Transfer of user profiles using portable storage devices

• US 20050108297A1
• Filed: 11/17/2003
• Published: 05/19/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 11/17/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
• Inventors: Wentz, Brian D., van der Bogert, Giles, Rollin, Kelly E., St-Michel, Stephane, Guzak, Christopher John
• Granted Patent: US 7,620,667 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/178 Techniques for file synchronisation in file systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/04 specially adapted for terminals or networks with limited capabilities; specially adapted for terminal portability
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/306 User profiles
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/34 involving the movement of software or configuration parameters network booting or remote initial program loading [RIPL] G06F9/4416
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99955 Archiving or backup

Abstract

A method and apparatus for transferring user profiles between computing devices using portable storage devices is disclosed. A portable storage device (PSD) is connected to a computing device, the computing device reads user profile data from the PSD and configures itself according to that data. If the user profile data is changed on the computing device, those changes are synchronized on the PSD.

Claims

1. A method for transferring user profile data between devices comprising the steps of:

upon detecting a connection of a Portable Storage Device (PSD) to a computing device, reading user profile data from the PSD;

using the user profile data to configure the computing device; and

detecting changes to the user profile data and storing the modified user profile data back to the PSD without explicit action from a user.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein the PSD connects to the computing device through a wireless connection.

3. The method according to claim 1, wherein the PSD is a dumb device.

4. The method according to claim 1, wherein the PSD is a smart device.

5. The method according to claim 1, wherein the user profile data comprises user environment settings on the computing device.

6. The method according to claim 1, wherein the user profile data comprises application program settings on the computing device.

7. The method according to claim 1, wherein the user profile data comprises an application program on the computing device.

8. The method according to claim 1, wherein the storing step occurs in direct response to the modification of the user profile data.

9. The method according to claim 1, wherein the user profile data is removed from the computing device when the PSD is disconnected from the computing device.

10. A computer readable medium on which is stored computer executable instructions that cause a computer to perform a method for transferring user profile data between devices comprising the steps of:

upon detecting a connection of a Portable Storage Device (PSD) to a computing device, reading user profile data from the PSD;

using the user profile data to configure the computing device; and

detecting changes to the user profile data and storing the modified user profile data back to the PSD without explicit action from a user.

11. The computer readable medium of claim 10, wherein the PSD connects to the computing device through a wireless connection.

12. The computer readable medium of claim 10, wherein the PSD is a dumb device.

13. The computer readable medium of claim 10, wherein the PSD is a smart device.

14. The computer readable medium of claim 10, wherein the user profile data comprises user environment settings on the computing device.

15. The computer readable medium of claim 10, wherein the user profile data comprises application settings on the computing device.

16. The computer readable medium of claim 10, wherein the user profile data comprises an application program on the computing device.

17. The computer readable medium of claim 10, wherein the storing step occurs in direct response to the modification of the user profile data.

18. The computer readable medium of claim 10, wherein the user profile data is removed from the computing device when the PSD is disconnected from the computing device.

19. A computer comprising a processor and a memory including computer executable instructions that cause the computer to perform a method for transferring user profile data between devices comprising the steps of:

upon detecting a connection of a Portable Storage Device (PSD) to a computing device, reading user profile data from the PSD;

using the user profile data to configure the computing device; and

detecting changes to the user profile data and storing the modified user profile data back to the PSD without explicit action from a user.

20. The computer of claim 19, wherein the PSD connects to the computing device through a wireless connection.

21. The computer of claim 19, wherein the PSD is a dumb device.

22. The computer of claim 19, wherein the PSD is a smart device.

23. The computer of claim 19, wherein the user profile data comprises user environment settings on the computing device.

24. The computer of claim 19, wherein the user profile data comprises application settings on the computing device.

25. The computer of claim 19, wherein the user profile data comprises an application program on the computing device.

26. The computer of claim 19, wherein the storing step occurs in direct response to the modification of the user profile data.

27. The computer of claim 19, wherein the user profile data is removed from the computing device when the PSD is disconnected from the computing device.

28. A method for creating a user profile comprising the steps of:

upon detecting a connection of a Portable Storage Device (PSD) to a computing device, scanning the PSD for an indication of an existing user profile; and

in response to detecting that no existing user profile is found, automatically launching a user profile configuration wizard.

29. The method according to claim 28, wherein the user profile configuration wizard allows a user to select which content data will be synchronized between the PSD and the computing device.

