Synchronizing Configuration Information Among Multiple Clients

• US 20070283011A1
• Filed: 06/02/2006
• Published: 12/06/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 06/02/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Google LLC (Alphabet Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Google Inc. (Alphabet Inc.)
• Inventors: Rakowski, Brian D., Holst, Kristina, Nazif, Marria S., Schneider, Fritz J., Murphy, Glen, Boodman, Aaron
• Granted Patent: US 8,086,698 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 709/225
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/0803 Configuration setting
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/0813 characterised by the conditions triggering a change of settings
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/0435 wherein the sending and receiving network entities apply symmetric encryption, i.e. same key used for encryption and decryption cryptographic mechanisms or cryptographic arrangements for symmetric key encryption H04L9/06
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/0478 applying multiple layers of encryption, e.g. nested tunnels or encrypting the content with a first key and then with at least a second key cryptographic mechanisms or cryptographic arrangements using a plurality of keys or algorithms H04L9/14
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/083 using passwords cryptographic mechanisms or cryptographic arrangements for entity authentication using a predetermined code H04L9/3226
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/1095 Replication or mirroring of data, e.g. scheduling or transport for data synchronisation between network nodes
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/125 involving control of end-device applications over a network
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/34 involving the movement of software or configuration parameters network booting or remote initial program loading [RIPL] G06F9/4416

Abstract

A user of multiple client devices (clients) makes application configuration changes on the clients from time to time. The configuration changes are stored in a local event log on each client, as well as in a synchronization server. When one of the clients connects to the synchronization server, for example when the user logs into the synchronization server while using a respective client, the configuration information in the server and client is synchronized. Conflicts, if any, in the configuration changes for a respective application are resolved in accordance with a conflict resolution procedure or conflict resolution rules associated with that application.

Claims

1. A method for providing configuration information, comprising:

receiving login information, including a user name, from a first client device at a server computer using a network; and

providing the configuration information to the first client device using the network, wherein the configuration information is to configure a user-specified portion of one or more applications on the first client device by merging with existing configuration information for the one or more applications on the first client device.

2. The method of claim 1, further including:

prior to receiving said login information, receiving encrypted configuration information from a second client device;

wherein the configuration information provided to the first client device includes the encrypted configuration information, and the encrypted configuration has been encrypted by the second client device using a user key associated with the user name.

3. The method of claim 2, further including providing to the first client device an encrypted user key comprising a version of the user key that has been encrypted.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein the encrypted user key comprises the user key encrypted by a user PIN.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein receiving login information includes receiving an encrypted value from the first client device, and validating the user only if the received encrypted value matches a stored encrypted value associated with the user name.

6. The method of claim 5, further including, prior to receiving said login information, receiving and storing said encrypted value associated with the user name.

7. The method of claim 2, further comprising, prior to receiving said login information, receiving and storing a user verification value associated with the user name;

wherein receiving login information includes receiving a value from the first client device, and validating the user only if the received value matches the stored user verification value associated with the user name.

8. The method of claim 2, further comprising receiving an update from the first client device at the server computer, wherein the update corresponds to one or more changes in configuration information at the first client device in accordance with user activity;

and storing the update in an event log.

9. The method of claim 8, further comprising:

receiving respective login information from a second client device at the server computer using the network;

the respective login information including the user name; and

providing respective configuration information to the second client device using the network, the configuration information provided to the second client device including the update received from the first client.

10. The method of claim 8, further comprising determining, at the server, a set of configuration updates since a specified time, excluding any configuration updates superseded by later configuration updates, and sending the determined set of configuration updates to the first client device.

11. The method of claim 8, further comprising storing configuration information for a plurality of respective users in respective event logs, each event log including a sequence of configuration updates received from one or more client devices.

12. The method of claim 1, wherein the one or more applications correspond to application components for which conflict identification rules have been registered.

13. The method of claim 1, wherein the configuration information includes a browser state.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein the browser state includes at least two types of items selected from the group consisting of bookmarks, passwords, open tabs, open windows, cookies, user history, data for auto-completion of forms, and window layout information.

15. The method of claim 1, wherein the configuration information is used by an application integrated with a browser on the first client device.

