Enabling an application access to setup information therefor

• US 20020095663A1
• Filed: 08/31/2001
• Published: 07/18/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 08/31/2000
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Docubase Limited
• Original Assignee: Docubase Limited
• Inventors: Joory, Rafael
• Application Number:
  US09/942,639
• Publication Number:
  US 20020095663A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 717/136
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/27 Replication, distribution or synchronisation of data between databases or within a distributed database system; Distributed database system architectures therefor

Abstract

The setup data from a source application or computer may be accessed and used to supplant the setup data from a destination application or computer, and the supplanted setup data may be preserved for reinstatement or future access. In the event of reinstatement, the application setup data accessed by the destination application may be synchronized with corresponding application setup data stored at the accessible data store, enabling resolution of changes to the application setup data resulting from simultaneous application of the application setup data to more than one destination application. Application setup data retrieved from an accessible data store may be made accessible to one or more destination applications. The format of the application setup data retrieved from storage may be converted from a first data format into a second data format that comports with the format of the destination application seeking its access from one or more destination computer.

Claims

1. A method for making application setup data accessible to one or more destination applications, the method comprising:

retrieving, from an accessible data store, application setup data having a first data format;

converting the application setup data from the first data format into a second data format; and

enabling access to the application setup data of second data format by one or more destination software applications on one or more destination computers.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein retrieving the application setup data from the accessible data store comprises retrieving less than all application setup data.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the application setup data is retrieved from the accessible data store intelligently.

4. The method of claim 2, wherein retrieving less than all of the application setup data comprises retrieving user-customized application setup data.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the application setup data includes data of constant size.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the application setup data includes application end-purpose data.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the application setup data includes display formatting data for one or more software programs.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the application setup data does not include mail address information, favorites information, calendar information, task information, email information, journal notes or cookies.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein converting the application setup data from the first data format to the second data format comprises removing at least one application-specific code from the application setup data.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein converting the application setup data from the first data format to the second data format comprises changing the application setup data into a format that is incompatible with a source software application from which the application settings data was derived.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein converting the application setup data from the first data format to the second data format comprises converting at least some of the application setup data into a format that is incompatible with at least one of the source and destination software applications.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein converting the application setup data from the first data format to the second data format comprises converting at least some of the application setup data into a format that is incompatible with both of the source and destination software applications.

13. The method of claim 9, wherein converting the application setup data from the first data format to the second data format comprises changing the application setup data from the first data format that is incompatible with the destination software application to the second data format that is compatible with the destination software application.

14. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

determining a category for the application setup data among several predetermined categories of application setup data,

wherein enabling access comprises enabling access by the destination software applications to the categories of application setup data.

15. The method of claim 14, further comprising:

storing the application setup data in a manner that enables access to the application setup data based on the category determined,

wherein enabling access to the application setup data comprises enabling access to the stored application setup data that have a category consistent with the category of information accessed by the destination software applications.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein enabling access further comprises:

identifying the destination software applications;

determining the categories of application setup data accessed by the destination software applications identified; and

making the application setup data available when the categories of application setup data accessed by the destination software applications include the category determined for the application setup data.

17. The method of claim 1, wherein:

retrieving the application setup data comprises accessing a source computer at which a user selected the application setup data, and enabling access to the application setup data comprises storing the application setup data, after conversion, in a data store that is remote to the source and destination computers.

18. The method of claim 1, wherein retrieving the application setup data from the accessible data store comprises accessing the application setup data on a data store that is remote to one or more source computers through which the application setup data was selected.

19. The method of claim 18, wherein enabling access comprises enabling access to the application setup data at the data store that is remote to the one or more source computers.

20. The method of claim 18, wherein enabling access comprises storing the application setup data on the destination computer.

21. The method of claim 1, wherein enabling access includes providing shortcut icons on the destination computer that correspond to one or more different application setup data for which access is enabled.

