Application-based backup-restore of electronic information

• US 20080034039A1
• Filed: 08/04/2006
• Published: 02/07/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 08/04/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Original Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Inventors: Mwa Van Os, Marcel, Christie, Gregory N., Forstall, Scott, Matas, Mike, Cisler, Pavel, Lyons, Dave, Tiene, Kevin
• Granted Patent: US 7,860,839 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 709/204
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 11/1448 Management of the data involved in backup or backup restore
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 11/1451 by selection of backup contents
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 11/1461 Backup scheduling policy
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 11/1469 Backup restoration techniques
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2201/84 Using snapshots, i.e. a logical point-in-time copy of the data
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0483 Interaction with page-structured environments, e.g. book metaphor

Abstract

Systems and methods for storing and restoring backup data. One method includes receiving, while a current view of an application is displayed in a user interface, a first user input requesting a history view associated with the current view of the application. The history view is displayed in response to the first user input, the history view including at least a first visual representation of an earlier version of the current view of the application, the earlier version including a first element. A second user input is received while the history view is displayed. The second user input requesting that the current view of the application be modified according to the earlier version, at least with regard to the first element. The current view of the application is modified in response to the second user input according to the earlier version, at least with regard to the first element.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

receiving, while a current view of an application is displayed in a user interface, a first user input requesting that a history view associated with the current view of the application be displayed;

displaying the history view in response to the first user input, the history view including at least a first visual representation of an earlier version of the current view of the application, the earlier version including a first element;

receiving, while the history view is displayed, a second user input requesting that the current view of the application be modified according to the earlier version, at least with regard to the first element; and

modifying, in response to the second user input, the current view of the application according to the earlier version, at least with regard to the first element.

2. The method of claim 1, where the first user input requesting the history view is initiated in the current view of the application.

3. The method of claim 1, where the second user input requests that the modification be limited to the first element, and wherein the modification modifies the current view of the application to include the first element and does not otherwise modify the current view of the application.

4. The method of claim 1, where the first element is a particular set of application data that is not stored as typical file data.

5. The method of claim 4, where the set of application data includes mail messages.

6. The method of claim 4, where the set of application data includes address book entries.

7. The method of claim 4, where the set of application data includes audio data.

8. The method of claim 1, where the first visual representation is included in a timeline presented in the history view, the timeline including several visual representations of earlier versions of the current view of the application.

9. The method of claim 8, where the earlier versions of the current view of the application were obtained at times defined by a schedule.

10. The method of claim 8, where the earlier versions of the current view of the application were obtained at times defined by a rule.

11. The method of claim 8, where the earlier versions of the current view of the application were obtained at times when at least one predefined event occurred.

12. The method of claim 8, where the history view further includes an input control for modifying the timeline to include only at least one of the visual representations whose corresponding earlier version differs from the current view of the application.

13. The method of claim 8, where the history view includes a rollover function providing that the timeline is displayed when a user-controlled cursor is located over the timeline, and that the timeline is not displayed when the user-controlled cursor is not located over the timeline.

14. The method of claim 1, where the application is an audio-application and the first element is a playlist.

15. The method of claim 1, where the application is an e-mail application and the first element is an inbox.

16. The method of claim 1, where the application is an e-mail application and the first element is a calendar.

17. The method of claim 1, where the application is an address book application and the first element is a directory of contacts.

18. The method of claim 1, where the application is a messaging application and the first element is a buddy list.

19. A computer program product, encoded on a computer-readable medium, operable to cause data processing apparatus to perform operations comprising:

receiving, while a current view of an application is displayed in a user interface, a first user input requesting that a history view associated with the current view of the application be displayed;

displaying the history view in response to the first user input, the history view including at least a first visual representation of an earlier version of the current view of the application, the earlier version including a first element;

receiving, while the history view is displayed, a second user input requesting that the current view of the application be modified according to the earlier version, at least with regard to the first element; and

modifying, in response to the second user input, the current view of the application according to the earlier version, at least with regard to the first element.

20. A computer program product encoded on a computer-readable medium, the computer program product including instructions that, when executed, generate on a display device a user interface comprising:

a view display area for presenting a current view of an application;

a history view display area for presenting a history view associated with the current view of the application, the history view including at least a first visual representation of an earlier version of the current view of the application; and

an input control for initiating a restoration of the current view of the application according to at least a portion of the earlier version.

21. The computer program product of claim 20, where the earlier version includes at least a first element that a user can select, and wherein initiation of the input control after the selection initiates the restoration of the current view of the application according to only the first element of the earlier version.

22. The computer program product of claim 20, where the first visual representation is included in a timeline presented in the history view, the timeline including several visual representations of earlier versions of the current view of the application.

23. The computer program product of claim 22, where the history view further includes another input control for modifying the timeline to include only at least one of the visual representations whose corresponding earlier version differs from the current view of the application.

24. A method comprising:

defining one or more criteria for capturing a state of a view of a user interface of an application;

capturing the state of the view in accordance with the criteria;

receiving a prompt to suspend presentation of a current view and present a captured view; and

reinstating the captured view into the current view of the user interface.

25. The method of claim 24, where defining the one or more criteria includes receiving a user input in the user interface of the application setting one or more parameters associated with the one or more criteria.

26. A computer program product, encoded on a computer-readable medium, operable to cause data processing apparatus to perform operations comprising:

defining one or more criteria for capturing a state of a view of a user interface of an application;

capturing the state of the view in accordance with the criteria;

receiving a prompt to suspend presentation of a current view and present a captured view; and

reinstating the captured view into the current view of the user interface.

27. A method comprising:

receiving, while a current view of a system settings interface is displayed in a user interface, a first user input requesting that a history view associated with the current view of the system settings interface be displayed;

displaying the history view in response to the first user input, the history view including at least a first visual representation of an earlier version of the current view of the system setting interface, the earlier version including one or more preferences;

receiving, while the history view is displayed, a second user input requesting that the current view of the system settings interface be modified according to the earlier version, at least with regard to a first preference of the one or more preferences; and

modifying, in response to the second user input, the current view of the system settings interface according to the earlier version, at least with regard to the first preference.

28. The method of claim 27, where the system settings interface is an input device settings interface and the one or more preferences are keyboard and mouse settings.

29. The method of claim 27, where the system settings interface is a user interface settings interface and the one or more preferences are user interface preferences.