Multi-download structure and method of mobile communication terminal

• US 20020162099A1
• Filed: 02/20/2002
• Published: 10/31/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 02/20/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: LG Electronics, Inc. (LG Corporation)
• Original Assignee: LG Electronics, Inc. (LG Corporation)
• Inventors: Lee, Hyung Kun, Lee, Dong Kyun, Lee, Mun Ju
• Granted Patent: US 7,603,667 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 717/173
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/245 from a network towards a terminal

Abstract

A multi-download structure and a method of downloading information to one or more mobile communications terminals is disclosed. The structure includes an input unit for inputting download terms. A user download executing unit displays the inputted download terms and model information of mounted terminals on a screen and integrally controls/manages a multi-downloading operation. A plurality of lower download executing units, in which terminal model information has been registered, individually execute download operations to each mounted terminal. A medium unit receives the download terms and the terminal model information from the user download executing unit, automatically selects a model of the terminal to be downloaded, automatically calls the plurality of lower download executing units corresponding to the selected terminal models, and executes the multi-downloading operation.

Claims

1. A structure for downloading information to a plurality of terminals, comprising:

an input unit that inputs download terms;

a download executing unit that displays the inputted download terms and controls a multi-downloading operation;

a plurality of lower download executing units, each of which executes a download operation to a terminal; and

a medium unit that receives the download terms from the download executing unit, that automatically selects a model identifier for each of a plurality of terminals connected to corresponding ones of the lower downloading units, and that executes the multi-downloading operation.

2. The structure of claim 1, wherein the download terms comprise at least one of a type of a file to be downloaded, a distribution place of the download executing unit, and a number of ports having mounted terminals.

3. The structure of claim 1, wherein the input unit comprises a unit that allows a user to set a type of a file to be downloaded.

4. The structure of claim 1, wherein the input unit comprises:

a first unit that allows a user to select a location type; and

a second unit that identifies at least one serial port of a personal computer through which files are to be downloaded to a terminal.

5. The structure of claim 1, wherein the input unit comprises a program sub-routine that is called when a user selects an option function item provided in the download executing unit.

6. The structure of claim 1, wherein the download executing unit communicates inputted download terms to the medium unit when a multi-downloading operation is initiated.

7. The structure of claim 1, wherein the download terms include a model type of a terminal connected to one of the plurality of lower downloading units.

8. The structure of claim 7, wherein the download executing units communicate terminal model types to the medium unit when a multi-downloading operation is initiated.

9. The structure of claim 1, wherein the medium unit receives model information about terminals connected to the plurality of lower download executing units through the plurality of lower download executing units.

10. The structure of claim 1, wherein the medium unit selects a latest version of a file to be downloaded to a first terminal based on a type of a file to be downloaded identified within the download terms, and wherein the medium unit automatically causes the lower download executing unit connected to the first terminal to download the latest file to the first terminal.

11. The structure of claim 1, wherein the medium unit selects latest versions of individual files to be downloaded to a plurality of terminals based on types of files to be downloaded that are identified within the download terms, and wherein the medium unit automatically causes the plurality of lower download executing units connected to respective ones of the plurality of terminals to download the respective latest files to their corresponding terminals.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein the download terms identify at least one of a type of a file to be downloaded, a distribution place of the download executing unit, and a number of ports to which the plurality of terminals are connected.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein at least one of the download terms is set through a sub-routine that is called when a user selects an option of the download executing unit.

15. The method of claim 12, wherein the selecting step comprises:

determining the model type of each of the plurality of terminals; and

selecting the latest versions of files to be downloaded according to the determined model types.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein the inputting step comprises inputting model type information for at least one of the terminals, and wherein the determining step comprises receiving model type information from the download executing unit as part of the download terms.

17. The method of claim 15, wherein the determining step comprises reading model type information from each of the plurality of terminals via the plurality of lower download executing units.

18. The method of claim 12, further comprising checking a connection state of each of the plurality of terminals, and wherein the step of executing downloading operations comprises executing downloading operations to only the terminals that are properly connected to a lower download executing unit.

20. The concurrent downloading method of claim 19, wherein the executing step comprises:

communicating user provided information to an intermediate downloading unit;

determining, with the intermediate downloading unit, a model type for each of the terminals; and

downloading information to each of the terminals based, at least in part, on the determined model types.

21. The concurrent downloading method of claim 20, wherein the downloading step comprises automatically selecting a latest version of a file to download to each of the terminals, with the intermediate downloading unit, based on the determined model types.

22. The concurrent downloading method of claim 20, wherein the determining step comprises communicating terminal model type information from the lower download executing units to the intermediate downloading unit.

23. The concurrent downloading method of claim 20, wherein the determining step comprises receiving user input information regarding the terminal model types.

12. A method of downloading information to a plurality of terminals, comprising:

inputting download terms for a plurality of terminals with a download executing unit;

outputting the inputted download terms to a medium unit, when a downloading operation is initiated;

selecting latest versions of files to be downloaded to each of the plurality of terminals based on the input download terms; and

simultaneously executing downloading operations using a plurality of lower download executing units, each of which is connected to one of the plurality of terminals, to download the selected files to the plurality of terminals.

19. A concurrent downloading method, comprising:

determining a number of terminals communicatively connected to a file server through a corresponding number of lower download executing units; and

executing a plurality of downloading operations equal in number to the number of connected terminals, wherein each of the plurality of downloading operations comprises downloading information stored by the file server to a connected terminal through a corresponding lower download executing unit.