Wireless remote synchronization of data between PC and PDA

• US 6,034,621 A
• Filed: 11/18/1997
• Issued: 03/07/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 11/18/1997
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Nokia of America Corporation (Nokia Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Lucent Technologies, Inc. (Nokia Corporation)
• Inventors: Kaufman, Steven B.
• Primary Examiner(s): Louis-Jacques, Jacques H.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Beaulieu, Yonel
• Application Number:
  US08/972,453
• Time in Patent Office: 840 Days
• Field of Search: 340/825.44, 340/825.06, 340/825.14, 340/311.1, 370/310, 370/340, 455/403
• US Class Current: 340/7.21
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 99/00 Subject matter not provided for in other groups of this subclass

Abstract

Wireless communication paths between a PC and a Personal Digital Assistant (PDA) are utilized to synchronize data files between the PC and the PDA. Example wireless communication paths include ) a one-way paging network, a two-way paging network, a Cellular Digital Packet Data (CDPD) network, and a cordless telephone network. Automated updating of remote files is accomplished by invisibly updating using a paging or CDPD network, e.g., either after each change to the data file, after a series of changes to the data file, after exiting the scheduling application program, at predetermined intervals and/or even on-demand. A simple and efficient wireless way to synchronize data files on separate computers which do not require a fixed, direct connection to each other, such as a direct connection through the PSTN, infrared link, or wired or wireless LAN type connection. The synchronization of data files can be updated on a frequent, inconspicuous and convenient basis.

Claims

1. A portable computing device comprising:

a personal digital assistant including;

a scheduling program,

a first data file maintained by said scheduling program, and

a synchronization routine; and

a pager in two-way communication with said personal digital assistant;

said synchronization routine being arranged to transmit a synchronization information data packet including information regarding at least one change made to said first data file, via said pager to a remotely located separate computing device having an associated second data file; and

said synchronization information data packet being utilizable by said remotely located separate computing device in order to synchronize data of said second data file to data of said first data file.

2. The portable computing device according to claim 1, wherein:

said synchronization of said data of said second data file to said data of said first data file is accomplished automatically.

3. The portable computing device according to claim 1, wherein:

said synchronization accomplishes synchronization of data of a plurality of data files associated with a plurality of remotely located separate computing devices to said data of said first data file.

4. A portable computing device comprising:

a personal digital assistant including;

a scheduling programs

a data file maintained by said scheduling program, and

a synchronization routine; and

a Cellular Digital Packet Data transceiver in two-way communication with said personal digital assistant;

said synchronization routine being arranged to transmit a synchronization information data packet including information regarding at least one change made to said first data file, via said Cellular Digital Packet Data transceiver to a remotely located separate computing device having an associated second data file; and

said synchronization Information data packet being utilizable by said remotely located separate computing device in order to synchronize data of said second data file to data of said first data file.

5. The portable computing device according to claim 4, wherein:

said synchronization of said data of said second data file to said data of said first data file is accomplished automatically.

6. The portable computing device according to claim 4, wherein:

said synchronization accomplishes synchronization of data of a plurality of data files associated with a plurality of remotely located separate computing devices to said data of said first data file.

7. A method of utilizing a wireless telephonic network to synchronize a data file of a PDA in two-way communication with said wireless telephonic network with a data file of a PC, comprising:

monitoring a change to said data file of said PC;

after detection of said change to said data file of said PC, triggering a synchronization routine associated with said PC to assemble a synchronization information data packet including information regarding said detected change; and

transmitting said synchronization information data packet to said PDA over said wireless telephonic network, said synchronization information data packet being receivable by said PDA over said wireless telephonic network to synchronize said data file of said PDA with said data file of said PC.

8. The method according to claim 7, wherein said wireless telephonic network comprises:

a paging network.

9. The method according to claim 7, wherein said wireless telephonic network comprises:

a cordless telephone network.

10. The method according to claim 7, wherein:

said step of monitoring said change, said step of triggering said synchronization routine, and said step of transmitting said synchronization information data packet are all performed automatically without user intervention.

11. The method according to claim 10, wherein:

said automatically performed steps are performed after each change is stored in said data file of said PC.

12. The method according to claim 10, wherein:

said automatically performed steps are performed after a plurality of changes are stored in said data file of said PC.

13. The method according to claim 10, wherein:

said automatically performed steps are performed at a predetermined time interval.

14. The method according to claim 10, wherein:

said automatically performed steps are performed on-demand.

15. The method according to claim 7, further comprising:

accessing said wireless telephonic network via a Public Switched Telephone Network.

16. The method according to claim 7, further comprising:

accessing said wireless telephonic network via the Internet.

