Portable memory drive with portable applications and cross-computer system management application

• US 7,441,108 B2
• Filed: 11/19/2002
• Issued: 10/21/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 11/19/2002
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Star Co Ranger Digital LLC (Star Company Scientific Technologies Advanced Research Company LLC)
• Original Assignee: Ken Scott Fisher, Kevin Cotton Baxter
• Inventors: Fisher, Ken Scott, Baxter, Kevin Cotton
• Primary Examiner(s): Vu; Thong H
• Application Number:
  US10/224,746
• Publication Number:
  US 20040095382A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,163 Days
• Field of Search: 709200-250, 715/804, 715/750, 719/330, 710/306, 710/104, 710/300, 710/33, 710/63, 710/260, 710/302, 707/100, 712/227, 711/115, 713/1, 713/100, 713/2
• US Class Current: 712/227
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 9/4451 User profiles; Roaming
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 9/451 Execution arrangements for user interfaces

Abstract

A system and method for transporting the look, feel, and function of one'"'"'s personalized computer preferences across multiple host computers, including the appearance, settings, programs, and user data. This system and method uses a portable memory device and a data management system that maintains a consistent interface and data file structure on multiple host computers, including a common visual desktop interface. The portable memory solution also provides mobile access to the user'"'"'s applications and personal data files. The memory device is capable of being connected to multiple host computers via a standard interface such as a USB port.

Claims

1. A method for configuring multiple host computers to launch and run mobile software applications stored on a portable USB non-volatile solid-state memory device, said method comprising:

a. providing a plurality of mobile user applications on a transportable USB non-volatile solid-state memory device, said mobile user applications configurable for portable operation across multiple host computers such that the mobile user applications are operable when the transportable USB non-volatile solid-state memory device is physically coupled to one of the multiple host computers;

b. providing a system management application on said transportable USB non-volatile solid-state memory device, said system management application configured to enable a temporary user session including execution of said mobile user applications on a host computer without permanent installation of said mobile user applications or a reboot being required when the transportable USB non-volatile solid-state memory device is initially coupled to the host computer for the first time, wherein said mobile user applications are no longer available on said host computer when the transportable USB non-volatile solid-state memory device is removed from the host computer, thus resulting in the temporary user session; and

c. providing program shortcuts or icons representative of the mobile user applications viewable across the multiple host computers, said program shortcuts or icons configured to launch the mobile user applications upon selection by a user on the host computer, wherein the system management application is configured to present the program shortcuts or icons in a consistent user interface viewable across the multiple host computers based upon configuration data or user preferences stored and transported on the transportable USB non-volatile solid-state memory device;

d. wherein the system management application facilitates the configuration of the multiple host computers to run the mobile user applications by remapping file associations between the program shortcuts or icons and the mobile user applications when the transportable USB non-volatile solid-state memory device is decoupled from one of the multiple host computers and coupled to another one of the multiple host computers; and

e. wherein the system management application further provides a standardized file system structure such that the remapping of file associations is carried out according to the standardized file system structure, whereby the program shortcuts or icons utilize a consistent path name to launch one or more program files associated with the mobile user applications across the multiple host computers, said consistent path name being stored and transported on the transportable USB non-volatile solid-state memory device.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein said file associations comprise a path name to the mobile user applications.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein said path name further comprises a drive nomenclature identifying the transportable USB non-volatile solid-state memory device.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of storing user data files on said transportable USB non-volatile solid-state memory device, and wherein said user data files are movable across the multiple host computers.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein the system management application further provides a standardized file system structure, such that a consistent path name is utilized to access the user data files on said transportable USB non-volatile solid-state memory device across the multiple host computers.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein said path name further comprises a drive nomenclature identifying the transportable USB non-volatile solid-state memory device.

