VIRTUALISATION SYSTEM
First Claim
1. A method of providing a transferable computing environment, wherein said computing environment is operable on a first, computing machine and is able to be transferred to a second, portable device, and wherein said transfer retains an operational state of said computing environment, the method comprising:
- providing a said first computing machine, wherein said first computing machine has a host operating system and a virtual machine monitor running on said host operating system;
providing a plurality of virtual machines each able to run on said virtual machine monitor, wherein each said virtual machine includes a guest operating system to run using said virtual machine and an application residing in said virtual machine;
portioning each said virtual machine into first and second portions, wherein said first portion of said virtual machine comprises at least a common portion of said virtual machines shared between said plurality of virtual machines, said common portion including at least a common part of said guest operating system, and wherein said second portion of said virtual machine comprises application state data defining a state of operation of said application specific to operation of the application in the virtual machine;
providing said first computing machine with at least a useable part of one of said virtual machines;
using said application in said at least one virtual machine on said first computing machine to define a said operational state of said application; and
transferring at least part of said second portion of said at least one virtual machine to said portable device to enable said application in said at least one virtual machine to be used, in combination with said common portion of said virtual machines, on a second computing machine.
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Accused Products
Abstract
This invention relates to virtualised systems, in particular to portable virtualised systems whereby a user is able to transfer their desktop environment from one computing machine to another. A method of providing a transferable computing environment between a computing machine and a portable storage device is described whereby the operational state of the computing environment is maintained after the transfer. A virtual machine is portioned into a common portion and a second portion, the second portion storing a state of operation of the virtual machine and the state of applications. The second portion is transferred to a computing machine to be used in combination with the common portion of the virtual machine already residing on the computing machine.
85 Citations
34 Claims
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1. A method of providing a transferable computing environment, wherein said computing environment is operable on a first, computing machine and is able to be transferred to a second, portable device, and wherein said transfer retains an operational state of said computing environment, the method comprising:
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providing a said first computing machine, wherein said first computing machine has a host operating system and a virtual machine monitor running on said host operating system; providing a plurality of virtual machines each able to run on said virtual machine monitor, wherein each said virtual machine includes a guest operating system to run using said virtual machine and an application residing in said virtual machine; portioning each said virtual machine into first and second portions, wherein said first portion of said virtual machine comprises at least a common portion of said virtual machines shared between said plurality of virtual machines, said common portion including at least a common part of said guest operating system, and wherein said second portion of said virtual machine comprises application state data defining a state of operation of said application specific to operation of the application in the virtual machine; providing said first computing machine with at least a useable part of one of said virtual machines; using said application in said at least one virtual machine on said first computing machine to define a said operational state of said application; and transferring at least part of said second portion of said at least one virtual machine to said portable device to enable said application in said at least one virtual machine to be used, in combination with said common portion of said virtual machines, on a second computing machine. - View Dependent Claims (2, 34)
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3. (canceled)
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4. A method of providing a transferable computing environment between a plurality of computing machines, the method comprising:
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providing each of a plurality of computing machines with both a virtual machine monitor and a host operating system, providing a virtual machine able to run on said virtual machine monitor, wherein said virtual machine includes a guest operating system to run using said virtual machine and an application residing in said virtual machine, portioning said virtual machine into first and second portions, wherein said first portion of said virtual machine comprises at least a common portion of said virtual machine common to each of said plurality of computing machines, said common portion including at least a common part of said guest operating system, and wherein said second portion of said virtual machine comprises application state data defining a state of operation of said application specific to operation of the application in the virtual machine, providing a portable device with said second portion of said virtual machine; and transferring at least a useable part of said second portion of said virtual machine from said portable device to enable said application in said virtual machine to be used, in combination with said common portion of said virtual machines, on a first of said plurality of computing machines. - View Dependent Claims (5, 6, 7, 9, 11, 13, 15, 16, 17, 19, 21)
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8. (canceled)
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12. (canceled)
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18. (canceled)
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20. (canceled)
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22. A method of transferring a transferable computing environment between a plurality of computing machines, the method comprising:
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providing each of a plurality of computing machines with a common computing environment, said common computing environment comprising a guest operating system and a virtual machine monitor, said guest operating system being common to each of said plurality of computing machines, portioning a virtual machine operable to run on said virtual machine monitor into first and second portions, said first portion comprising a common portion of said virtual machine common to each of said plurality of computing machines, said second portion defining a state of operation of said virtual machine, said common computing environment on each of said plurality of computing machines further comprising said first portion of said virtual machine; providing a first of said plurality of computing machines with said second portion of said virtual machine; transferring said second portion of said virtual machine to a portable device; and transferring said second portion of said from said portable device to a second of said plurality of computing machines. - View Dependent Claims (24, 25, 27)
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23. (canceled)
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26. (canceled)
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28. A portable device for managing and transferring a transferable computing environment, the transferable computing environment comprising a guest operating system, a virtual machine monitor running on a host operating system, and a virtual machine running said guest operating system, comprising state data items defining a state of operation of said virtual machine, the portable device comprising:
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an interface for communicating with a computing machine, non-volatile memory to store said state data items, and memory storing priority data defining a preferred transfer order of a plurality of said state data items; a program store storing code and a processing element coupled to said interface, said non-volatile memory and said program store, the code comprising; code to receive said state data items from a first computing machine via said interface and store said state data items in said non-volatile memory; code to send said plurality of said state data items from said non-volatile memory to said first computing machine or a second computing machine, wherein an order of said sending is dependent on said priority data; and code to determine said priority data, wherein said determination is dependent on a usage history of said virtual machine on said first computing machine. - View Dependent Claims (32)
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29. (canceled)
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30. (canceled)
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31. (canceled)
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33. (canceled)
Specification