Method and system for detecting changes in computer files and settings and automating the migration of settings and files to computers

• US 8,429,253 B1
• Filed: 01/27/2004
• Issued: 04/23/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 01/27/2004
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: CA, Inc. (d/b/a CA Technologies) (Broadcom, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Symantec Corporation (NortonLifeLock Inc.)
• Inventors: Wiggins, Greg
• Primary Examiner(s): Nguyen, Phuoc
• Assistant Examiner(s): Belani, Kishin G
• Application Number:
  US10/765,770
• Time in Patent Office: 3,374 Days
• Field of Search: 709/221
• US Class Current: 709/221
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/119 Details of migration of file systems migration mechanisms in storage systems G06F3/0647

Abstract

A system and method for managing and performing migration of individual settings and files from a user'"'"'s computer to a second computer which provides complete migration by establishing a base set and at the appropriate times stores a scan of the current status of the settings and files. In one embodiment the current status is determined upon demand of the user, while in another embodiment the current status is performed automatically as any changes in settings or files are detected.

Claims

1. A system for migration of files and settings between computers comprising:

(A) a first computer system having a processor, a storage device in communication with said processor, an input device in communication with said processor and an output device in communication with said processor;

(B) one or more settings resident on said storage device;

(C) one or more files resident on said storage device;

(D) a second computer system in communication with said first computer system; and

(E) a program for managing a migration of said one or more settings and said one or more files, said program resident on said storage device;

said program comprising the steps of;

(1) storing a base set comprising said one or more settings and file information corresponding to said one or more files for said first computer system at a first time;

(2) determining a current state of said first computer system, said current state comprising at least a portion of said one or more settings and said file information at a second time;

(3) comparing said current state of said first computer system with said base set of said first computer system to provide a table of changes;

(4) analyzing said table of changes to create a migration plan;

(5) migrating said one or more files and said one or more settings from said first computer system to said second computer system based on said migration plan.

2. A system for migration of files and settings between computers, as recited in claim 1, wherein said program further comprises the steps of:

(i) determining if said base set has been established;

(ii) creating said base set if said base set has not been established;

(iii) determining if it is time to perform said comparison of said current state with said base set; and

(iv) determining the differences between the said current state and said base set.

3. A system for migration of files and settings between computers, as recited in claim 2 wherein said one or more settings comprise registry settings, and wherein said determining the differences further comprises the steps of:

(a) taking a state of registry of said first computer system;

(b) taking a state of said one or more files of said first computer system;

(c) comparing said state of said registry and said state of said one or more files with said base set; and

(d) generating said migration plan.

4. A system for migration of files and settings between computers, as recited in claim 1, wherein said migrating further comprises the steps of:

(a) providing a logical view of said one or more files and said one or more settings;

(b) launching a migration tool;

(c) performing said migration of said one or more files and said one or more settings from said first computer system to said second computer system;

(d) checking said migration to confirm that said one or more files and said one or more settings are received by said second computer; and

(e) generating a log file.

5. A system for migration of files and settings between computers, as recited in claim 1 wherein said program further comprises the steps of:

(1) determining if a change to said one or more settings has been made between said first time and said second time;

(2) determining if a change to said one or more settings has been made between said first time and said second time; and

(3) recording said changes to said one or more settings and said one or more files.

6. A system for migration of files and settings between computers, as recited in claim 5 wherein said one or more settings comprise registry settings, and wherein said determining the differences further comprises the steps of:

(a) taking a state of registry of said first computer system;

(b) taking a state of said one or more files of said first computer system; and

(c) generating said migration plan.

7. A system for migration of files and settings between computers, as recited in claim 5, wherein said migrating further comprises the steps of:

(a) providing a logical view of said one or more files and said one or more settings;

(b) launching a migration tool;

(c) performing said migration of said one or more files and said one or more settings from said first computer system to said second computer system;

(d) checking said migration to confirm that said one or more files and said one or more settings are received by said second computer system; and

(e) generating a log file.