7. The method of claim 4, wherein the system management application further provides a standardized file system structure based upon folder or directory structure information stored and transported on the transportable USB non-volatile solid-state memory device, such that a consistent path name is utilized to access a given folder or directory on said transportable USB non-volatile solid-state memory device across the multiple host computers.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the system management application is configured to provide standardized access to the transportable USB non-volatile solid-state memory device based upon configuration data or user preferences stored and transported on the transportable USB non-volatile solid-state memory device, wherein said standardized access permits utilization of a consistent drive nomenclature or consistent device path name to access the transportable USB non-volatile solid-state memory device across the multiple host computers.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein said program shortcuts or icons comprise OLE links and/or OLE embedded objects loaded from the transportable USB non-volatile solid-state memory device to the host computer.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein said OLE links or OLE embedded objects are dynamically updated or remapped on the new host computer when the transportable USB non-volatile solid-state memory device is decoupled from one of the multiple host computers and coupled to another one of the multiple host computers.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein said file associations are dynamically updated or remapped on the new host computer when the transportable USB non-volatile solid-state memory device is decoupled from one of the multiple host computers and coupled to another one of the multiple host computers.

12. The method of claim 1, wherein said consistent user interface comprises a start menu on a Windows®

based operating system.

13. The method of claim 1, further comprising a mobile user profile stored on the transportable USB non-volatile solid-state memory device, wherein said system management application is configured to interface the mobile user profile with the host computer user profile system thereby causing the host computer to utilize settings and/or configurations provided by the mobile user profile.

14. The method of claim 1, wherein said mobile user applications comprise common software applications including at least a word processing application and/or a spreadsheet application.

15. The method of claim 1, wherein said mobile user applications comprise common software applications including one or more of the following:

(1) an e-mail client application;

(ii) a web browser application;

(iii) a game application; and

(iv) an anti virus application.

16. The method of claim 1, wherein said system management application is further configured to adapt graphics display settings or data display settings on the host computer in order to compensate for different monitor characteristics encountered when the transportable USB non-volatile solid-state memory device is moved between the multiple host computers, based upon user-preferred graphics display settings or data display settings stored and transported on the transportable USB non-volatile solid-state memory device.

17. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of storing program settings relating to the mobile user applications on said transportable USB non-volatile solid-state memory device, and wherein said program settings are movable across the multiple host computers and utilized by the system management application to configure the mobile user applications when executed on any of the multiple host computers to which the transportable USB non-volatile solid-state memory device is currently physically coupled.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein said program settings relating to the mobile user applications comprise one or more of the following:

(i) the path to the mobile user applications;

(ii) website links;

(iii) program configuration settings;

(iv) operating system registry items;

(v) application DLL files; and

(vi) host computer configuration data.

19. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of storing user settings or user preferences relating to a graphical user environment and/or to the mobile user applications on said transportable USB non-volatile solid-state memory device, and wherein said user settings or user preferences are movable across the multiple host computers when the transportable USB non-volatile solid-state memory device is moved between the multiple host computers.

20. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of providing a security feature, said security feature comprising a password protection system including a password stored and transported on the transportable USB non-volatile solid-state memory device to restrict access to data stored on the transportable USB non-volatile solid-state memory device.

21. The method of claim 1, wherein said transportable USB non-volatile solid-state memory device and the mobile user applications stored thereon are enabled on the host computer without the need for any external drivers and are instead enabled via a plug and play connection protocol.

22. The method of claim 1, wherein said plurality of mobile user applications can be run on the host computer at the same time.

23. The method of claim 1, wherein said consistent user interface is modifiable or updateable, such that modified or updated user preferences or configuration data are stored and transported on the transportable USB non-volatile solid-state memory device.

24. The method of claim 1, wherein said consistent user interface is presented in a user selectable menu configuration.

25. The method of claim 1, wherein the system management application is enabled without the need for a bootable operating system on the transportable USB non-volatile solid-state memory device.

26. The method of claim 1, wherein the mobile user applications are operable on the host computer without the need for a microprocessor on the transportable USB non-volatile solid-state memory device to execute instructions of the mobile user applications.

27. The method of claim 26, wherein the system management application is configured to facilitate running the mobile user applications on a processor of the host computer and does not provide running of the mobile user applications on any processor that resides on the transportable USB non-volatile solid-state memory device.