16. The method of claim 1, further comprising rejecting the login information from the first client device when another client device has previously logged in using the same user name and remains logged in.

17. The method of claim 16, further comprising receiving logout information from the first client device prior to accepting login information from a second client device.

18. A system, comprising:

one or more central processing units to execute programs;

memory; and

one or more programs, stored in the memory and executed by the processor, the one or more programs including;

instructions for receiving login information, including a user name, from a first client device at a server computer using a network; and

instructions for providing the configuration information to the first client device using the network, wherein the configuration information is to configure a user-specified portion of one or more applications on the first client device by merging with existing configuration information for the one or more applications on the first client device.

19. The system of claim 18, wherein the one or more programs further include:

instructions for receiving encrypted configuration information from a second client device prior to receiving said login information from the first client device;

wherein the configuration information provided to the first client device includes the encrypted configuration information, and the encrypted configuration has been encrypted by the second client device using a user key associated with the user name.

20. The system of claim 19, wherein the one or more programs further include:

includes for providing to the first client device an encrypted user key comprising a version of the user key that has been encrypted.

21. The system of claim 20, wherein the encrypted user key comprises the user key encrypted by a user PIN.

22. The system of claim 21, wherein the instructions for receiving login information include instructions for receiving an encrypted value from the first client device, and validating the user only if the received encrypted value matches a stored encrypted value associated with the user name.

23. The system of claim 19, wherein the one or more programs further include:

instructions for receiving an update from the first client device at the server computer, wherein the update corresponds to one or more changes in configuration information at the first client device in accordance with user activity; and

instructions for storing the update in an event log.

24. The system of claim 23, wherein the one or more programs further include:

instructions for determining, at the server, a set of configuration updates since a specified time, excluding any configuration updates superseded by later configuration updates, and sending the determined set of configuration updates to the first client device.

25. The system of claim 23, wherein the one or more programs further include instructions for storing configuration information for a plurality of respective users in respective event logs, each event log including a sequence of configuration updates received from one or more client devices.

26. A computer program product, for use in conjunction with a computer system, the computer program product comprising memory and one or more programs, stored in the memory, the one of more programs including:

instructions for receiving login information, including a user name, from a first client device at a server computer using a network; and

instructions for providing the configuration information to the first client device using the network, wherein the configuration information is to configure a user-specified portion of one or more applications on the first client device by merging with existing configuration information for the one or more applications on the first client device.

27. The computer program product of claim 26, wherein the one or more programs further include:

instructions for receiving encrypted configuration information from a second client device prior to receiving said login information from the first client device;

wherein the configuration information provided to the first client device includes the encrypted configuration information, and the encrypted configuration has been encrypted by the second client device using a user key associated with the user name.

28. The computer program product of claim 27, wherein the one or more programs further include:

includes for providing to the first client device an encrypted user key comprising a version of the user key that has been encrypted.

29. The computer program product of claim 28, wherein the encrypted user key comprises the user key encrypted by a user PIN.

30. The computer program product of claim 29, wherein the instructions for receiving login information include instructions for receiving a hashed PIN from the first client device, and validating the user only if the received hashed PIN matches a stored hashed PIN associated with the user name.

31. The computer program product of claim 27, wherein the one or more programs further include:

instructions for receiving an update from the first client device at the server computer, wherein the update corresponds to one or more changes in configuration information at the first client device in accordance with user activity; and

instructions for storing the update in an event log.

32. The computer program product of claim 31, wherein the one or more programs further include:

instructions for determining, at the server, a set of configuration updates since a specified time, excluding any configuration updates superseded by later configuration updates, and sending the determined set of configuration updates to the first client device.

33. The computer program product of claim 31, wherein the one or more programs further include instructions for storing configuration information for a plurality of respective users in respective event logs, each event log including a sequence of configuration updates received from one or more client devices.

34. A system, comprising:

means for receiving login information, including a user name, from a first client device at a server computer using a network; and

means for providing the configuration information to the first client device using the network, wherein the configuration information is to configure at least a portion of one or more applications on the first client device by merging with existing configuration information for the one or more applications.