Method and Apparatus for Providing Files To Electronic Devices

• US 20110263201A1
• Filed: 03/16/2011
• Published: 10/27/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 04/23/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Malikie Innovations Limited (Key Patent Innovations Limited)
• Original Assignee: Blackberry Limited
• Inventors: ABRATOWSKI, Przemyslaw, BUKURAK, David, KRAMER, Kem-Laurin
• Granted Patent: US 9,155,116 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/41.2
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/06 specially adapted for file transfer, e.g. file transfer protocol [FTP]
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72448 with means for adapting the functionality of the device according to specific conditions
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/069 using certificates or pre-shared keys
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/00 Services specially adapted for wireless communication networks; Facilities therefor
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/21 for social networking applications
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/80 Services using short range communication, e.g. near-field communication [NFC], radio-frequency identification [RFID] or low energy communication
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/005 Discovery of network devices, e.g. terminals

Abstract

Method and apparatus for transferring a file from a sending wireless device to a receiving wireless device in a short-range wireless system. A file to be sent to the receiving wireless device is selected on the sending wireless device. The sending wireless device has a device list of receiving wireless devices. If the receiving wireless device is absent on the device list, the sending wireless device searches and identifies new devices. A device among the identified new devices is selected as the receiving wireless device. A connection is established between the sending wireless device and the receiving wireless device; and the file is sent to the receiving wireless device.

Claims

1. A method of transferring a file from a sending wireless device to a receiving wireless device in a short-range wireless system, the method comprising:

receiving, on the sending wireless device, a selection of a file to be sent to the receiving wireless device, the sending wireless device having a device list of receiving wireless devices;

determining that the receiving wireless device is absent from the device list;

searching for and identifying at least one new device;

receiving a selection of a device among the identified at least one new device as the receiving wireless device;

establishing a connection between the sending wireless device and the receiving wireless device; and

sending the file to the receiving wireless device.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein the short-range wireless system is a Bluetooth™

system; and

the establishing a connection comprises pairing the sending wireless device with the receiving wireless device.

3. The method according to claim 2, wherein the device list is a paired device list.

4. The method according to claim 1, wherein the short-range wireless system uses one of Infrared Data Association (IrDA), Ultra-Wideband (UWB), Z-Wave and ZigBee.

5. The method according to claim 1, wherein the short-range wireless system is a wireless personal area network (PAN).

6. The method according to claim 1 wherein the receiving mobile device is one of a mobile phone, an audio player, an adapter for portable devices, an adapter for home entertainment device, a personal computer, a personal digital assistants (PDA), a digital camera, a Global Positioning System (GPS) and a video game console.

7. A wireless device used in a short-range wireless system, the wireless device comprising:

a transceiver configured for communicating with a receiving wireless device;

a memory including a device list of receiving wireless devices; and

a processor electrically coupled with the transceiver and the memory, the processor configured for;

receiving a selection of a file to be sent to a receiving wireless device;

determining that the receiving wireless device is absent from the device list;

searching for and identifying at least one new device;

receiving a selection of a device among the identified at least one new device as the receiving wireless device;

establishing a connection with the receiving wireless device; and

sending the file to the receiving wireless device.

8. The wireless device according to claim 7, wherein the short-range wireless system is a Bluetooth™

system; and

the establishing a connection comprises pairing the wireless device with the receiving wireless device.

9. The wireless device according to claim 8, wherein the device list is a paired device list.

10. The wireless device according to claim 7, wherein the short-range wireless system uses Infrared Data Association (IrDA), Ultra-Wideband (UWB), Z-Wave or ZigBee.

11. The wireless device according to claim 7, wherein the short-range wireless system is a wireless personal area network (PAN).

12. The wireless device according to claim 7, wherein the receiving wireless device is one of a mobile phone, an audio player, an adapter for portable devices, an adapter for home entertainment device, a personal computer, a personal digital assistants (PDA), a digital camera, a Global Positioning System (GPS) and a video game console.

13. A computer readable storage medium storing instructions executable by a processor of a wireless device which, when executed cause the wireless device to:

receive a selection of a file to be sent to a receiving wireless device, the wireless device having a device list of receiving wireless devices;

determine that the receiving wireless device is absent from the device list;

search for and identify at least one new device;

receive a selection of a device among the identified at least one new device as the receiving wireless device;

establish a connection with the receiving wireless device; and

send the file to the receiving wireless device.

14. The computer readable storage medium according to claim 13, wherein the short-range wireless system is a Bluetooth™

system; and

the establishing a connection comprises pairing the sending wireless device with the receiving wireless device.

15. The computer readable storage medium according to claim 14, wherein the device list is a paired device list.

16. The computer readable storage medium according to claim 13, wherein the short-range wireless system uses one of Infrared Data Association (IrDA), Ultra-Wideband (UWB), Z-Wave and ZigBee.

17. The computer readable storage medium according to claim 13, wherein the short-range wireless system is a wireless personal area network (PAN).

18. The computer readable storage medium according to claim 13, wherein the receiving wireless device is one of a mobile phone, an audio player, an adapter for portable devices, an adapter for home entertainment device, a personal computer, a personal digital assistants (PDA), a digital camera, a Global Positioning System (GPS) and a video game console.