Distributing Mobile-Device Applications

• US 20080160983A1
• Filed: 12/29/2006
• Published: 07/03/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 12/29/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: United States Cellular Corporation (Telephone & Data Systems, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: United States Cellular Corporation (Telephone & Data Systems, Inc.)
• Inventors: Saxena, Narothum, Irizarry, Michael, Poplett, John Harlan
• Granted Patent: US 8,509,754 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/419
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 8/61 Installation
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/04 specially adapted for terminals or networks with limited capabilities; specially adapted for terminal portability
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/08 specially adapted for terminal emulation, e.g. Telnet
• 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: H04L 67/56 Provisioning of proxy services store-and-forward switching systems in data switching networks H04L12/54
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/567 Integrating service provisioning from a plurality of service providers
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72406 by software upgrading or downloading
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2203/2072 Schedules, e.g. personal calendars
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/42178 by downloading data to substation equipment
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/06 Authentication
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/35 Protecting application or service provisioning, e.g. securing SIM application provisioning
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/50 Service provisioning or reconfiguring
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/24 Transfer of terminal data

Abstract

The present invention provides an “update forwarder” function to facilitate downloading applications to mobile devices. The update forwarder receives updates on its “network side” from one or more device management servers, stores the updates, and then delivers them from its “device side” to one or more mobile devices. By using wired or short-haul wireless links on both its network and device sides, the update forwarder can reduce demand for the precious bandwidth of a widespread wireless network. The update forwarder can receive downloads during off-peak times for the device management servers and at times when the mobile device is turned off or otherwise unavailable. Downloads can be scheduled to be delivered only when the mobile device is not otherwise in use. The update forwarder can be implemented with little cost as one function running on a device, such as a home PC or local server, that already serves other functions.

Claims

1. A method for an update forwarder to forward an update to a mobile device, the method comprising:

receiving the update from a device management server; and

transmitting the update to the mobile device, the transmitting comprising emulating the device management server to the mobile device.

2. The method for forwarding an update to a mobile device of claim 1 wherein receiving the update comprises receiving the update over a wired connection.

3. The method for forwarding an update to a mobile device of claim 1 wherein receiving the update comprises emulating the mobile device to the device management server, the emulating comprising authenticating the update forwarder to the device management server as if the update forwarder were the mobile device.

4. The method for forwarding an update to a mobile device of claim 1 wherein transmitting the update comprises transmitting the update over a connection selected from the group consisting of:

a Bluetooth connection, a USB connection, and a Wi-Fi connection.

5. The method for forwarding an update to a mobile device of claim 1 wherein transmitting the update comprises running a protocol selected from the group consisting of:

an Open Mobile Alliance Device Management Protocol, a Hypertext Transfer Protocol, and an Open Mobile Alliance Download Protocol.

6. The method for forwarding an update to a mobile device of claim 1 further comprising:

performing a control function with the mobile device, the control function selected from the group consisting of;

discovering current information about the mobile device and authenticating the mobile device.

7. The method for forwarding an update to a mobile device of claim 1 further comprising:

receiving an update status from the mobile device; and

transmitting the update status of the mobile device to the device management server.

8. The method for forwarding an update to a mobile device of claim 1 further comprising:

registering the update forwarder with the device management server; and

authenticating the update forwarder and the device management server to each other.

9. The method for forwarding an update to a mobile device of claim 8 further comprising:

synchronizing with the device management server; and

receiving a bulk update from the device management server.

10. The method for forwarding an update to a mobile device of claim 1 further comprising:

storing on the update forwarder information about the mobile device, the information selected from the group consisting of;

an identifier of the mobile device, a make of the mobile device, a model of the mobile device, a firmware revision level of the mobile device, a software revision level of the mobile device, a list of applications installed on the mobile device, an amount of memory available on the mobile device, a processor type of the mobile device, and authentication credentials for the mobile device.

11. A computer-readable medium containing computer-executable instructions for performing a method for an update forwarder to forward an update to a mobile device, the method comprising:

receiving the update from a device management server; and

transmitting the update to the mobile device, the transmitting comprising emulating the device management server to the mobile device.

12. A system for forwarding an update to a mobile device, the system comprising:

a device management server configured for transmitting an update to an update forwarder; and

the update forwarder configured for receiving the update from the device management server and for transmitting the update to the mobile device, the transmitting comprising emulating the device management server to the mobile device.

13. The system for forwarding an update to a mobile device of claim 12 wherein the device management server is further configured for forwarding the update over a wired connection.

14. The system for forwarding an update to a mobile device of claim 12 wherein the device management server is further configured for:

registering the update forwarder with the device management server; and

authenticating the update forwarder and the device management server to each other.

15. The system for forwarding an update to a mobile device of claim 14 wherein the device management server is further configured for:

synchronizing with the update forwarder; and

transmitting a bulk update to the update forwarder.

16. The system for forwarding an update to a mobile device of claim 14 wherein the device management server is further configured for directing the mobile device to a registered update forwarder.

17. The system for forwarding an update to a mobile device of claim 12 wherein the device management server is further configured for scheduling the transmission of the update to the update forwarder during an off-peak time.

18. The system for forwarding an update to a mobile device of claim 12 wherein the update forwarder is further configured for emulating the mobile device to the device management server, the emulating comprising authenticating the update forwarder to the device management server as if the update forwarder were the mobile device.

19. The system for forwarding an update to a mobile device of claim 12 wherein the update forwarder is further configured for transmitting the update over a connection selected from the group consisting of:

a Bluetooth connection, a USB connection, and a Wi-Fi connection.

20. The system for forwarding an update to a mobile device of claim 12 wherein the update forwarder is further configured for running a protocol selected from the group consisting of:

an Open Mobile Alliance Device Management Protocol, a Hypertext Transfer Protocol, and an Open Mobile Alliance Download Protocol.

21. The system for forwarding an update to a mobile device of claim 12 wherein the update forwarder is further configured for performing a control function with the mobile device, the control function selected from the group consisting of:

discovering current information about the mobile device and authenticating the mobile device.

22. The system for forwarding an update to a mobile device of claim 12 wherein the update forwarder is further configured for:

receiving an update status from the mobile device; and

transmitting the update status of the mobile device to the device management server.

23. The system for forwarding an update to a mobile device of claim 12 wherein the update forwarder is further configured for storing information about the mobile device, the information selected from the group consisting of:

an identifier of the mobile device, a make of the mobile device, a model of the mobile device, a firmware revision level of the mobile device, a software revision level of the mobile device, a list of applications installed on the mobile device, an amount of memory available on the mobile device, a processor type of the mobile device, and authentication credentials for the mobile device.

24. The system for forwarding an update to a mobile device of claim 12 wherein the mobile device is configured for indicating to the device management server a preferred update forwarder.

25. The system for forwarding an update to a mobile device of claim 12 wherein the mobile device is configured for initiating discovery of an update forwarder when connectivity is established with an update forwarder.