Method and apparatus for automated personality transfer for a wireless enabled handheld device

• US 7,197,541 B1
• Filed: 06/18/2001
• Issued: 03/27/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 06/18/2001
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Palm, Inc. (TCL Technology Group Corp.)
• Inventors: Skinner, Craig Stuart, Loucks, Jeffry Harlow
• Primary Examiner(s): Wiley; David
• Assistant Examiner(s): DENNISON, JERRY B
• Application Number:
  US09/884,806
• Time in Patent Office: 2,108 Days
• Field of Search: 709/216, 709/217, 709/219, 709/232, 455/556.1, 455/556.2, 455/550.1, 455/412.1
• US Class Current: 709/216
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72406 by software upgrading or downloading
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 24/04 Arrangements for maintaining operational condition
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 28/18 Negotiating wireless communication parameters
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/18 Processing of user or subscriber data, e.g. subscribed services, user preferences or user profiles; Transfer of user or subscriber data
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/20 Transfer of user or subscriber data

Abstract

A method and system for restoring device personality after failure. Specifically, the present invention discloses a method and system for automated personality transfer in a wireless enabled handheld device. In one embodiment, the present invention automatically extracts personality information that is unique and critical to the proper functionality of an electronic device. A personality file containing the personality information is created and stored on the electronic device. The personality file can be then transferred to another electronic device for archival purposes. Thereafter, should the personality information be lost due to device failure, embodiments of the present invention provide for restoring the electronic device back to its original operating state by importing the personality information back into the electronic device.

Claims

1. In an electronic device, a method of restoration comprising the steps of:

a) extracting from read only memory (ROM) of said electronic device for restoring purposes radio calibration parameter information unique to said electronic device, wherein said radio calibration parameter information comprises critical operating parameters for adjusting the frequency of wireless communication of said electronic device;

b) creating a personality file;

c) writing said radio calibration parameter information into said personality file;

d) storing said personality file in random access memory (RAM) of said electronic device; and

archiving said personality file by transferring said personality file to a second electronic device.

2. The method as described in claim 1, wherein said step a) further comprises the steps of:

automatically extracting state information unique to said electronic device, said state information configuring said electronic device for wireless communication.

3. The method as described in claim 1 further comprising the steps of:

e) automatically locating a plurality of files, including said personality file, stored within said electronic device containing said information, each of said plurality of files following a format unique to said method;

f) automatically displaying a list of said plurality of files;

g) automatically acknowledging selection of one of said plurality of files, a selected file; and

h) automatically importing data contained within said selected file into said electronic device.

4. The method as described in claim 3,

wherein said data comprises a plurality of pre-determined operational parameters, each of which are stored in a corresponding pre-determined location within said electronic device and wherein said step h) further comprises the step of:

automatically importing each of said plurality of pre-determined operational parameters to said corresponding pre-determined locations.

5. The method as described in claim 4, wherein said corresponding predetermined locations are located in flash read only memory.

6. The method as described in claim 3, wherein said format comprises a title format including a serial number of said electronic device and a time/date stamp, wherein said step e) further comprises the step of:

automatically locating said plurality of files following said title format.

7. The method as described in claim 1, wherein said electronic device is a personal digital assistant with wireless capabilities.

8. The method as described in claim 1, wherein said personality file is a memo file associated with a memo application in an operating system of said electronic device.

9. In a personal digital assistant (PDA), a method of restoration comprising the steps of:

a) searching for a plurality of files possibly associated with said PDA, said plurality of files following a unique file format;

b) displaying a list of said plurality of files;

c) acknowledging selection of one of said plurality of files, a selected file, wherein said selected file comprises radio calibration parameter information unique to said PDA and previously extracted from said PDA and stored in said selected file for restoration purposes; and

d) importing data contained within said selected file into said PDA for restoring said radio calibration parameters for adjusting the frequency of wireless communication by said PDA.

10. The method as described in claim 9, wherein each of said plurality of files comprise personality data unique to a specific PDA, at least one of which, said selected file, corresponds to said PDA.

11. The method as described in claim 10, wherein said personality data comprise critical operational parameters for configuring said PDA for wireless capabilities.

12. The method as described in claim 10, wherein said personality data comprises a plurality of pre-determined operational parameters, each of which are stored in a corresponding pre-determined location within said PDA, wherein said step d) further comprises the step of:

automatically importing each of said plurality of pre-determined operational parameters to said corresponding pre-determined locations.

13. The method as described in claim 9, wherein said step c) further comprises the step of:

acknowledging selection of said selected file by a user.

14. The method as described in claim 9 further comprising the steps of:

1i) prior to said step a), automatically extracting from read only memory (ROM) said personality data unique to said PDA;

2i) automatically creating a personality file;

3i) automatically writing said personality data into said personality file; and

4i) automatically storing said personality file in random access memory (RAM) of said PDA, said personality file also comprising said selected file; and

archiving said personality file by transferring said personality file to another electronic device.

15. The method as described in claim 14 further comprising the step of:

5i) prior to said step a), transferring said personality file to a second PDA.

16. The method as described in claim 15, wherein said step 5i) further comprises the step of:

transferring said personality file via a synchronization process with said second PDA.

17. The method as described in claim 15 further comprising the steps of:

6i) prior to said step a) locating said personality file on said second PDA; and

7i) storing a copy of said personality file on said PDA.

18. The method as described in claim 9, wherein said file format comprises a title format including a serial number of said PDA and a time/date stamp, wherein said step a) further comprises:

automatically searching for said plurality of files following said title format.

19. The method as described in claim 9, wherein said electronic device is a personal digital assistant with wireless capabilities.

20. A computer system comprising:

a bus;

a processor coupled to said bus,

a memory unit coupled to said bus, wherein said memory unit contains instructions that when executed implement a method of restoration comprising the steps of;

a) extracting from read only memory (ROM) of said electronic device for restoring purposes radio calibration parameter information unique to said electronic device, wherein said radio calibration parameter information comprises critical operating parameters for adjusting the frequency of wireless communication of said electronic device;

b) creating a personality file;

c) writing said radio calibration parameter information into said personality file;

d) storing said personality file in random access memory (RAM) of said electronic device; and

archiving said personality file by transferring said personality file to a second electronic device.

21. The computer system as described in claim 20, wherein said step a) in said method further comprises the steps of:

automatically extracting state information unique to said electronic device, said state information configuring said electronic device for wireless communication.

22. The computer system as described in claim 20, wherein said method further comprises the steps of:

e) automatically locating a plurality of files, including said personality file, stored within said electronic device containing said information, each of said plurality of files following a format unique to said method;

f) automatically displaying a list of said plurality of files;

g) automatically acknowledging selection of one of said plurality of files, a selected file; and

h) automatically importing data contained within said selected file into said electronic device.

23. The computer system as described in claim 22, wherein in said method said data comprises a plurality of pre-determined operational parameters, each of which are stored in a corresponding pre-determined location within said electronic device and wherein said step h) further comprises the step of:

automatically importing each of said plurality of pre-determined operational parameters to said corresponding pre-determined locations.

24. The computer system as described in claim 23, wherein in said method said corresponding predetermined locations are located in flash read only memory.

25. The computer system as described in claim 22, wherein in said method said format comprises a title format including a serial number of said electronic device and a time/date stamp, wherein said step e) further comprises the step of:

automatically locating said plurality of files following said title format.

26. The computer system as described in claim 20, wherein in said method said electronic device is a personal digital assistant with wireless capabilities.

27. The computer system as described in claim 20, wherein in said method said personality file is a memo file associated with a memo application in an operating system of said electronic device.