CONFIGURABLE APPLICATION STATE SYNCHRONIZATION

• US 20140289195A1
• Filed: 03/21/2014
• Published: 09/25/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 03/21/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Razer (Asia-Pacific) Pte. Ltd. (Razer Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Nextbit Systems, Inc. (Razer Incorporated)
• Inventors: Chan, Michael A., Quan, Justin, Bornstein, Daniel R., Moss, Tom, Tong, Linda
• Granted Patent: US 9,563,413 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 707/620
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 11/1451 by selection of backup contents
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 11/1464 for networked environments
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 11/1469 Backup restoration techniques
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/113 Details of archiving lifecycle management in storage systems G06F3/0649; backup systems G06F11/1446
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/116 Details of conversion of file system types or formats
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/122 using management policies backup systems G06F11/1446; file migration policies for HSM systems G06F16/185
• 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 16/168 Details of user interfaces specifically adapted to file systems, e.g. browsing and visualisation, 2d or 3d GUIs query results presentation G06F16/156
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/1734 Details of monitoring file system events, e.g. by the use of hooks, filter drivers, logs
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/178 Techniques for file synchronisation in file systems
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/1787 Details of non-transparently synchronising file systems
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/182 Distributed file systems
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/24578 using ranking
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/27 Replication, distribution or synchronisation of data between databases or within a distributed database system; Distributed database system architectures therefor
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 8/44 Encoding
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 9/54 Interprogram communication
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/0816 the condition being an adaptation, e.g. in response to network events
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 47/70 Admission control; Resource allocation
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 47/78 Architectures of resource allocation
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/0853 using an additional device, e.g. smartcard, SIM or a different communication terminal cryptographic mechanisms or cryptographic arrangements for entity authentication involving additional secure or trusted devices H04L9/3234
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/06 : specially adapted for file transfer, e.g. file transfer protocol [FTP]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/10 : in which an application is distributed across nodes in the network software deployment G06F8/60; multiprogramming arrangements G06F9/46
• 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 67/1097 : for distributed storage of data in networks, e.g. transport arrangements for network file system [NFS], storage area networks [SAN] or network attached storage [NAS]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/306 : User profiles
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/535 : Tracking the activity of the user network monitoring arrangements H04L43/00; recording of computer activity G06F11/34
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/04 : Protocols for data compression, e.g. ROHC
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/06 : Authentication
• CPC Class Codes: Y02D 10/00 : Energy efficient computing, e.g. low power processors, power management or thermal management

Abstract

Technology is disclosed for providing configurable synchronization mechanisms for automatic synchronization of application states across multiple devices using cloud storage. In accordance with the techniques introduced here, a method includes steps of receiving a request for supplemental application synchronization information associated with a first application on a first remote computing device. In response the request for the supplemental application synchronization information, application-specific configuration information is determined for synchronizing a state of the first application to a cloud-based storage service. The supplemental application synchronization information including the application-specific configuration information is then provided to the first remote computing device for facilitating synchronization of the state of the first application to the cloud-based storage service.

Claims

1. A computer-implemented method, comprising:

receiving a request for supplemental application synchronization information associated with a first application on a first remote computing device;

in response the request for the supplemental application synchronization information, determining application-specific configuration information for synchronizing a state of the first application with a cloud-based storage service;

providing, by a cloud-based server of the cloud-based storage service, the supplemental application synchronization information to the first remote computing device, wherein the supplemental application synchronization information includes the application-specific configuration information for synchronizing the state of the first application with the cloud-based storage service.

2. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, further comprising detecting, by the cloud-based server, a synchronization failure of the first application on the first remote computing device.

3. The computer-implement method of claim 2, wherein the request for the supplemental application synchronization information is received responsive to the synchronization failure of the first application.

4. The computer-implement method of claim 1, wherein the request for the supplemental application synchronization information is received responsive to an indication that the first application has been downloaded on the first remote computing device.

5. The computer-implement method of claim 1, wherein the request for the supplemental application synchronization information is received responsive to an indication that the first application has been installed on the first remote computing device.

6. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein determining the application-specific configuration information for synchronizing the state of the first application with the cloud-based storage service further comprises determining one or more application constraints associated with the first application.

7. The computer-implemented method of claim 6, wherein determining the application-specific configuration information for synchronizing the state of the first application with the cloud-based storage service further comprises further comprises:

soliciting input from a user of the first remote computing device regarding the one or more application constraints associated with the first application;

receiving response from the user of the first remote computing device indicating a setting for the one or more application constraints;

modifying the application-specific configuration information to including instructions indicating the setting for the one or more application constraints.

8. The computer-implemented method of claim 7, wherein determining the application-specific configuration information for synchronizing the state of the first application with the cloud-based storage service further comprises further comprises:

verifying, by the cloud-based server, the setting for the one or more application constraints; and

storing the setting for the one or more application constraints in a cloud-based memory system.

