Method of migrating from one computer to another

Abstract

A process is provided for facilitating the migrating of a user's overall software environment from a first computer to a second computer. The process includes enhancing the operating system on the computer or adding additional functionality to the original and new computers such that software products are identified and their subsequent operation tracked. This tracking operation is used to identify user data files and other files, settings and data which might be potentially moved to the new computer. The method then causes the appropriate programs, settings and files to be packed and moved. The files and programs are unpacked, and the new computer is ready for use such that its appearance and operating environment are identical to that of the original computer.

1 . A method for transferring a user's software operating environment from a first to a second computer, the method comprising the steps of: 
 identifying on the first computer, substantially those software products having software product files and product data files requiring to be prepared for future migration;    packing the software product files and the product data files to be moved;    moving the software product files and the product data files to the second computer, excepting files that are manually excluded; and    unpacking the moved software product files and the product data files onto the second computer.    
   
   
       2 . The method of  claim 1 , in which the identifying and packing steps are carried out by substantially automated software programs and including providing said substantially automated software programs as part of the operating system of the first computer.  
   
   
       3 . The method of  claim 1 , in which the unpacking step is carried out by a substantially automated unpacking software program and the substantially automated unpacking software program is formed as part of the operating system of the second computer.  
   
   
       4 . The method of  claim 1 , including carrying out said identifying step during installation of said software product files and said product data files on the first computer.  
   
   
       5 . The method of  claim 4 , further including identifying control information associated with said software products during said installation.  
   
   
       6 . The method of  claim 1 , further including tracking data files or control information generated by running the software products on the first computer and additionally packing tracked data.  
   
   
       7 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said packing step includes packing files by compressing or encrypting said files.  
   
   
       8 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said packing step includes copying said software products onto removable storage medium loadable onto said first computer.  
   
   
       9 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said moving step comprises transferring said software product files and product data files to the second computer via a data communication network.  
   
   
       10 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein said data communication network is the Internet.  
   
   
       11 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said software products are operable under specified licensing terms and conditions, and including, controlling packing of said software products based on said specified licensing terms and conditions.  
   
   
       12 . The method of  claim 11 , including disabling the operation of said software products on the first computer.  
   
   
       13 . The method of  claim 1 , including deleting said software products from said first computer at the time of carrying out said moving step.  
   
   
       14 . The method of  claim 11 , including communicating with an independently provided software license manager and receiving from said software license manager said licensing terms and conditions.  
   
   
       15 . The method of  claim 1 , including providing each software product to be moved with a packer program that passes a list of executable files or control information and with an unpacker program which is operable for unpacking the executable files or control information at the second computer.  
   
   
       16 . The method of  claim 15 , in which said packer and unpacker programs are comprised of a plurality of software files identified by unique, standardized software file names.  
   
   
       17 . The method of  claim 1 , further including surveying software products installed on the first computer and including further carrying out said identifying step based on results of said surveying step.  
   
   
       18 . A system for transferring a user's software operating environment from a first to a second computer, the system comprising: 
 identifying software that serves to substantially automatically identify those software products which define the operating environment, said software products having software product files and product data files requiring to be prepared for future migration, said identifying software being selectively operable during installation of said software product files and said product data files on the first computer;    packing software that packs the software product files and the product data files to be moved;    moving software that moves the software product files and the product data files to the second computer, excepting files that are manually excluded; and    unpacking software that unpacks the moved software product files and product data files onto the second computer.    
   
   
       19 . A software product with a facility for migrating the operation and functionality of the software product from a first to a second computer, the software product comprising: 
 software product files which define the operation and functionality of the software product;    packing software operable for identifying the software product files requiring to be transferred to the second computer in a future migration; and    interface software for interfacing the packing software with other software that is instrumental in facilitating the migration of the software product to the second computer.    
   
   
       20 . A method for migrating the operation and functionality of a software product from a first to a second computer, the method comprising the steps of: 
 identifying on the first computer, substantially those software product files and product data files of said software product requiring to be prepared for future migration;    packing the software product files and product data files to be moved;    moving the software product files and the product data files to the second computer, excepting files that are manually excluded; and    unpacking the moved software product files and the product data files onto the second computer.