Over-the-air programming method for wireless communication device

• US 20040033798A1
• Filed: 08/14/2002
• Published: 02/19/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 08/14/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Google Technology Holdings LLC (Alphabet Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Motorola, Inc. (Motorola Solutions, Inc.)
• Inventors: Sethuraman, Suresh, Robin, John F.
• Granted Patent: US 6,731,930 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/419
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/22 Processing or transfer of terminal data, e.g. status or physical capabilities

Abstract

A method for programming a wireless portable communication device (104) over the air with a wireless communication network (102). An end user may request to have his wireless portable communication device programmed or the device may be programmed to automatically request at a predetermined time interval. The communication network (104) may remotely program an individual wireless portable communication device (104), or may remotely program a group of wireless portable communication devices (112).

Claims

1. A method for a wireless portable communication device for downloading a first set of software, data, and features suitable for the wireless portable communication device from a communication network, the wireless portable communication device having a device memory and a distribution mode, the communication network storing in a network memory a plurality of sets of software, data, and features wherein one of the plurality of the sets is the first set, the method comprising steps of:

enabling the distribution mode;

transmitting a request to receive the first set of software, data, and features to the communication network periodically at a predetermined interval in the distribution mode;

receiving the first set of software, data, and features from the communication network;

installing the first set of software, data, and features in the device memory; and

disabling the distribution mode.

2. The method according to claim 1 further comprising a step of transmitting a confirmation of a successful installation of the first set of software, data, and features in the device memory to the communication network.

3. The method according to claim 1, wherein the step of transmitting the request to receive the first set of software, data, and features to the communication network further comprises a step of transmitting an identification of the wireless portable communication device.

4. The method according to claim 3 further comprising a step of receiving an authorization to receive the first set of software, data, and features from the communication network.

5. The method according to claim 1, wherein the step of receiving the first set of software, data, and features from the communication network further comprises steps of:

receiving a schedule for the first set of software, data, and features is to be received; and

receiving the first set of software, data, and features from the communication network at a scheduled time.

6. A method for a communication network for downloading a first set of software, data, and features to a wireless portable communication device, the communication network storing in a network memory a plurality of sets of software, data, and features wherein one of the plurality of the sets is the first set, the wireless portable communication device having a device memory and a distribution mode, the method comprising steps of:

receiving a request from the wireless portable communication device to receive the first set of software, data, and features;

determining eligibility of the wireless portable communication device to receive the first set of software, data, and features from the communication network; and

p1 if the wireless portable communication device is determined to be eligible, transmitting the first set of software, data, and features to the wireless portable communication device.

7. The method according to claim 6 further comprising of a step of transmitting a refusal message if the wireless portable communication device is determined to be ineligible.

8. The method according to claim 6, wherein the request from the wireless portable communication device to receive the first set of software, data, and features further comprises an identification of the wireless portable communication device.

9. The method according to claim 8, wherein the step of determining eligibility of the wireless portable communication device to receive the first set of software, data, and features is based upon the identification of the wireless portable communication device.

10. The method according to claim 8 further comprising a step of determining an appropriate set of software, data, and features as the first set of software, data, and features based upon the identification of the wireless portable communication device.

11. The method according to claim 6 further comprising a step of receiving a confirmation of a successful installation of the first set of software, data, and features in the device memory from the wireless portable communication device.

12. The method according to claim 6 further comprising a step of keeping a record of software, data, and features installed in the wireless portable communication device.

13. The method according to claim 6, wherein the step of transmitting the first set of software, data, and features to the wireless portable communication device further comprises steps of:

transmitting a schedule for the first set of software, data, and features is to be transmitted; and

transmitting the first set of software, data, and features to the wireless portable communication device at a scheduled time.

14. A method for a communication network for downloading a first set of software, data, and features to a first group of wireless portable communication devices of wireless portable communication devices, the communication network storing in a network memory a plurality of sets of software, data, and features wherein one of the plurality of the sets is the first set, each wireless portable communication device of the first group of wireless portable communication devices having a device memory and a distribution mode, the method comprising steps of:

transmitting an instruction to each wireless portable communication device of the first group of wireless portable communication devices for enabling the distribution mode;

transmitting the first set of software, data, and features to the first group of wireless portable communication devices; and

disabling the distribution mode in each wireless portable communication device of the first group of wireless portable communication devices.

15. The method according to claim 14, wherein the step of transmitting the instruction to each wireless portable communication device of the first group for enabling the distribution mode further comprising a step of transmitting a Short Message Service (SMS) message to each wireless portable communication device of the first group of wireless portable communication devices for enabling the distribution mode.

16. The method according to claim 14, wherein the step of transmitting the instruction to each wireless portable communication device of the first group for enabling the distribution mode further comprising steps of:

transmitting a Short Message Service (SMS) message to each wireless portable communication device of the first group of wireless portable communication devices;

waiting to receive an acknowledgement of the SMS message reception transmitted from each wireless portable communication device of the first group of wireless portable communication devices for a predetermined time;

determining availability of each wireless portable communication device of the first group of wireless portable communication devices based upon the acknowledgement received; and

enabling the distribution mode of wireless portable communication devices that have been determined to be available.

17. The method according to claim 14, wherein the step of transmitting the first set of software, data, and features from the communication network further comprises a step of transmitting a schedule for the first set of software, data, and features is to be transmitted to each wireless portable communication device of the first group of wireless portable communication devices.

18. The method according to claim 17 further comprising a step of transmitting the first set of software, data, and features to each wireless portable communication device of the first group of wireless portable communication devices at a scheduled time.

19. The method according to claim 14 further comprising a step of receiving a confirmation of a successful installation of the first set of software, data, and features in the device memory from each wireless portable communication device of the first group of wireless portable communication devices.

20. The method according to claim 14 further comprising a step of keeping a record of software, data, and features installed in each wireless portable communication device of the first group of wireless portable communication devices.