Automated over the air plug-in device recognition and software driver download

• US 20050154787A1
• Filed: 01/13/2004
• Published: 07/14/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 01/13/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Inventors: Dickson, Scott, Cochran, Stephen
• Granted Patent: US 7,164,907 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 709/219
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 9/4411 Configuring for operating with peripheral devices; Loading of device drivers

Abstract

A system and method for automatically detecting a peripheral device in communication with a wireless device, such as a wireless telephone, and requesting a driver for the peripheral from a remote server via a wireless communications network. After the driver is received and installed, the wireless device checks automatically for availability of a new version of the driver from the remote server. If there is a new version, the new driver will be downloaded to the wireless handheld device.

Claims

1. A method for automatically detecting and operating a peripheral device within a wireless computer device selectively communicating across a wireless communications network with a remote server, comprising the steps of:

determining if a peripheral device is in communication with the wireless computer device; and

if the peripheral device is communicating with the wireless computer device,

retrieving the information from the peripheral device,

sending the peripheral device information to the remote server via the wireless communications network, and

receiving a driver for the peripheral device from the remote server via the wireless communications network.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising the steps of:

requesting a application menu from the remote server via the wireless communications network;

receiving the application menu from the remote server; and

displaying the application menu to a user of the wireless computer device.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising the steps of:

requesting an application from the remote server;

receiving the application from the remote server; and

activating the application.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising the steps of:

requesting a password from a user of the wireless computer device; and

verifying the password.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of retrieving the information from the peripheral device further comprising the step of receiving the information through wireless communication.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein the wireless communication comprises communication through radio signals.

7. The method of claim 5, wherein the wireless communication comprises communication through infra-red signals.

8. A method for automatically downloading a driver for a peripheral device through a wireless communications network to a wireless device having wireless communication ability, comprising the steps of:

receiving identification information from the wireless device through a wireless communications network;

retrieving a driver from a database based on the identification information received; and

transmitting the driver to the wireless device via the wireless communications network.

9. The method of claim 8, further comprising the steps of:

receiving an application menu request from the wireless device;

compiling the application menu based on the identification information; and

transmitting the application menu to the wireless device.

10. The method of claim 8, further comprising the steps of:

receiving an application request from the wireless device;

retrieving the application from the database; and

transmitting the application to the wireless device.

11. The method of claim 8, further comprising the steps of:

receiving a password from the wireless device; and

verifying the password.

12. The method of claim 8, further comprising the steps of:

receiving a subscriber information from the wireless device; and

verifying the subscriber information against a subscriber database.

13. A method for automatically requesting a device driver for a peripheral device in communication with a wireless computer device, comprising the steps of:

retrieving driver information for the peripheral device;

sending the driver information to a remote server via a wireless communications network; and

downloading a driver for the peripheral device from the remote server via the wireless communications network.

14. The method of claim 13, further comprising the step of prompting a user for approval to download the driver.

15. The method of claim 13, further comprising the steps of:

requesting a password from a user of the wireless computer device; and

verifying the password.

16. The method of claim 13, wherein the step of retrieving the driver information from the peripheral device further comprises the step of receiving the information through infra-red signals.

17. The method of claim 13, wherein the step of retrieving the information from the peripheral device further comprises the step of receiving the information through radio signals.

18. A method for automatically downloading a driver for a peripheral device in communication with a wireless device through a wireless communications network, comprising the steps of:

receiving a driver information for the peripheral device from the wireless device via the wireless communications network;

comparing the received driver information with driver information in a database;

if the driver information in the database is newer than the received driver information, then retrieving a driver for the peripheral device from the database and transmitting the driver from the database to the wireless device via the wireless communications network.

19. The method of claim 18, further comprising the steps of:

receiving a password from the wireless device; and

verifying the password.

20. The method of claim 18, further comprising the steps of:

receiving subscriber information from the wireless device; and

verifying the subscriber information against a subscriber database.

21. An apparatus having wireless communications capability and capable of communicating with a peripheral device, the apparatus being capable of automatically detecting the peripheral device and downloading a driver for the peripheral device through a wireless communications network, comprising:

an external communication interface;

a controller capable of detecting a peripheral device attempting communication through the external communication interface, the controller being capable of retrieving device information from the peripheral device;

a transceiver for transmitting the device information to a remote server via the wireless communications network, the transceiver being capable of receiving a driver for the peripheral device from the remote server; and

a storage unit for storing the driver received from the remote server,

wherein the driver received from the remote server is used for the controller to communicate with the peripheral device.

22. The apparatus of claim 21, further comprising:

a user interface for receiving user inputs; and

a display unit for displaying information to a user of the apparatus.