28. The method of claim 1, wherein said transportable USB non-volatile solid-state memory device does not include a processor configured to run the mobile user applications.

29. The method of claim 1, wherein said transportable USB non-volatile solid-state memory device is a USB flash memory device.

30. The method of claim 1, wherein the system management application is configured to facilitate running the mobile user applications on an operating system of the host computer and does not provide running of the mobile user applications on any operating system that resides on the transportable USB non-volatile solid-state memory device

31. The method of claim 1, wherein the mobile user applications are configurable for portable operation across multiple host computers by being accessible to one of the host computers directly from the transportable USB non-volatile solid-state memory device without the need for network connectivity by the host computer in order to access the mobile user applications.

32. The method of claim 1, wherein said path name further comprises a drive nomenclature identifying the transportable USB non-volatile solid-state memory device.

33. The method of claim 1, wherein the system management application ensures that any user files created during the temporary user session and remaining on the host computer at the end of the temporary user session are deleted.

34. The method of claim 1, wherein the system management application further provides a standardized file system structure, wherein said standardized file system structure is configured to adapt to file system variables encountered when the transportable USB non-volatile solid-state memory device is moved between the multiple host computers by automatically remapping one or more paths to a file or folder located on the transportable USB non-volatile solid-state memory device.

102. The method of claim 1, wherein said host computer comprises a desktop or laptop personal computer, and wherein said transportable USB non-volatile solid-state memory device comprises a solid state memory in a self-contained housing with an integrated USB connector that physically attaches directly to a USB port of the host computer.

103. The method of claim 102, wherein said transportable USB non-volatile solid-state_memory device has no standalone power source and is instead powered by the host computer to which it is coupled.

35. A computer readable medium having stored thereon computer-executable instructions for configuring multiple host computers to launch and run mobile software applications stored on a transportable USB non-volatile solid-state memory device, by causing one or more processors to perform the steps of:

a. storing a plurality of mobile user applications on a transportable USB non-volatile solid-state memory device, said mobile user applications configurable for portable operation across multiple host computers such that the mobile user applications are operable when the transportable USB non-volatile solid-state memory device is physically coupled to one of the multiple host computers;

b. storing a system management application on said transportable USB non-volatile solid-state memory device, said system management application configured to enable a temporary user session including execution of said mobile user applications on a host computer without permanent installation of said mobile user applications or a reboot being required when the transportable USB non-volatile solid-state memory device is initially coupled to the host computer for the first time, wherein said mobile user applications are no longer available on said host computer when the transportable USB non-volatile solid-state memory device is removed from the host computer, thus resulting in the temporary user session; and

c. providing program shortcuts or icons representative of the mobile user applications viewable across the multiple host computers, said program shortcuts or icons configured to launch the mobile user applications upon selection by a user on the host computer, wherein the system management application is configured to present the program shortcuts or icons in a consistent user interface viewable across the multiple host computers based upon configuration data or user preferences stored and transported on the transportable USB non-volatile solid-state memory device;

d. wherein the system management application facilitates the configuration of the multiple host computers to run the mobile user applications by remapping file associations between the program shortcuts or icons and the mobile user applications when the transportable USB non-volatile solid-state memory device is decoupled from one of the multiple host computers and coupled to another one of the multiple host; and

e. wherein the system management application further provides a standardized file system structure such that the remapping of file associations is carried out according to the standardized file system structure, whereby the program shortcuts or icons utilize a consistent oath name to launch one or more program files associated with the mobile user applications across the multiple host computers, said consistent path name being stored and transported on the transportable USB non-volatile solid-state memory device.

36. The computer readable medium of claim 35, wherein said file associations comprise a path name to the mobile user applications.

37. The computer readable medium of claim 36, wherein said path name further comprises a drive nomenclature identifying the transportable USB non-volatile solid-state memory device.

38. The computer readable medium of claim 35, wherein said computer-executable instructions further cause one or more processors to perform the step of storing user data files on said transportable USB non-volatile solid-state memory device, and wherein said user data files are movable across the multiple host computers.

