Method, system and apparatus for selective application access and synchronization

• US 20070050502A1
• Filed: 08/31/2005
• Published: 03/01/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 08/31/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Malikie Innovations Limited (Key Patent Innovations Limited)
• Original Assignee: Blackberry Limited
• Inventors: Barker, Melanie
• Granted Patent: US 7,840,710 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 709/225
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/1095 Replication or mirroring of data, e.g. scheduling or transport for data synchronisation between network nodes
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 48/18 Selecting a network or a communication service
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 56/00 Synchronisation arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 74/00 Wireless channel access
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/06 adapted for operation in multiple networks or having at least two operational modes, e.g. multi-mode terminals

Abstract

A method, system and apparatus for synchronizing data between a mobile communication device (116) and an external computer (104-1) across one of a plurality of communication paths (402, 422). A first application (404) resident on the mobile communication device (116) is operable to synchronize with the external computer (104-1) via a first communication path (402). A second application (406) resident on the mobile communication device is operable to synchronize with the external computer (104-1) via a second communication path (422). A related remote application (416) is resident on the external computer (104-1). A preferred application is selected by the user from the first and second applications (404, 406). The mobile communication device (116) synchronizes data associated with the preferred application with data associated with the related remote application (116) via the communication path associated with the preferred application.

Claims

1. A mobile communication device comprising:

a first application operable to communicate and synchronize, via a first communication path, with a remote application operating on an external computer;

a second application operable to communicate and synchronize with the remote application via a second communication path; and

a third application operable to receive a user identification of a preferred application selected from one of the first and second applications and to restrict user access to the other one of the first and second applications, thereby using the communications path associated with the preferred application to synchronize the mobile communication device with the external computer.

2. The mobile communication device as recited in claim 1 wherein the first application, the second application and the remote application are of the same type.

3. The mobile communication device as recited in claim 1 wherein the first application, second application and remote application are at least one of a calendar application, a messaging application and a contacts management application.

4. The mobile communication device as recited in claim 1 wherein the first communication path comprises a wireless link.

5. The mobile communication device as recited in claim 4 wherein the wireless link is selected from a cellular link, a WiFi link, a Bluetooth link, a Zigbee/IEEE 802.15.4 link and an infrared link.

6. The mobile communication device as recited in claim 1 wherein the second communication path comprises a wired connection between the mobile communication device and the remote computer.

7. The mobile communication device as recited in claim 6 wherein the wired connection comprises one of a USB connection, an IEEE-1394 connection, a PSTN connection, an RS-232 connection and an Ethernet connection.

8. A method of synchronizing data between a mobile communication device and an external computer, the method comprising the steps of:

receiving from a user an identification of a preferred application selected from a first application operable to communicate and synchronize via a first communication path with a related remote application executing on the external computer and a second application operable to communicate and synchronize via a second communication path with the related remote application executing on the external computer;

storing data associated with the preferred application on the mobile communication device;

storing data associated with the related remote application on the external computer;

establishing a connection from the mobile communication device to the external computer via the communication path associated with the preferred application; and

synchronizing data associated with the preferred application with data associated with the related remote application via the communication path associated with the preferred application.

9. The method as recited in claim 8 wherein the first application, the second application and the remote application are of the same type.

10. The method as recited in claim 8 wherein the first application, second application and remote application are at least one of a calendar application, a messaging application and a contacts management application.

12. The method as recited in claim 8 wherein the wireless link is selected from a cellular link, a WiFi link, a Bluetooth link, a Zigbee/IEEE 802.15.4 link and an infrared link.

13. The method as recited in claim 8 wherein the second communication path comprises a wired connection between the mobile communication device and the remote computer.

14. The method as recited in claim 13 wherein the wired connection comprises one of a USB connection, an IEEE-1394 connection, a PSTN connection, an RS-232 connection and an Ethernet connection.

11. The method as recited in claim 11 wherein the first communication path comprises a wireless link.

15. A mobile communication system comprising:

a mobile computing device having a first application and a second application stored thereon;

an external computer having a related remote application executing thereon;

means for storing data associated with the first application and second application on the mobile communication device;

means for storing data associated with the related remote application on the external computer;

first means for communicating and synchronizing, via a first communication path, the first application to the related remote application;

second means for communicating and synchronizing, via a second communication path, the second application to the related remote application; and

means operable to receive a user identification of a preferred application selected from the first application and second application and to restrict user access to the other of the first and second applications, thereby using the communication path associated with the preferred application to synchronize the mobile communication device with the external computer.

16. The mobile communication system as recited in claim 15 wherein the first application, the second application and the remote application are of the same type.

17. The mobile communication system as recited in claim 15 wherein the first application, second application and remote application are at least one of a calendar application, a messaging application and a contacts management application.

18. The mobile communication system as recited in claim 15 wherein the first communication path comprises a wireless link.

19. The mobile communication system as recited in claim 15 wherein the wireless link is selected from a cellular link, a WiFi link, a Bluetooth link, a Zigbee/IEEE 802.15.4 link and an infrared link.

20. The mobile communication system as recited in claim 15 wherein the second communication path comprises a wired connection between the mobile communication device and the remote computer.