to locate and extract computer-based settings, files, and other data from a registry and file system of said requesting computer-based device.
  - 25. A system for transferring, across a network, computer-based settings, files, and other data, as per claim 13, further comprising a graphical user interface for interactively selecting one or more computer-based settings, files, and other data for transfer.
  - 26. A system for transferring, across a network, computer-based settings, files, and other data, as per claim 13, wherein said one or more requesting computer-based devices comprise at least a first and second device with disparate operating systems and said version of one or more selected groups stored within said associated computer storage is selected by said network server to make the unload compatible with the operating system of the requesting device.
  - 27. A system for transferring, across a network, computer-based settings, files, and other data, as per claim 13, wherein said one or more requesting computer-based devices comprise at least a first and second device with disparate formats and said version of one or more selected groups stored within said associated computer storage is selected by said network server to make the upload compatible with the format of the requesting device.

28. A method for transferring information from a first computer-based device to a web site, for temporary storage and for later transfer of the stored information from the web site to a second computer-based device, the method comprising:
- establishing a communication link between a first computer-based device and a web site having a storage capability;
  
  scanning the first computer-based device, via the web site, to determine the information contained on the first computer-based device, wherein said information comprises hardware settings, system settings, attached device settings, application settings, document settings, desktop settings, files, data, e-mail settings, address book settings, bookmarks, and cookies;
  
  allowing a user to select which of the scanned information, determined by the web site, is to be uploaded from the first computer-based device onto the web site for temporary storage; and
  
  transferring the information, contained on the first computer-based device and selected by the user, onto the web site for temporary storage.
- View Dependent Claims (29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37)
- - 29. The method according to claim 28, further comprising:
    - establishing communication link between a second computer-based device and the web site;
      
      scanning the second computer-based device, via the web site, to determine information contained on the second computer-based device;
      
      displaying the information, from the first computer-based device temporarily stored on the web site, to the user;
      
      allowing the user to select which of the temporary information, from the first computer-based device and stored on the web site, is to be downloaded from the web site onto the second computer-based device; and
      
      downloading the selected information from the web site onto the second computer-based device.
  - 30. The method according to claim 29, further comprising, after establishing a communication link but before scanning the second computer-based device, downloading software from the web server to the second computer-based device to facilitate interaction between the second computer-based device and the web site.
  - 31. The method according to claim 29, further comprising storing the information obtained from the second computer-based device, during the scan via the web site, in a database.
  - 32. The method according to claim 29, further comprising providing a message to the second computer-based device to indicate whether the transfer of the selected and temporarily stored information successfully occurred from the personal account of the user at the web site onto the second computer-based device.
  - 33. The method according to claim 28, further comprising, prior to scanning the first computer-based device, having the user to set up a personal account at the web server system;
    - andrequiring the user to assign a password to the personal account at the web server system to restricted access to the personal account.
  - 34. The method according to claim 33, further comprising requiring the user to enter account number and password information, prior to the user of the second computer-based device being provided with access to the personal account of the user at the web server system.
  - 35. The method according to claim 28, further comprising, after establishing a communication link but before scanning the first computer-based device, downloading software from the web server to the first computer-based device to facilitate interaction between the first computer-based device and the web site.
  - 36. The method according to claim 28, further comprising storing the information obtained from the first computer-based device, during the scan via the web site, in a data base.
  - 37. The method according to claim 28, further comprising providing a message to the first computer-based device to indicate whether the transfer of the information, selected by the user, successfully occurred from the first computer-based device onto the web site for temporary storage.

38. A system for transferring information from a first computer-based device to a web site, for temporary storage and for later transfer of the stored information from the web site to a second computer-based device, the system comprising:
- means for establishing a communication link between a first computer-based device and a web site, the web site having storage means for temporary storage of information;
  
  means for scanning the first computer-based device, via the web site, to determine the information contained on the first computer-based device, wherein said information comprises hardware settings, system settings, attached device settings, application settings, document settings, desktop settings, files, data, e-mail settings, address book settings, bookmarks, and cookies;
  
  means for allowing a user to select which of the scanned information, determined by the web site, is to be uploaded from the first computer-based device onto the web site for temporary storage; and
  
  means for transferring the information, contained on the first computer-based device and selected by the user, onto the web site for temporary storage.
- View Dependent Claims (39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47)
- - 39. The system according to claim 38, further comprising:
    - means for establishing communication link between a second computer-based device and the web site;
      
      means for scanning the second computer-based device, via the web site, to determine information contained on the second computer-based device;
      
      means for displaying the information, from the first computer-based device temporarily stored on the web site, to the user;
      
      means for allowing the user to select which of the temporary information, from the first computer-based device and stored on the web site, is to be downloaded from the web site onto the second computer-based device; and
      
