Method and apparatus for portable self-contained node computer

Abstract

A portable self-contained node computer is provided. The portable self-contained node computer connects to a host computer. The host computer allows the portable node computer to access its peripheral input/output devices.

1 . A node apparatus, comprising:
 a memory comprising a first operating system; and   at least one processor coupled to the memory and configured to:
 establish a connection to a host apparatus having one or more peripheral devices connected directly thereto; 
 interact directly with the one or more peripheral devices; and 
   operate a dedicated application or suite of applications, wherein the application or suite of applications is stored on the node apparatus and is executed directly from the node apparatus when connected to the host apparatus.   
     
     
         2 . The node apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one processor is further configured to:
 encrypt and digitally sign data generated during the execution of the application or suite of applications; and   store the encrypted and digitally signed data at a remote storage device, the remote storage device being an online storage device.   
     
     
         3 . The node apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one processor is further configured to access one or more resources associated with the host apparatus based on a pre-configured security profile. 
     
     
         4 . The node apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the one or more peripheral devices comprises one or more of a mouse, a hard disk drive, a display, or a network card connected directly to the host apparatus. 
     
     
         5 . The node apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the host apparatus has associated therewith a second operating system different from the first operating system. 
     
     
         6 . The node apparatus of  claim 5 , wherein the first operating system is accessed in a window of a monitor of the host apparatus. 
     
     
         7 . The node apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the host apparatus comprises one of a personal computer, a server, a digital display device, or a personal digital assistant. 
     
     
         8 . The node apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the host apparatus comprises a digital display device and wherein the node apparatus is associated with an operating system used to operate the host apparatus. 
     
     
         9 .- 12 . (canceled) 
     
     
         13 . The node apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the memory further comprises a security profile that partitions the node apparatus into multiple levels of security associated with the host apparatus depending on a type of process being performed by the node apparatus. 
     
     
         14 . (canceled) 
     
     
         15 . A node apparatus comprising:
 means for establishing a connection to a host apparatus having one or more peripheral devices connected directly thereto; and   means for operating a dedicated application or suite of applications, wherein the application or suite of applications is stored on the node apparatus and is executed directly from the node apparatus when connected to the host apparatus,   wherein the node apparatus interacts directly with the one or more peripheral devices.   
     
     
         16 . The node apparatus of  claim 15 , further comprising:
 means for encrypting and digitally signing data generated during the execution of the application or suite of applications; and   means for storing the encrypted and digitally signed data at a remote storage device, wherein the remote storage device is an online storage device.   
     
     
         17 . The node apparatus of  claim 15 , further comprising:
 means for accessing one or more resources associated with the host apparatus based on a pre-configured security profile.   
     
     
         18 . The node apparatus of  claim 15 , wherein the one or more peripheral devices comprises one or more of a mouse, a hard disk drive, a display, or a network card connected directly to the host apparatus. 
     
     
         19 . The node apparatus of  claim 15 , further comprising:
 means for executing a first operating system, the host apparatus having associated therewith a second operating system different from the first operating system.   
     
     
         20 . The node apparatus of  claim 19 , wherein the first operating system is accessed in a window of a monitor of the host apparatus. 
     
     
         21 . The node apparatus of  claim 15 , wherein the host apparatus comprises one of a personal computer, a server, a mobile telephone, a digital display device, or a personal digital assistant. 
     
     
         22 . The node apparatus of  claim 15 , wherein the host apparatus comprises a digital display device, the node apparatus further comprising:
 means for implementing an operating system to operate the host apparatus.   
     
     
         23 . (canceled) 
     
     
         24 . (canceled) 
     
     
         25 . A method of computing using a node apparatus, comprising:
 establishing a connection to a host apparatus having one or more peripheral devices connected directly thereto; and   operating a dedicated application or suite of applications, wherein the application or suite of applications is stored on the node apparatus and is executed directly from the node apparatus when connected to the host apparatus,   wherein the node apparatus interacts directly with the one or more peripheral devices.   
     
     
         26 . The method of  claim 25 , further comprising:
 encrypting and digitally signing data generated during the execution of the application or suite of applications; and   storing the encrypted and digitally signed data at a remote storage device, wherein the remote storage device is an online storage device.   
     
     
         27 . The method of  claim 25 , further comprising:
 accessing one or more resources associated with the host apparatus based on a pre-configured security profile.   
     
     
         28 . The method of  claim 25 , wherein the one or more peripheral devices comprises one or more of a mouse, a hard disk drive, a display, or a network card connected directly to the host apparatus. 
     
     
         29 . The method of  claim 25 , further comprising:
 executing a first operating system, the host apparatus having associated therewith a second operating system different from the first operating system.   
     
     
         30 . The method of  claim 29 , wherein the first operating system is accessed in a window of a monitor of the host apparatus. 
     
     
         31 . The method of  claim 25 , wherein the host apparatus comprises one of a personal computer, a server, a mobile telephone, a digital display device, or a personal digital assistant. 
     
     
         32 . The method of  claim 25 , wherein the host apparatus comprises a a digital display device, and wherein the method further comprises:
 implementing an operating system stored on the node apparatus to operate the host apparatus.   
     
     
         33 . (canceled) 
     
     
         34 . (canceled) 
     
     
         35 . A computer program product, comprising:
 computer-readable medium of a node apparatus storing computer executable code, comprising code to:   establish a connection to a host apparatus having one or more peripheral devices connected directly thereto;   operate a dedicated application or suite of applications, wherein the application or suite of applications is stored on the computer node apparatus and is executed directly from the node apparatus when connected to the host apparatus;   wherein the node apparatus interacts directly with the one or more peripheral devices.   
     
     
         36 . The computer-readable medium of  claim 35 , further comprising code to:
 encrypt and digitally sign data generated during the execution of the application or suite of applications; and   store the encrypted and digitally signed data at a remote storage device, wherein the remote storage device is an online storage device.   
     
     
         37 . The computer-readable medium of  claim 35 , further comprising code to:
 access one or more resources associated with the host apparatus based on a pre-configured security profile.   
     
     
         38 . The computer-readable medium of  claim 35 , wherein the one or more peripheral devices comprises one or more of a mouse, a hard disk drive, a display, or a network card connected directly to the host apparatus. 
     
     
         39 . The computer-readable medium of  claim 35 , wherein the computer node apparatus is configured with a first operating system different from a second operating system associated with the host apparatus. 
     
     
         40 . The computer-readable medium of  claim 39 , wherein the first operating system is accessed in a window of a monitor of the host apparatus. 
     
     
         41 . The computer-readable medium of  claim 35 , wherein the host apparatus comprises one of a personal computer, a server, a digital display device, or a personal digital assistant. 
     
     
         42 . The computer-readable medium of  claim 35 , wherein the host apparatus comprises a display device. 
     
     
         43 .- 56 . (canceled)