User data profile namespace

• US 20060224602A1
• Filed: 04/01/2005
• Published: 10/05/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 04/01/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
• Inventors: Guzak, Chris J., Brezak, John E., Zhu, Ming, Wentz, Brian D., Rawat, Anshul, De Vorchik, David G., Moore, Jason F., Giampiero, Sierra M., Samji, Mohammed A.
• Granted Patent: US 7,822,793 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/16 File or folder operations, e.g. details of user interfaces specifically adapted to file systems
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/176 Support for shared access to files; File sharing support

Abstract

A method and data structure for separating application data from user data in a namespace. The data structure provides an intuitive profile layout for developers or users while supporting legacy applications. The namespace utilizes a hierarchical structure allowing access by developers or users over a network to information contained in identified public folders and/or a user'"'"'s profile.

Claims

1. A computer-readable medium having stored thereon a data structure, the data structure separating application data from user data in a namespace, the data structure comprising:

a root folder for storing profiles;

a public folder for storing information to be shared with other users, the public folder being a subfolder of the root folder; and

at least one user folder for storing user data, the at least one user folder being a subfolder of the root folder, the at least one user folder further comprising;

i) a desktop folder, the desktop including shortcuts;

ii) a documents folder for storing documents created by an user;

iii) a downloads folder for storing content downloaded by the user;

iv) a favorites folder for storing website addresses saved by the user;

v) a music folder for storing music files saved by the user;

vi) a video folder for storing video files saved by the user, and

vii) a pictures folder for storing pictures saved by the user.

2. The computer-readable medium of claim 1, wherein the documents folder comprises a default storage location for storing documents created by the user.

3. The computer-readable medium of claim 1, wherein the at least one user folder further comprises:

viii) an application data folder for storing per user application data and binaries, the application data folder including a local folder and a roaming folder, the local folder for storing machine dependent application data and settings, the roaming folder for storing machine independent application data and settings.

4. The computer-readable medium of claim 3, wherein the local folder further comprises default folders for storage of machine specific data and setting, the default folders comprising a temporary folder, and application specific folders.

5. The computer-readable medium of claim 3, wherein the roaming folder further comprising default folders for storage of machine specific data and setting, the default folders comprising application specific folders.

6. The computer-readable medium of claim 3, wherein the application data folder is a hidden folder.

7. The computer-readable medium of claim 1, wherein the at least one user folder further comprises a SharedByMe folder and a SharedWithMe folder, the SharedByMe folder including synchronized copies of data shared by the user with other users, the SharedByMe folder including synchronized copies of data shared with the user by the other users.

8. The computer-readable medium of claim 1, wherein the public folder includes subfolders to further separate application data from user data in a namespace, the subfolders comprising:

i) a second desktop folder, the second desktop including shortcuts;

ii) a second documents folder, the second documents folder for storing documents created by the user;

iii) a second download folder for storing content downloaded by the user;

iv) a second music folder for storing music files;

v) a second pictures folder for storing pictures;

vi) a second video folder for storing videos;

vii) a second favorites folder for storing website addresses saved by the user; and

viii) a second application data folder for storing shared application data and binaries.

9. The computer-readable medium of claim 8, wherein a user is granted default access to each of the subfolders, the default access including read and execute access based on security groups to which the user belongs.

10. A method of separating application data and user data stored in a plurality of folders in a namespace data structure, the method comprising:

creating a public folder for storing information to be shared with other users;

creating per-user folders for each user, the per-user folders storing data and settings particular to each user; and

creating subfolders for each per-user folder, the sub-folders including;

i) a desktop folder, the desktop including shortcuts;

ii) a documents folder for storing documents created by the user;

iii) a downloads folder for storing content downloaded by the user;

iv) a favorites folder for storing website addresses saved by the user;

v) a music folder for storing music files saved by the user;

vi) a video folder for storing video files saved by the user, and

vii) a pictures folder for storing picurtes saved by the user.

11. The method of separating application data and user data of claim 10, wherein the documents folder comprises a default storage location for storing documents created by the user.

12. The method of separating application data and user data of claim 10, wherein the subfolders for each per-user further:

viii) an application data folder for storing per user application data and binaries, the application data folder including a local folder and a roaming folder, the local folder for storing machine dependent application data and settings, the roaming folder for storing machine independent application data and settings.

13. The method of separating application data and user data of claim 12, wherein the local folder further comprises default folders for storage of machine specific data and setting, the default folders comprising a temporary folder, and application specific folders.

14. The method of separating application data and user data of claim 12, wherein the roaming folder further comprising default folders for storage of machine specific data and setting, the default folders comprising application specific folders.

15. The method of separating application data and user data of claim 10, wherein the public folder includes subfolders to further separate application data from user data in a namespace, the subfolders comprising:

i) a second desktop folder, the second desktop including shortcuts;

ii) a second documents folder, the second documents folder for storing documents created by the user;

iii) a second download folder for storing content downloaded by the user;

iv) a second music folder for storing music files;

v) a second pictures folder for storing pictures;

vi) a second video folder for storing videos;

vii) a second favorites folder for storing website addresses saved by the user;

viii) a second application data folder for storing application data and binaries; and

wherein the user controls access to each of the subfolders.

16. A method of managing a namespace hierarchy, the namespace hierarchy including application data and user data stored in a plurality of folders, the method comprising:

identifying each folder of the plurality of folders stored in the namespace as a public folder or per-user folder;

classifying each folder classified as a per-user folder by user identification;

further classifying each folder classified as a per-user folder by folder type; and

separating the application data from the user data based on the classifications.

17. The method of managing a namespace hierarchy of claim 16, wherein a user may access the public folders and a user'"'"'s specifically identified user folder from a network.

18. A method of managing a namespace hierarchy of claim 16, wherein the user identification includes a user'"'"'s name.

19. A method of managing a namespace hierarchy of claim 16, wherein each per-user folder further includes:

i) a desktop folder, the desktop including shortcuts;

ii) a documents folder for storing documents created by an user;

iii) a downloads folder for storing content downloaded by the user;

iv) a favorites folder for storing website addresses saved by the user;

v) a music folder for storing music files saved by the user;

vi) a video folder for storing video files saved by the user,

vii) a pictures folder for storing picurtes saved by the user; and

viii) a dropbox folder for receiving files from other users.

20. A method of managing a namespace hierarchy of claim 16, further comprising:

viv) an application data folder for storing per user application data and binaries, the application data folder including a local folder and a roaming folder, the local folder for storing machine dependent application data and settings, the roaming folder for storing machine independent application data and settings.