      means for downloading the selected information from the web site onto the second computer-based device.
  - 40. The system according to claim 39, further comprising the means for requiring the user to enter account number and password information, prior to the user of the second computer-based device being provided with access to the personal account of the user at the web server system.
  - 41. The system according to claim 39, further comprising, after establishing a communication link but before scanning the second computer-based device, means for downloading software from the web server to the second computer-based device to facilitate interaction between the second computer-based device and the web site.
  - 42. The system according to claim 39, further comprising means for storing the information obtained from the second computer-based device, during the scan via the web site, in a data base.
  - 43. The system according to claim 39, further comprising means for providing a message to the second computer-based device to indicate whether the transfer of the selected and temporarily stored information successfully occurred from the personal account of the user at the web site onto the second computer-based device.
  - 44. The system according to claim 38, further comprising, prior to scanning the first computer-based device, means for having the user set up a personal account at the web server system;
    - andmeans for requiring the user to assign a password to the personal account at the web server system to restrict access to the personal account.
  - 45. The system according to claim 38, further comprising, after establishing a communication link but before scanning the first computer-based device, means for downloading software from the web server to the first computer-based device to facilitate interaction between the first computer-based device and the web site.
  - 46. The system according to claim 38, further comprising means for storing the information obtained from the first computer-based device, during the scan via the web site, in a database.
  - 47. The system according to claim 38, further comprising means for providing a message to the first computer-based device to indicate whether the transfer of the information, selected by the user, successfully occurred from the first computer-based device onto the web site for temporary storage.

48. A method for transporting over a network, computer-based settings, files, and other data from a first computer-based device to remote computer-based storage, and for later transfer from said computer-based storage to at least a second computer-based device, said method performed using one or more remote servers located within said network, said method comprising:
- a. establishing a communication link between said first computer-based device and at least a first of said one or more remote servers;
  
  b. downloading at least a first of one or more software programs from said first remote server onto said first computer-based device, said first software program enabling the temporary extraction of one or more of said computer-based settings, files, and other data, wherein said settings comprise hardware settings, system settings, attached device settings, application settings, document settings, desktop settings, files, data, e-mail settings, address book settings, bookmarks, and cookies;
  
  c. providing a user interface for selecting specific ones of said temporarily extracted computer-based settings, files, and other data for transfer to said computer-based storage;
  
  d. upon said selection, said first software program executing routines in conjunction with said first remote server to transfer said selection to said computer-based storage;
  
  e. executing a transfer of said stored computer-based settings, files, and other data to at least a second computer-based device comprising;
  
  f. establishing a communication link between said second computer-based device and said first remote server;
  
  g. downloading at least a first of one or more software programs from said first remote server onto said second computer-based device;
  
  h. said first software program enabling the transfer and installation of one or more of said stored computer-based settings, files, and other data;
  
  i. providing a user interface for selecting specific ones of said stored computer-based settings, files, and other data for transfer to said second computer-based device;
  
  j. upon said selection, said first software program executing routines in conjunction with said first remote server to transfer and install said selection to said second computer-based device.
- View Dependent Claims (49, 50, 51, 52, 53, 54, 55, 56, 57, 58, 59, 60, 61, 62, 63)
- - 49. A method for transporting over a network, computer-based settings, files, and other data as per claim 48, wherein said communications utilize the HTTP protocol.
  - 50. A method for transporting over a network, computer-based settings, files, and other data as per claim 48, wherein said network comprises the Internet, said first remote server comprises a web server and said first software program is downloaded via a website controlled by said web server.
  - 51. A method for transporting over a network, computer-based settings, files, and other data as per claim 48, wherein said network comprises an enterprise network and said first remote server comprises an enterprise server.
  - 52. A method for transporting over a network, computer-based settings, files, and other data as per claim 48, wherein said first software program utilizes at least a first directive file, in extended markup language format and creates a second directive file, in extended markup language format.
  - 53. A method for transporting over a network, computer-based settings, files, and other data as per claim 52, wherein said first and second directive files are created using the following:
    - said first software program issuing a command to said first remote server;
      
      said first remote server querying a database server regarding information on where to collect at least said settings on said first computer-based device;
      
      said database server sending a resultant set containing said information on where to collect settings, files and other data to said first remote server;
      
      said remote server converting said resultant set into a data stream of XML tags thereby creating said first directive;
      