9. The computer-implemented method of claim 6, wherein the one or more application constraints comprise one or more data rights management (DRM) constraints.

10. The computer-implemented method of claim 6, wherein the one or more application constraints include a constraint indicating a maximum number of devices available synchronization.

11. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein determining the application-specific configuration information for synchronizing the state of the first application with the cloud-based storage service further comprises further comprises:

determining that the first application uses an identifier that needs to be spoofed; and

identifying a primary device for spoofing the identifier.

12. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein determining the application-specific information for configuring the first application further comprises:

determining if the first application uses an identifier for data access that is associated with a specific computing device;

determining if the first application is already installed on one or more other remote computing devices associated with a first user in the cloud-based storage service;

if the first application is already installed on one or more other remote computing devices in the cloud-based storage service, identifying an initial identifier used for installation of the application on the one or more other remote computing devices;

providing instructions in the application-specific information directing the first application to use the initial identifier.

13. The computer-implemented method of claim 12, wherein the identifier for data access is hardwired to the specific computing device.

14. The computer-implemented method of claim 12, wherein the identifier for data access used for encrypting a data encryption key for the data access.

15. The computer-implemented method of claim 12, wherein the identifier comprises a device identifier, an Android identifier, or a serial identifier.

16. A computer-implemented method, comprising:

receiving, at a computing device of a cloud-based storage service, an indication to initiate a first application on the computing device;

determining if supplemental application synchronization information is available for the first application, wherein the supplemental application synchronization information includes application-specific configuration information for synchronizing a state of the first application with the cloud-based storage service;

initializing, by the computing device, synchronization of the first application if supplemental application synchronization information is available.

17. The computer-implemented method of claim 16, further comprising detecting, by the computing device, a synchronization failure of the first application on the computing device.

18. A cloud-based server system, comprising:

a processor;

a memory system having instructions stored thereon, wherein the instructions, when executed by the processor, cause the cloud-based system to;

in response to a request for supplemental application synchronization information associated with a first application on a first remote computing device, determining application-specific configuration information for synchronizing a state of the first application with a cloud-based storage service;

provide the supplemental application synchronization information to the first remote computing device, wherein the supplemental application synchronization information includes the application-specific configuration information for synchronizing the state of the first application with the cloud-based storage service.

19. The cloud-based server system of claim 18, wherein the instructions, when executed by the processor, further cause the cloud-based system to:

detect a synchronization failure of the first application on the first remote computing device, wherein the request for the supplemental application synchronization information is received responsive to the synchronization failure of the first application.

20. The cloud-based server system of claim 18, wherein the request for the supplemental application synchronization information is received responsive to an indication that the first application has been downloaded on the first remote computing device or responsive to an indication that the first application has been installed on the first remote computing device.

21. The cloud-based server system of claim 18, wherein to determine the application-specific configuration information for synchronizing the state of the first application with the cloud-based storage service, the instructions, when executed by the processor, further cause the cloud-based system to:

determine one or more application constraints associated with the first application;

solicit input from a user of the first remote computing device regarding the one or more application constraints associated with the first application;

responsive to receiving a response from the user of the first remote computing device indicating a setting for the one or more application constraints, modify the application-specific configuration information to including instructions indicating the setting for the one or more application constraints.

22. The computer-implemented method of claim 21, wherein the one or more application constraints comprise one or more data rights management (DRM) constraints.

23. The cloud-based server system of claim 18, wherein to determine the application-specific configuration information for synchronizing the state of the first application with the cloud-based storage service, the instructions, when executed by the processor, further cause the cloud-based system to:

determine if the first application uses an identifier for data access that is associated with a specific computing device;

determine if the first application is already installed on one or more other remote computing devices associated with a first user in the cloud-based storage service;

if the first application is already installed on one or more other remote computing devices in the cloud-based storage service, identify an initial identifier used for installation of the application on the one or more other remote computing devices;

provide instructions in the application-specific information directing the first application to use the initial identifier.

25. The computer readable medium of claim 20, wherein the instructions, when executed by the processor, further cause the computer system to:

determine if the first application uses an identifier for data access that is hardwired to a specific computing device;

determine if the first application is already installed on one or more other remote computing devices associated with a first user in the cloud-based storage service;

if the first application is already installed on one or more other remote computing devices in the cloud-based storage service, identify an initial identifier used for installation of the application on a first of the one or more other remote computing devices;

provide instructions in the application-specific information directing the first application to use the initial identifier.

24. A computer-readable storage medium storing instructions to be implemented by a computer system having a processor, wherein the instructions, when executed by the processor, cause the computer system to:

in response to a request for supplemental application synchronization information associated with a first application on a first remote computing device, determining application-specific configuration information for synchronizing a state of the first application with a cloud-based storage service;

provide the supplemental application synchronization information to the first remote computing device, wherein the supplemental application synchronization information includes the application-specific configuration information for synchronizing the state of the first application with the cloud-based storage service.