Automatic mobile device backup

• US 20090170502A1
• Filed: 12/31/2007
• Published: 07/02/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 12/31/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: The Invention Science Fund I, L.L.C. (Intellectual Ventures LLC)
• Original Assignee: Searete LLC (Intellectual Ventures LLC)
• Inventors: Lord, Robert W., Levien, Royce A., Malamud, Mark A.
• Granted Patent: US 8,781,528 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/425
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 11/1446 Point-in-time backing up or restoration of persistent data
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72406 by software upgrading or downloading
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/18 Processing of user or subscriber data, e.g. subscribed services, user preferences or user profiles; Transfer of user or subscriber data

Abstract

Embodiments of systems and methods for automatic backup of a user'"'"'s data stored on a mobile device are disclosed. In one embodiment, a method includes storing a user information from a memory of a mobile communication device into a database; determining a status of the mobile communication device; and when the status indicates that the mobile communication device requires replacement, notifying a user of an availability of the user information from the storage facility for creation of a replacement device.

Claims

1. A method, comprising:

storing a user information from a memory of a mobile communication device into a database;

determining a status of the mobile communication device; and

when the status indicates that the mobile communication device requires replacement, transmitting a symbol associated with notifying a user of an availability of the user information from the storage facility for creation of a replacement device.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein storing a user information from a memory of a mobile communication device into a database includes automatically backing-up the user information into the database.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein automatically backing-up the user information into the database includes automatically backing-up the user information at least one of periodically, during a period of reduced usage of the mobile communication device, or when a communication link having a predetermined bandwidth is available.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein storing a user information from a memory of a mobile communication device into a database includes storing a user information into the database based on a user-initiated request.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein storing a user information from a memory of a mobile communication device into a database includes storing a user information into the database representative of user information updated by the user.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein determining a status of the mobile communication device includes analyzing at least one of a usage history, a location history, or a battery level.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein determining a status of the mobile communication device includes determining that the mobile communication device is no longer possessed by the user.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein determining a status of the mobile communication device includes receiving a user-initiated indication that the mobile communication device is no longer possessed by the user.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein determining a status of the mobile communication device includes prompting the user for an input into the mobile communication device, and determining that the communication device is no longer possessed by the user if the input is not provided.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein determining a status of the mobile communication device includes determining that a failure of the mobile communication device is relatively near.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein determining that a failure of the mobile communication device is relatively near includes determining a probable cause of the failure.

12. The method of claim 1, wherein determining a status of the mobile communication device includes determining a failure mode of the mobile communication device;

and wherein notifying a user of an availability of the user information includes notifying the user of the failure mode of the mobile communication device.

13. The method of claim 1, wherein transmitting a symbol associated with notifying a user of an availability of the user information includes at least one of mailing a notice to the user, emailing a notice to the user, calling an alternate number designated by the user, or transmitting a symbol associated with notifying a third party designated by the user.

14. The method of claim 1, wherein storing a user information from a memory of a mobile communication device into a database includes storing a first version at a first time and storing a second version at a second time, and wherein transmitting a symbol associated with notifying a user of an availability of the user information includes transmitting a symbol associated with notifying the user of the availability of the first and second versions.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein determining a status of the mobile communication device includes determining a failure mode of the mobile communication device, the method further comprising creating a replacement device using one of the first information or the second information based on the failure mode.

16. The method of claim 1, further comprising transmitting the user information to a retail outlet for creation of the replacement device.

17. The method of claim 1, further comprising transmitting a symbol associated with an entity creating the replacement device using the user information.

18. The method of claim 1, further comprising receiving a request from the user for the replacement device populated with the user information.

19. The method of claim 1, wherein the mobile communication device includes at least one of a cellular telephone or a personal data assistant.

20. A method, comprising:

determining a status of a mobile communication device;

based on the status, storing a user information from a memory of the mobile communication device into a storage facility; and

when the status indicates that the mobile communication device requires replacement, transmitting a symbol associated with notifying a user of an availability of the user information from the storage facility for creation of a replacement device.

21. The method of claim 20, wherein determining a status of the mobile communication device includes determining that the mobile communication device is no longer possessed by the user.

