# US 2012/0084355 A1 · Method and apparatus for maintaining operability with a cloud computing environment > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2012/0084355 A1 - Document ID: US20120084355A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 12/897,549 - Filed: 2010-10-04 - Published: 2012-04-05 - Earliest claimed: 2010-10-04 - Assignees: Lenovo (Singapore) Pte. Ltd. - Inventors: Howard J. Locker; Richard Wayne Cheston; Rod D. Waltermann; Goran H. Wibran - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20120084355A1 ## CPC - G06F 8/60: Software deployment - G06F: ELECTRIC DIGITAL DATA PROCESSING (computer systems based on specific computational models G06N) ## Abstract A method and apparatus for maintaining operability with a cloud computing environment. The apparatus includes a storage module and a local environment module. The storage module may store cloud computing data from a cloud computing environment onto a local storage device. The storage module may communicate with the cloud computing environment through a remote connection. The local environment module may operate a local cloud computing environment from the local storage device while the remote connection to the cloud computing environment is unavailable. The local cloud environment may replicate at least a portion of the cloud computing environment and may be operated from the stored cloud computing data. ## Claims ### Claim 1 An apparatus comprising: a storage module storing cloud computing data from a cloud computing environment onto a local storage device, the storage module communicating with the cloud computing environment through a remote connection; and a local environment module operating a local cloud computing environment from the local storage device while the remote connection to the cloud computing environment is unavailable, the local cloud environment replicating at least a portion of the cloud computing environment and operated from the stored cloud computing data. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1, wherein at least a portion of the local storage device comprises a removable storage device. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a connection module checking for data connectivity of the remote connection at a predetermined interval. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The apparatus of claim 3, wherein the connection module detects data connectivity of the remote connection, the apparatus further comprising a synchronization module synchronizing differences of one or more of the cloud computing environment and the local cloud computing environment in response to the connection module detecting data connectivity of the remote connection. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a state module maintaining a state of one or more of the cloud computing environment and the local cloud computing environment, the state comprising one or more of a cloud computing environment version indicator, an application version indicator, and a document version indicator of one or more of the cloud computing environment and the local cloud computing environment. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a state comparison module comparing a state of the cloud computing environment with a state of the local cloud computing environment to determine differences between the cloud computing environment and the local cloud computing environment. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the storage module maintains a secure storage area on the local storage device, the storage module securely storing at least a portion of the cloud computing data on the secure storage area, a particular portion of the at least a portion of the cloud computing data accessible by a user with a security credential corresponding to the particular portion. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the cloud computing environment comprises one or more of a cloud computing application, a cloud computing document, and cloud computing security credentials. ### Claim 9 A method comprising: communicating with a cloud computing environment through a remote connection; storing cloud computing data from the cloud computing environment onto a local storage device; and operating a local cloud environment from the local storage device while the remote connection to the cloud computing environment is unavailable, the local cloud environment replicating at least a portion of the cloud computing environment and operated from the stored cloud computing data. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The method of claim 9, wherein the local storage device comprises a Universal Serial Bus (“USB”) flash memory storage device. ### Claim 11 (depends on 9) The method of claim 9, further comprising checking for data connectivity of the remote connection at a predetermined interval. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The method of claim 11, further comprising detecting data connectivity of the remote connection and synchronizing differences on one or more of the cloud computing environment and the local cloud computing environment in response to detecting data connectivity of the remote connection. ### Claim 13 (depends on 9) The method of claim 9, further comprising maintaining a state of one or more of the cloud computing environment and the local cloud computing environment, the state comprising one or more of a cloud computing environment version indicator, an application version indicator, and a document version indicator of one or more of the cloud computing environment and the local cloud computing environment. ### Claim 14 (depends on 9) The method of claim 9, further comprising comparing a state of the cloud computing environment with a state of the local cloud computing environment to determine differences between the cloud computing environment and the local cloud computing environment. ### Claim 15 (depends on 9) The method of claim 9, further comprising maintaining a secure storage area on the local storage device, wherein maintaining the secure storage area on the local storage device further comprises storing at least a portion of the cloud computing data on the secure storage area, a particular portion of the at least a portion of the cloud computing data accessible by a user with a security credential corresponding to the particular portion. ### Claim 16 (depends on 9) The method of claim 9, wherein the cloud computing environment comprises one or more of a cloud computing application, a cloud computing document, and cloud computing security credentials. ### Claim 17 A computer program product comprising a storage device storing computer usable program code executable to perform operations comprising: communicating with a cloud computing environment through a remote connection; storing cloud computing data from the cloud computing environment onto a local removable storage device; and operating a local cloud environment from the local storage device while the remote connection to the cloud computing environment is unavailable, the local cloud environment replicating at least a portion of the cloud computing environment and operated from the stored cloud computing data. ### Claim 18 (depends on 17) The computer program product of claim 17, further comprising: checking for data connectivity of the remote connection at a predetermined interval; detecting data connectivity of the remote connection; and synchronizing differences of one or more of the cloud computing environment and the local cloud computing environment in response to detecting data connectivity of the remote connection. ### Claim 19 (depends on 17) The computer program product of claim 17, further comprising: maintaining a state of one or more of the cloud computing environment and the local cloud computing environment, the state comprising one or more of a cloud computing environment version indicator, an application version indicator, and a document version indicator of one or more of the cloud computing environment and the local cloud computing environment; and comparing a state of the cloud computing environment with a state of the local cloud computing environment to determine differences between the cloud computing environment and the local cloud computing environment. ### Claim 20 (depends on 17) The computer program product of claim 17, further comprising providing the cloud computing environment with a cloud computing security credential corresponding to a user, the cloud computing environment allowing communication between the local storage device and the cloud computing environment in response to the cloud computing environment authenticating the user with the cloud computing security credential.