39. The computer readable medium of claim 38, wherein the system management application further provides a standardized file system structure, such that a consistent path name is utilized to access the user data files on said transportable USB non-volatile solid-state memory device across the multiple host computers.

40. The computer readable medium of claim 39, wherein said path name further comprises a drive nomenclature identifying the transportable USB non-volatile solid-state memory device.

41. The computer readable medium of claim 38, wherein the system management application further provides a standardized file system structure based upon folder or directory structure information stored and transported on the transportable USB non-volatile solid-state memory device, such that a consistent path name is utilized to access a given folder or directory on said transportable USB non-volatile solid-state memory device across the multiple host computers.

42. The computer readable medium of claim 35, wherein the system management application is configured to provide standardized access to the transportable USB non-volatile solid-state memory device based upon configuration data or user preferences stored and transported on the transportable USB non-volatile solid-state memory device, wherein said standardized access permits utilization of a consistent drive nomenclature or consistent device path name to access the transportable USB non-volatile solid-state memory device across the multiple host computers.

43. The computer readable medium of claim 35, wherein said program shortcuts and/or icons comprise OLE links or OLE embedded objects loaded from the transportable USB non-volatile solid-state memory device to the host computer.

44. The computer readable medium of claim 43, wherein said OLE links or OLE embedded objects are dynamically updated or remapped on the new host computer when the transportable USB non-volatile solid-state memory device is decoupled from one of the multiple host computers and coupled to another one of the multiple host computers.

45. The computer readable medium of claim 35, wherein said file associations are dynamically updated or remapped when the transportable USB non-volatile solid-state memory device is moved between the multiple host computers.

46. The computer readable medium of claim 35, wherein said consistent user interface comprises a start menu on a Windows®

based operating system.

47. The computer readable medium of claim 35, wherein said system management application is configured to provide or modify at least a portion of an operating system registry on the host computer in order to enable execution of said mobile user applications on the host computer.

48. The computer readable medium of claim 35, wherein said mobile user applications comprise common software applications including at least a word processing application and/or a spreadsheet application.

49. The computer readable medium of claim 35, wherein said mobile user applications comprise common software applications including one or more of the following:

(1) an e-mail client application;

(ii) a web browser application;

(iii) a game application; and

(iv) an anti virus application.

50. The computer readable medium of claim 35, wherein said computer-executable instructions further cause one or more processors to perform the step of adapting graphics display settings or data display settings on the host computer in order to compensate for different monitor characteristics encountered when the transportable USB non-volatile solid-state memory device is moved between the multiple host computers, based upon user-preferred graphics display settings or data display settings stored and transported on the transportable USB non-volatile solid-state memory device.

51. The computer readable medium of claim 35, wherein said computer-executable instructions further cause one or more processors to perform the step of storing program settings relating to the mobile user applications on said transportable USB non-volatile solid-state memory device, and wherein said program settings are movable across the multiple host computers and utilized by the system management application to configure the mobile user applications when executed on any of the multiple host computers to which the transportable USB non-volatile solid-state memory device is currently physically coupled.

52. The computer readable medium of claim 51, wherein said program settings relating to the mobile user applications comprise one or more of the following:

(i) the path to the mobile user applications;

(ii) website links;

(iii) program configuration settings; and

(iv) host computer configuration data.

53. The computer readable medium of claim 35, wherein said computer-executable instructions further cause one or more processors to perform the step of storing user settings or user preferences relating to a graphical user environment and/or to the mobile user applications on said transportable USB non-volatile solid-state memory device, and wherein said user settings or user preferences are movable across the multiple host computers when the transportable USB non-volatile solid-state memory device is moved between the multiple host computers.

54. The computer readable medium of claim 35, wherein said computer-executable instructions further cause one or more processors to perform the step of providing a security feature, said security feature comprising a password protection system including a password stored and transported on the transportable USB non-volatile solid-state memory device to restrict access to data stored on the transportable USB non-volatile solid-state memory device.

55. The computer readable medium of claim 35, wherein said transportable USB non-volatile solid-state memory device and the mobile user applications stored thereon are enabled on the host computer without the need for any external drivers and are instead enabled via a plug and play connection protocol.

