Method and apparatus for synchronizing a portable computer...

Electrical computers and digital processing systems: multicomput – Multicomputer synchronizing

Reexamination Certificate

Rate now

  [ 0.00 ] – not rated yet Voters 0   Comments 0

Details

Reexamination Certificate

active

06330618

ABSTRACT:

FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to the field of portable computers systems. Specifically, the present invention discloses a systems for synchronizing a portable computer system with a desktop computer system.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Personal computer systems have become common tools in modern society. To organize their lives, many personal computer users use Personal Information Management (PIM) applications such as an address book, a daily organizer, and a To-Do list applications on their personal computers. Although such Personal Information Management applications have proven useful, their utility is limited by the fact that the person must be sitting at their personal computer system to access the information.
To remedy this limitation, many palmtop computer organizers have been introduced. A palmtop computer organizer is a computer that is small enough to be held in the hand of a user and runs Personal Information Management (PIM) applications such as an address book, a daily organizer, and electronic notepads. Examples of palmtop computer organizers include the Sharp® Zaurus, the Apple® Newton®, and the Tandy® Zoomer™.
However, the palmtop organizers also suffer from a number of limitations. Entering information into a palmtop organizer is usually performed by typing on a keyboard that is too small for normal typing or writing onto a digitizer with a stylus and relying on handwriting recognition software. Backing up the information on a palmtop organizer is often difficult and time consuming task requiring special cables and software. Printing the information stored within a palmtop organizer system is difficult since special printer cables are must be connected to connect the palmtop organizer to a printer.
SUMMARY AND OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION
It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a easy to use palmtop computer system that is well integrated with a personal computer system. By tightly integrating the palmtop computer system with a personal computer system, an already existing computer infrastructure can easily be used by the palmtop computer system. To integrate to the computer system, the present invention teaches synchronization of information on the palmtop computer system and the personal computer system.
To integrate the palmtop computer system with a personal computer system in a user friendly manner, the palmtop computer system must be able to handle many different synchronization environments. The palmtop computer system should handle the different synchronization environments in a manner that requires very little user interaction. Thus, the palmtop computer system and the personal computer system must automatically recognized the synchronization environment and perform the synchronization.
Different synchronization environments include: 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 software architecture of the present invention present invention recognizes each of these different synchronization environments and performs the synchronization of information appropriately.


REFERENCES:
patent: 4432057 (1984-02-01), Daniell et al.
patent: 4807182 (1989-02-01), Queen
patent: 4866611 (1989-09-01), Cree et al.
patent: 4875159 (1989-10-01), Cary et al.
patent: 4956809 (1990-09-01), George et al.
patent: 5065360 (1991-11-01), Kelly
patent: 5124909 (1992-06-01), Blakely et al.
patent: 5142619 (1992-08-01), Webster, III
patent: 5159592 (1992-10-01), Perkins
patent: 5187787 (1993-02-01), Skeen et al.
patent: 5210868 (1993-05-01), Shimada et al.
patent: 5237678 (1993-08-01), Kuechler et al.
patent: 5251291 (1993-10-01), Malcom
patent: 5261045 (1993-11-01), Scully et al.
patent: 5261094 (1993-11-01), Everson et al.
patent: 5272628 (1993-12-01), Koss
patent: 5283887 (1994-02-01), Zachery
patent: 5301313 (1994-04-01), Terada et al.
patent: 5315709 (1994-05-01), Alston, Jr. et al.
patent: 5327555 (1994-07-01), Anderson
patent: 5333252 (1994-07-01), Brewer, III et al.
patent: 5339392 (1994-08-01), Risberg et al.
patent: 5339434 (1994-08-01), Rusis
patent: 5355476 (1994-10-01), Fukumura
patent: 5379057 (1995-01-01), Clough et al.
patent: 5392390 (1995-02-01), Crozier
patent: 5434994 (1995-07-01), Shaheen et al.
patent: 5475833 (1995-12-01), Dauerer et al.
patent: 5519606 (1996-05-01), Frid-Nielsen et al.
patent: 5546539 (1996-08-01), Poling
patent: 5566069 (1996-10-01), Clark, Jr. et al.
patent: 5572528 (1996-11-01), Shuen
patent: 5598536 (1997-01-01), Slaughter, III et al.
patent: 5625829 (1997-04-01), Gephardt et al.
patent: 5649195 (1997-07-01), Scott et al.
patent: 5666362 (1997-09-01), Chen et al.
patent: 5666530 (1997-09-01), Clark et al.
patent: 5666553 (1997-09-01), Crozier
patent: 5684990 (1997-11-01), Boothby
patent: 5701423 (1997-12-01), Crozier
patent: 5706509 (1998-01-01), Man-Hak Tso
patent: 5710922 (1998-01-01), Alley et al.
patent: 5727159 (1998-03-01), Kikinis
patent: 5727202 (1998-03-01), Kucala
patent: 5729735 (1998-03-01), Meyering
patent: 5742820 (1998-04-01), Perlman et al.
patent: 5761439 (1998-06-01), Kar et al.
patent: 5845282 (1998-12-01), Alley et al.
patent: 5857201 (1999-01-01), Wright, Jr. et al.
patent: 5864604 (1999-01-01), Moen et al.
patent: 5867821 (1999-02-01), Ballantyne et al.
patent: 5928329 (1999-07-01), Clark et al.
patent: 5953507 (1999-09-01), Gephardt et al.
patent: 6006274 (1999-12-01), Hawkins et al.
Zahn, et al., Network Computing Architecture, pp. 1-11, 19-31, 87-115, 117-133, 187-199, 201-209 (1990).
IntelliLink Brochure (1990).
“Logical Connectivity: Applications, Requirements, Architecture, and Research Agenda, ”Stuart Madnick & Y. Richard Wang, MIT, System Sciences, 1991, Hawaii Int'l, vol.1, IEEE, Jun. 1991.
“Automatically Synchronized Objects”, Research Disclosure #29261, p.614 (Aug. 1988). No Copy available.
“FRx extends reporting power of Platinum Series: (IBM Desktop Software's line of accounting software)”, Doug Payton, PC Week, V.8, No.5, p.29(2), Feb. 1991.
Cobb, et al., “Paradox 3.5 Handbook 3rd Edition”, Bantam (1991), pp. 803-816.
Alfieri, “The Best Book of:WordPerfect Version 5.0”, Hayden Books (1988), pp. 153-165 and 429-435.
User Manual for PC-Link for the B.O.S.S. and the PC-Link for the B.O.S.S., Traveling Software, Inc. (1989).
User Manual for Connectivity Pack for the HP 95LX, Hewlett Packard Company (1991).
Organizer Linkll Operation Manual, Sharp Electronics Corporation, No Date.
“Open Network Computing-Technical Overview, ”Sun Technical Report, Sun Microsystems, Inc., pp. 1-32 (1987).

LandOfFree

Say what you really think

Search LandOfFree.com for the USA inventors and patents. Rate them and share your experience with other people.

Rating

Method and apparatus for synchronizing a portable computer... does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this patent.

If you have personal experience with Method and apparatus for synchronizing a portable computer..., we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Method and apparatus for synchronizing a portable computer... will most certainly appreciate the feedback.

Rate now

     

Profile ID: LFUS-PAI-O-2596794

  Search
All data on this website is collected from public sources. Our data reflects the most accurate information available at the time of publication.