System and Method for Redirecting Data to a Wireless Device Over a Plurality of Communication Paths

• US 20080043676A1
• Filed: 10/27/2007
• Published: 02/21/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 05/29/1998
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Malikie Innovations Limited (Key Patent Innovations Limited)
• Original Assignee: Blackberry Limited
• Inventors: Lazaridis, Mihal, Mousseau, Gary, Edmonson, Peter
• Granted Patent: US 8,949,456 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 370/331
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/214 using selective forwarding
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/58 Message adaptation for wireless communication
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/16 Communication-related supplementary services, e.g. call-transfer or call-hold
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 60/00 Affiliation to network, e.g. registration; Terminating affiliation with the network, e.g. de-registration
• 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 scheme for redirecting data to a mobile communication device capable of communicating via at least one short-range wireless communication path and at least one long-range wireless communication path. An embodiment comprises one or more of the following: a structure for setting a redirection flag configured for a user associated with a mobile communication device to enable continuous redirection of data items thereto from a host system until the redirection flag is reset to indicate cessation of redirection of the data items. Thereafter, the embodiment is operable to determine whether the mobile communication device is within coverage of a cell of a plurality of cells, each cell being operable with an associated short-range wireless communication path, whereby a data item is redirected accordingly.

Claims

1. A method of redirecting data to a mobile communication device capable of communicating via at least one short-range wireless communication path and at least one long-range wireless communication path, comprising:

setting a redirection flag for a user associated with a mobile communication device to enable redirection of data items thereto from a host system;

thereafter, (a) upon receiving a data item at the host system, determining whether the mobile communication device is within coverage of a cell of a plurality of cells, each cell being operable with an associated short-range wireless communication path;

(b) if the mobile communication device is within coverage of a cell, then redirecting the received data item from the host system to the mobile communication device via the short-range wireless communication path associated therewith; and

(c) if the mobile communication device is not within coverage of any cells, then redirecting the received data item from the host system to the mobile communication device via a long-range wireless communication path effectuated over a wide area cellular network; and

performing operations (a), (b) or (c) until it is determined that the redirection flag is reset to indicate cessation of redirection of data items for the user.

2. The method as recited in claim 1, further comprising:

receiving contact information from the mobile communication device, wherein the contact information is operable to indicate that the mobile communication device is within coverage of a particular cell.

3. The method as recited in claim 1, further comprising:

receiving an indication at the host system that the mobile communication device is outside coverage of a particular cell.

4. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein the host system comprises one of:

a standalone desktop computer, a networked computer, a server computer coupled to an enterprise network, and a network node disposed on the Internet.

5. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein the plurality of cells are operable with a radio frequency compatible with at least one of a short-range RF interface and a Bluetooth interface.

6. The method as recited in claim 1, further comprising:

upon determining that the mobile communication device is within coverage of two or more cells, evaluating which cell is more optimally located with respect to redirecting the received data to the mobile communication device.

7. The method as recited in claim 1, further comprising:

determining if the mobile communication device has moved from coverage of a first cell to coverage of a second cell of the plurality of cells; and

if so, redirecting the received data item from the host system to the mobile communication device via a short-range wireless communication path associated with the second cell.

8. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein the long-range wireless communication path is effectuated over at least one of a Mobitex Radio Network, a DataTAC Radio Network, a General Packet Radio Service (GPRS) network, an Enhanced Data Rates for Global System for Mobile Communications (GSM) Evolution (EDGE) network, a 3^rd Generation network, an Integrated Digital Enhanced Network (IDEN), a Code Division Multiple Access (CDMA) network, a Universal Mobile Telecommunications System (UMTS) network, and a Wideband-Code Division Multiple Access (W-CDMA) network.

9. A system for redirecting data to a mobile communication device capable of communicating via at least one short-range wireless communication path and at least one long-range wireless communication path, comprising:

means for setting a redirection flag configured for a user associated with a mobile communication device to enable continuous redirection of data items thereto from a host system until the redirection flag is reset to indicate cessation of redirection of the data items;

means for determining whether the mobile communication device is within coverage of a cell of a plurality of cells, each cell being operable with an associated short-range wireless communication path;

means, operable upon determining that the mobile communication device is within coverage of a cell, for redirecting a data item received at a host system to the mobile communication device via the short-range wireless communication path associated therewith; and

means, operable upon determining that the mobile communication device is not within coverage of any cells, for redirecting the data item received at the host system to the mobile communication device via a long-range wireless communication path effectuated over a wide area cellular network.

10. The system as recited in claim 9, further comprising means for processing contact information received from the mobile communication device, wherein the contact information is operable to indicate that the mobile communication device is within coverage of a particular cell.

11. The system as recited in claim 9, wherein the host system comprises one of:

a standalone desktop computer, a networked computer, a server computer coupled to an enterprise network, and a network node disposed on the Internet.

12. The system as recited in claim 9, wherein the plurality of cells are operable with a radio frequency compatible with at least one of a short-range RF interface and a Bluetooth interface.

13. The system as recited in claim 9, further comprising means, operable upon determining that the mobile communication device is within coverage of two or more cells, for evaluating which cell is more optimally located with respect to redirecting the received data item to the mobile communication device.

14. The system as recited in claim 9, further comprising:

means for determining if the mobile communication device has moved from coverage of a first cell to coverage of a second cell of the plurality of cells; and

means for continuing with redirection of the data item received at the host system to the mobile communication device via a short-range wireless communication path associated with the second cell.

15. The system as recited in claim 9, wherein the long-range wireless communication path is effectuated over at least one of a Mobitex Radio Network, a DataTAC Radio Network, a General Packet Radio Service (GPRS) network, an Enhanced Data Rates for Global System for Mobile Communications (GSM) Evolution (EDGE) network, a 3^rd Generation network, an Integrated Digital Enhanced Network (IDEN), a Code Division Multiple Access (CDMA) network, a Universal Mobile Telecommunications System (UMTS) network, and a Wideband-Code Division Multiple Access (W-CDMA) network.