Communication with a mobile device

• US 20060245530A1
• Filed: 04/29/2005
• Published: 11/02/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 04/29/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P. (HP Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P. (HP Inc.)
• Inventors: McReynolds, Alan Andrew, Pradhan, Salil Vijaykumar, Recker, John Ludd, Sayers, Craig Peter
• Granted Patent: US 8,200,782 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 375/364
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 48/16 Discovering, processing access restriction or access information

Abstract

An embodiment of a synchronizer for a mobile device comprises memory for containing identification data and message data. The synchronizer is operative at least part of the time when the mobile device is inactive to establish communication with a base station, to provide from memory identification data enabling the base station to establish communication between the synchronizer and a server and, where message data is waiting to be transferred between the server and the mobile device, to enable transfer of message data waiting to be transferred. The synchronizer is operative when the mobile device is active to transfer message data between the mobile device and the memory of the synchronizer.

Claims

1. A synchronizer for a mobile device, comprising:

memory for containing identification data and message data;

said synchronizer operative at least part of the time when the mobile device is inactive to establish communication with a base station, to provide from said memory identification data enabling said base station to establish communication between said synchronizer and a server, and where message data is waiting to be transferred between said server and said mobile device to enable transfer of message data waiting to be transferred; and

said synchronizer operative when the mobile device is active to transfer message data between said mobile device and said memory of said synchronizer.

2. A synchronizer according to claim 1, further comprising a processor operative to transfer data between said memory and said base station, and to transfer data via said base station between said memory and said server.

3. A synchronizer according to claim 1, wherein said synchronizer comprises a processor operative to sense the presence of said base station.

4. A synchronizer according to claim 3, further comprising a motion sensor arranged to inhibit sensing for the presence of a base station when said synchronizer is not moved.

5. A synchronizer according to claim 1, wherein said memory is readable and writable by a processor of said base station.

6. A synchronizer according to claim 1, wherein said synchronizer is powered by said base station.

7. A synchronizer according to claim 1, wherein said message data comprises messages, and wherein said synchronizer is operative to transfer messages between said server and said memory when the mobile device is inactive, and to transfer messages between said mobile device and said memory when the mobile device is active.

8. A synchronizer according to claim 1, wherein said message data in said memory comprises an indication of whether or not said mobile device has a message waiting to be transferred, and wherein said synchronizer is operative to activate said mobile device only when said synchronizer is in communication with said server and one of said mobile device and said server has a message waiting to be transferred.

9. A method of synchronizing a mobile device with a server, comprising:

establishing a connection between a base station and a synchronizer attached to the mobile device, which synchronizer is capable of operating while the mobile device is inactive;

establishing communication through the base station between the server and the synchronizer using address information stored on the synchronizer;

determining from information stored in at least one of said server and said synchronizer whether messages from said mobile device are waiting to be uploaded to said server or messages are waiting on said server to be downloaded to said mobile device; and

uploading or downloading said waiting messages.

10. A method according to claim 9, wherein establishing a connection comprises supplying power to said synchronizer from said base station.

11. A method according to claim 9, wherein establishing a connection comprises at least one of said base station and said synchronizer monitoring for and detecting the presence of the other of said base station and said synchronizer within a range of wireless communication.

12. A method according to claim 9, wherein establishing communication between the server and the synchronizer comprises the base station contacting the server over a network using said address information stored on the synchronizer.

13. A method according to claim 9, wherein establishing communication between the server and the synchronizer comprises connecting to the server using identification information stored on the synchronizer.

14. A method according to claim 9, wherein uploading or downloading messages comprises uploading messages from memory in said synchronizer without activating said mobile device or downloading messages to memory in said synchronizer without activating said mobile device.

15. A method according to claim 14, comprising generating messages using said mobile device and storing said messages in said synchronizer to be uploaded.

16. A method according to claim 14, comprising activating said mobile device and transferring downloaded messages from said synchronizer to said mobile device.

17. A method according to claim 9, wherein uploading or downloading messages comprises activating said mobile device when it is determined that messages are waiting to be uploaded or downloaded and uploading messages from memory in said mobile device or downloading messages to memory in said mobile device.

18. A system for synchronizing a mobile device with a server, comprising:

a base station capable of communicating with the server;

a synchronizer attached to the mobile device and operative while the mobile device is inactive to connect with the base station;

said synchronizer comprising memory for identification data and message data; and

a processor on said base station or on said synchronizer arranged to establish communication through the base station between the server and the synchronizer using said identification data, to determine from information stored in at least one of said server and said synchronizer whether messages from said mobile device are waiting to be uploaded to said server or messages are waiting on said server to be downloaded to said mobile device and to cause uploading or downloading of said waiting messages.

19. A system according to claim 18, wherein said base station is arranged to transmit power to said synchronizer.

20. A system according to claim 18, wherein said synchronizer comprises data memory and said synchronizer is arranged to upload messages from said data memory or download messages to said data memory without activating said mobile device, and to transfer messages from or to said mobile device when said mobile device is active.

21. A system according to claim 18, wherein said synchronizer is arranged to activate said mobile device when it is determined that messages are waiting to be uploaded or downloaded and to permit uploading of messages from memory in said mobile device or downloading of messages to memory in said mobile device.

22. A synchronizer for a mobile device, comprising:

transmitting and receiving means for communicating with a base station when the mobile device is inactive; and

storing means for storing identification data and message data;

providing means for providing said identification data from said memory to said base station; and

enabling means for enabling transfer of message data waiting to be transferred; and

transfer means for transferring message data between said mobile device and said memory of said synchronizer when the mobile device is active.

23. A synchronizer according to claim 22, further comprising determining means for determining whether message data is waiting to be transferred between said mobile device and a server in communication with said base station.

24. A synchronizer according to claim 22, wherein said storing means comprises means for storing messages, and wherein said transfer means comprises means for transferring messages between said base station and said memory when the mobile device is inactive, and means for transferring messages between said mobile device and said memory when the mobile device is active.

25. A synchronizer according to claim 22, wherein said storing means comprises means for storing an indication of whether or not said mobile device has a message waiting to be transferred, and wherein said enabling means comprises means for activating said mobile device only when said synchronizer is in communication with a server and one of said mobile device and said server has a message waiting to be transferred.