User initiated data rollback using operating system partitions

• US 10,013,259 B2
• Filed: 04/01/2016
• Issued: 07/03/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 10/18/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Google LLC (Alphabet Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Google LLC (Alphabet Inc.)
• Inventors: Srinivasan, Jayendran, Sosa, Chris Brian, Cairns, Ryan, Covell, Paul Allan
• Primary Examiner(s): Yen, Paul J
• Application Number:
  US15/089,426
• Publication Number:
  US 20160216979A1
• Time in Patent Office: 823 Days
• Field of Search: None
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 9/4406 Loading of operating system

Abstract

Methods for returning a computing system to a previous state are provided. In one aspect, a method includes loading a second system state of a second operating system partition, and receiving a request to return to a first system state of a first operating system partition while operating in a second system state of the second operating system partition. The method also includes loading the first system state of the first operating system partition. Systems and machine-readable media are also provided.

Claims

1. A computer-implemented method for returning an operating system on a computing system to a previous state, the method comprising:

receiving a first request to apply a modification to a first system state of an operating system while operating in the first system state of the operating system on a first storage partition in order to generate a second system state of the operating system;

loading on a second storage partition the second system state of the operating system;

receiving a request by a user to return to the first system state of the operating system while operating in the second system state of the operating system;

loading the first system state of the operating system on the first storage partition based on the request by the user to return to the first system state of the operating system from the second system state;

subsequent to receiving the request to return to the first system state of the operating system, receiving a second request to apply the modification to the first system state of the operating system while operating in the first system state of the operating system on the first storage partition in order to generate the second system state of the operating system; and

restricting application of the modification to the first system state of the operating system in order to generate the second system state of the operating system on the second storage partition based on the request by the user to return to the first system state of the operating system from the second system state.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising storing in memory an indicator of the request by the user to return to the first system state of the operating system while operating in the second system state of the operating system in response to receiving the request to return to the first system state of the operating system.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein application of the modification is restricted based on a determination that the indicator of the request by the user to return to the first system state of the operating system while operating in the second system state is stored in the memory.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising periodically determining whether at least one of the modification or another modification is available while operating in the first system state of the operating system on the first storage partition.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the first request to apply the modification to the first system state of the operating system is received from a server, and the method further comprises sending a notification to the server indicative of the request to return to the first system state of the operating system.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the request by the user to return to the first system state of the operating system on the first storage partition while operating in the second system state of the operating system on the second storage partition is received within a user interface of the second system state of the operating system from the user using an input device while operating in the second system state of the operating system on the second storage partition.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the first system state of the operating system is configured to provide access to at least one feature that is inaccessible by the second system state.

8. A system for returning an operating system on a computing system to a previous state, the system comprising:

a memory comprising;

a first storage partition comprising a first system state of an operating system; and

a second storage partition; and

a processor configured to;

receive a first request to apply a modification to the first system state of the operating system while operating in the first system state of the operating system on the first storage partition in order to generate a second system state of the operating system;

load the second system state of the operating system on the second storage partition,

receive, from a user using an input device while operating in the second system state of the operating system , a request to return to the first system state of the operating system;

load the first system state of the operating system on the first storage partition based on the request by the user to return to the first system state of the operating system from the second system state;

subsequent to receiving the request to return to the first system state of the operating system, receive a second request to apply the modification to the first system state of the operating system on the first storage partition in order to generate the second system state of the operating system; and

restrict application of the modification to the first system state of the operating system in order to generate the second system state of the operating system on the second storage partition based on the request by the user to return to the first system state of the operating system from the second system state.

9. The system of claim 8, wherein the processor is further configured to store in the memory an indicator of the request by the user to return to the first system state of the operating system while operating in the second system state of the operating system in response to receiving the request to return to the first system state of the operating system.

10. The system of claim 9, wherein application of the modification is restricted based on a determination that the icator of the request by the user to return to the first system state of the operating system while operating in the second system state of the operating system is stored in the memory.

11. The system of claim 8, wherein the processor is further configured to periodically determine whether at least one of the modification or another modification is available while operating in the first system state of the operating system on the first storage partition.

12. The system of claim 8, wherein the first request to apply the modification to the first system state of the operating system is received from a server, and the system further comprises sending a notification to the server indicative of the request to return to the first system state of the operating system.

13. The system of claim 8, wherein the first system state of the operating system is configured to provide access to at least one feature that is inaccessible by the second system state of the operating system.

14. A non-transitory machine-readable storage medium comprising machine-readable instructions for causing a processor to execute a method for returning an operating system on a computing system to a previous state, the method comprising:

receiving a first request to apply a modification to a first system state of an operating system while operating in the first system state of the operating system on a first storage partition in order to generate a second system state of the operating system;

applying the modification to the first system state of the operating system in order to generate the second system state of the operating system on a second storage partition;

loading the second system state of the operating system on the second storage partition;

receiving a request by a user to return to the first system state of the operating system from the second system state while operating in the second system state of the operating system

loading the first system state of the operating system on the first storage partition based on the request by the user to return to the first system state of the operating system from the second system state;

subsequent to receiving the request to return to the first system state of the operating system, receiving a second request to apply the modification to the first system state of the operating system while operating in the first system state of the operating system on the first storage partition in order to generate the second system state of the operating system; and

restricting application of the modification to the first system state of the operating system in order to generate the second system state of the operating system on the second storage partition based on the request by the user to return to the first system state of the operating system from the second system state.

15. The non-transitory machine-readable storage medium of claim 14, wherein the method further comprises storing in memory an indicator of the request by the user to return to the first system state of the operating system while operating in the second system state of the operating system in response to receiving the request to return to the first system state of the operating system.

16. The non-transitory machine-readable storage medium of claim 15, wherein application of the modification is restricted based on a determination that the indicator of the request by the user to return to the first system state of the operating system while operating in the second system state is stored in the memory.

17. The non-transitory machine-readable storage medium of claim 14, wherein the method further comprises periodically determining whether at least one of the modification or another modification is available while operating in the first system state of the operating system on the first storage partition.

18. The non-transitory machine-readable storage medium of claim 14, wherein the first request to apply the modification to first system state of the operating system is received from a server, and the method further comprises sending a notification to the server indicative of the request to return to the first system state of the operating system.

19. The non-transitory machine-readable storage medium of claim 14, wherein the request by the user to return to the first system state of the-operating system on the first storage partition while operating in the second system state of the operating system on the second storage partition is received within a user interface of the second system state of the operating system from the user using an input device while operating in the second system state of the operating system on the second storage partition.

20. The non-transitory machine-readable storage medium of claim 14, wherein the first system state of the operating system is configured to provide access to at least one feature that is inaccessible by the second system state.