22. The method of claim 1, wherein:

retrieving the application setup data comprises accessing the application setup data from a local area network server that serves a first computer operated by a user, and

enabling access comprises enabling access by a second computer operated by the user that is not served by the server.

23. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

selectively retrieving additional data other than application setup data from the accessible data store with the application setup data, the additional data also having the first data format;

converting the additional data from the first data format into a second data format; and

enabling the one or more destination software applications on one or more destination computers access to the additional data of the second data format.

24. The method of claim 1, wherein:

retrieving the application setup data includes accessing the accessible data store at a source computer where the application setup data was selected, and

enabling access to the application setup data of second data format by the one or more destination computers includes storing the application setup data of second data format on an intermediate data store that is accessible to the one or more destination computers.

25. The method of claim 1, wherein the accessible data store is remote from a source computer where the application setup data was selected.

26. The method of claim 1, wherein the destination computer is a portable device that has limited storage capacity.

27. The method of claim 26, wherein the portable device is a cellular telephone.

28. The method of claim 26, wherein the portable device is a handheld device.

29. The method of claim 1, wherein source software application from which the application setup data was derived and the destination software application to which the application setup data is made accessible are similar.

30. The method of claim 29, wherein the source software application and the destination software application are different instantiations of a single software application.

31. The method of claim 29, wherein the source software application and the destination software application are different versions of a single software application.

32. The method of claim 29, wherein the source software application and the destination software application are different applications performing a similar function.

33. The method of claim 32, wherein the source and destination software applications are electronic mail applications.

34. The method of claim 1, wherein application setup and selective other data are retrieved, converted and made available for access.

35. The method of claim 1, further comprising rendering inaccessible at least some of the application setup data that is accessed by the destination software applications before access is enabled.

36. The method of claim 1, further comprising preserving at least some of the application setup data that is accessed by the destination software applications before access is enabled.

37. The method of claim 36, further comprising reinstating at least some of the application setup data that has been preserved when access is disabled.

38. The method of claim 1, further comprising updating the application setup data stored at the accessible data store by synchronizing the application setup data accessed by the destination application with corresponding application setup data stored at the accessible data store.

39. The method of claim 38, wherein changes to the application setup data resulting from simultaneous application of the application setup data to more than one destination application are resolved through the synchronizing.

40. A computer program, stored on a computer readable medium, for processing data with a computer system to make application setup data accessible to one or more destination applications, the computer program comprising:

retrieving, from an accessible data store, application setup data having a first data format;

converting the application setup data from the first data format into a second data format; and

enabling access to the application setup data of second data format by one or more destination software applications on one or more destination computers.

41. The computer program of claim 40, wherein retrieving the application setup data from the accessible data store comprises retrieving less than all application setup data.

42. The computer program of claim 41, wherein the application setup data is retrieved from the accessible data store intelligently.

43. The computer program of claim 41, wherein retrieving less than all of the application setup data comprises retrieving user-customized application setup data.

44. The computer program of claim 40, wherein the application setup data includes data of constant size.

45. The computer program of claim 40, wherein the application setup data includes application end-purpose data.

46. The computer program of claim 40, wherein the application setup data includes display formatting data for one or more software programs.

47. The computer program of claim 40, wherein the application setup data does not include mail address information, favorites information, calendar information, task information, email information, journal notes or cookies.

48. The computer program of claim 40, wherein converting the application setup data from the first data format to the second data format comprises removing at least one application-specific code from the application setup data.

49. The computer program of claim 48, wherein converting the application setup data from the first data format to the second data format comprises changing the application setup data into a format that is incompatible with a source software application from which the application settings data was derived.

50. The computer program of claim 49, wherein converting the application setup data from the first data format to the second data format comprises converting at least some of the application setup data into a format that is incompatible with at least one of the source and destination software applications.

51. The computer program of claim 50, wherein converting the application setup data from the first data format to the second data format comprises converting at least some of the application setup data into a format that is incompatible with both of the source and destination software applications.

