System for automatic synchronization of common file between portable ...

(54) SYSTEM FOR AUTOMATIC

SYNCHRONIZATION OF COMMON FILE
BETWEEN PORTABLE COMPUTER AND
HOST COMPUTER VIA COMMUNICATION
CHANNEL ESTABLISHED WITH USER
APPROVAL OF CHARGE TO BE INCURRED

(75) Inventors: Ted H. Clark, Houston; Steven C.

Malisewski, Cypress; Patrick R.
Cooper, Houston; William Caldwell
Crosswy, Spring; Larry J. Crochet,

Houston, all of TX (US)

(73) Assignee: Compaq Computer Corporation,

Houston, TX (US)

( * ) Notice: Subject to any disclaimer, the term of this patent is extended or adjusted under 35 U.S.C. 154(b) by 0 days.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

(21) Appl. No.: 09/175,866

(22) Filed: Oct. 20, 1998

Related U.S. Application Data

(63) Continuation of application No. 08/859,073, filed on May 20, 1997, now Pat. No. 5,928,329, which is a continuation of application No. 07/984,464, filed on Dec. 2, 1992, now Pat. No. 5,666,530.

(51) Int. CI.7 G06F 17/24; G06F 17/30;

G06F 15/16; G06F 15/17; G06F 13/14

(52) U.S. CI 710/5; 710/20; 707/200;

707/201; 707/203; 707/511; 709/200; 709/217;

709/227; 714/20

(58) Field of Search 714/20; 709/227,

709/200, 217, 246; 710/5, 20; 395/617; 364/962, 231.2; 707/200, 201, 203, 511

(56) References Cited
U.S. PATENT DOCUMENTS

3,693,090 * 9/1972 Gabriel 325/308

(List continued on next page.)

FOREIGN PATENT DOCUMENTS

0519838 Al 6/1992 (EP) .

(List continued on next page.)

OTHER PUBLICATIONS

MBS Technologies, Inc., File Runner User's Guide, Entire Manual, 1992.

(List continued on next page.)

Primary Examiner—-Thomas Lee

Assistant Examiner—Tanh Q. Nguyen

(74) Attorney, Agent, or Firm—Sharp, Comfort & Merrett,

PC.

(57) ABSTRACT

A handheld computer which contains an LCD display having a digitizing surface to allow pen input. Internal storage takes several forms, such as a large flash ROM area, battery-backed up RAM and an optional hard disk drive. Several alternative communication paths are available, such as the previously mentioned modem, a parallel printer port, a conventional serial port, a cradle assembly connected to the host computer, and various wireless short distance techniques such as radio frequency or infrared transmission. The computer can readily communicate with other sources, particularly to a host desktop computer, to allow automated synchronization of information between the host and the handheld system. Preferably the remote synchronization is performed at several user selectable levels. When the handheld computer is in a cradle and actively connected to the host computer, automatic capture of updated data in the host computer is performed. Several synchronization techniques are utilized to keep track of different types of files. In addition, while communication is established the handheld computer can enter a remote control mode, allowing the user access to files and applications not included in the handheld computer.

11 Claims, 10 Drawing Sheets

U.S. PATENT DOCUMENTS

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4.628,152 12/1986 Akerberg 379/51

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5,710,844 * 1/1998 Capps et al 382/317

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6,226,495 * 5/2001 Neustein 455/31.2

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FOREIGN PATENT DOCUMENTS

0 500 222 8/1992 (EP) . WO90/13213 11/1990 (WO) . WO91/04461 4/1991 (WO) .

OTHER PUBLICATIONS

Hall Edward "Atari's Miniature Portfolio a One Pound Dynamo" Computing Canada, (Oct. 12, 1989), p. 2.

* cited by examiner