30. The method according to claim 29, wherein the content data comprises a plurality of different types of data.

31. The method according to claim 30, wherein the plurality of different types of data include one or more of contacts, multimedia files, calendar data, and documents.

32. The method according to claim 30, wherein for each of the plurality of types of data, the user may select all, some, or none of the data.

33. The method according to claim 32, further comprising the step of synchronizing the selected content data with data on a later-connected PSD.

34. The method according to claim 29, wherein the content data comprises user settings.

35. The method according to claim 34, further comprising the step of prompting the user to select for synchronization all, some, or none of the user settings.

36. The method according to claim 35, further comprising the step of displaying, if the user chooses some of the user settings for synchronization, a list of user settings to the user.

37. The method according to claim 36, wherein each item in the list of user settings is accompanied by a checkbox that, if checked, selects the item for synchronization.

38. The method according to claim 28 further comprising determining whether there is sufficient memory available on the PSD to store a user profile.

39. The method according to claim 38, wherein if there is not sufficient memory available on the PSD to store a user profile, selecting a portion of memory on the PSD for storing the user profile and formatting the portion of memory for use as a user profile.

40. A computer readable medium on which is stored computer executable instructions that cause a computer to perform a method for creating a user profile comprising the steps of:

upon detecting a connection of a Portable Storage Device (PSD) to a computing device, scanning the PSD for an indication of an existing user profile;

upon detecting that no existing user profile is found, automatically launching a user profile configuration wizard.

41. The computer readable medium of claim 40, wherein the user profile configuration wizard allows a user to select for synchronization content data available to the user profile.

42. The computer readable medium of claim 41, wherein the content data comprises a plurality of different types of data.

43. The computer readable medium of claim 42, wherein the plurality of different types of data include one or more of contacts, multimedia files, calendar data, and documents.

44. The computer readable medium of claim 43, wherein for each of the plurality of types of data, the user may select all, some, or none of the data.

45. The computer readable medium of claim 44, further comprising the step of synchronizing the selected content data with data on a later-connected PSD.

46. The computer readable medium of claim 41, wherein the content data comprises user settings.

47. The computer readable medium of claim 46, further comprising the step of prompting the user to select for synchronization all, some, or none of the user settings.

48. The computer readable medium of claim 47, further comprising the step of displaying, if the user chooses some of the user settings for synchronization, a list of user settings to the user.

49. The computer readable medium of claim 48, wherein each item in the list of user settings is accompanied by a checkbox that, if checked, selects the item for synchronization.

50. The computer readable medium of claim 40, wherein the method performed by the computer further comprises determining whether there is sufficient memory available on the PSD to store a user profile.

51. The computer readable medium of claim 50, wherein if there is not sufficient memory available on the PSD to store a user profile, selecting a portion of memory on the PSD for storing the user profile and formatting the portion of memory for use as a user profile.

52. A computer comprising a processor and a memory including computer executable instructions that cause the computer to perform a method for creating a user profile comprising the steps of:

upon detecting a connection of a Portable Storage Device (PSD) to a computing device, scanning the PSD for an indication of an existing user profile;

upon determining that no existing user profile is found, automatically launching a user profile configuration wizard.

53. The computer of claim 52, wherein the user profile configuration wizard allows a user to select for synchronization content data available to the user profile.

54. The computer of claim 53, wherein the content data comprises a plurality of different types of data.

55. The computer of claim 54, wherein the plurality types of data include one or more of contacts, multimedia files, calendar data, and documents.

56. The computer of claim 54, wherein for each of the plurality of types of data, the user may select all, some, or none of the data.

57. The computer of claim 56, further comprising the step of synchronizing the selected content data with data on a later-connected PSD.

58. The computer of claim 53, wherein the content data comprises user settings.

59. The computer of claim 58, further comprising the step of prompting the user to select for synchronization all, some, or none of the user settings.

60. The computer of claim 59, further comprising the step of displaying, if the user chooses some of the user settings for synchronization, a list of user settings to the user.

61. The computer of claim 60, wherein each item in the list of user settings is accompanied by a checkbox that, if checked, selects the item for synchronization.

62. The computer of claim 52, wherein the method performed by the computer further comprises determining whether there is sufficient memory available on the PSD to store a user profile.

63. The computer of claim 62, wherein if there is not sufficient memory available on the PSD to store a user profile, selecting a portion of memory on the PSD for storing the user profile and formatting the portion of memory for use as a user profile.