Method and System for Distributing Data within a Group of Mobile Units

• US 20090088133A1
• Filed: 09/28/2007
• Published: 04/02/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 09/28/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Symbol Technologies, LLC (Zebra Technologies Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Symbol Technologies, Inc. (Zebra Technologies Corporation)
• Inventors: Orlassino, Mark
• Granted Patent: US 8,150,372 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/411
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/08 for authentication of entities cryptographic mechanisms or cryptographic arrangements for entity authentication H04L9/32
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/06 Selective distribution of broadcast services, e.g. multimedia broadcast multicast service [MBMS]; Services to user groups; One-way selective calling services
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/12 WLAN [Wireless Local Area Networks]
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/18 Self-organising networks, e.g. ad-hoc networks or sensor networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 92/18 between terminal devices

Abstract

Described is a method for writing data onto a storage device from a wireless access point (“AP”), providing the data to a master mobile unit (“MMU”), authenticating an identity of the MMU at the AP and transmitting the data from the MMU to at least one other mobile unit (“MU”). Also described is a device having a connector coupling a storage device to the device, the storage device including data received from a network device and a transceiver communicating with the network device to authenticate the device, wherein when the device is authenticated, the transceiver further transmits the data to at least a first mobile unit (“MU”).

Claims

1. A method, comprising:

writing data onto a storage device from a wireless access point (“

AP”

);

providing the data to a master mobile unit (“

MMU”

);

authenticating an identity of the MMU at the AP; and

transmitting the data from the MMU to at least one other mobile unit (“

MU”

).

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein transmitting the data includes one of data-synchronization and data-replication between the MMU and the at least one other MU.

3. The method according to claim 1, wherein the communication between the MMU and the at least one other MU is one of a wireless communication and a wired communication.

4. The method according to claim 1, wherein the data from the AP is one of data for a software upgrade, data for modifying a system configuration, encrypted security data, business operation data, and data for updating device drivers.

5. The method according to claim 4, wherein the encrypted security data is one of a key information and a certificate information.

6. The method according to claim 1, wherein the storage device is one of a non-removable memory within the MMU, a primary memory attached to the MMU via a bus, a universal serial bus (“

USB”

) mass storage device (e.g., a memory stick), a secure digital (“

SD”

) card, a mini SD card, a flash memory card, a smart media card, a Personal Computer Memory Card Industry Association card (“

PCMCIA card”

), and a subscriber identity module (“

SIM”

) card.

7. The method according to claim 1, wherein the MMU has a plurality of slots for receiving the at least one other MU.

8. The method according to claim 1, wherein the MMU and the at least one other MU transmits a periodic beacon signal to the AP.

9. The method according to claim 8, wherein the AP disassociates one of the MMU and the at least one other MU if the one of the MMU and the at least one other MU fails to transmit a beacon signal within a predetermined period of time, thereby denying access to a wireless local area network (“

WLAN”

) to the one of MMU and the at least one other MU.

10. The method according to claim 9, wherein the AP transmits a security alert if the one of the disassociated MMU and the at least one other disassociated MU attempt to initiate communication with the AP.

11. The method according to claim 1, further comprising:

authenticating a further identity of the at least one other MU at the AP; and

providing the MMU and the at least one other MU with access to a wireless local area network (“

WLAN”

) from the AP.

12. A device, comprising:

a connector coupling a storage device to the device, the storage device including data received from a network device; and

a transceiver communicating with the network device to authenticate the device, wherein when the device is authenticated, the transceiver further transmits the data to at least a first mobile unit (“

MU”

).

13. The device according to claim 12, wherein the data transmitted from the transceiver includes one of data-synchronization and data-replication between the MMU and the at least one other MU.

14. The device according to claim 12, wherein the network device is one of an access point (“

AP”

) and a further MU.

15. The device according to claim 12, wherein the communication between the device and the first MU is one of a wireless communication and a wired communication.

16. The device according to claim 12, wherein the data received from the network device is one of data for a software upgrade, data for modifying a system configuration, encrypted security data, business operation data, and data for updating device drivers.

17. The device according to claim 16, wherein the encrypted security data is one of a key information and a certificate information.

18. The device according to claim 12, wherein the storage device is one of a non-removable memory within the MMU, a primary memory attached to the MMU via a bus, a universal serial bus (“

USB”

) mass storage device (e.g., a memory stick), a secure digital (“

SD”

) card, a mini SD card, a flash memory card, a smart media card, a Personal Computer Memory Card Industry Association card (“

PCMCIA card”

), and a subscriber identity module (“

SIM”

) card.

19. The device according to claim 12, wherein the device has a plurality of slots for receiving at least the first MU.

20. A device, comprising:

a coupling means coupling a storage device to the device, the storage device including data received from a network device; and

a communicating means communicating with the network device to authenticate the device, wherein when the device is authenticated, the transceiver further transmits the data to at least a first mobile unit (“

MU”

).

21. A storage device, comprising:

a connector coupling the storage device to a wireless access point (“

AP”

) that provides access to a wireless local area network (“

WLAN”

) in an operating environment, and for physically coupling the storage device to a master mobile unit (“

MMU”

) within the operating environment; and

a memory storing data received from the AP while the storage device is coupled to the AP, wherein the MMU retrieves the data from the memory while the storage device is coupled to the MMU, wherein the data is used to authenticate the MMU and at least one other mobile unit with the AP within the WLAN.

22. A method, comprising:

writing data onto a storage device from a first MU, the first MU having a wireless access to a communications network;

providing the data from the first MU to a second MU via the storage device;

authenticating the identity of the second MU at the first MU; and

transmitting the data from one of the first MU and the second MU to at least one further MU over the wireless network.