Method and system for configuring settings for a communications client utilizing host device drivers

• US 20060041645A1
• Filed: 08/20/2004
• Published: 02/23/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 08/20/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Malikie Innovations Limited (Key Patent Innovations Limited)
• Original Assignee: Blackberry Limited
• Inventors: Matton, Maxime, Zhang, Haining
• Granted Patent: US 7,483,963 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 709/220
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/34 involving the movement of software or configuration parameters network booting or remote initial program loading [RIPL] G06F9/4416

Abstract

A system and method for configuring a client on a host device using a configuration application on a configuring device, the system comprising: a link between the configuring device and the host device; host drivers for communicating between the host device and the configuring device over the link; and an interface between the host drivers and the configuration application, wherein said interface allows said configuration application to be independent of the host drivers while allowing the configuration application to configure the client.

Claims

1. A system for configuring a client on a host device using a configuration application on a configuring device, the system comprising:

a. a link between the configuring device and the host device;

b. host drivers for communicating between the host device and the configuring device over the link; and

c. an interface between the host drivers and the configuration application,

wherein said interface allows said configuration application to be independent of the host drivers while allowing the configuration application to configure the client.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the link is selected from the group consisting of:

a Bluetooth connection;

an IrDA connection; and

a physical serial link.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the configuring device is a personal computer.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the host device is a mobile station.

5. The system of claim 4, wherein the client is a data client.

6. The system of claim 5, wherein configuring the client includes setting an encryption key.

7. The system of claim 5, wherein configuring the client includes backing up and restoring data.

8. The system of claim 5, wherein configuring the client includes setting parameters in a service book.

9. The system of claim 1, wherein the host device includes a divided architecture having:

a. client applications;

b. host applications;

c. a virtual machine for the client applications; and

d. an interface between the host applications and client applications allowing client applications to start host applications and host applications to start client applications using the virtual machine,

wherein the host drivers use a host application to start a client application to configure the client.

10. A method for configuring a client on a host device from a configuration application on a configuring device, the host device being linked to the configuration device, the method comprising the steps of:

a. adding a set of host drivers to the configuration device specific for the host device and link; and

b. providing an interface between the configuration application and the set of host drivers, the interface being adapted to communicate with the host drivers,

wherein the configuration application can communicate with the client without changing the configuration application for the host device or set of host drivers.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein the host device is a mobile device.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein the client is a data client.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein configuring the client involves setting an encryption key.

14. The method of claim 12, wherein configuring the client involves setting an server identifier.

15. The system of claim 12, wherein configuring the client includes backing up and restoring data.