Method and apparatus for synchronization of two computer systems by executing a synchronization process at a portable computer

• US 6,671,702 B2
• Filed: 09/03/2002
• Issued: 12/30/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 01/30/1998
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Palmsource Incorporated (Access Company Limited)
• Original Assignee: Palmsource Incorporated (Access Company Limited)
• Inventors: McKendrick, Ain, Kruglikov, Vitaly, Haitani, Rob, Flores, Roger, Lamb, Art, Boyer, Monty, Marianetti, Ron
• Primary Examiner(s): Alam, Hosain T.
• Application Number:
  US10/234,615
• Publication Number:
  US 20020198900A1
• Time in Patent Office: 483 Days
• Field of Search: 707/10, 707/201, 707/202, 707/204, 709/248
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/275 Synchronous replication
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/10 Office automation; Time management
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/959 Network
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99952 Coherency, e.g. same view to multiple users
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99953 Recoverability

Abstract

A method and system for synchronizing two computer systems supporting multiple synchronization techniques is described. In one example system, a portable computer system is loaded with synchronization transport modules. An application on the portable computer system is executed causing the application to automatically recognize the synchronization transport modules. The portable computer system receives a selection corresponding to one of the two synchronization transport modules. The selection could be from a user and would indicate that the user prefers to synchronize with the second computer system using a particular method of external communication. After the selection, the portable computer system synchronizes with the other computer system using the selected method of external communication.

Claims

1. A method for synchronizing a portable computer with a computer system, the method comprising performing the following steps on the portable computer:

receiving a request to synchronize one or more records that reside on the portable computer with a set of records that reside on the computer system, wherein the request specifies a particular transport module from a plurality of transport modules that are available on the portable computer for exchanging data with the computer system, the plurality of transport modules including at least a first wireless transport module and a direct connection transport module;

executing a synchronization process using the particular transport layer specified with the request; and

sending data over a medium corresponding to the particular transport module, wherein the data results from executing the synchronization process on the portable computer.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of causing the one or more records on the portable computer to be synchronized based on the set of records on the computer system.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of comparing the one or more records on the portable computer with the set of records on the computer system in order to update anyone of the one or more records on the portable computer.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of comparing the one or more records on the portable computer with the set of records on the computer system in order to update anyone record in the set of records on the computer system with one or more records on the portable computer.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of receiving a request includes receiving the request that specifies the particular transport module as being the first wireless transport module, wherein the first wireless transport module is for sending communications over one of a wireless packet radio network or an infrared connection.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the portable computer corresponds to a pen based computer.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the portable computer corresponds to a handheld computer and/or a cellular phone.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of receiving a request includes receiving the request that specifies the particular transport module as being the direct connection transport module, wherein the direct connection transport module utilizes a serial port that connects to the computer system.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of receiving a request includes receiving the request that specifies the particular transport module as being a network transport module, wherein the network transport module enables the portable computer to send communications over a network.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein executing a synchronization process includes performing one or more operations related to comparing the one or more records on the portable computer with any one of the records in the set of records on the computer system.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein executing a synchronization process includes performing one or more operations related to (i) adding the one or more records from the portable computer to the computer system, (ii) adding one or more records from the computer system to the portable computer, (iii) updating the one or more records one the portable computer with data from corresponding records in the set of records on the computer system;

and (iv) updating one or more records one the computer system with data from the one or more records on the portable computer.

12. The method of claim 1, wherein executing a synchronization process includes performing one or more operations relating to (i) deleting a record in the set of records on the computer system based on the one or more records on the portable computer;

and (ii) deleting the one or more records on the portable computer based on one or more records in the set of records on the computer system.

13. The method of claim 1, wherein sending data over a medium corresponding to the particular transport module includes sending data corresponding to the one or more records.

14. A portable computer comprising:

a plurality of communication ports;

one or more memories, wherein the one or more memories are configured to store instructions for executing any one of a plurality of transport modules, and to store a first set of records that can be synchronized, wherein the plurality of transport modules include at least one wireless transport module; and

a processor configured to access the one or more memories and execute at least some of the instructions in order to perform the steps of;

responding to a request to synchronize the first set of records with a second set of records that reside on a computer system;

identifying a particular transport module from the plurality of transport modules that is to be used to perform a synchronization process in response to the request, the particular transport module being associated with a first port in the plurality of communication ports;

executing a synchronization process using the particular transport module; and

causing data to be transmitted from the portable computer using the first port, wherein the data results from executing the synchronization process on the portable computer.

15. The portable computer of claim 14, wherein the plurality of communication ports includes at least a wireless radio port, wherein the wireless transport module is configured for when the portable computer sends data using the wireless radio port.

16. The portable computer of claim 14, wherein the plurality of communication ports includes an infrared port, wherein the wireless transport module is configured for when the portable computer sends data over the infrared radio port.

17. The portable computer of claim 14, wherein the plurality of communication ports includes at least one serial port.

18. The portable computer of claim 14, wherein the processor is configured to execute the synchronization process in order to cause one or more calendar records stored on the portable computer to be synchronized with one or more calendar records stored on the computer system.

19. The portable computer of claim 14, wherein the one or more memories store instructions for executing a network transport module, and wherein the processor is configured to execute instructions for performing the step of executing the synchronization process using a network transport module.

20. The portable computer of claim 14, wherein the portable computer is configured as at least one of a cellular phone or a personal digital assistant.