MAKING A USER'S DATA, SETTINGS, AND LICENSED CONTENT AVAILABLE IN THE CLOUD

• US 20150067805A1
• Filed: 08/30/2013
• Published: 03/05/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 08/30/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: U-Me Holdings LLC
• Original Assignee: U-Me Holdings LLC
• Inventors: Martin, Derek P.
• Granted Patent: US 9,118,670 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 726/7
• 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 16/273 Asynchronous replication or reconciliation
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/58 Retrieval characterised by using metadata, e.g. metadata not derived from the content or metadata generated manually
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2009/45595 Network integration; Enabling network access in virtual machine instances
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 9/44505 Configuring for program initiating, e.g. using registry, configuration files
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 9/45558 Hypervisor-specific management and integration aspects
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/0861 using biometrical features, e.g. fingerprint, retina-scan cryptographic mechanisms or cryptographic arrangements for entity authentication using biological data H04L9/3231
• 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 67/306 User profiles
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/02 Protecting privacy or anonymity, e.g. protecting personally identifiable information [PII]
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/06 Authentication
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/08 Access security

Abstract

A cloud-based computer system changes the modern paradigm from being device-centric to being person-centric. The system makes all user data, software settings, device settings, and licensed content for a user available in the cloud. The system includes a conversion mechanism that can convert information intended for one device type to a different device type. Thus, a user changing smart phone platforms can convert their current smart phone settings to equivalent settings on the new phone platform, and their new phone can then be configured using the user'"'"'s converted settings stored in the cloud. By storing all the user'"'"'s relevant information in the cloud, this information may be accessed anywhere and may be used to configure a large number of different devices according to the user'"'"'s settings.

Claims

1. A computer system comprising:

at least one processor;

a memory coupled to the at least one processor;

user data residing in the memory corresponding to a first user;

first user settings corresponding to the first user for a plurality of software applications residing in the memory;

second user settings corresponding to the first user for a plurality of physical devices; and

a software mechanism executed by the at least one processor that makes the user data, the first user settings, and the second user settings available to the first user on a first device used by the first user.

2. The computer system of claim 1 further comprising an authentication mechanism that authenticates the first user on the first device before the software mechanism makes the user data, the first user settings, and the second user settings available to the first user on the first device.

3. The computer system of claim 2 wherein the authentication mechanism uses biometric authentication of the first user.

4. The computer system of claim 3 wherein the biometric authentication comprises scanning a fingerprint of the first user and comparing the scanned fingerprint against a previously-stored reference fingerprint for the first user.

5. The computer system of claim 1 wherein the user data corresponding to the first user comprises files, contacts, e-mail, calendar, tasks, reminders and digital photos.

6. The computer system of claim 1 further comprising licensed content in the memory that is licensed to the first user, wherein the software mechanism makes the licensed content available to the first user on the first device.

7. The computer system of claim 6 wherein the licensed content comprises music, movies, electronic books, software and games.

8. The computer system of claim 1 wherein the first user settings comprise first user preferences for each of the plurality of software applications.

9. The computer system of claim 1 wherein the second user settings comprise second user preferences for each of the plurality of physical devices.

10. The computer system of claim 1 wherein the plurality of physical devices comprises a mobile phone and a computer system.

11. The computer system of claim 1 further comprising a conversion mechanism that converts user settings for a first physical device to user settings for a second physical device.

12. The computer system of claim 11 wherein the first physical device and second physical device are of a similar type.

13. The computer system of claim 11 wherein the first physical device and second physical device are of different types.

14. A computer-implemented method executing on at least one processor comprising the steps of:

storing user data corresponding to a first user;

storing first user settings corresponding to the first user for a plurality of software applications;

storing second user settings corresponding to the first user for a plurality of physical devices; and

making the user data, the first user settings, and the second user settings available to the first user on a first device used by the first user.

15. The method of claim 14 further comprising the step of authenticating the first user on the first device before making the user data, the first user settings, and the second user settings available to the first user on the first device.

16. The method of claim 15 wherein the step of authenticating the first user performs biometric authentication of the first user.

17. The method of claim 16 wherein the biometric authentication comprises scanning a fingerprint of the first user and comparing the scanned fingerprint against a previously-stored reference fingerprint for the first user.

18. The method of claim 14 wherein the user data corresponding to the first user comprises files, contacts, e-mail, calendar, tasks, reminders and digital photos.

19. The method of claim 14 further comprising the step of storing licensed content that is licensed to the first user and making the licensed content available to the first user on the first device.

20. The method of claim 19 wherein the licensed content comprises music, movies, electronic books, software and games.

21. The method of claim 14 wherein the first user settings comprise first user preferences for each of the plurality of software applications.

22. The method of claim 14 wherein the second user settings comprise second user preferences for each of the plurality of physical devices.

23. The method of claim 14 wherein the plurality of physical devices comprises a mobile phone and a computer system.

24. The method of claim 14 further comprising a conversion mechanism that converts user settings for a first physical device to user settings for a second physical device.

25. The method of claim 24 wherein the first physical device and second physical device are of a similar type.

26. The method of claim 24 wherein the first physical device and second physical device are of different types.

27. A computer-implemented method executing on at least one processor comprising the steps of:

storing user data corresponding to a first user, wherein the user data corresponding to the first user comprises files, contacts, e-mail, calendar, tasks, reminders and digital photos;

storing licensed content that is licensed to the first user, wherein the licensed content comprises music, movies, electronic books, software and games;

storing first user settings corresponding to the first user for a plurality of software applications, wherein the first user settings comprise first user preferences for each of the plurality of software applications;

storing second user settings corresponding to the first user for a plurality of physical devices, wherein the second user settings comprise second user preferences for each of the plurality of physical devices, wherein the plurality of physical devices comprises a mobile phone and a computer system;

authenticating the first user on a first device used by first the user by scanning a fingerprint of the first user and comparing the scanned fingerprint against a previously-stored reference fingerprint for the first user;

making the user data, the licensed content, the first user settings, and the second user settings available to the first user on a first device used by the first user; and

converting user settings for a first physical device to user settings for a second physical device.