Transfer of user profiles using portable storage devices
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.
1. A method for creating a user profile comprising the steps of:
detecting a connection of a Portable Storage Device (PSD) to a computing device;
upon detecting the connection of the PSD, scanning the PSD for an indication of a stored user profile containing data files, application settings and user environment settings, wherein the user environment settings include one or more of a user's desktop configuration, a start menu configuration, or an application toolbar configuration;
upon detecting that no user profile is stored on the PSD:
automatically launching a user profile configuration wizard that enables the user to create a user profile on the PSD,
receiving input from the user profile configuration wizard, wherein the input includes an instruction to synchronize a first data content item and an instruction to not synchronize a second data content item that is different from the first data content item, and
upon receiving the input from the user profile configuration wizard, automatically storing the first data content item on the PSD in association with a new user profile;
determining that the first data content item has been modified;
based on the new user profile, automatically synchronizing the modified first data content item with the PSD;
determining that the second data content item has been modified;
based on the new user profile, not synchronizing the modified second data content item with the PSD;
determining that one or more of the user environment settings associated with the new user profile has been modified; and
based on the new user profile, automatically synchronizing the user environment setting with the PSD.
2. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the data content items comprise a plurality of different types of data.
3. The method according to claim 2 , wherein the plurality of different types of data include one or more contacts, multimedia files, calendar data, and documents.
4. The method according to claim 2 , wherein for each of the plurality of types of data, the user may select all, some, or none of the data.
5. The method according to claim 4 , further comprising the step of synchronizing the selected data with data on a later-connected PSD.
6. The method according to claim 2 , wherein the plurality of different types of data comprises user settings.
7. The method according to claim 6 , further comprising the step of prompting the user to select for synchronization all, some, or none of the user settings.
8. The method according to claim 7 , 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.
9. The method according to claim 8 , wherein each item in the list of user settings is accompanied by a checkbox that, if checked, selects the item for synchronization.
10. The method according to claim 1 further comprising determining whether there is sufficient memory available on the PSD to store a user profile.
11. The method according to claim 10 , wherein if there is 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.
12. A computer readable storage 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:
detecting a connection of a Portable Storage Device (PSD) to a computing device;
upon detecting the connection of the PSD, scanning the PSD for an indication of a stored user profile containing data files, application settings and user environment settings that are used to configure the computing device;
upon detecting that no user profile is stored on the PSD:
automatically launching a user profile configuration wizard,
receiving input from the user profile configuration wizard, wherein the input includes an instruction to synchronize a first data content item and an instruction to not synchronize a second data content item that is different from the first data content item, and
upon receiving the input from the user profile configuration wizard, automatically storing the first data content item on the PSD in association with a new user profile;
determining that the first data content item has been modified;
based on the new user profile, automatically synchronizing the modified first data content item with the PSD;
determining that the second data content item has been modified; and
based on the new user profile, not synchronizing the modified second data content item with the PSD.
13. The computer readable medium of claim 12 , wherein the user profile configuration wizard allows a user to select data content items available to the user profile for synchronization.
14. The computer readable medium of claim 13 , wherein the data content items comprise a plurality of different types of data.
15. The computer readable medium of claim 14 , wherein the plurality of different types of data include one or more contacts, multimedia files, calendar data, and documents.
16. The computer readable medium of claim 15 , wherein for each of the plurality of types of data, the user may select all, some, or none of the data.
17. The computer readable medium of claim 16 , further comprising the step of synchronizing the selected data with data on a later-connected PSD.
18. The computer readable medium of claim 13 , wherein the data content items comprise user settings.
19. The computer readable medium of claim 18 , further comprising the step of prompting the user to select for synchronization all, some, or none of the user settings.
20. The computer readable medium of claim 19 , further comprising the step of upon the user choosing some of the user settings for synchronization, a list of user settings being displayed to the user.
21. The computer readable medium of claim 20 , wherein each item in the list of user settings is accompanied by a checkbox that, if checked, selects the item for synchronization.
22. The computer readable medium of claim 12 , wherein the method performed by the computer further comprises determining whether there is sufficient memory available on the PSD to store a user profile.
23. The computer readable medium of claim 22 , wherein if there is not sufficient memory available on the PSD to store a user profile, offering to free up storage space on the PSD by deleting files stored on the PSD.
24. 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:
detecting a connection of a Portable Storage Device (PSD) to a computing device;
upon detecting the connection of the PSD, scanning the PSD for an indication of a stored user profile containing data files, application settings and user environment settings that are used to configure the computing device;
upon detecting that no user profile is stored on the PSD:
automatically launching a user profile configuration wizard,
receiving input from the user profile configuration wizard, wherein the input includes an instruction to synchronize a first data content item and an instruction to not synchronize a second data content item that is different from the first data content item, and
upon receiving the input from the user profile configuration wizard, automatically storing the first data content item on the PSD in association with a new user profile;
determining that the first data content item has been modified;
based on the new user profile, automatically synchronizing the modified first data content item with the PSD;
determining that the second data content item has been modified; and
based on the new user profile, not synchronizing the modified second data content item with the PSD.
25. The computer of claim 24 , wherein the user profile configuration wizard allows a user to select for synchronization data content items available to the user profile.
26. The computer of claim 25 , wherein the data content items comprises a plurality of different types of data.
27. The computer of claim 26 , wherein the plurality of different types of data include one or more contacts, multimedia files, calendar data, and documents.
28. The computer of claim 26 , wherein for each of the plurality of types of data, the user may select all, some, or none of the data.
29. The computer of claim 28 , further comprising the step of synchronizing the selected data with data on a later-connected PSD.
30. The computer of claim 25 , wherein the data content items comprise user settings.
31. The computer of claim 30 , further comprising the step of prompting the user to select for synchronization all, some, or none of the user settings.
32. The computer of claim 31 , further comprising the step of upon the user choosing some of the user settings for synchronization, a list of user settings being displayed to the user.
33. The computer of claim 32 , wherein each item in the list of user settings is accompanied by a checkbox that, if checked, selects the item for synchronization.
34. The computer of claim 24 , wherein the method performed by the computer further comprises determining whether there is sufficient memory available on the PSD to store a user profile.
35. The computer of claim 34 , wherein if there is not sufficient memory available on the PSD to store a user profile, offering to free up storage space on the PSD by deleting files stored on the PSD.