Persisting User Configurations on Write Filter Devices
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Solution Overview
Problem
Write filters in operating systems, such as Windows and Linux, prevent user configuration settings from being persisted across reboots, making it inconvenient for users in shared computing environments where different devices are used daily, as customizations made to settings like mouse orientation and desktop appearance are lost when switching devices.
Innovation Solution
An agent on write filter enabled devices retrieves a default configuration, identifies and creates a delta configuration for customized settings, and sends this delta configuration to a server, allowing these settings to be applied on any device the user logs into, ensuring persistence across different devices.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a write filter is enabled to prevent modification of the operating system image, then system stability and security are improved, but user configuration settings cannot be persisted across reboots
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments configuration storage into two distinct locations: the protected operating system image (maintaining stability) and a separate persistent storage location (enabling configuration persistence). The write filter allows writes to a designated configuration partition while blocking writes to the protected OS image, thus resolving the contradiction between system protection and configuration persistence.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces an intermediary configuration partition that acts as a mediator between the user's configuration needs and the protected OS image. This intermediate storage location receives configuration data from the write filter and maintains it persistently without compromising the protected OS image, allowing both system stability and configuration persistence to coexist.
2Ease of operation
If user configuration settings are persisted to the protected volume by disabling the write filter, then configuration persistence is achieved, but system security and protection are compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the storage space into a protected OS image partition and a separate configuration partition. The write filter is configured to redirect configuration writes to the configuration partition rather than the protected partition. This segmentation allows configuration persistence while maintaining system security, as the protected OS image remains isolated from user modifications.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies local quality by making the configuration partition have different protection characteristics than the OS image partition. The configuration partition allows writes for persistence, while the OS image partition maintains read-only protection for security. This differentiated approach resolves the contradiction by allowing persistence in the appropriate location without compromising overall system security.
3Reliability
If the write filter redirects all writes to a RAM overlay, then the operating system image is protected from modification, but all user customizations are discarded at reboot
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the storage system into a protected OS image partition and a persistent configuration partition. The write filter redirects configuration writes to the configuration partition instead of the OS image partition. This allows the OS image to remain protected while user customizations are persisted in the configuration partition across reboots.
Solution Approach 2:
The configuration partition serves as an intermediary that receives user customization data from the write filter and maintains it persistently. This intermediary storage mechanism preserves user customization information without compromising the protected OS image, resolving the contradiction between protection and data retention.
Data Source
AI summary
An agent can be employed on write filter enabled devices to retrieve a default configuration from a server when a user logs in. The default configuration can define which user configuration settings are persist-able. After the user has customized user configuration settings, the agent can identify customizations to any persist-able user configuration setting and create a delta configuration to define these customizations. The agent can send the delta configuration to a server so that it will be available when the user logs in to any other write filter enabled device. At any subsequent login, the agent can retrieve the delta configuration and use it to customize the user configuration settings. In this way, a set of customized user configurations settings can be persisted and applied on any write filter enabled device that a user may log in to.