Methods and apparatus for storing, updating, transporting, and launching personalized computer settings and applications
First Claim
1. A method of transporting user-specific settings and information from a first PC to a second PC, comprising identifying, on the first PC, user-specific settings, configuration information, and data files associated with the operating environment and a suite of user selected PC applications, storing the said user-specific settings, configuration information, and data files into a portable storage device, which can then be connected to a second PC, making the said user-specific settings, configuration information, and data files stored in the said portable storage device accessible by the user from the said second PC so the user can use the said second PC in the same way as if he/she is using the first PC, with the user'"'"'s operating environment and applications configured in a familiar and useful way for the user, making the said portable storage device the default storage device while the said portable storage device is connected to the said second PC, so the information created, received and modified by the user is automatically stored into the said portable storage device, and comparing, while the said portable storage device is connected to the said first PC, the user-specific settings, configuration information, and data files in the portable storage device with the user-selected settings, configuration information, and data files in the permanent storage device of the said first PC, and if a setting, configuration, or data file has been updated in one storage device, it will replace the older version of the information in the other storage device, and if a new piece of information is found in one storage device, it will be copied to the other storage device.
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Abstract
A method and an apparatus for transporting user-specific information from one personal computer to another are described. One version of the system utilizes pocket-sized USB flash memory devices (USB Drives). When the USB Drive is connected to a first computer, typically the user'"'"'s everyday computer, user-specific information, such as email account settings, address book, sent and received emails, etc. is captured on the USB Drive. When the USB Drive is plugged into a second computer, typically a publicly-accessible or borrowed computer, and an application is launched, such as Outlook, user-specific information is temporarily loaded from the USB Drive into the Outlook application. Consequently, the user is able to work on the borrowed computer as if he is working on his everyday computer at home or in the office. Updated information, such as new emails received, is automatically saved to the USB Drive for subsequent transport to the everyday computer.
136 Citations
19 Claims
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1. A method of transporting user-specific settings and information from a first PC to a second PC, comprising
identifying, on the first PC, user-specific settings, configuration information, and data files associated with the operating environment and a suite of user selected PC applications, storing the said user-specific settings, configuration information, and data files into a portable storage device, which can then be connected to a second PC, making the said user-specific settings, configuration information, and data files stored in the said portable storage device accessible by the user from the said second PC so the user can use the said second PC in the same way as if he/she is using the first PC, with the user'"'"'s operating environment and applications configured in a familiar and useful way for the user, making the said portable storage device the default storage device while the said portable storage device is connected to the said second PC, so the information created, received and modified by the user is automatically stored into the said portable storage device, and comparing, while the said portable storage device is connected to the said first PC, the user-specific settings, configuration information, and data files in the portable storage device with the user-selected settings, configuration information, and data files in the permanent storage device of the said first PC, and if a setting, configuration, or data file has been updated in one storage device, it will replace the older version of the information in the other storage device, and if a new piece of information is found in one storage device, it will be copied to the other storage device.
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5. An apparatus for transporting user-specific settings, configuration information, and data files from a first PC to a second PC, comprising a portable storage device on which is stored an application program which
identifies, on the first PC, user-specific settings and information associated with the operating environment and with a suite of user selected PC applications, stores the said user-specific settings, configuration information and data files into the portable storage device, which can then be connected to a second PC, makes the said user-specific settings and information stored in the portable storage device accessible by the user of the said second PC so the user can use the said second PC in the same way as if he/she is using the first PC, makes the said portable storage device the default storage device, while the said portable storage device is connected to the said second PC, so the information created, received and modified by the user is automatically stored into the said portable storage device, and compares, while the said portable storage device is connected to the said first PC, the user-specific settings, configuration information, and data files in the portable storage device with the user-selected settings, configuration information, and data files in the permanent storage device of the said first PC and if a setting, configuration, or data file has been updated in one storage device, it will replace the older version of the information in the other storage device, and if a new piece of information is found in one storage device, it will be copied to the other storage device.
Specification