Methods and apparatus to integrate mobile communications device management with web browsing

• US 20060039561A1
• Filed: 08/20/2004
• Published: 02/23/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 08/20/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Nokia Technologies Oy (Nokia Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Nokia Corporation
• Inventors: Mittal, Gaurav, Ypya, Tapio
• Granted Patent: US 7,889,869 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 380/270
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/0253 using browsers or web-pages for accessing management information
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/02 based on web technology, e.g. hypertext transfer protocol [HTTP]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/34 involving the movement of software or configuration parameters network booting or remote initial program loading [RIPL] G06F9/4416
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2203/053 remote terminal provisioning, e.g. of applets
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/42178 by downloading data to substation equipment
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 7/006 Networks other than PSTN/ISDN providing telephone service, e.g. Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) , including next generation networks with a packet-switched transport layer H04L65/00 takes precedence; aspects not specific to the type of network H04M3/00; special services in those networks H04M3/42
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 80/00 Wireless network protocols or protocol adaptations to wireless operation

Abstract

A method includes, in response to receiving a certain type of HTTP request message from a device during a browsing session, sending a HTTP response message to the device. The HTTP response message includes a dedicated MIME-type for indicating that a device management session is being initiated, and the device management session is identified by an identifier that forms part of the HTTP response message. The device replies to the HTTP response message with a device management session reply that comprises device details and the identifier. Using the device details, the system develops a list containing at least one download option that is compatible with the device and sends the list to the device. In response to a user selecting the at least one download option from the list, the system delivers the selected at least one download option to the device during a device management session.

Claims

1. A method to automate a device session in combination with a user'"'"'s interaction with a server, comprising:

in response to receiving a certain type of HTTP request message from the device during a browsing session, sending a HITTP response message to the device, the HTTP response message comprising a dedicated ME-type for indicating that a device management session is being initiated, the device management session being identified by an identifier that comprises part of the HTTP response message;

replying to the HTTP response message with a device management session reply that comprises device details and the identifier;

using the device details to develop a list comprising at least one download option that is compatible with the device;

sending the list to the device; and

in response to a user selecting the at least one download option from the list, delivering the selected at least one download option to the device during a device management session.

2. A method as in claim 1, where the HTTP response message comprises an encrypted client provisioning (CP) message.

3. A method as in claim 2, where the certain type of HTTP request message triggers a transaction with a workflow manager that establishes the identifier, where the workflow manager creates the CP message and encrypts it with a secret key.

4. A method as in claim 1, where sending the list to the device sends the list using a browsing session.

5. A method as in claim 1, where the device comprises a unit having a wireless transceiver for communication with a web server, and where the delivered download option comprises an application program to be downloaded to and stored in the device for subsequent execution.

6. A method as in claim 1, where the device comprises a unit having a wireless transceiver for communication with a web server, and where the delivered download option comprises firmware to be downloaded to and stored in the device for subsequent execution.

7. A system comprising a device and a web server coupled together via a wireless link, comprising:

a device management server, coupled to the web server, and responsive to receiving a certain type of HTTP request message from the device during a browsing session, for sending a HTTP response message towards the device, the HTTP response message comprising a dedicated MIME-type for indicating that a device management session is being initiated, the device management session being identified by an identifier that comprises part of the HTTP response message;

said device comprising a device management client operative to reply to the HTTP response message with a device management session reply that comprises device details and the identifier;

where said device management server uses the device details, in cooperation with a workflow manager, to develop a list comprising at least one download option that is compatible with the device and to sending the list to the device; and

in response to a user selecting the at least one download option from the list, said device management server delivers the selected at least one download option to the device during a device management session.

8. A system as in claim 7, where the HTTP response message comprises an encrypted client provisioning (CP) message.

9. A system as in claim 8, where the certain type of HTTP request message triggers a transaction with said workflow manager that establishes the identifier, where the workflow manager creates the CP message and encrypts it with a secret key.

10. A system as in claim 9, where said workflow manager comprises an interface with at least one back-end system, and where the CP message is encrypted in cooperation with at least one back-end system.

11. A system as in claim 7, where the list is sent to the device using a browsing session and HTTP protocols.

12. A system as in claim 7, where the device comprises a wireless transceiver for communication with the web server, and where the delivered download option comprises an application program to be downloaded to and stored in the device for subsequent execution.

13. A system as in claim 7, where the device comprises a wireless transceiver for communication with the web server, and where the delivered download option comprises firmware to be downloaded to and stored in the device for subsequent execution.

14. A system as in claim 7, where the device comprises a communications unit having a wireless transceiver for communication with the web server, and where the delivered download option comprises a program to be downloaded to and stored in the device for subsequent execution.

