System for automatic synchronization of common file between portable computer and host computer via communication channel established with user approval of charge to be incurred

• US 6,317,797 B2
• Filed: 10/20/1998
• Issued: 11/13/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 12/02/1992
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P. (HP Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Compaq Computer Corporation (HP Inc.)
• Inventors: Crosswy, William Caldwell, Cooper, Patrick R., Clark, Ted H., Malisewski, Steven C., Crochet, Larry J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Lee, Thomas
• Assistant Examiner(s): Nguyen, Tanh Q.
• Application Number:
  US09/175,866
• Publication Number:
  US 20010011308A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,120 Days
• Field of Search: 714/20, 709/227, 709/200, 709/217, 709/246, 710/5, 710/20, 395/617, 364/962, 364/231.2, 707/200, 707/201, 707/203, 707/511
• US Class Current: 710/5
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1626 with a single-body enclosure integrating a flat display, e.g. Personal Digital Assistants [PDAs]
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1632 External expansion units, e.g. docking stations
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1656 Details related to functional adaptations of the enclosure, e.g. to provide protection against EMI, shock, water, or to host detachable peripherals like a mouse or removable expansions units like PCMCIA cards, or to provide access to internal components for maintenance or to removable storage supports like CDs or DVDs, or to mechanically mount accessories mounting of accessories to a computer display G06F1/1607; display hoods G06F1/1603; cooling arrangements for portable computers G06F1/203
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/166 related to integrated arrangements for adjusting the position of the main body with respect to the supporting surface, e.g. legs for adjusting the tilt angle
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1698 the I/O peripheral being a sending/receiving arrangement to establish a cordless communication link, e.g. radio or infrared link, integrated cellular phone details of antennas disposed inside a computer H01Q1/2266
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 15/0225 User interface arrangements, e.g. keyboard, display; Interfaces to other computer systems
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 15/0266 for time management, e.g. calendars, diaries
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/1787 Details of non-transparently synchronising file systems
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/109 Time management, e.g. calendars, reminders, meetings or time accounting
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99952 Coherency, e.g. same view to multiple users
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99953 Recoverability

Abstract

A handheld computer which contains an LCD display having a digitizing surface to allow pen input. Internal storage takes several forms, such as a large flash ROM area, battery-backed up RAM and an optional hard disk drive. Several alternative communication paths are available, such as the previously mentioned modem, a parallel printer port, a conventional serial port, a cradle assembly connected to the host computer, and various wireless short distance techniques such as radio frequency or infrared transmission. The computer can readily communicate with other sources, particularly to a host desktop computer, to allow automated synchronization of information between the host and the handheld system. Preferably the remote synchronization is performed at several user selectable levels. When the handheld computer is in a cradle and actively connected to the host computer, automatic capture of updated data in the host computer is performed. Several synchronization techniques are utilized to keep track of different types of files. In addition, while communication is established the handheld computer can enter a remote control mode, allowing the user access to files and applications not included in the handheld computer.

Claims

1. A handheld computer for communication with a host computer,

both the handheld and host computers having a plurality of files including at least one common file, each computer having a copy of the common file, the handheld computer comprising:

a handheld computer housing;

an infrared port disposed in the housing, the infrared port operable to establish a communication channel with the host computer;

at least one other communications port including a modem operable to establish a communication channel with the host computer;

a display screen disposed in an upper surface of the handheld computer housing;

a processor disposed in said handheld computer housing;

a pen device to interface with the display screen to provide user input to the processor; and

a memory coupled to the processor, the memory containing;

a set of computer instructions for causing a synchronization routine with the host computer to be initiated by establishing a communication channel with the host computer and to receive approval from a user to establish a communication channel via the modem and the host computer before incurring a charge if establishing a communication channel via the modem includes a charge; and

a set of computer instructions including common file comparison initiation instructions that, when executed, (a) effect comparison between corresponding entries in the handheld computer common file and in the host computer common file, (b) displays conflicting entries in said common files on said display screen, and (c) in response to user selection of one of said conflicting entries updates the common file which did not contain the user selected entry, thereby to synchronize that entry in both of said common files.

2. The computer of claim 1 wherein the memory further contains a set of computer instructions for scanning a plurality of communication channels to find a communications link with the host computer.

3. The computer of claim 2 wherein the plurality of communication channels also include a serial port.

4. The computer of claim 1 and further comprising said modem disposed within the handheld computer housing.

5. The computer of claim 1 wherein the memory further contains a set of computer instructions for automatically comparing copies of the common file in the host computer and the handheld computer in response to establishment of a communication link between the handheld computer and the host computer.

6. The computer of claim 1 wherein the set of computer instructions is operable in conjunction with copies of a second common file stored in the hand held computer and in the host computer, to (a) effect comparison between corresponding entries in the handheld computer copy of the second common file and in the host computer copy of the second common file, and (b) automatically update any differences in the copies of each second common file and for causing identical updated copies of the second common file to be stored in the host computer and in the handheld computer.

7. The computer of claim 1 wherein the common file includes appointment information.

8. A handheld computer for communication with a host computer, both the handheld and host computers having a plurality of files including at least one common file, each computer having a copy of the common file, the handheld computer comprising:

a handheld computer housing;

at least one communications port operable to establish a communication channel with the host computer;

a touch sensitive display screen disposed in an upper surface of the handheld computer housing to enable user input to the processor;

a processor disposed in said handheld computer housing; and

a memory coupled to the processor, the memory containing;

a set of computer instructions for causing a synchronization routine with the host computer to be initiated by establishing a communication channel with the host computer and to receive approval from a user to establish a communication channel via said communication port and the host computer before incurring a charge if establishing a communication channel via said communication port includes a charge; and

a set of computer instructions including common file comparison initiation instructions that, when executed, (a) effect comparison between corresponding entries in the handheld computer common file and in the host computer common file, (b) displays conflicting entries in said common files on said display screen, and (c) in response to user selection of one of said conflicting entries updates the common file which did not contain the user selected entry, thereby to synchronize that entry in both of said common files.

9. The computer of claim 8 wherein the memory contains a further set of computer instructions operable in conjunction with copies of a second common file stored in the handheld computer and in the host computer, said further set of computer instructions operable automatically to resolve any differences in the copies of the second common file by updating the copy of the second common file stored in the host computer to correspond with the copy of the second common file stored in the handheld computer.

10. The computer of claim 8, wherein the set of computer instructions includes instructions automatically operable at a predetermined time to establish a communications channel between the handheld computer and the host computer;

and

transmitting a copy of at least one predesignated file stored at the host computer across the established communications channel to the handheld computer and subsequently comparing the corresponding handheld computer copy of the predesignated file with the transmitted copy of the predesignated file, and effecting any changes necessary to synchronize the predesignated file stored at the host computer with the corresponding handheld computer copy of the predesignated file.

11. The computer of claim 8 wherein the set of computer instructions further include instructions operable automatically to respond to non-conflicting entries present in only one of the copies of the common file by determining if user approval for synchronizing both copies of the common file is required and (a) if so, displaying the non-conflicting entry for user selection to effect synchronization, (b) if not, automatically effecting synchronization so that both copies of the common file contain the non-conflicting entry.