Mobile Client Device Driven Data Backup

• US 20090041230A1
• Filed: 08/08/2007
• Published: 02/12/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 08/08/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Palm, Inc. (TCL Technology Group Corp.)
• Inventors: Williams, David L.
• Granted Patent: US 9,128,882 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 380/28
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 11/1448 Management of the data involved in backup or backup restore
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 11/1464 for networked environments
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 11/1469 Backup restoration techniques
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/22 Processing or transfer of terminal data, e.g. status or physical capabilities

Abstract

Tasks associated with backing up the data of a mobile client device are performed predominantly by the mobile client device. A backup server functions as a server with limited functionality that merely stores backup data received from the mobile client device and retrieves the backup data under the request of the mobile client device. The mobile client device functions as a master device, and the backup server functions as a slave device. A backup program for performing tasks associated with the backup operation on the mobile client device may itself be stored as part of the backup data.

Claims

1. A mobile client device, comprising:

a memory module for storing data associated with operation of the mobile client device;

a communication module configured to communicate with a backup server, the backup server storing or retrieving backup data of the mobile client device; and

a backup module coupled to the communication module and the memory, the backup module configured to perform tasks associated with backup of the data stored in the memory, wherein the backup server does not perform tasks associated with the backup of the data other than storing the backup data received from the mobile client device and sending the backup data to the backup module.

2. The computing device of claim 1, wherein the backup module encrypts the backup data for storing in the backup server, and decrypts the backup data for restoring the backup data in the mobile client device.

3. The computing device of claim 1, wherein the backup server is a device paired with the mobile client device.

4. The computing device of claim 1, wherein the backup server is a device paired with the backup server.

5. The computing device of claim 1, wherein the backup module comprises a backup program, the backup program comprising instructions for performing tasks associated with the backup of the data.

6. The computing device of claim 5, wherein the backup program is stored in the backup server as part of the backup data.

7. The computing device of claim 1, wherein the backup module selectively retrieves and restores the backup data from the backup server.

8. The computing device of claim 7, wherein the selected backup data comprises data compatible with the mobile client device.

9. The computing device of claim 1, wherein the computing device is a device selected from a group consisting of a mobile phone, a personal digital assistant (PDA), and a portable game console.

10. A method of managing backup data of a mobile client device, comprising:

the mobile client device, performing tasks associated with backup of the data comprising at least generating the backup data from data of the mobile client device;

the mobile client device, sending the backup data to a backup server for storage and retrieval; and

the mobile client device, receiving the backup data from the backup server;

wherein the backup server does not perform tasks associated with the backup of the data other than storing the backup data received from the mobile client device and sending the backup data to the mobile client device.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein the tasks associated with the backup of the data further comprises encrypting the backup data by the mobile client device.

12. The method of claim 10, wherein the backup data comprises a backup program, the backup program comprising instructions for performing tasks associated with the backup of the data.

13. The method of claim 10, wherein the tasks associated with the backup of the data further comprises selectively retrieving and restoring the backup data from the backup server.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein the backup data selected for retrieval and restoring comprises data compatible with the mobile client device.

15. The method of claim 10, further comprising receiving and restoring the backup data by another mobile client device.

16. A computer program product comprising a computer readable medium structured to store instructions executable by a processor in a mobile client device, the instructions, when executed cause the processor to:

perform, by the mobile client device, tasks associated with backup of the data comprising at least generating the backup data from data of the mobile client device;

send the backup data from the mobile client device to a backup server for storage; and

receive, by the mobile client device, the backup data from the backup server;

wherein the backup server does not perform tasks associated with the backup of the data other than storing the backup data received from the mobile client device and sending the backup data to the mobile client device.

17. The computer program product of claim 16, wherein the tasks associated with the backup of the data further comprises encrypting the backup data.

18. The computer program product of claim 16, wherein the backup data comprises a backup program, the backup program comprising instructions for performing tasks associated with the backup of the data.

19. The computer program product of claim 16, wherein the tasks associated with the backup of the data further comprise selectively retrieving and restoring the backup data from the backup server.

20. The computer program product of claim 19, wherein the backup data selected for retrieval and restoring comprises data compatible with the mobile client device.