52. The computer program of claim 48, wherein converting the application setup data from the first data format to the second data format comprises changing the application setup data from the first data format that is incompatible with the destination software application to the second data format that is compatible with the destination software application.

53. The computer program of claim 40, further comprising:

determining a category for the application setup data among several predetermined categories of application setup data,

wherein enabling access comprises enabling access by the destination software applications to the categories of application setup data.

54. The computer program of claim 53, further comprising:

storing the application setup data in a manner that enables access to the application setup data based on the category determined,

wherein enabling access to the application setup data comprises enabling access to the stored application setup data that have a category consistent with the category of information accessed by the destination software applications.

55. The computer program of claim 54, wherein enabling access further comprises:

identifying the destination software applications;

determining the categories of application setup data accessed by the destination software applications identified; and

making the application setup data available when the categories of application setup data accessed by the destination software applications include the category determined for the application setup data.

56. The computer program of claim 40, wherein:

retrieving the application setup data comprises accessing a source computer at which a user selected the application setup data, and

enabling access to the application setup data comprises storing the application setup data, after conversion, in a data store that is remote to the source and destination computers.

57. The computer program of claim 40, wherein retrieving the application setup data from the accessible data store comprises accessing the application setup data on a data store that is remote to one or more source computers through which the application setup data was selected.

58. The computer program of claim 57, wherein enabling access comprises enabling access to the application setup data at the data store that is remote to the one or more source computers.

59. The computer program of claim 57, wherein enabling access comprises storing the application setup data on the destination computer.

60. The computer program of claim 40, wherein enabling access includes providing shortcut icons on the destination computer that correspond to one or more different application setup data for which access is enabled.

61. The computer program of claim 40, wherein:

retrieving the application setup data comprises accessing the application setup data from a local area network server that serves a first computer operated by a user, and

enabling access comprises enabling access by a second computer operated by the user that is not served by the server.

62. The computer program of claim 40, further comprising:

selectively retrieving additional data from the accessible data store with the application setup data, the additional data also having the first data format;

converting the additional data from the first data format into a second data format; and

enabling the one or more destination software applications on one or more destination computers access to the additional data of the second data format.

63. The computer program of claim 40, wherein:

retrieving the application setup data includes accessing the accessible data store at a source computer where the application setup data was selected, and

enabling access to the application setup data of second data format by the one or more destination computers includes storing the application setup data of second data format on an intermediate data store that is accessible to the one or more destination computers.

64. The computer program of claim 40, wherein the accessible data store is remote from a source computer where the application setup data was selected.

65. The computer program of claim 40, wherein the destination computer is a portable device that has limited storage capacity.

66. The computer program of claim 65, wherein the portable device is a cellular telephone.

67. The computer program of claim 65, wherein the portable device is a handheld device.

68. The computer program of claim 40, wherein source software application from which the application setup data was derived and the destination software application to which the application setup data is made accessible are similar.

69. The computer program of claim 68, wherein the source software application and the destination software application are different instantiations of a single software application.

70. The computer program of claim 68, wherein the source software application and the destination software application are different versions of a single software application.

71. The computer program of claim 68, wherein the source software application and the destination software application are different applications performing a similar function.

72. The computer program of claim 71, wherein the source and destination software applications are electronic mail applications.

73. The computer program of claim 40, wherein application setup and selective other data are retrieved, converted and made available for access.

74. The computer program of claim 40, further comprising rendering inaccessible at least some of the application setup data that is accessed by the destination software applications before access is enabled.

75. The computer program of claim 40, further comprising preserving at least some of the application setup data that is accessed by the destination software applications before access is enabled.

76. The computer program of claim 75, further comprising reinstating at least some of the application setup data that has been preserved when access is disabled.

77. The computer program of claim 40, further comprising updating the application setup data stored at the accessible data store by synchronizing the application setup data accessed by the destination application with corresponding application setup data stored at the accessible data store.

78. The computer program of claim 77, wherein changes to the application setup data resulting from simultaneous application of the application setup data to more than one destination application are resolved through the synchronizing.