System and method for interaction between one or more desktop computers and one or more mobile devices

• US 6,272,545 B1
• Filed: 10/22/1998
• Issued: 08/07/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 10/24/1997
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
• Inventors: Hu, George, Ved, Haresh G., Flanagin, Steve, Wu, Charles
• Primary Examiner(s): Lim, Krisna
• Application Number:
  US09/177,168
• Time in Patent Office: 1,020 Days
• Field of Search: 709/227, 709/248, 709/201, 709/228
• US Class Current: 709/228
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 13/382 using universal interface adapter
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 13/385 for adaptation of a particular data processing system to different peripheral devices
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 15/0225 User interface arrangements, e.g. keyboard, display; Interfaces to other computer systems
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/00 Security arrangements for protecting computers, components thereof, programs or data against unauthorised activity
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 8/61 Installation
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/10 Office automation; Time management
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/109 Time management, e.g. calendars, reminders, meetings or time accounting
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 9/40 Network security protocols

Abstract

A system and method of interaction between a computer, such as a desktop computer, and a plurality of mobile devices include storing a first identifier on a first mobile device and the computer, and storing a second identifier on a second mobile device and the computer, wherein the second identifier is different than the first identifier. A set of settings are stored in the computer referenced to each stored identifier for each respective mobile device. Upon connection of one of the mobile devices to the computer, the identifier stored in the connected mobile device is compared with the identifier stored on the computer. Interaction between the connected mobile device and the computer is controlled as a function of the stored respective set of settings if corresponding identifiers are found.

Claims

1. A method of interaction between a computer and a plurality of mobile devices, the method comprising:

storing a first identifier on a first mobile device and the computer;

storing a second identifier on a second mobile device the second identifier being different than the first identifier;

storing a first set of settings in the computer referenced to the first identifier for the first mobile device;

obtaining a set of default settings stored on the computer;

comparing the respective identifier stored on the mobile device with the first identifier stored on the computer upon connection of one of the mobile devices to the computer;

controlling interaction between the connected mobile device and the computer as a function of the stored respective set of settings if corresponding identifiers are found; and

controlling interaction between the connected mobile device and the computer as a function of the default settings if corresponding identifiers are not found.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the first mobile device and the second mobile device are not substantially similar.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein if corresponding identifiers are not found, a second set of settings and a second identifier referenced to the identifier on the connected mobile device is stored on the computer.

4. The method of claim 3 wherein a user may alter the second set of settings.

5. The method of claim 1 and further comprising storing a unique device name for each of the mobile devices in the computer referenced to each respective identifier.

6. The method of claim 5 and further comprising accessing each set of stored settings on the computer as a function of the device name of the mobile device.

7. The method of claim 5 and further comprising obtaining the device name from the mobile device when connected to the computer and checking the device name with the device name stored on the computer.

8. The method of claim 7 and further comprising changing the device name on the computer to match the device name of the mobile device if corresponding identifiers are found.

9. The method of claim 1 and further comprising storing a set of guest settings, and wherein the step of controlling interaction between the connected mobile device and the computer as a function of the stored set of guest settings if corresponding identifiers are not found.

10. The method of claim 9 wherein the step of storing a set of guest settings includes obtaining a set of default settings.

11. The method of claim 10 and further comprising detecting the type of mobile device when connected to the computer and changing at least one of the default settings as a function of the type of device detected.

12. The method of claim 1 and further comprising storing a name of the computer on each mobile device in association with each identifier.

13. The method of claim 1 and further comprising detecting the type of mobile device when connected to the computer and changing at least one of the default settings as a function of the type of device detected.

14. An interactive computer system comprising:

a first mobile device having a first identifier stored thereon;

a second mobile device having a second identifier stored thereon, the second identifier being different than the first identifier; and

a computer selectively couplable to each of the mobile devices, the computer having a set of settings referenced by an identifier to at least one of the first identifier and the second identifier, the computer comparing the respective identifier stored on the mobile device with the identifier stored on the computer upon connection of one of the mobile devices to the computer, and controlling interaction between the connected mobile device and the computer as a function of the stored respective set of settings if corresponding identifiers are found, and controlling interaction between the connected mobile device and the computer as a function of a set of default settings if corresponding identifiers are not found.

15. The system of claim 14 and wherein the computer stores a device name for each of the mobile devices referenced to each respective identifier.

16. The system of claim 15 and wherein the computer includes a module for accessing each set of stored settings on the computer as a function of the device name of the mobile device.