17. A method of utilizing a wireless telephonic network to synchronize a data file of a PC with a data file of a PDA in two-way communication with said wireless telephonic network, comprising:

monitoring a change to said data file of said PDA;

after detection of said change to said data file of said PDA, triggering a synchronization routine associated with said PDA to assemble a synchronization information data packet including information regarding said detected change; and

transmitting said synchronization information data packet to said PC over said wireless telephonic network, said synchronization information data packet being adapted receivable by said PC over said wireless telephonic network to synchronize said data file of said PC with said data file of said PDA.

18. The method according to claim 17, wherein said wireless telephonic network comprises:

a paging network.

19. The method according to claim 17, wherein said wireless telephonic network comprises:

a cordless telephone network.

20. The method according to claim 17, wherein:

said step of monitoring said change, said step of triggering said synchronization routine, and said step of transmitting said synchronization information data packet are all performed automatically without user intervention.

21. A method of utilizing a wireless telephonic network to synchronize a data file of a PDA in two-way communication with said wireless telephonic network with a data file of a PC, comprising:

triggering a synchronization routine associated with said PC to assemble a synchronization information data packet including information regarding a detected change; and

transmitting said synchronization information data packet to said PDA over said wireless telephonic network, said synchronization information data packet being receivable by said PDA over said wireless telephonic network to synchronize said data file of said PDA with said data file of said PC.

22. The method utilizing a wireless telephonic network according to claim 21, wherein said wireless telephonic network comprises:

a paging network.

23. The method utilizing a wireless telephonic network according to claim 22, wherein:

said paging network is a one-way paging network.

24. The method utilizing a wireless telephonic network according to claim 22, wherein:

said paging network is a two-way paging network.

25. The method utilizing a wireless telephonic network according to claim 22, further comprising:

accessing said paging network via a Public Switched Telephone Network.

26. The method utilizing a wireless telephonic network according to claim 22, further comprising:

accessing said paging network via an Internet.

27. The method utilizing a wireless telephonic network according to claim 21, wherein said wireless telephonic network comprises:

a cellular telephone network.

28. The method utilizing a wireless telephonic network according to claim 21, wherein:

said step of triggering said synchronization routine and said step of transmitting said data synchronization information data packet are performed automatically.

29. The method utilizing a wireless telephonic network according to claim 28, wherein:

said automatically performed steps are performed after each change is stored in said data file of said PC.

30. The method utilizing a wireless telephonic network according to claim 28, wherein:

said automatically performed steps are performed after a plurality of changes are stored in said data file of said PC.

31. The method utilizing a wireless telephonic network according to claim 28, wherein:

said automatically performed steps are performed at a predetermined time interval.

32. The method according utilizing a wireless telephonic network to claim 28, wherein:

said automatically performed steps are performed on-demand.

33. A method of utilizing a wireless telephonic network to synchronize a data file of a PC with a data file of a PDA in two-way communication with said wireless telephonic network, comprising:

triggering a synchronization routine associated with said PDA to assemble a synchronization information data packet including information regarding a detected change; and

transmitting said synchronization information data packet to said PC over said wireless telephonic network, said synchronization information data packet being receivable by said PC over said wireless telephonic network to synchronize said data file of said PC with said data file of said PDA.

34. The method utilizing a wireless telephonic network according to claim 33, wherein said wireless telephonic network comprises:

a paging network.

35. The method utilizing a wireless telephonic network according to claim 34, wherein:

said paging network is a one-way paging network.

36. The method utilizing a wireless telephonic network according to claim 34, wherein:

said paging network is a two-way paging network.

37. The method utilizing a wireless telephonic network according to claim 34, further comprising:

accessing said paging network via a Public Switched Telephone Network.

38. The method utilizing a wireless telephonic network according to claim 34, further comprising:

accessing said paging network via an Internet.

39. The method utilizing a wireless telephonic network according to claim 33, wherein said wireless telephonic network comprises:

a cordless telephone network.

40. The method utilizing a wireless telephonic network according to claim 33, wherein:

said step of triggering said synchronization routine and said step of transmitting said data synchronization information data packet are performed automatically.

41. The method utilizing a wireless telephonic network according to claim 40, wherein:

said automatically performed steps are performed after each change is stored in said data file of said PC.

42. The method utilizing a wireless telephonic network according to claim 40, wherein:

said automatically performed steps are performed after a plurality of changes are stored in said data file of said PC.

43. The method utilizing a wireless telephonic network according to claim 40, wherein:

said automatically performed steps are performed at a predetermined time interval.

44. The method according utilizing a wireless telephonic network to claim 40, wherein:

said automatically performed steps are performed on-demand.