Method and apparatus rendering user accounts portable

• US 7,246,226 B1
• Filed: 08/29/2006
• Issued: 07/17/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 11/25/2002
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Original Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Inventors: Ko, Steve, Bowers, Robert T
• Primary Examiner(s): Trujillo; James K.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Stoynov; Stefan
• Application Number:
  US11/512,848
• Time in Patent Office: 322 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 713/1
• 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 for establishing portable user accounts for users on a multi-user computer system, said method comprising:

receiving account information for a first user;

producing a first account record based on at least the account information for the first user;

storing the first account record to a portable data store, the portable data store being separate and apart from the multi-user computer system yet operatively connectable with the multi-user computer system;

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

receiving account information for a second user;

producing a second account record based on at least the account information for the first user;

storing the second account record on a local data store within the multi-user computer system; and

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

2. A method as recited in claim 1, wherein the account record has a file format.

3. A method as recited in claim 2, wherein the file format is a flat file format.

4. A method as recited in claim 1, wherein the account record comprises a markup language document.

5. A method as recited in claim 1, wherein the account record includes at least a user name, a user identifier, an encrypted password, and a default directory.

6. A method as recited in claim 5, wherein the account record has a file format and comprises a markup language document.

7. A method as recited in claim 1, wherein the portable data store comprises a disk storage medium.

8. A method as recited in claim 1, wherein the portable data store is part of and within a portable media player.

9. A method as recited in claim 1, wherein the portable data store couples to the multi-user computer system over a peripheral link that couples the portable data store to the multi-user computer system.

10. A method as recited in claim 9, wherein the peripheral link is supported by a detachable cable that couples the portable data store to the multi-user computer system.

11. A method as recited in claim 10, wherein the peripheral link is a FIREWIRE bus, and wherein the detachable cable is a FIREWIRE cable.

12. A method as recited in claim 1, further comprising operating an email program in the multi-user computer system, wherein the email program accesses the first account record from the external data store.

13. A computer readable storage medium including at least computer program code for establishing portable user accounts for users on a multi-user computer system, said computer readable medium comprising:

computer readable code for receiving account information for a first user;

computer readable code for producing a first account record based on at least the account information for the first user;

computer readable code for storing the first account record to a portable data store, the portable data store being separate and apart from the multi-user computer system yet operatively connectable with the multi-user computer system;

computer readable code for creating a default folder for the first user on the external data store;

computer readable code for receiving account information for a second user;

computer readable code for producing a second account record based on at least the account information for the first user;

computer readable code for storing the second account record on a local data store within the multi-user computer system; and

computer readable code for creating a default folder for the second user on the local data store.

14. A computer readable storage medium as recited in claim 13, further comprising computer readable code for operating an email program in the multi-user computer system, wherein the email program accesses the first account record from the external data store.

15. A multi-user computer system, comprising:

an external data storage device; and

a multi-user computer having an operating system that includes at least an account creation module that permits new user accounts to be created and stored to said external storage device as well as permits new user accounts to be created and stored to a local data storage device, and a login module that permits login with respect to users having their user accounts stored to said external data storage device, as well as permits login with respect to users having their user accounts stored to said local storage device,

wherein said external data storage device is removable from said multi-user computer and portable.

16. A multi-user computer system as recited in claim 15, wherein said external storage device is a portable media player having a storage disk drive.

17. A multi-user computer system as recited in claim 16, wherein said portable media player is pocket-sized.