Roaming Profile Client for Application Settings Consistency
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Solution Overview
Problem
Users experience inconsistent application settings across multiple computers, requiring manual effort to apply changes made on one computer to others, which diminishes the user experience, especially when using different devices for work, travel, or remote sessions.
Innovation Solution
Implementing a roaming profile system where a client monitors system calls to detect changes in application settings and communicates these changes to a server, which stores and propagates them across connected computers, ensuring consistent settings across all devices used by a user.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If users manually configure application settings on each computer, then consistency across devices can be achieved, but user time and effort are significantly increased
Solution Approach 1:
The system automatically detects application settings changes and propagates them across multiple computers without requiring user intervention. The roaming profile client monitors system calls, detects when settings change, and automatically uploads these changes to the server and propagates them to other devices, making the configuration process self-service rather than manual.
Solution Approach 2:
The system implements a feedback mechanism where the roaming profile client continuously monitors system calls and detects changes in application settings. When a change is detected, the system automatically uploads the new settings to the server and downloads updated settings from the server to other computers, creating a closed-loop feedback system that maintains consistency across devices.
2Speed
If application settings are stored locally on each computer, then access speed is fast, but settings consistency across multiple computers deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a server as an intermediary that stores centralized application settings. The roaming profile client acts as a mediator between local applications and the central server, automatically uploading settings changes to the server and downloading updated settings from the server to local computers, thereby maintaining both fast local access and consistent settings across devices.
Solution Approach 2:
The system segments settings management into two parts: local caching for fast access and centralized storage for consistency. The roaming profile client maintains a local cache of settings for immediate application access, while simultaneously maintaining a connection to the central server that stores the master copy of settings, allowing the system to provide both speed and consistency.
3Reliability
If a roaming profile system is implemented to propagate settings automatically, then settings consistency improves, but system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The roaming profile client serves as an intermediary component that simplifies the overall system architecture. Rather than requiring complex peer-to-peer communication between multiple computers, the client mediates all settings propagation through the central server, reducing system complexity while maintaining settings consistency across devices.
Solution Approach 2:
The roaming profile client operates as a self-service component that automatically monitors system calls, detects settings changes, and propagates them without requiring user configuration or intervention. This automation reduces the operational complexity of the system, as the client handles all propagation tasks autonomously based on detected changes.
4Measurement precision
If system calls are monitored to detect settings changes, then automatic propagation accuracy improves, but processing overhead increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system extracts only the relevant information from system calls - specifically, whether a system call represents a settings change - rather than processing the entire system call data. The roaming profile client monitors system calls and extracts only the necessary information about settings changes, uploading only these specific changes to the server, thereby reducing processing overhead while maintaining detection accuracy.
Data Source
AI summary
Systems, methods, and computer-readable storage media are disclosed for roaming profiles and application compatibility in multi-user systems. In an embodiment, a user profile exists on a plurality of client computers. Each client computer executes a roaming profile client that intercepts a change to an application's settings. The roaming profile client sends this change to a roaming profile server that stores it. When the user profile logs on to a second client computer, the roaming profile server sends an indication of the change to a second roaming profile client on the second client computer. This roaming profile client alters the settings for the application on the second client computer such that, when the user session executes the application on the second client computer, the application reflects the change.