User data profile namespace

• US 7,822,793 B2
• Filed: 04/01/2005
• Issued: 10/26/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 04/01/2005
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
• Inventors: Zhu, Ming, Giampiero, Sierra M., Samji, Mohammed A., Guzak, Chris J., Brezak, John E., Wentz, Brian D., Rawat, Anshul, De Vorchik, David G., Moore, Jason F.
• Primary Examiner(s): LeRoux; Etienne P
• Assistant Examiner(s): Le; Jessica N
• Application Number:
  US11/097,670
• Publication Number:
  US 20060224602A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,034 Days
• Field of Search: 707/3, 707/200, 707/100, 707/694, 707821-828, 707/829, 345/119, 345/789, 713/100
• US Class Current: 707/828
• 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 16/176 Support for shared access to files; File sharing support

Abstract

A method and data structure for separating application data from user data in a namespace. The data structure provides an intuitive profile layout for developers or users while supporting legacy applications. The namespace utilizes a hierarchical structure allowing access by developers or users over a network to information contained in identified public folders and/or a user'"'"'s profile.

Claims

1. A computer-readable storage medium having stored thereon computer-executable instructions that, when executed, performs a method of separating data stored in a namespace, the method comprising:

creating a users folder configured to store profiles for a plurality of users;

creating a public folder for storing information to be shared with other users, the public folder being a subfolder one namespace-hierarchy level beneath the users folder;

creating at least one user folder for separating application data from user data in the namespace, the at least one user folder being a subfolder one namespace-hierarchy level beneath the users folder, the at least one user folder further comprising the following subfolders one namespace-hierarchy level beneath the at least one user folder;

i) a desktop folder, a desktop including shortcuts;

ii) a documents folder for storing documents created by a user;

iii) a downloads folder for storing content downloaded by the user;

iv) a favorites folder for storing website addresses saved by the user;

v) a music folder for storing music files saved by the user;

vi) a video folder for storing video files saved by the user;

vii) a pictures folder for storing pictures saved by the user; and

vii) an application data folder for storing user application data and binaries, wherein the application data folder comprises a local folder and a roaming- folder, wherein the local folder stores machine-dependent application data and settings, and the roaming folder stores machine-independent application data and settings; and

separating the application data from user data in the namespace in the at least one user folder,

wherein the public folder includes subfolders to further separate application data from user data in a namespace, the subfolders comprising;

i) a second desktop folder, the second desktop including shortcuts;

ii) a second documents folder, the second documents folder for storing documents created by the user;

iii) a second download folder for storing content downloaded by the user;

iv) a second music folder for storing music files;

v) a second pictures folder for storing pictures;

vi) a second video folder for storing videos;

vii) a second favorites folder for storing website addresses saved by the user; and

viii) a second application data folder for storing shared application data and binaries.

2. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 1, wherein the documents folder comprises a default storage location for storing documents created by the user.

3. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 1, wherein the local folder further comprises default folders for storage of machine specific data and setting, the default folders comprising a temporary folder, and application specific folders.

4. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 1, wherein the roaming folder further comprises default folders for storage of machine-specific data and settings, wherein the default folders comprise application-specific folders.

5. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 1, wherein the application data folder is a hidden folder.

6. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 5, wherein the at least one user folder further comprises a SharedByMe folder and a SharedWithMe folder, the SharedByMe folder including synchronized copies of data shared by the user with other users, the SharedByMe folder including synchronized copies of data shared with the user by the other users.

7. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 1, wherein a user is granted default access to each of the subfolders, the default access including read and execute access based on security groups to which the user belongs.

8. A method of separating application data and user data stored in a plurality of folders in a namespace data structure, the method comprising:

creating in a computing device, at a first namespace-hierarchy level that is one namespace-hierarchy level below a users folder configured to store user profiles for a plurality of users, a public folder for storing information to be shared with other users;

creating, at the first namespace-hierarchy level, per-user folders for each user, the per-user folders storing data and settings particular to each user;

creating, at a second namespace-hierarchy level that is one level below the first namespace-hierarchy level, subfolders for each per-user folder that separate application data and user data, the sub-folders including;

i) a desktop folder, the desktop including shortcuts;

ii) a documents folder for storing documents created by the user;

iii) a downloads folder for storing content downloaded by the user;

iv) a favorites folder for storing website addresses saved by the user;

v) a music folder for storing music files saved by the user;

vi) a video folder for storing video files saved by the user;

vii) a pictures folder for storing pictures saved by the user; and

viii) an application data folder for storing per-user application data and binaries, wherein the application data folder includes a local folder and a roaming folder, wherein further the local folder stores machine-dependent application data and settings, and the roaming folder stores machine-independent application data and settings; and

separating the application data and user data in the each per-user folder,

wherein the public folder includes subfolders to further separate application data from user data in a namespace, the subfolders comprising;

i) a second desktop folder, the second desktop including shortcuts;

ii) a second documents folder, the second documents folder for storing documents created by the user;

iii) a second download folder for storing content downloaded by the user;

iv) a second music folder for storing music files;

v) a second pictures folder for storing pictures;

vi) a second video folder for storing videos;

vii) a second favorites folder for storing website addresses saved by the User;

viii) a second application data folder for storing shared application data and binaries; and

wherein the user controls access to each of the subfolders.

9. The method of separating application data and user data of claim 8, wherein the documents folder comprises a default storage location for storing documents created by the user.

10. The method of separating application data and user data of claim 8, wherein the local folder further comprises default folders for storage of machine specific data and setting, the default folders comprising a temporary folder, and application specific folders.

11. The method of separating application data and user data of claim 8, wherein the roaming folder further comprises default folders for storage of machine-specific data and settings, and the default folders further comprise application-specific folders.