Synchronizing Configuration Information Among Multiple Clients

• US 20120089710A1
• Filed: 12/15/2011
• Published: 04/12/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 06/02/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Google LLC (Alphabet Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Aaron Boodman, Brian D. Rakowski, Fritz J. Schneider, Glen Murphy, Kristina Holst, Marria S. Nazif
• Inventors: Rakowski, Brian D., Holst, Kristina, Boodman, Aaron, Nazif, Marria S., Schneider, Fritz J., Murphy, Glen
• Granted Patent: US 8,341,249 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 709/220
• 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:

at a server computer having one or more processors and memory storing programs executed by the one or more processors;

receiving a user identifier from a first client device using a network;

identifying configuration information associated with the user identifier; and

providing the identified configuration information to the first client device using the network, wherein the identified 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;

wherein the configuration information provided to the first client device includes encrypted configuration information previously received from a second client device, and the encrypted configuration information was encrypted at the second client device using a user key associated with the user identifier, and the server computer is configured to receive an encrypted version of the user key from the second client device and provide the encrypted user key to the first client device.

2. The method of claim 1, further including:

after providing the identified configuration information to the first client device using the network;

receiving, from the first client device, information corresponding to resolution of at least one conflict between the configuration information from the server computer and the existing configuration information at the first client device as a configuration update.

3. The method of claim 2, further comprising:

determining a synchronization timestamp for the conflict resolution information received from the first client device based on the identified configuration information; and

sending the synchronization timestamp to the first client device, wherein the synchronization timestamp is to be associated with the first client device'"'"'s configuration information as a result of merging the identified configuration information with the existing configuration information.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising, prior to receiving the user identifier, receiving and storing a user verification value associated with the user identifier;

wherein receiving the user identifier further 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 identifier.

5. The method of claim 1, 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.

6. The method of claim 5, further comprising:

receiving the user identifier from a second client device using the network; and

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

7. The method of claim 5, 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.

8. The method of claim 5, 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.

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

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

11. The method of claim 10, 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.

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

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

14. The method of claim 13, further comprising receiving logout information from the first client device prior to accepting login information from a second client device.

15. A computer 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 a user identifier from a first client device at a server computer using a network;

instructions for identifying, at the server computer, configuration information associated with the user identifier; 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,

wherein the configuration information provided to the first client device includes encrypted configuration information previously received from a second client device, and the encrypted configuration information was encrypted at the second client device using a user key associated with the user identifier, and the server computer is configured to receive an encrypted version of the user key from the second client device and provide the encrypted user key to the first client device.

16. The system of claim 15, wherein the one or more programs further include:

instructions for receiving, from the first client device, information corresponding to resolution of at least one conflict between the configuration information from the server computer and the existing configuration information at the first client device.

17. The system of claim 16, wherein the one or more programs further include:

instructions for determining a synchronization timestamp for the conflict resolution information received from the first client device based on the identified configuration information; and

instructions for sending the synchronization timestamp to the first client device, wherein the synchronization timestamp is to be associated with the first client device'"'"'s configuration information as a result of merging the identified configuration information with the existing configuration information.

18. The system of claim 15, wherein the encrypted user key was encrypted by a user PIN.

19. The system of claim 15, wherein the instructions for receiving the user identifier 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 identifier.

20. The system of claim 15, wherein the one or more programs further include:

instructions for receiving a configuration update from the first client device at the server computer, wherein the configuration 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 configuration update in an event log.

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

instructions for determining, at the server computer, a set of configuration updates since a specified time, excluding any configuration updates superseded by later configuration updates, and

instructions for sending the determined set of configuration updates to the first client device.

22. The system of claim 20, 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.

23. A non-transitory computer readable storage medium for storing 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 a user identifier from a first client device at a server computer using a network;

instructions for identifying, at the server computer, configuration information associated with the user identifier; and

instructions for providing the identified configuration information to the first client device using the network, wherein the identified 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;

wherein the configuration information provided to the first client device includes encrypted configuration information previously received from a second client device, and the encrypted configuration information was encrypted at the second client device using a user key associated with the user identifier, and the server computer is configured to receive an encrypted version of the user key from the second client device and provide the encrypted user key to the first client device.

24. The computer readable storage medium of claim 23, wherein the one or more programs further include:

instructions for receiving, from the first client device, information corresponding to resolution of at least one conflict between the configuration information from the server computer and the existing configuration information at the first client device.

25. The computer readable storage medium of claim 24, wherein the one or more programs further include:

instructions for determining a synchronization timestamp for the conflict resolution information received from the first client device based on the identified configuration information; and

instructions for sending the synchronization timestamp to the first client device, wherein the synchronization timestamp is to be associated with the first client device'"'"'s configuration information as a result of merging the identified configuration information with the existing configuration information.

26. The computer readable storage medium of claim 23, wherein the encrypted user key was encrypted by a user PIN.

27. The computer readable storage medium of claim 23, wherein the instructions for receiving the user identifier 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 identifier.

28. The computer readable storage medium of claim 23, wherein the one or more programs further include:

instructions for receiving a configuration update from the first client device at the server computer, wherein the configuration 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 configuration update in an event log.

29. The computer readable storage medium of claim 28, wherein the one or more programs further include:

instructions for determining, at the server computer, a set of configuration updates since a specified time, excluding any configuration updates superseded by later configuration updates, and

instructions for sending the determined set of configuration updates to the first client device.

30. The computer readable storage medium of claim 28, 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.