56. The computer readable medium of claim 35, wherein said plurality of mobile user applications can be run on the host computer at the same time.

57. The computer readable medium of claim 35, wherein said computer-executable instructions further cause one or more processors to perform the step of modifying or updating said consistent user interface, whereby modified or updated user preferences or configuration data are stored and transported on the transportable USB non-volatile solid-state memory device.

58. The computer readable medium of claim 35, wherein said computer-executable instructions further cause one or more processors to perform the step of presenting the consistent user interface in a user selectable menu configuration.

59. The computer readable medium of claim 35, wherein the system management application is enabled without the need for a bootable operating system on the transportable USB non-volatile solid-state memory device.

60. The system of claim 35, wherein said host computer comprises a desktop or laptop personal computer, and wherein said transportable USB non-volatile solid-state memory device comprises a solid state memory in a self-contained housing with an integrated USB connector that physically attaches directly to a USB port of the host computer.

61. The system of claim 60, wherein said transportable USB non-volatile solid-state memory device has no standalone power source and is instead powered by the host computer to which it is coupled.

62. The computer readable medium of claim 35, wherein the mobile user applications are operable on the host computer without the need for a microprocessor on the transportable USB non-volatile solid-state memory device to execute instructions of the mobile user applications.

63. The computer readable medium of claim 62, wherein the system management application is configured to facilitate running the mobile user applications on a processor of the host computer and does not provide running of the mobile user applications on any processor that resides on the transportable USB non-volatile solid-state memory device.

64. The computer readable medium of claim 35, wherein said transportable USB non-volatile solid-state memory device does not include a processor configured to run the mobile user applications.

65. The computer readable medium of claim 35, wherein said transportable USB non-volatile solid-state memory device is a USB flash memory device.

66. The computer readable medium of claim 35, wherein the system management application is configured to facilitate running the mobile user applications on an operating system of the host computer and does not provide running of the mobile user applications on any operating system that resides on the transportable USB non-volatile solid-state memory device.

67. The computer readable medium of claim 35, wherein the mobile user applications are configurable for portable operation across multiple host computers by being accessible to one of the host computers directly from the transportable USB non-volatile solid-state memory device without the need for network connectivity by the host computer in order to access the mobile user applications.

68. The computer readable medium of claim 35, wherein said path name further comprises a drive nomenclature identifying the transportable USB non-volatile solid-state memory device.

69. The computer readable medium of claim 35, wherein the system management application ensures that any user files created during the temporary user session and remaining on the host computer at the end of the temporary user session are deleted.

70. The computer readable medium of claim 35, wherein the system management application further provides a standardized file system structure, wherein said standardized file system structure is configured to adapt to file system variables encountered when the transportable USB non-volatile solid-state memory device is moved between the multiple host computers by automatically remapping one or more paths to a file or folder located on the transportable USB non-volatile solid-state memory device.

71. A system for configuring multiple host computers to launch and run mobile software applications stored on a transportable USB mass storage memory device, comprising:

a. a plurality of mobile user applications storable on the transportable USB mass storage memory device, said mobile user applications configurable for portable operation across multiple host computers such that the mobile user applications are operable when the transportable USB mass storage memory device is physically coupled to one of the multiple host computers; and

b. a system management application storable on the same transportable USB mass storage memory device as the mobile user applications, said system management application configured to enable a temporary user session including execution of said mobile user applications on a host computer without permanent installation of said mobile user applications or a reboot being required when the transportable USB mass storage memory device is coupled to the host computer for the first time, wherein said mobile user applications are no longer available on said host computer when the transportable USB mass storage memory device is removed from the host computer, thus resulting in the temporary user session;

c. wherein the system management application facilitates the configuration of the multiple host computers to run the mobile user applications by remapping file associations between program shortcuts or icons representative of the mobile user applications and the mobile user applications when the transportable USB mass storage memory device is decoupled from one of the multiple host computers and coupled to another one of the multiple host computers, wherein said program shortcuts or icons are configured to launch the mobile user applications upon selection by a user on the host computer and wherein the system management application is configured to present the program shortcuts or icons in a consistent user interface viewable across the multiple host computers based upon configuration data or user preferences stored and transported on the transportable USB mass storage memory device; and

d. wherein the system management application further provides a standardized file system structure such that remapping of the file associations is carried out according to the standardized file system structure, whereby the program shortcuts or icons utilize a consistent path name to launch one or more program files associated with the mobile user applications across the multiple host computers, said consistent path name being stored and transported on the transportable USB mass storage memory device.

