US 7,032,011 B2 · Server based extraction, transfer, storage and processing of remote settings, files and data

Abstract

A network based solution is described associated with the extraction, transfer, storage, and processing of application settings, files and other data from a subscriber's source computer-based device to a server system, and the subsequent transfer of the application settings, files, and other data from the server system onto a target computer-based device. A server downloads a software module onto the user's computer-based device. A series of pre-stored instructions commensurate with selected settings, files and data are sent from a remote server to the software module to uncover, extract, collect, and return to allocated storage space of the server the sought information. Once the application settings, files and other data are stored within the remote server system, they can be retrieved by the subscriber for purposes of restoring a crashed system, transference to a repaired or new system, converted for use on a new differing device or updated to reflect changes in software. Furthermore, the present invention allows for future compatibility of formats, programs, platforms or device configurations based on periodic updating of the instruction scripts without any modifications to the downloaded software module.

Drawings

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Drawings

Claims30

Dependent claims

A method for remotely extracting and storing computer related information across a network, said method comprising:

a) establishing a communications link between at least one computer-based device and a remote server system;
b) downloading a software module from said remote server system to said computer-based device;
c) transferring a first directive file from said remote server system to said software module, said first directive file working in conjunction with said remote server system, said software module identifying installed computer related information on said computer-based device;
d) said remote server system receiving a second directive file from said software module regarding said identified installed computer related information;
e) receiving from said software module a selected list of installed computer related information to be uploaded to said remote server system;
f) transferring a third directive file from said remote server system to said software module, said third directive file working in conjunction with said remote server system and said software module extracting said selected list of installed computer-related information;
g) said remote server system receiving said extracted information from said software module in a fourth directive file, and
h) said remote server system parsing said fourth directive file and storing said extracted information.

5 more elements

A system for remotely extracting and storing computer related information across a network, said system comprising:

at least one computer-based device connected to a remote server system through said network;
a software module downloaded from said remote server system to said computer-based device;
a markup based snippet database comprising application and operating system related information, said snippet database accessible by said remote server system;
a first directive file from said remote server system identifying installed applications in said computer-based device, said first directive file created by said remote server system by selective retrieval of snippets from said markup based snippet database;
a second directive file, received by said remote server system from said software module, comprising information regarding a list of selected information corresponding to identified installed applications;
a third directive file from said remote server system providing instructions for extracting said selected information, said third directive file created by said remote server system by selective retrieval of snippets from said markup based snippet database, and
said remote server system receiving and storing said extracted information.

4 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Description10,500 words

Summary916 words

#1. Field of Invention

#The present invention relates generally to the field of remote acquisition/transfer and storage of computer files and settings associated with a computer-based device. More specifically, the present invention is related to a server system that facilitates the extraction of application settings, files and other data from a source computer-based device, intelligent remote storage and the subsequent transfer of the application settings, files, and other data from the server system to a target computer-based device.

#2. Discussion of Prior Art

Brief description of the drawings20 figures

#FIG. 1 illustrates the system associated with co-pending application entitled, “System for Transporting Application Settings, Files, and Other Data from One Computer-Based Device to Another Computer-Based Device”.

#FIG. 2 illustrates the various data servers of the server system of the present invention.

#FIG. 3 illustrates the architecture of the settings extractor and injector module (SEIM).

Detailed description9,333 words

#While this invention is illustrated and described in a preferred embodiment, the invention may be produced in many different configurations, forms and materials. There is depicted in the drawings, and will herein be described in detail, a preferred embodiment of the invention, with the understanding that the present disclosure is to be considered as an exemplification of the principles of the invention and the associated functional specifications for its construction and is not intended to limit the invention to the embodiment illustrated. Those skilled in the art will envision many other possible variations within the scope of the present invention.

#Definitions are provided to help with the general understanding of server activity during transfer of application settings, files, and other data, and are not meant to limit their interpretation or use thereof. Therefore, other known definitions or equivalents may be substituted without departing from the scope of the present invention. Throughout this document, the term ‘Network’ includes all current methods of data transfer between computer-based devices, including those currently implied by the term ‘the Internet,’ to include but not limited to HTTP, FTP, SSH, TCP/IP, socket connection, XML, XMI, wireless and telephony data transfer. Furthermore, throughout the specification the term CAD (client access DLL) has been replaced with SEIM (settings extraction/injection module). These terns are interchangeable.

#Application Server—the user interface for the system. Components of the Application Server comprise: dynamic interface pages, hidden Dynamic Server Pages for application logic in “Network Calls.” (Described below) Dynamic Server Pages (DSP) that drive the flow of the browser GUI, creating directive files for transmission to the client, decoding directive files from a client to store in the database.

Facts

Application

09/852,011Filed 10 May 2001 · continuation in part

Priority

29 Mar 2000

Published

US 2002/0104080 A11 Aug 2002

Granted

18 Apr 2006

Term ended

11 Jan 2023

Estimated · how

20 years from earliest known nonprovisional domestic filing plus recorded patent term adjustment, including 789 days of adjustment. Maintenance-fee lapses, terminal disclaimers and statutory extensions have not been checked. The continuity chain may be incomplete; this is not an enforceability determination.

Classification2 codes

G06F 9/44505
Program loading or initiating: configuring for program initiating, e.g. using registry, configuration files
G06F
Computing and data processing

Family

Application60/192,860Us provisional application · filed 29 Mar 2000

Application09/709,505Parent of this continuation-in-part · filed 13 Nov 2000

US 2002/0104080 A1Pre-grant publication · published 1 Aug 2002

US 6,963,908 B1Related patent

US 7,032,011 B2This patent

From the US filing history. Foreign family members aren’t listed.

Timeline

29 Mar 2000Priority claimedParent application 60/192,860
10 May 2001Application filedUS 09/852,011
10 May 2001Assigned to Virtual Access Networks, Inc.assignment of assignor's interest
3 Jan 2002Assigned to Stata Venture Parners, LLC Delaware Limited Liability Companysecurity interest
1 May 2002Assigned to Van, LLC, theassignment of assignor's interest
2 May 2002Assigned to Stata Venture Partners, LLCassignment of assignor's interest
1 Aug 2002PublishedUS 2002/0104080 A1
20 May 2003Assigned to Symantec Corporationassignment of assignor's interest
18 Apr 2006GrantedUS 7,032,011 B2
25 May 2012Assigned to Stec IP, LLCassignment of assignor's interest
25 May 2012Assigned to Clouding IP, LLCchange of name
10 Sep 2014Assigned to Clouding Corp.assignment of assignor's interest
2 Feb 2015Assigned to Dbd Credit Funding, LLCsecurity interest
11 Jan 2017Assigned to Dbd Credit Funding LLC, AS Collateral Agentsecurity interest
11 Jan 2023Term endedEstimated, includes 789 days of adjustment

Server based extraction, transfer, storage and processing of remote settings, files and data

Life of this patent

Server based extraction, transfer, storage and processing of remote settings, files and data

Life of this patent

Life of this patent

Abstract

Drawings

Drawings

Claims30

Description10,500 words

Drawings

Classification2 codes

Life of this patent

Description10,500 words