# US 2017/0286448 A1 · Portable storage device > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2017/0286448 A1 - Document ID: US20170286448A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 15/506,865 - Filed: 2014-08-27 - Published: 2017-10-05 - Earliest claimed: 2014-08-27 - Assignees: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P. - Applicants: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P. - Inventors: David H. HANES - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20170286448A1 ## CPC - G06F 8/658: Incremental updates; Differential updates - G06F 16/178: Techniques for file synchronisation in file systems - G06F 16/184: {implemented as replicated file system} - G06F 9/44505: {Configuring for program initiating, e.g. using registry, configuration files} - G06F: ELECTRIC DIGITAL DATA PROCESSING (computer systems based on specific computational models G06N) ## Abstract In one example of the present disclosure, a portable storage device is to obtain a version of the first file from a first computing device and update the first file in the portable storage device to form an updated first file. The portable storage device is then to determine that a version of the first file on a second computing device differs from the updated first file in the portable storage device and provide the updated first file to the second computing device. Furthermore, the portable storage device is to determine that a version of the first file on a remote storage service differs from the updated first file and provide the updated first file to the remote storage service. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A portable storage device, comprising: a storage module to store a first file, wherein the first file is associated with a first user account of a plurality of user accounts; a communications module to communicate with a first computing device, a second computing device, and a remote storage service, wherein the first computing device executes a first operating system and the second computing device executes a second operating system different from the first operating system; and a synchronization module to determine that a version of the first file on the first computing device has been updated and differs from the first file stored in the storage module, wherein the first file on the first computing device is associated with the first user account of the plurality of user accounts; obtain the version of the first file from the first computing device and update the first file in the storage module to form an updated first file; determine that a version of the first file on the second computing device differs from the updated first file in the storage module and provide the updated first file to the second computing device, wherein the first file on the second computing device is associated with the first user account of the plurality of user accounts; and determine that a version of the first file on the remote storage service differs from the updated first file and provide the updated first file to the remote storage service, wherein the updated first file on the remote storage service is associated with the first user account of the plurality of user accounts. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The portable storage device of claim 1, wherein the synchronization module is further to: determine that the updated first file on the second computing device has been updated to form a second file and the second file differs from the updated first file on the storage device; obtain the second file from the second computing device and store the second file on the storage module; determine that the updated first file on the first computing device differs from e second file and provide the second file to the first computing device; and determine that the updated first file on the remote storage service differs from the second file and provide the second file to the remote storage service. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The portable storage device of claim 1, wherein: the communications module is further to communicate with a second remote storage service; and the synchronization module is further to determine that a version of the first file on the second remote storage service differs from the updated first file and provide the updated first file to the second remote storage service, wherein the updated first file on the second remote storage service is associated with the first user account of the plurality of user accounts. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The portable storage device of claim 1, wherein the synchronization module is further to: determine that the updated first file on the remote storage service has been updated to form a second file and the second file differs from the updated first file on the storage module; obtain the second file from the remote storage service and store the second file on the storage module; determine that the updated first file on the first computing device differs from the second file and provide the second file to the first computing device; and determine that the updated first file on the second computing device differs from the second file and provide the second file to the second computing device. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The portable storage device of claim 1, wherein: the communications device is further to communicate with a second remote storage service; and the synchronization module is further to determine that a version of a second file on the second remote storage device differs from a version of the second file on the remote storage service, and, based on predetermined rules, provide the version of the second file received from the second remote storage service to the remote storage service; and determine that a version of a third file on the remote storage service differs from the a version of the third file on the second remote storage service, and, based on the predetermined rules, provide the version of the third file received from the remote storage service to the second remote storage service. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The portable storage device of claim 1, wherein the portable storage device is to utilize the communications module to transmit a notification to at least one of the first computing device and the second computing device, wherein the notification includes battery status information of the portable storage device. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The portable storage device of claim 1, wherein the portable storage device is to utilize the communications module to transmit a notification to at least one of the first computing device and the second computing device, wherein the notification includes synchronization status information. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The portable storage device of claim 1, further comprising a purge module to receive a command to purge data on the portable storage device, and, in response, to erase at least the updated first file on portable storage device such that at least the updated first file is not recoverable. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The portable storage device of claim 1, wherein the synchronization module is further to check predetermined synchronization rules prior to providing the updated first file to at least one of the first computing device, second computing device, and remote storage service. ### Claim 10 A method comprising: determining, at a portable storage device, that a version of a first file on a first computing device has been updated and differs from the first file stored on the portable storage device; obtaining the version of the first file from the first computing device and updating the first file in the portable storage device to form an updated first file: determining that a version of the first file on a second computing device differs from the updated first file in the portable storage device and providing the updated first file to the second computing device: determining that a version of the first file on a first remote storage service differs from the updated first file and providing the updated first file to the first remote storage service; and determining that a version of the first file on a second remote storage service differs from the updated first file and providing the updated first file to the second remote storage service. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The method of claim 10, wherein the first file and updated first file are associated with the first user account of the plurality of user accounts. ### Claim 12 (depends on 10) The method of claim 10, wherein the first computing device executes a first operating system and the second computing device executes a second operating system different from the first operating system. ### Claim 13 (depends on 10) The method of claim 10, further comprising: checking predetermined synchronization rules prior to providing the first file to at least one of the second computing device, first remote storage service, and second remote storage service. ### Claim 14 A non-transitory machine-readable medium comprising instructions, which when executed, cause a portable storage device to: determine that a version of a first file on a first computing device has been updated and differs from the first file stored on the portable storage device; obtain the version of the first file from the first computing device and update the first file in the portable storage device to form an updated first file; determine that a version of the first file on a second computing device differs from the updated first file in the portable storage device and provide the updated first file to the second computing device; and determine that a version of the first file on a remote storage service differs from the updated first file and provide the updated first file to the remote storage service. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) The non-transitory machine-readable medium of claim 14, comprising further instructions, which when executed, cause the portable storage device to check predetermined synchronization rules prior to determining that the version of the first file on the first computing device has been updated and differs from the first file stored on the portable storage device.