Method and apparatus for synchronizing a portable computer system with a desktop computer system

• US 6,330,618 B1
• Filed: 05/25/1999
• Issued: 12/11/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 01/30/1997
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Palmsource Incorporated (Access Company Limited)
• Original Assignee: Palm, Inc. (TCL Technology Group Corp.)
• Inventors: Hawkins, Jeffrey C., Boyer, Monty, Kucala, Greg, Tzeng, Lih-Shyng, Sipher, Joe
• Primary Examiner(s): Meky, Moustafa M.
• Application Number:
  US09/318,404
• Time in Patent Office: 931 Days
• Field of Search: 709/203, 709/217, 709/218, 709/219, 709/223, 709/227, 709/248, 707/201, 707/202, 707/104, 707/8, 710/100
• US Class Current: 709/248
• 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 16/27 Replication, distribution or synchronisation of data between databases or within a distributed database system; Distributed database system architectures therefor
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99938 Concurrency, e.g. lock management in shared database
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99945 Object-oriented database structure processing
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99952 Coherency, e.g. same view to multiple users
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99953 Recoverability

Abstract

A tightly integrated the palmtop computer system and personal computer system is disclosed. The palmtop computer system and personal computer system synchronize with each other to share information. The synchronization software recognizes different synchronization environments including: synchronizing multiple palmtop computer systems with a single personal computer system, synchronizing a single palmtop computer system with multiple personal computer systems, synchronizing a palmtop computer system with a remote personal computer system across a network using a local personal computer system, and remotely synchronizing with a personal computer system across a telephone line. The synchronization software handles each different synchronization environment appropriately with minimal user interaction.

Claims

1. A computer implement method of synchronizing information on a portable computer, said method comprising the steps of:

initiating a first synchronization process in a first personal computer to synchronize information stored on said portable computer, said portable computer coupled to said first personal computer through a local communication link;

locating a preferred second personal computer coupled to said first personal computer across a network;

initiating a second synchronization process in said preferred second personal computer; and

synchronizing said information stored on said portable computer with said preferred second personal computer across said network.

2. The method of claim 1 further comprising the step of

storing a network address of said preferred second personal computer system in said portable computer system.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein said synchronization process on said first personal computer acts as a pass-through to said second synchronization process on said preferred second personal computer system.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein a third synchronization process on said portable computer system requests a synchronization with said first synchronization process in said first personal computer system.

5. The method of claim 4 wherein said communication link comprises a PPP connection.

6. The method of claim 1 wherein said network implements the TCP/IP suite of protocols.

7. An apparatus for synchronizing information between computer systems, said apparatus comprising:

a portable computer system;

a first personal computer system;

a local communication link coupling said portable computer system with said first personal computer system;

a preferred second personal computer system;

a network coupling said first personal computer system to said preferred second personal computer system;

a first synchronization program on said first personal computer system that transmits information from said portable computer system to said preferred second personal computer; and

a second synchronization program on said preferred second computer system, said second synchronization program on said preferred second computer system synchronizing with said portable computer system through said first synchronization program on said first computer system, wherein said second synchronization program monitors said network for packets requesting a synchronization.

8. The apparatus of claim 7 wherein said network comprises a network running the TCP/IP suite of protocols.

9. The apparatus of claim 7 wherein said local communication link comprises a serial communications link.

10. The apparatus of claim 7 further comprising:

a third synchronization program on said portable computer system, said third synchronization program synchronizing with said second synchronization program on said preferred second computer system through said first personal computer system.

11. A computer implement method of synchronizing information on a portable computer with a personal computer, said method comprising the steps of:

initiating a first synchronization process in said portable computer;

initiating a communication link between said first synchronization process in said portable computer and said personal computer using at least one modem;

requesting a synchronization with a second synchronization process in said personal computer to synchronize information stored on said portable computer;

synchronizing said information stored on said portable computer with preferred second personal computer through said communication link.

12. A computer implement method of synchronizing information on a portable computer, said method comprising the steps of:

initiating a first synchronization process in said portable computer;

initiating a communication link between said first synchronization process in said portable computer and a remote access server, said remote access server coupled to a local area network;

locating a preferred personal computer coupled to said local area network;

requesting a synchronization with a second synchronization process in said preferred personal computer;

synchronizing said information stored on said portable computer with said preferred personal computer through said communication link.

13. The method of claim 12 wherein said local network implements the TCP/IP suite of protocols.

14. An apparatus for synchronizing information between computer systems, said apparatus comprising:

a portable computer system;

a remote access server;

a local communication link coupling said portable computer system with said remote access server;

a preferred personal computer system;

a network coupled to said remote access server and said preferred personal computer system;

a first synchronization program on said portable computer system that transmits information from said portable computer system to said preferred personal computer; and

a second synchronization program on said preferred computer system, said second synchronization program on said preferred computer system synchronizing with said portable computer system by communicating with said first synchronization program on said portable computer system, wherein said second synchronization program monitors said network for packets requesting a synchronization.

15. The apparatus of claim 14 wherein said network comprises a network running the TCP/IP suite of protocols.

16. The apparatus of claim 14 wherein said local communication link comprises a PPP connection.

17. A method of synchronizing computer systems, said method comprising the steps of:

synchronizing a portable computer to a first personal computer;

assigning a first unique synchronization token to said portable computer after said step of synchronizing;

initiating a synchronization between said portable computer and a second personal computer, said second personal computer having a second unique synchronization token; and

testing said second unique synchronization token to determine if said second personal computer is the same as said first personal computer;

performing a fast synchronization if said first unique synchronization token matches said second unique synchronization token; and

performing a slow synchronization if said first unique synchronization token does not match said second unique synchronization token.