22. The method of claim 21, wherein determining that the mobile communication device is no longer possessed by the user includes analyzing at least one of a usage history or a location history.

23. The method of claim 20, wherein determining a status of the mobile communication device includes determining that a failure of the mobile communication device is relatively near.

24. The method of claim 20, wherein storing a user information from a memory of a mobile communication device into a database includes backing-up the user information into the database.

25. The method of claim 20, wherein determining a status of the mobile communication device includes determining a failure mode of the mobile communication device;

the method further comprising transmitting a symbol associated with notifying the user of the failure mode of the mobile communication device.

26. The method of claim 20, further comprising transmitting the user information to a retail outlet for creation of the replacement device.

27. The method of claim 20, further comprising transmitting a symbol associated with an entity creating the replacement device using the user information.

28. The method of claim 20, wherein the mobile communication device includes at least one of a cellular telephone or a personal data assistant.

29. The method of claim 20, wherein the mobile communication device comprises a cellular telephone device, the method further comprising providing a cellular telephone communication network.

30. The method of claim 20, wherein the mobile communication device comprises a wireless communication network device, the method further comprising providing a wireless communication network.

31. A method, comprising:

determining that a mobile communication device requires replacement; and

notifying a user of an availability of a user information from a database for creation of a replacement device.

32. The method of claim 31, wherein determining that a mobile communication device requires replacement includes determining that the mobile communication device is no longer possessed by the user.

33. The method of claim 31, wherein determining that a mobile communication device requires replacement includes determining that a failure of the mobile communication device is relatively near.

34. The method of claim 31, wherein notifying a user of an availability of a user information from a database for creation of a replacement device includes notifying the user of the availability of the user information for a specified fee.

35. The method of claim 31, further comprising storing the user information from a memory of the mobile communication device into the database.

36. The method of claim 35, wherein storing the user information from a memory of the mobile communication device includes automatically backing-up the user information from the memory of the mobile communication device.

37. The method of claim 31, wherein notifying a user of an availability of a user information from a database for creation of a replacement device includes notifying the user of a retail outlet for obtaining the replacement device, the method further comprising transmitting the user information to the retail outlet for creation of the replacement device.

38. The method of claim 31, wherein the mobile communication device comprises a cellular telephone device, the method further comprising providing a cellular telephone communication network.

39. The method of claim 31, wherein the mobile communication device comprises a wireless communication network device, the method further comprising providing a wireless communication network.

40. A system, comprising:

a storage facility having;

a database;

a communication component configured to communicate with a mobile communication device, to receive a user information from a memory of the mobile communication device, and to store the user information into the database;

a determination component is configured to receive signals from the communication component and determine whether the mobile communication device requires replacement; and

a notification component configured to communicate with the communication component and the determination component, and to notify a user of an availability of the user information within the database for creation of a replacement device when the mobile communication device requires replacement; and

a network configured to enable communications between the storage facility and the mobile communication device.

41. The system of claim 40, wherein the communication component is further configured to automatically back-up the user information from the memory of the mobile communication device into the database.

42. The system of claim 41, wherein the communication component is further configured to automatically back-up the user information at least one of periodically, during a period of reduced usage of the mobile communication device, or when a predetermined bandwidth is available on the network.

43. The system of claim 41, wherein the communication component is further configured to automatically back-up the user information when the user information is updated by the user.

44. The system of claim 40, wherein the determination component is further configured to determine whether the mobile communication device is no longer possessed by the user.

45. The system of claim 44, wherein the determination component is further configured to prompt the user for an input into the mobile communication device, and to determine that the communication device is no longer possessed by the user when the input is not provided.

46. The system of claim 40, wherein the determination component is further configured to determine that a failure of the mobile communication device is relatively near.

47. The system of claim 46, wherein the determination component is further configured to determine a probable cause of the failure.

48. The system of claim 40, wherein the notification component is further configured to notify the user of an availability of a first version of the user information stored at a first time, and a second version of the user information stored at a second time.

49. The system of claim 40, wherein the communication component is further configured to transmit the user information to a retail outlet for creation of the replacement device.

50. The method of claim 40, wherein the communication component is further configured to receive a request from the user for the replacement device populated with the user information.