72. The system of claim 71, wherein said file associations comprise a path name to the mobile user applications.

73. The system of claim 72, wherein the system management application further provides a standardized file system structure, such that a consistent path name is utilized to access the user data files on said transportable USB mass storage memory device across the multiple host computers.

74. The system of claim 73, wherein said path name further comprises a drive nomenclature identifying the transportable USB mass storage memory device.

75. The system of claim 72, wherein said path name further comprises a drive nomenclature identifying the transportable USB mass storage memory device.

76. The system of claim 71, further comprising storing user data files on said transportable USB mass storage memory device, and wherein said user data files are movable across the multiple host computers.

77. The system of claim 76, wherein the system management application further provides a standardized file system structure based upon folder or directory structure information stored and transported on the transportable USB mass storage memory device, such that a consistent path name is utilized to access a given folder or directory on said transportable USB mass storage memory device across the multiple host computers.

78. The system of claim 71, wherein the system management application is configured to provide standardized access to the transportable USB mass storage memory device based upon configuration data or user preferences stored and transported on the transportable USB mass storage memory device, wherein said standardized access permits utilization of a consistent drive nomenclature or consistent device path name to access the transportable USB mass storage memory across the multiple host computers.

79. The system of claim 71, wherein said program shortcuts or icons comprise OLE links and/or OLE embedded objects loaded from the transportable USB mass storage memory device to the host computer.

80. The system of claim 79, wherein said OLE links or OLE embedded objects are dynamically updated or remapped on the new host computer when the transportable USB mass storage memory device is decoupled from one of the multiple host computers and coupled to another one of the multiple host computers.

81. The system of claim 71, wherein said file associations are dynamically updated or remapped when the transportable USB mass storage memory device is moved between the multiple host computers.

82. The system of claim 71, wherein said consistent user interface comprises a start menu on a Windows®

based operating system.

83. The system of claim 71, wherein said system management application is configured to replace or update at least a portion of an operating system registry located on the host computer in order to enable execution of said mobile user applications on the host computer.

84. The system of claim 71, wherein said mobile user applications comprise common software applications including at least a word processing application and/or a spreadsheet application.

85. The system of claim 71, wherein said mobile user applications comprise common software applications including one or more of the following:

(i) an e-mail client application;

(ii) a web browser application;

(iii) a game application; and

(iv) an anti virus application.

86. The system of claim 71, wherein said system management application is further configured to adapt graphics display settings or data display settings on the host computer in order to compensate for different monitor characteristics encountered when the transportable USB mass storage memory device is moved between the multiple host computers, based upon user-preferred graphics display settings or data display settings stored and transported on the transportable USB mass storage memory device.

87. The system of claim 71, further comprising storing program settings relating to the mobile user applications on said transportable USB mass storage memory device, and wherein said program settings are movable across the multiple host computers and utilized by the system management application to configure the mobile user applications when executed on any of the multiple host computers to which the transportable USB mass storage memory device is currently physically coupled.

88. The system of claim 87, wherein said program settings relating to the mobile user applications comprise one or more of the following:

(i) the path to the mobile user applications;

(ii) website links;

(iii) program configuration settings; and

(iv) host computer configuration data.

89. The system of claim 71, further comprising storing user settings and/or user preferences relating to a graphical user environment or to the mobile user applications on said transportable USB mass storage memory device, and wherein said user settings or user preferences are movable across the multiple host computers when the transportable USB mass storage memory device is moved between the multiple host computers.

90. The system of claim 71, further comprising a security feature, said security feature comprising a password protection system including a password stored and transported on the transportable USB non-volatile solid-state memory device to restrict access to data stored on the transportable USB mass storage memory device.