23. The apparatus of claim 21, further comprising a plug in slot capable of receiving the peripheral device in communication with the external communication interface.

24. The apparatus of claim 23, wherein the peripheral device is a USB capable device.

25. The apparatus of claim 23, wherein the peripheral device is a Compact Flash (CF) capable device.

26. The apparatus of claim 23, wherein the peripheral device is a PC Card capable device.

27. The apparatus of claim 23, wherein the peripheral device is a Secure Digital capable device.

28. The apparatus of claim 21, wherein the controller further is capable of retrieving a driver information and directing the transceiver to transmit the driver information to the remote server.

29. The apparatus of claim 21, wherein the external communication interface further being capable of communicating with a peripheral device not physically attached to the apparatus.

30. The apparatus of claim 29, wherein the external communication interface communicates with the peripheral device through infra-red signals.

31. The apparatus of claim 29, wherein the external communication interface communicates with the peripheral device through radio signals.

32. A computer readable medium on which is stored a computer program for automatically detecting and operating a peripheral device in a wireless device having wireless communication capability, the computer program comprising instructions which, when executed by a computer, perform the steps of:

determining if a peripheral is in communication with the wireless device; and

if the peripheral device is in communication with the wireless device,

retrieving the information from the peripheral device,

sending the peripheral device'"'"'s information to a remote server via a wireless communications network, and

receiving a driver for the peripheral device from the remote server via the wireless communications network.

33. The computer program of claim 32, further performing the steps of:

requesting an application menu from the remote server via the wireless communications network;

receiving the application menu from the remote server; and

displaying the application menu to a user.

34. The computer program of claim 32, further performing the steps of:

requesting an application from the remote server;

receiving the application from the remote server; and

activating the application.

35. The computer program of claim 32, further performing the steps of:

requesting a password from a user of the wireless device; and

verifying the password.

36. The computer program of claim 32, wherein the step of retrieving the information from the peripheral device further comprises the step of receiving the information through wireless communications.

37. The computer program of claim 32, wherein the step of retrieving the information from the peripheral device further comprises the step of receiving the information through wired communications.

38. A computer readable medium on which is stored a computer program for automatically detecting and operating a peripheral device at a wireless device having wireless communication capability, the computer program comprising instructions which, when executed by a computer, perform the steps of:

receiving identification information from a wireless device through a wireless communications network;

retrieving a driver from a database based on the identification information received; and

transmitting the driver to the wireless device via the wireless communications network.

39. The computer program of claim 38, further performing the steps of:

receiving an application menu request from the wireless device;

compiling the application menu based on the identification information; and

transmitting the application menu to the wireless device.

40. The computer program of claim 38, further performing the steps of:

receiving an application request from the wireless device;

retrieving the application from the database; and

transmitting the application to the wireless device.

41. The computer program of claim 38, further performing the steps of:

receiving a password from the wireless device; and

verifying the password.

42. The computer program of claim 38, further performing the steps of:

receiving subscriber information from the wireless device; and

verifying the subscriber information against a subscriber database.

43. An apparatus capable of communicating with a peripheral device, the apparatus being capable of automatically detecting the peripheral device and downloading a driver for the peripheral device through a wireless communications network, comprising:

an external interface means;

a controller means capable of detecting a peripheral device communicating with the external interface means, the controller means being capable of retrieving peripheral device information from the peripheral device;

a transceiver means for transmitting the peripheral device information to a remote server via the wireless communications network, the transceiver means being capable of receiving a driver for the peripheral device from the remote server; and

a storage means for storing the driver received from the remote server,

wherein the driver is used for the controller means to communicate with the peripheral device.

44. The apparatus of claim 43, further comprising:

an user interface means for receiving user inputs; and

a display means for displaying information to a user of the apparatus.

45. The apparatus of claim 43, further comprising a peripheral interface means capable of receiving the peripheral device in communication with the external interface means.

46. The apparatus of claim 43, wherein the peripheral device is a USB capable device.

47. The apparatus of claim 43, wherein the peripheral device is a Compact Flash (CF) capable device.

48. The apparatus of claim 43, wherein the peripheral device is a PC Card capable device.

49. The apparatus of claim 43, wherein the peripheral device is a Secure Digital capable device.

50. The apparatus of claim 43, wherein the controller means further being capable of retrieving driver information from the peripheral device and directing the transceiver means to transmit the driver information to the remote server.

51. The apparatus of claim 43, wherein the external interface means further is capable of communicating with a peripheral device not physically attached to the peripheral interfacing means.

52. The apparatus of claim 51, wherein the external interface means communicates with the peripheral device through wireless communication.

53. The apparatus of claim 51, wherein the external interface means communicates with the peripheral device through wired communication.