Communication systems, components, and methods operative with programmable wireless devices

• US 6,934,532 B2
• Filed: 02/08/2001
• Issued: 08/23/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 02/09/2000
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Apriva, LLC (APPSware Holdings, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Apriva, Inc.
• Inventors: Klingen, Michael S., Coppinger, Paul D., Spinella, Rinaldo
• Primary Examiner(s): Tran, CongVan
• Application Number:
  US09/779,713
• Publication Number:
  US 20010046862A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,657 Days
• Field of Search: 455/412.1, 455/412.2, 455/435, 455/466, 455/70, 455/72, 455/59, 455/410, 455/850.1, 455/418, 455/419, 455/403, 455/414.1, 455/414.2
• US Class Current: 455/412.1
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 8/65 Updates security arrangements therefor G06F21/57
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/102 Bill distribution or payments
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/325 using wireless networks
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/40 Authorisation, e.g. identification of payer or payee, verification of customer or shop credentials; Review and approval of payers, e.g. check credit lines or negative lists
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0603 Catalogue ordering
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 50/06 Energy or water supply
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/66 Arrangements for connecting between networks having differing types of switching systems, e.g. gateways
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/04 specially adapted for terminals or networks with limited capabilities; specially adapted for terminal portability
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/51 Discovery or management thereof, e.g. service location protocol [SLP] or web services
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/56 Provisioning of proxy services store-and-forward switching systems in data switching networks H04L12/54
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/565 Conversion or adaptation of application format or content adding application control or application functional data H04L67/561
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 60/00 Affiliation to network, e.g. registration; Terminating affiliation with the network, e.g. de-registration
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/02 Hierarchically pre-organised networks, e.g. paging networks, cellular networks, WLAN [Wireless Local Area Network] or WLL [Wireless Local Loop]
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99945 Object-oriented database structure processing
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99948 Application of database or data structure, e.g. distributed, multimedia, or image

Abstract

A communication system includes a development sector for registering a plurality of wireless devices, a business sector for controlling utilization of an application program and for receiving application data, a service sector for deploying the application program and for providing the application data to the business sector in accordance with communication with at least one wireless device of the plurality; and a mobile sector comprising the plurality of wireless devices, each device for receiving the application program deployed by the service sector, executing the application program in response to the business sector, and communicating with the service sector to support provision of the application data to the business sector. The wireless device, such as a cell phone, personal digital assistant, or palm top computer may include an auxiliary device such as a bar code scanner, a magnetic stripe card reader, or a printer. The business sector or service sector may monitor or limit utilization of the auxiliary device. Deployment of application programs may be controlled by the business sector or the development sector by rendering an application program or auxiliary device available for use only after a particular time or after receipt of a message. Distributed processing application programs having components in the business, service, and mobile sectors may thereby be updated in an orderly manner. An application program on a wireless device may assist confirmation of an order made by a buyer via a web site. The wireless device is expected to be operated by the buyer. Fraud reporting is accomplished by comparing data obtained by registration of the wireless device with data provided in the confirmation.

Claims

1. A method for preparing a wireless device for performing part of a distributed processing application program, the method performed by a computer, the method comprising:

establishing communication via a first link to the wireless device;

receiving a first message via the first link, the first message comprising indicia of identification from the wireless device;

sending a second message via the first link to permit the wireless device to perform the part of the distributed processing application program; and

sending a third message in accordance with the indicia of identification to a server of a wireless network, the third message for enabling use of the wireless network by the wireless device for performing part of the distributed processing application program.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the wireless device initiates establishment of communication via the first link.

3. The method of claim 1 further comprising sending software to the wireless device via the first link, the software for preparing at least a portion of the first message.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein the second message comprises an application engine.

5. The method of claim 1 further comprising transfer of software to the wireless device, the part of the distributed processing application program being performed in accordance with the software.

6. The method of claim 5 wherein the software is transferred to the wireless device via the wireless network.

7. The method of claim 5 wherein the software is transferred to the wireless device via the first link.