91. The system of claim 71, wherein said transportable USB mass storage memory device and the mobile user applications stored thereon are enabled on the host computer without the need for any external drivers and are instead enabled via a plug and play connection protocol.

92. The system of claim 71, wherein said plurality of mobile user applications can be run on the host computer at the same time.

93. The system of claim 71, wherein said consistent user interface is modifiable or updateable, such that modified or updated user preferences or configuration data are stored and transported on the transportable USB mass storage memory device.

94. The system of claim 71, wherein said consistent user interface is presented in a user selectable menu configuration.

95. The system of claim 71, wherein the system management application is enabled without the need for a bootable operating system on the transportable USB mass storage memory device.

96. The system of claim 71, wherein the system management application is further configured so as to insure that changes made to the host computer are temporary.

97. The system of claim 71, wherein the transportable USB mass storage memory device is a transportable USB flash memory device.

98. The system of claim 97, wherein said host computer comprises a desktop or laptop personal computer, and wherein said transportable USB mass storage memory device comprises a solid state memory in a self-contained housing with an integrated USB connector that physically attaches directly to a USB port of the host computer.

99. The system of claim 98, wherein said transportable USB mass storage memory device has no standalone power source and is instead powered by the host computer to which it is coupled.

100. The system of claim 71, wherein the transportable USB mass storage memory device is a music jukebox device comprising data storage, music playback software, and a battery.

101. The system of claim 71, wherein the transportable USB mass storage memory device is a transportable USB hard drive device.

104. The system of claim 71, wherein the mobile user applications are operable on the host computer without the need for a microprocessor on the transportable USB mass storage memory device to execute instructions of the mobile user applications.

105. The system of claim 104, wherein the system management application is configured to facilitate running the mobile user applications on a processor of the host computer and does not provide running of the mobile user applications on any processor that resides on the transportable USB mass storage memory device.

106. The system of claim 71, wherein said transportable USB mass storage memory device does not include a processor configured to run the mobile user applications.

107. The system of claim 71, wherein the system management application is configured to facilitate running the mobile user applications on an operating system of the host computer and does not provide running of the mobile user applications on any operating system that resides on the transportable USB mass storage memory device.

108. The system of claim 71, wherein the mobile user applications are configurable for portable operation across multiple host computers by being accessible to one of the host computers directly from the transportable USB mass storage memory device without the need for network connectivity by the host computer in order to access the mobile user applications.

109. The system of claim 71, wherein said path name further comprises a drive nomenclature identifying the transportable USB mass storage memory device.

110. The system of claim 71, wherein the system management application ensures that any user files created during the temporary user session and remaining on the host computer at the end of the temporary user session are deleted.

111. The system of claim 71, wherein the system management application further provides a standardized file system structure, wherein said standardized file system structure is configured to adapt to file system variables encountered when the transportable USB mass storage memory device is moved between the multiple host computers by automatically remapping one or more paths to a file or folder located on the transportable USB mass storage memory device.

112. A method for configuring multiple host computers to launch and run mobile software applications stored on a portable USB non-volatile solid-state memory device, said method comprising:

a. providing a plurality of mobile user applications on a transportable USB non-volatile solid-state memory device, said mobile user applications configurable for portable operation across multiple host computers such that the mobile user applications are operable when the transportable USB non-volatile solid-state memory device is physically coupled to one of the multiple host computers;

b. providing a system management application on said transportable USB non-volatile solid-state memory device, said system management application configured to enable execution of said mobile user applications on a host computer without a reboot being required when the transportable USB non-volatile solid-state memory device is initially coupled to the host computer for the first time; and

c. providing program shortcuts or icons representative of the mobile user applications viewable across the multiple host computers, said program shortcuts or icons configured to launch the mobile user applications upon selection by a user on the host computer, wherein the system management application is configured to present the program shortcuts or icons in a consistent user interface viewable across the multiple host computers;

d. wherein the system management application facilitates the configuration of the multiple host computers to run the mobile user applications by remapping file associations between the program shortcuts or icons and the mobile user applications when the transportable USB non-volatile solid-state memory device is decoupled from one of the multiple host computers and coupled to another one of the multiple host computers;

e. wherein the system management application further provides a standardized file system structure such that the remapping of file associations is carried out according to the standardized file system structure, whereby the program shortcuts or icons utilize a consistent drive nomenclature to launch one or more program files associated with the mobile user applications across the multiple host computers, said consistent drive nomenclature being stored and transported on the transportable USB non-volatile solid-state memory device; and

f. wherein said mobile user applications comprise common software applications including one or more of the following;