17. The system of claim 14 where in the first mobile device and the second mobile device are not substantially similar.

18. A method of interaction between a computer and a plurality of mobile devices, the method comprising:

creating a first set of settings controlling interaction of a first type of mobile device with the computer;

creating a second set of settings controlling interaction of a second type of mobile device with the computer;

storing the first and second set of setting on the computer;

detecting the type of the mobile device when the mobile device is connected to the computer;

accessing the first and second set of settings to control interaction of the computer with the mobile device as a function of the type detected; and

assigning an identifier to identify a connected mobile device when connected to the computer;

storing the identifier in the connected mobile device and the computer; and

storing a third set of settings based on one of the first and second set of settings corresponding to the type of the connected mobile device, the third set of settings being referenced to the identifier.

19. The method of claim 18 wherein the step of storing the third set of settings includes storing a copy of one of the first and second set of settings.

20. The method of claim 19 and further comprising changing at least one setting of the third set of settings.

21. A method of interaction between a computer and a mobile device, the computer storing backup data for the mobile device referenced to a first identifier, the method comprising:

connecting the mobile device to the computer;

restoring the backup data to the mobile device from the computer;

obtaining a second identifier different than the first identifier;

storing the second identifier on the mobile device; and

changing the first identifier on the computer to the second identifier.

22. The method of claim 21 wherein the mobile device includes a third identifier for interaction with a second computer, the method including invalidating the third identifier.

23. A method of interaction between a first computer and a mobile, device, and a second computer and the mobile device, the method comprising:

ascertaining if the mobile device is configured to synchronize data with both the first and second computers;

creating data on the first and second computers in accordance with data on the mobile device;

and

deleting data on the mobile device as a function of whether the mobile device is configured to synchronize data with both the first and second computers.

24. The method of claim 23 wherein the step of ascertaining includes setting a status flag if the mobile device is configured to synchronize with both the first and second computers, and wherein the step of deleting data includes deleting data on the mobile device as a function of the value of the status flag.

25. The method of claim 23 wherein the mobile device stores a first identifier if the mobile device is configured to synchronize data with the first computer, and the mobile device stores a second identifier if the mobile device is configured to synchronize data with the second computer, and wherein the step of ascertaining includes ascertaining the number of identifiers on the mobile device.

26. A method of interaction between a mobile device and a plurality of computers, the method comprising:

storing a first identifier on the mobile device and a first computer;

storing a second identifier on the mobile device and a second computer, the second identifier being different than the first identifier;

storing a first set of settings in the first computer referenced to the first identifier;

storing a second set of settings in the second computer referenced to the second identifier;

comparing each identifier stored on one of the computers with each identifier stored on the mobile device upon connection of said one of the computers to the mobile device; and

controlling interaction between the connected computer and the mobile device as a function of the stored respective set of set settings if corresponding identifiers are found.

27. The method of claim 26 and further comprising storing a computer name for each of the first and second computers referenced to each respective identifier.

28. The method of claim 26 wherein the steps of storing a first set of setting and storing a second set of settings each includes obtaining a set of default settings.

29. The method of claim 26 and further comprising detecting the type of mobile device when connected to said one computer, and changing at least one of the default settings as a function of the type of device detected.

30. An interactive computer system comprising:

a first computer having a first set of settings referenced to a first identifier;

a second computer having a second set of settings referenced to a second identifier, the second identifier being different than the first identifier;

a mobile device couplable to each of the computers, the mobile device having the first identifier and the second identifier stored thereon; and

wherein upon connection of the mobile device with one of the computers, said one of the computers compares each identifier with the identifier stored thereon and controls interaction between the mobile device and said one of the computers as a function of the stored respective set of settings if corresponding identifiers are found.

31. A method of interaction between a computer and a plurality of mobile devices, the method comprising:

storing a first identifier on a first mobile device and a . computer;

storing a second identifier on a second mobile device and a computer, the second identifier being different than the first identifier;

storing a set of settings in the computer referenced to a stored identifier for at least of the first mobile device and the second mobile device;

storing a set of guest settings in the computer;

comparing the identifier on the mobile device with the identifier stored on the computer upon connection of one of the mobile devices to the computer;

controlling interaction between the connected mobile device and the computer as a function of the stored respective set of settings if corresponding identifiers are found; and

controlling interaction between the connected mobile device and the computer as a function of the guest settings if corresponding identifiers are not found.

32. The method of claim 31 wherein the step of storing a set of guest settings includes obtaining a set of default settings.

33. The method of claim 32 and further comprising detecting the type of mobile device when connected to the computer, and changing at least one of the default settings as a function of the type of device detected.