METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR RENDERING USER ACCOUNTS PORTABLE

• US 20080201456A1
• Filed: 04/28/2008
• Published: 08/21/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 11/25/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Original Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Inventors: Bowers, Robert T., Ko, Steve
• Granted Patent: US 7,925,712 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 709/220
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/41 where a single sign-on provides access to a plurality of computers
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 9/4451 User profiles; Roaming

Abstract

Improved approaches for enabling user accounts to be portable across different multi-user computer systems are disclosed. A user account created at a multi-user computer can be stored to an external, portable data store, thereby rendering the user account portable. The multi-user computer system, e.g., through its operating system, locates user accounts on not only in local storage of the multi-user computer system, but also in any removable data storage attached to the multi-user computer system. Hence, by coupling the external, portable data store to another multi-user computer, a user is able to login to any supporting multi-user computer and be presented with their user configuration and user directory. Since the data store that stores the user account is not only external but also portable, a user can simply tote the data store to the location of different multi-user computers. In one embodiment, the external, portable data store can not only store the user account but can also provide general data storage. In another embodiment, the external, portable data store can be a portion of a portable computing device (e.g., media player) that provides other functionality besides data storage.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

storing, on a first data store, an account record for a first user, wherein the first data store is capable of being operatively coupled with a first computer system and is further capable of being disconnected from the first computer system and operatively coupled to a second computer system;

creating, on the first data store, a default folder for the first user;

storing, on a second data store in the first computer system, an account record for a second user; and

creating, on the second data store, a default folder for the second user.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the first data store is a portable data store.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the first computer system is a multi-user computer system.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the first data store is capable of being coupled to the first computer system over a peripheral link.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein the peripheral link is supported by a detachable cable.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein the peripheral link is a FIREWIRE bus, and wherein the detachable cable is a FIREWIRE cable.

7. An apparatus comprising:

means for storing, on a first data store, an account record for a first user, wherein the first data store is capable of being operatively coupled with a first computer system and is further capable of being disconnected from the first computer system and operatively coupled to a second computer system;

means for creating, on the first data store, a default folder for the first user;

means for storing, on a second data store in the first computer system, an account record for a second user; and

means for creating, on the second data store, a default folder for the second user.

8. A system comprising:

a first computer system;

a second computer system;

a first data store capable of storing an account record for a first user, capable of being operatively coupled with the first computer system, and capable of being disconnected from the first computer system and operatively coupled to the second computer system;

wherein the first computer system contains a second data store capable of storing an account record for a second user.

9. A program storage device readable by a machine and tangibly embodying a program of instructions executable by the machine, the program of instructions comprising:

storing, on a first data store, an account record for a first user, wherein the first data store is capable of being operatively coupled with a first computer system and is further capable of being disconnected from the first computer system and operatively coupled to a second computer system;

creating, on the first data store, a default folder for the first user;

storing, on a second data store in the first computer system, an account record for a second user; and

creating, on the second data store, a default folder for the second user.

10. A method comprising:

storing, on a portable data store, an account record for a first user, wherein the portable data store is capable of being operatively coupled with a first multi-user computer system and is further capable of being disconnected from the first multi-user computer system and operatively coupled to a second multi-user computer system;

creating, on the portable data store, a default folder for the first user;

upon connection of the portable data store to the second multi-user computer system, storing, on a local data store in the second multi-user computer system, the account record for a first user, wherein the second multi-user computer system previously contained an account record for a second user.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein the portable data store is capable of being coupled to the first multi-user computer system over a peripheral link.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein the peripheral link is supported by a detachable cable.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein the peripheral link is a FIREWIRE bus, and wherein the detachable cable is a FIREWIRE cable.

14. An apparatus comprising:

means for storing, on a portable data store, an account record for a first user, wherein the portable data store is capable of being operatively coupled with a first multi-user computer system and is further capable of being disconnected from the first multi-user computer system and operatively coupled to a second multi-user computer system;

means for creating, on the portable data store, a default folder for the first user;

means for, upon connection of the portable data store to the second multi-user computer system, storing, on a local data store in the second multi-user computer system, the account record for a first user, wherein the second multi-user computer system previously contained an account record for a second user.

15. A system comprising:

a first multi-user computer system;

a second multi-used computer system;

a first portable data store capable of storing an account record for a first user, capable of being operatively coupled with the first computer system, and capable of being disconnected from the first multi-user computer system and operatively coupled to the second multi-user computer system;

wherein the first data store is further capable of, upon connection of the portable data store to the second multi-user computer system, storing, on a local data store in the second multi-user computer system, the account record for a first user, wherein the second multi-user computer system previously contained an account record for a second user.

16. A program storage device readable by a machine and tangibly embodying a program of instructions executable by the machine, the program of instructions comprising:

storing, on a portable data store, an account record for a first user, wherein the portable data store is capable of being operatively coupled with a first multi-user computer system and is further capable of being disconnected from the first multi-user computer system and operatively coupled to a second multi-user computer system;

creating, on the portable data store, a default folder for the first user;

upon connection of the portable data store to the second multi-user computer system, storing, on a local data store in the second multi-user computer system, the account record for a first user, wherein the second multi-user computer system previously contained an account record for a second user.