(1) an e-mail client application;

(ii) a web browser application;

(iii) a game application; and

(iv) an anti virus application.

113. A computer readable medium having stored thereon computer-executable instructions for configuring multiple host computers to launch and run mobile software applications stored on a transportable USB non-volatile solid-state memory device, by causing one or more processors to perform the steps of:

a. storing a plurality of mobile user applications on a transportable USB non-volatile solid-state memory device, said mobile user applications configurable for portable operation across multiple host computers such that the mobile user applications are operable when the transportable USB non-volatile solid-state memory device is physically coupled to one of the multiple host computers;

b. storing a system management application on said transportable USB non-volatile solid-state memory device, said system management application configured to enable execution of said mobile user applications on a host computer without a reboot being required when the transportable USB non-volatile solid-state memory device is initially coupled to the host computer for the first time; and

c. providing program shortcuts or icons representative of the mobile user applications viewable across the multiple host computers, said program shortcuts or icons configured to launch the mobile user applications upon selection by a user on the host computer, wherein the system management application is configured to present the program shortcuts or icons in a consistent user interface viewable across the multiple host computers;

d. wherein the system management application facilitates the configuration of the multiple host computers to run the mobile user applications by remapping file associations between the program shortcuts or icons and the mobile user applications when the transportable USB non-volatile solid-state memory device is decoupled from one of the multiple host computers and coupled to another one of the multiple host computers;

e. wherein the system management application further provides a standardized file system structure such that the remapping of file associations is carried out according to the standardized file system structure, whereby the program shortcuts or icons utilize a consistent drive nomenclature to launch one or more program files associated with the mobile user applications across the multiple host computers, said consistent drive nomenclature being stored and transported on the transportable USB non-volatile solid-state memory device; and

f. wherein said mobile user applications comprise common software applications including one or more of the following;

(1) an e-mail client application;

(ii) a web browser application;

(iii) a game application; and

(iv) an anti virus application.

114. A system for configuring multiple host computers to launch and run mobile software applications stored on a transportable USB mass storage memory device, comprising:

a. a plurality of mobile user applications storable on the transportable USB mass storage memory device, said mobile user applications configurable for portable operation across multiple host computers such that the mobile user applications are operable when the transportable USB mass storage memory device is physically coupled to one of the multiple host computers; and

b. a system management application storable on the same transportable USB mass storage memory device as the mobile user applications, said system management application configured to enable execution of said mobile user applications on a host computer without a reboot being required when the transportable USB mass storage memory device is coupled to the host computer for the first time;

c. wherein the system management application facilitates the configuration of the multiple host computers to run the mobile user applications by remapping file associations between program shortcuts or icons representative of the mobile user applications and the mobile user applications when the transportable USB mass storage memory device is decoupled from one of the multiple host computers and coupled to another one of the multiple host computers, wherein said program shortcuts or icons are configured to launch the mobile user applications upon selection by a user on the host computer and wherein the system management application is configured to present the program shortcuts or icons in a consistent user interface viewable across the multiple host computers;

d. wherein the system management application further provides a standardized file system structure such that remapping of the file associations is carried out according to the standardized file system structure, whereby the program shortcuts or icons utilize a consistent drive nomenclature to launch one or more program files associated with the mobile user applications across the multiple host computers, said consistent drive nomenclature being stored and transported on the transportable USB mass storage memory device; and

e. wherein said mobile user applications comprise common software applications including one or more of the following;

(i) an e-mail client application;

(ii) a web browser application;

(iii) a game application; and

(iv) an anti virus application.