      said first software program gathering said settings, files, and other data by parsing said first directive file, andcreating said second directive file, in XML format, by encapsulating said gathered settings, files, and other data.
  - 54. A method for transporting over a network, computer-based settings, files, and other data as per claim 53, wherein said querying said database server further comprises:
    - running an active server page (ASP) on said first remote server, andcreating an active data object (ADO) to transfer data regarding location of settings in said first computer-based device.
  - 55. A method for transporting over a network, computer-based settings, files, and other data as per claim 53, wherein said issued command is a HTTP POST command.
  - 56. A method for transporting over a network, computer-based settings, files, and other data as per claim 53, wherein said downloading said first directive file with settings information in XML tag format onto said second computer-based device is accomplished via an HTTP POST command.
  - 57. A method for transporting over a network, computer-based settings, files, and other data as per claim 53, wherein said parsing said first or second directive files is accomplished via an XML parser.
  - 58. A method for transporting over a network, computer-based settings, files, and other data as per claim 48, further comprising undoing said installed settings and returning to original settings upon receiving an undo command.
  - 59. A method for transporting over a network, computer-based settings, files, and other data as per claim 48, wherein said first software program comprises a C++ plug-in.
  - 60. A method for transporting over a network, computer-based settings, files, and other data as per claim 48, wherein said first software program further includes ActiveX support.
  - 61. A method for transporting over a network, computer-based settings, files, and other data as per claim 48, wherein said executed routines are Javascript routines.
  - 62. A method for transporting over a network, computer-based settings, files, and other data as per claim 48, wherein said user interface is a set of HTML pages.
  - 63. A method for transporting over a network, computer-based settings, files, and other data as per claim 48, wherein said first or second computer-based devices include any of the following:
    - personal computer systems, laptops, portable computers, net devices, palm computers, or Web and WAP phones.

64. A system for transferring specified computer settings between one or more clients and one or more servers across the Internet, said system comprising:
- one or more web application servers, at least one of said web application servers operatively controlling a first website;
  
  one or more binary data servers operatively connected to said one or more web application servers;
  
  one or more database servers operatively connected to said one or more web application servers, anda client program downloaded to said client from said first website, said client program collecting and returning to said one or more binary data servers said specified computer settings based on parsed and executed XML directives originating from said database server and transferred to said client from said website, wherein said settings comprise hardware settings, system settings, attached device settings, application settings, document settings, desktop settings, files, data, e-mail settings, address book settings, bookmarks, and cookies.
- View Dependent Claims (65, 66, 67, 68)
- - 65. A system for transferring specified computer settings between one or more clients and one or more servers across the Internet, as per claim 64, wherein said client program comprises one or more of:
    - an ATL DLL core module, web call module, file transfer module, and browser interface.
  - 66. A system for transferring specified computer settings between one or more clients and one or more servers across the Internet, as per claim 65, wherein said XML directives are replaced with SGML or HTML directives.
  - 67. A system for transferring specified computer settings between one or more clients and one or more servers across the Internet, as per claim 65, wherein said parsed and executed XML based directive(s) enable an intelligent subset selection of available client settings, files or data.
  - 68. A system for transferring specified computer settings between one or more clients and one or more servers across the Internet, as per claim 65, wherein said clients include any of the following:
    - personal computer systems, laptops, portable computers, net devices, palm computers, or Web and WAP phones.

69. A method for transporting over an HTTP network, computer-based settings, said method performed using one or more remote servers located within said HTTP network, said method comprising:
- downloading from a first of said one or more remote servers a software plug-in to a computer-based device requesting transfer of said computer-based settings, wherein said settings comprise hardware settings, system settings, attached device settings, application settings, document settings, desktop settings, files, data, e-mail settings, address book settings, bookmarks, and cookies;
  
  using said first software plug-in to execute routines in conjunction with said first remote server to transfer said settings across said HTTP-based network.

Specification

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Litigation Data

Current Assignee
Clouding Corporation (Marathon Patent Group, Inc.)
Original Assignee
Symantec Corporation (NortonLifeLock Inc.)
Inventors
Lynch, Gerard D., Berenson, Dana Bruce, Woodard, Andrew Shay
Primary Examiner(s)
Luu, Le Hien

Application Number

US09/709,505
Time in Patent Office

1,821 Days
Field of Search

709/220, 709/221, 709/226, 709/229, 709/222, 370/351, 358/500, 710/15, 719/313
US Class Current

709/220
CPC Class Codes

G06F 9/44505 Configuring for program ini...

System for transferring customized hardware and software settings from one computer to another computer to provide personalized operating environments

First Claim

11 Assignments

Litigations

0 Petitions

Accused Products

Abstract

382 Citations

69 Claims

Specification

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System for transferring customized hardware and software settings from one computer to another computer to provide personalized operating environments

First Claim

11 Assignments

Subscription Required

Subscription Required

Litigations

0 Petitions

Subscription Required

Accused Products

Subscription Required

Abstract

382 Citations

69 Claims

Specification

Subscription Required

Solutions

Use Cases

Quick Links