Method And System For Facilitating Wireless Communication Via Alternate Communication Pathway

• US 20200137660A1
• Filed: 10/30/2019
• Published: 04/30/2020
• Est. Priority Date: 12/29/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Google Technology Holdings LLC (Alphabet Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Google Technology Holdings LLC (Alphabet Inc.)
• Inventors: Vogedes, Jerome, Panda, Ajit
• Granted Patent: US 11,064,419 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 24/02 Arrangements for optimising operational condition
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/50 Service provisioning or reconfiguring
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 40/248 Connectivity information update
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 76/10 Connection setup
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/06 adapted for operation in multiple networks or having at least two operational modes, e.g. multi-mode terminals

Abstract

A mobile device system and related method are disclosed by which the device is able to communicate wirelessly not only via a Wide Area Network (WAN) link but also via an alternate link such as a Wi-Fi link. In one embodiment, the method includes receiving a command from a remote server, via the WAN link, to establish a Wi-Fi link when possible. The method further includes, upon establishing the Wi-Fi link, sending a message for receipt by the server indicating that the Wi-Fi link has been established, and receiving software update information from the server, the information being communicated to the mobile device via the Wi-Fi link. Further, the method includes one or both of (1) sending an acknowledgement for receipt by the server indicating that the information has been received and (2) receiving an instruction from the server that communications via the Wi-Fi link be ended.

Claims

1. A server capable of communicating information over a Wide Area Network (WAN) and a Wi-Fi network, the server comprising:

a communication interface capable of communicating via a WAN communication link and capable of communicating via a Wi-Fi network communication link; and

one or more processors communicatively coupled to the communication interface, the one or more processors being configured using instructions stored in a memory to;

transmit to a mobile device, via the WAN communication link, a notification that software update information is available;

receive a message from the mobile device, the message including an indication that the Wi-Fi network communication link has been established;

transmit the software update information to the mobile device via the WiFi communication link; and

receive acknowledgement from the mobile device that the software update information has been received.

2. The server of claim 1, wherein the notification causes the mobile device to begin the process of establishing the WiFi communication link.

3. The server of claim 1, wherein the notification serves as a trigger to the mobile device to establish the WiFi communication link.

4. The server of claim 1, wherein the one or more processors are configured using instructions in the notification to establish a push channel with the mobile device.

5. The server of claim 1, wherein the server serves as an intermediate connection point between the mobile device and a content provider web site.

6. The server of claim 1, wherein the one or more processors are configured using the instructions to use WiFi communication link for the software update information but not for other types of content in communicating with the mobile device.

7. The server of claim 1, wherein the notification comprises a command that includes one or more service set identifiers (SSIDs) and at least some of the information of the command is delivered within an Open Mobile Alliance data manage session or package.

8. The server of claim 1, wherein the one processors are further configured to:

transmit a request to another device for the software update information; and

receive the software update information from the another device.

9. A method for controlling communications of a server capable of communicating information over a Wide Area Network (WAN) and a Wi-Fi network, the method comprising:

transmitting to a mobile device, without first receiving a request from the mobile device, via the WAN communication link, a notification that software update information is available;

receiving a message from the mobile device, the message including an indication that the Wi-Fi network communication link has been established;

transmitting the software update information to the mobile device via the WiFi communication link; and

receiving acknowledgement from the mobile device that the software update information has been received.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein the notification causes the mobile device to begin the process of establishing the WiFi communication link.

11. The method of claim 9, wherein the notification serves as a trigger to the mobile device to establish the WiFi communication link.

12. The method of claim 9, further comprising establishing a push channel with the mobile device.

13. The method of claim 9, further comprising transmitting the software update information using the WiFi communication link but not using the WiFi communication link for other types of content in communicating with the mobile device.

14. The method of claim 9, wherein the notification comprises a command that includes one or more service set identifiers (SSIDs) and at least some of the information of the command is delivered within an Open Mobile Alliance data manage session or package.

15. The method of claim 9, further comprising

transmitting a request to another device for the software update information;

and

receiving the software update information from the another device.