19. The system of claim 1, wherein said migration plan is created without receiving input from a user.

8. A method for managing the migration of settings and files between computers, comprising:

(A) storing a base set comprising settings and file information for a source computer at a first time;

(B) determining a current state of said source computer, said current state comprising at least a portion of said settings and said file information for said source computer at a second time;

comparing current state with said base set

(C) comparing said current state of said source computer with said base set of said source computer to map differences in said settings and said file information between said first time and said second time

(D) comparing a key table to said differences to define a migration plan; and

(E) migrating said settings and one or more files corresponding to said file information from said source computer to a destination computer based on an automatic analysis of said migration plan, said automatic analysis being performed without receiving input from a user.

9. A method for managing the migration of settings and files between computers, as recited in claim 8, wherein said storing a base set further comprises:

(1) identifying if a base set has been created; and

(2) if no base set has been created, scanning a present state of said one or more files and said settings of said source computer at said first time and storing said present state of said one or more files and said settings as said base set.

10. A method for managing the migration of settings and files between computers, as recited in claim 8, wherein said comparing said current state of said source computer with said base set further comprises:

(1) scanning a current state of said settings and said one or more files of said source computer at said second time;

(2) storing said current state of said settings and said one or more files;

(3) comparing said current state of said settings with said base set;

(4) comparing said current state of said one or more files with said base set; and

(5) storing the results of said comparison.

11. A method for managing the migration of settings and files between computers, as recited in claim 10, wherein said comparing said key table further comprises:

logically comparing keys and associated values of said current state of said settings and said one or more files with keys and associated values of said base set.

12. A method for managing the migration of settings and files between computers, as recited in claim 11, wherein said migrating further comprises:

(1) reading said results of said comparison; and

(2) writing said results to a storage device.

13. A method for managing the migration of settings and files between computers, comprising:

(A) determining if a base set has been established said base set comprising settings and file information for a first computer system;

(B) creating said base set if no base set has been established;

(C) determining if it is time for comparison of said base set and a current state of said first computer system;

(D) if it is time for a comparison determining differences between the current state of the settings and files and the settings and files in said base set;

(E) analyzing said differences to create a migration plan; and

(F) migrating said differences to a second computer system based on said migration plan.

14. A method for managing the migration of settings and files between computers, as recited in claim 13, wherein said settings comprise registry settings and wherein said determining differences further comprises:

(1) Taking the current state of the registry settings of the first computer system;

(2) taking the current state of the files of the first computer system;

(3) comparing said current state of said registry settings with the settings in said base set;

(4) comparing said current state of said files with the files in said base set; and

(5) generating a table of keys and values.

15. A method for managing the migration of settings and files between computers as recited in claim 13, wherein said migrating further comprises;

(1) providing a logical view of said differences in files and settings;

(2) launching a migration tool;

(3) performing said migrations;

(4) checking said migration to confirm that said differences are received by said second computer system; and

(5) generating a log file.

16. A method for managing the migration of settings and files between computers, comprising:

(A) monitoring a first computer for changes to settings and files on said first computer;

(B) determining that a change has been made to at least one of;

a setting on said first computer;

a file on said first computer;

(C) recording said change;

(D) determining a state of said first computer based on said change;

(E) analyzing said state of said first computer to create a migration plan; and

(F) migrating said state to a second computer based on said migration plan.

17. A method for managing the migration of settings and files between computers, as recited in claim 16, wherein said determining said change comprises:

(1) taking a current state of registry settings of said first computer;

(2) taking a current state of the files of said first computer;

(3) generating a table of keys and values.

18. A method for managing the migration of settings and files between computers, as recited in claim 16, wherein said migrating further comprises:

(1) providing a logical view of said state of said first computer;

(2) launching a migration tool;

(3) performing said migration of said state to said second computer;

(4) checking said migration to confirm that said state is received by said second computer; and

(5) generating a log file.