Application settings migration using virtualization

Abstract

Application setting virtualization for a user. Application settings from a source computer are copied to a user-specific location on a destination computer and layered under corresponding application settings associated with one or more applications installed on the destination computer. In response to receiving a request from an application for an application setting, the requested application setting is retrieved from the layered application settings such that the layers are searched in order for the requested application setting and the first application setting found is retrieved and returned to the requesting application.

1 . A method for application setting virtualization for a user, comprising:
 layering, under a first plurality of application settings associated with an application installed on the destination computer, a corresponding second plurality of application settings copied from a source computer to a user-specific location on the destination computer, said first plurality of application settings being available to the application in a first layer and said second plurality of application settings being available to the application in a second layer below the first layer;   receiving a request from the application installed on the destination computer for an application setting;   retrieving the requested application setting from the layered plurality of application settings such that the layers of the plurality of application settings are searched in order for the requested application setting and the first application setting found is retrieved; and   returning the retrieved application setting to the application.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the copied second plurality of application settings stored in the user-specific location are layered under the first plurality of application settings in response to the user logging into the destination computer. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein retrieving the requested application setting from the second plurality of application settings comprises:
 copying the requested application setting from the second plurality of application settings to a corresponding application setting in the first plurality of application settings;   deleting the requested application setting from the second plurality of application settings; and   retrieving the copied application setting from the first plurality of application settings in response to the request.   
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 removing the second plurality of application settings from the destination computer.   
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein only the second plurality of application settings associated with the application installed on the destination computer and specified by an administrator are layered under the first plurality of application settings associated with said specified application. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the first plurality of application settings is stored in one or more of the following locations: a database associated with an operating system of the destination computer and an application data directory of the destination computer. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the second plurality of application settings is stored in one or more of the following locations: a database associated with an operating system of the source computer and an application data directory of the source computer. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the second plurality of application settings were customized for an application installed on the source computer. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein the application is uninstalled from the source computer but the first plurality of application settings are not uninstalled. 
     
     
         10 . A system for application setting virtualization for a user, said system comprising:
 a first storage location for application settings associated with an application, said first storage location associated with a source computer;   a second storage location for virtual application settings associated with the application, said second storage location associated with a destination computer executing the application; and   a computer processor configured to execute computer-executable instructions for:
 layering, under a first plurality of application settings associated with the application on the second storage location, a corresponding second plurality of application settings copied from the first storage location to a user-specific location on the second storage location, said first plurality of application settings being available to the application in a first layer and said second plurality of application settings being available to the application in a second layer below the first layer; 
 receiving a request from the application executing on the destination computer for an application setting; 
 retrieving the requested application setting from the layered plurality of application settings such that the layers of the plurality of application settings are searched in order for the requested application setting and the first application setting found is retrieved; and 
 returning the retrieved application setting to the application executing on the destination computer. 
   
     
     
         11 . The system of  claim 10 , wherein the copied second plurality of application settings stored in the user-specific location are layered under the first plurality of application settings in response to the user logging into the destination computer. 
     
     
         12 . The system of  claim 10 , wherein retrieving the requested application setting from the second plurality of application settings comprises:
 copying the requested application setting from the second plurality of application settings to a corresponding application setting in the first plurality of application settings;   deleting the requested application setting from the second plurality of application settings; and   retrieving the copied application setting from the first plurality of application settings in response to the request.   
     
     
         13 . The system of  claim 10 , wherein the computer processor is further configured to execute computer-executable instructions for removing the second plurality of application settings from the second storage location. 
     
     
         14 . The system of  claim 10 , wherein only the second plurality of application settings associated with the application and specified by an administrator are layered under the first plurality of application settings associated with said specified application. 
     
     
         15 . The system of  claim 10 , wherein the first plurality of application settings is stored in one or more of the following on the second storage location: a database associated with an operating system of the destination computer and an application data directory of the destination computer. 
     
     
         16 . The system of  claim 10 , wherein the second plurality of application settings is stored in one or more of the following on the second storage location: a database associated with an operating system of the source computer and an application data directory of the source computer. 
     
     
         17 . The system of  claim 10 , wherein the second plurality of application settings were customized for an application installed on the source computer. 
     
     
         18 . The system of  claim 17 , wherein the application is uninstalled from the source computer but the first plurality of application settings are not uninstalled. 
     
     
         19 . One or more computer-readable media having computer-executable instructions stored thereon, said computer-executable instructions comprising instructions for:
 layering, under a first plurality of application settings associated with an application installed on a destination computer, a corresponding second plurality of application settings copied from a source computer to a user-specific location on the destination computer, said first plurality of application settings being available to the application in a first layer and said second plurality of application settings being available to the application in a second layer below the first layer;   receiving a request from the application installed on the destination computer for an application setting;   retrieving the requested application setting from the layered plurality of application settings such that the layers of the plurality of application settings are searched in order for the requested application setting and the first application setting found is retrieved; and   returning the retrieved application setting to the application.   
     
     
         20 . The computer-readable media of  claim 19 , wherein the computer-executable instructions for retrieving the requested application setting from the second plurality of application settings further comprise instructions for:
 copying the requested application setting from the second plurality of application settings to a corresponding application setting in the first plurality of application settings;   deleting the requested application setting from the second plurality of application settings; and   retrieving the copied application setting from the first plurality of application settings in response to the request.