Method and apparatus using a pass through personal computer connected to both a local communication link and a computer network for indentifying and synchronizing a preferred computer with a portable computer

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

• a portable computer system, said portable computer system having a first identifier for a preferred personal computer system that said portable computer system normally synchronizes with;
• a first personal computer system, said first personal computer having a second identifier;
• a local communication link coupling said portable computer system with said first personal computer system;
• a second personal computer system, said second personal computer having a third identifier;
• a computer network, said computer network coupling said first personal computer system to said second personal computer system;
• and
• a first synchronization program on said first personal computer system, said first synchronization program synchronizing with said portable computer system if said second identifier for said first personal computer system matches said first identifier for said preferred computer system, else said first synchronization program transmitting information from said portable computer system across said computer network to said second personal computer if said third identifier for said second personal computer matches said first identifier for said preferred computer system.

A computer implemented method of synchronizing information on a portable computer with information on a preferred personal computer system, said method comprising the steps of:

• initiating a first synchronization process in said portable computer, said first synchronization process having a first identifier for said preferred personal computer system;
• initiating a remote communication link between said first synchronization process in said portable computer and a first personal computer system, said first personal computer system coupled to a computer network;
• executing a second synchronization process on said first personal computer, said first personal computer having a second identifier;
• and
• synchronizing said information on said portable computer system with information on said first personal computer system if said first identifier matches said second identified, else
• locating said preferred personal computer coupled to said computer network using said first identifier;
• requesting a synchronization with a second synchronization process in said preferred personal computer by sending a synchronization request packet across said computer network;
• and
• synchronizing said information stored on said portable computer with information on said preferred personal computer through said remote communication link and said computer network.