15. A method to operate a device to download information via a wireless network, comprising:

during a wireless HTTP session, making an inquiry with the device with regard to downloadable information;

in response to the inquiry, initiating a secure device management wireless dialogue with the device to obtain device-specific parameters descriptive of at least certain capabilities of the device;

generating a list and sending the list to the device, the list comprising at least one entry that is descriptive of downloadable information that is compatible with the device capabilities; and

during a wireless HTTP session, selecting at least one entry from the list to be downloaded to the device.

16. A method as in claim 15, where initiating the secure device management wireless dialogue with the device uses a HTTP response message that comprises a predetermined MIME-type for indicating that a device management session is being initiated, the device management session being identified by an identifier that comprises part of the HTTP response message.

17. A device operable in a wireless network to obtain information via the wireless network, comprising a user interface and a controller operating with a program to perform operations:

during a wireless HTTP session involving a user and the user interface, to send an inquiry from the device with regard to downloadable information;

in response to sending the inquiry, and to a response received through the wireless network, to establish a secure device management session to send device-specific parameters descriptive of at least certain capabilities of the device; and

in response to receiving a list having at least one entry that is descriptive of downloadable information that is compatible with the device capabilities, to select via the user interface during a wireless HTTP session at least one entry from the list to be downloaded to the device.

18. A device as in claim 17, where said controller is responsive to receiving a HTTP response message that comprises a predetermined MIME-type for indicating that the secure device management session is being initiated, the device management session being identified by an identifier that comprises part of the HTTP response message.

19. A device management server operable with a device to download information via a wireless network to the device, comprising a first interface for coupling to the device, a second interface for coupling to a workflow manager, and a controller operating with a program to perform operations initiated in response to the device, during a wireless HTTP session, making an inquiry with regard to downloadable information, and further responsive to the workflow manager initiating a secure device management wireless session with the device to obtain device-specific parameters descriptive of at least certain capabilities of the device;

to cooperate with the workflow manager via the second interface to generate a list and to send the list towards the device via the first interface, the list comprising at least one entry that is descriptive of downloadable information that is compatible with the device capabilities; and

during a wireless HTTP session, to download information to the device corresponding to at least one entry from the list selected by a user of the device.

20. A device management server as in claim 19, where the device management server is interfaced with a device management client that is executed by a controller of the device.

21. A device management server as in claim 20, where the device management server and the device management client are compatible with a SyncML Device Management Protocol.

22. A workflow manager operable with a device and with a device management server for downloading information via a wireless network to the device, comprising a first interface for coupling to the device via a web site and to the device management server, a second interface for coupling to at least one back-end system, and a controller operating with a program to perform operations initiated in response to the device, during a wireless HTTP session, making an inquiry to the web site with regard to downloadable information, the controller operable to initiate a secure device management wireless session with the device to obtain device-specific parameters descriptive of at least certain capabilities of the device;

to cooperate with the device management server via the first interface and with the at least one back-end system via the second interface to generate a list, and to send the list towards the device via the first interface and via the web server, the list comprising at least one entry that is descriptive of downloadable information that is compatible with the device capabilities.

23. A workflow manager as in claim 22, where the secure device management wireless session is initiated with a HTTP response message that comprises a predetermined MIME-type for indicating that the device management session is being initiated, the device management session being identified by an identifier that comprises part of the HTTP response message, and that further comprises an encrypted client provisioning (CP) message.

24. A workflow manager as in claim 23, where the device-specific parameters are received from the device via the device management server along with the identifier.

25. A computer program product comprising a computer useable medium including a computer readable program, wherein the computer readable program when executed on the computer causes the computer to perform operations, comprising:

in response to receiving a certain type of HTTP request message from the device during a browsing session, sending a HTTP response message to the device, the HTTP response message comprising a dedicated MIME-type for indicating that a device management session is being initiated, the device management session being identified by an identifier that comprises part of the HTTP response message;

replying to the HTTP response message with a device management session reply that comprises device details and the identifier;

using the device details to develop a list comprising at least one download option that is compatible with the device;

sending the list to the device; and

in response to a user selecting the at least one download option from the list, delivering the selected at least one download option to the device during a device management session.

26. A computer program product as in claim 25, where the HTTP response message comprises an encrypted client provisioning (CP) message.

27. A computer program product as in claim 26, where the certain type of HTTP request message triggers a transaction with a workflow manager that establishes the identifier, where the workflow manager creates the CP message and encrypts it with a secret key.

28. A computer program product as in claim 25, where sending the list to the device sends the list using a browsing session.

29. A computer program product as in claim 25, where the device comprises a unit having a wireless transceiver for communication with a web server, and where the delivered download option comprises an application program to be downloaded to and stored in the device for subsequent execution.

30. A computer program product as in claim 25, where the device comprises a unit having a wireless transceiver for communication with a web server, and where the delivered download option comprises firmware to be downloaded to and stored in the device for subsequent execution.