System and method for software and configuration parameter modification for mobile electronic devices

• US 20040221284A1
• Filed: 05/21/2004
• Published: 11/04/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 12/03/1999
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Command Audio Corporation
• Inventors: Wegener, Albert W., Costello, Edward J., Voichick, Jonathan, Linden, Thomas M., Swerdlow, Serge
• Granted Patent: US 7,478,384 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 717/172
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 8/65 Updates security arrangements therefor G06F21/57
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 1/08 by repeating transmission, e.g. Verdan system H04L1/1858 and H04L1/189 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2001/0093 Point-to-multipoint
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/40 for recovering from a failure of a protocol instance or entity, e.g. service redundancy protocols, protocol state redundancy or protocol service redirection management of faults, events, alarms or notifications in data switching networks H04L41/06
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/245 from a network towards a terminal

Abstract

Multiple copies of a software or operating parameter change are broadcast using a wireless signal to a mobile electronic device. Broadcasting multiple copies increases the probability that the mobile electronic device will receive the change without error. The number of copies broadcast is a function of the expected probability that the device will receive one copy without error and a desired probability that the device will receive the change without error.

Claims

1. A method for transmitting information to be stored in a mobile electronic device, comprising the acts of:

broadcasting multiple copies of data, wherein the number of copies is calculated as a function of an expected error reception rate and a desired fraction of mobile electronic devices to correctly receive the data;

receiving at least one copy of the data at the mobile electronic device; and

using the received data to change information stored in the mobile electronic device.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the number N of copies broadcast is calculated as

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the data is a change to a software program stored in the mobile electronic device.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the data is a change to an operating parameter stored in the mobile electronic device.

5. The method of claim 3, further comprising the acts of:

associating a first edition number with the software program stored in the mobile electronic device;

associating a second edition number with the received data;

comparing the first edition number with the second edition number; and

using the new data to change the stored information when the comparing indicates that the received data is subsequent to the stored information.

6. A broadcast signal containing digitally encoded information, the signal comprising a plurality of copies of data wherein the number of copies is calculated as a function of an expected reception error rate of the signal and a desired fraction of mobile electronic devices to correctly receive the data.

7. The signal of claim 6, wherein the number N of copies broadcast is calculated as

8. The signal of claim 6, wherein the data is a change to a software program stored in the mobile electronic device.

9. The signal of claim 8, wherein the data includes an identifier indicating the data is subsequent to a software program previously stored in the mobile electronic device.

10. The signal of claim 6, wherein the data is a change to an operating parameter stored in the mobile electronic device.

11. An information delivery system for transmitting to mobile electronic devices comprising:

a transmitter which broadcasts to the mobile electronic devices a plurality of copies of data, wherein the number of copies is calculated as a function of an expected reception error rate of the broadcast and a desired fraction of the mobile electronic devices to correctly receive the data.

12. The system of claim 11, wherein the number N of copies broadcast is calculated as

13. The system of claim 11, wherein the data is a change to a software program stored in the mobile electronic device.

14. The system of claim 13, wherein the data includes an identifier indicating if the data is subsequent to a software program previously stored in the mobile electronic device.

15. The system of claim 11, wherein the data is a change to an operating parameter stored in the mobile electronic device.