Method and system for transferring data for upgrading features in portable electronic devices

• US 7,386,304 B2
• Filed: 03/31/2003
• Issued: 06/10/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 01/08/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: VTech Telecommunications Limited (VTech Holdings Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: VTech Telecommunications Limited (VTech Holdings Ltd.)
• Inventors: Alvarado, Douglas, Charney, Douglas
• Primary Examiner(s): Hong; Harry S.
• Application Number:
  US10/401,764
• Publication Number:
  US 20040131086A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,898 Days
• Field of Search: 455/418, 455/419, 455/420, 455/414.1, 455/426.1
• US Class Current: 455/418
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 8/65 Updates security arrangements therefor G06F21/57
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/2473 Telephone terminals interfacing a personal computer, e.g. using an API (Application Programming Interface) details of API H04M7/0021
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72406 by software upgrading or downloading
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72409 by interfacing with external accessories hands-free H04M1/60
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72502 with one base station connected to a single line

Abstract

Systems and methods are described for providing connectivity to portable electronic devices, such as a cordless telephone, for the purpose of upgrading software features. In a preferred embodiment, portable electronic devices can be connected to a conventional household audio player via an audio input/out interface in the device to receive encoded data signals modulated in an audio band. The audio player can playback an audio signal stored in any of several different formats, including compact disc, audio cassette tape, MP3 file, or streaming audio, and can be physically connected an audio jack in the portable electronic device via a conventional audio cable. The device demodulates and decodes the signal and routes the transmitted data to memory registers for upgrading software stored in device memory.

Claims

1. A method for transferring data for programming a cordless telephone system, comprising:

receiving audio data in a device configured to transmit the audio data as an encoded audio signal;

transmitting the encoded audio signal to the cordless telephone system via an audio jack of a handset of the cordless telephone system;

converting the encoded audio signal into a modulated digital signal;

sending the modulated digital signal to a base unit of the cordless telephone system;

decoding the encoded audio signal into a native format at the base unit; and

routing the decoded audio signal to programmable memory for operating the handset.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the encoded audio signal is FSK encoded.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the audio signal is transmitted via an BY link to the base unit for decoding in an FSK decoder in the base unit.

4. The method of claim 3, further comprising transmitting the decoded audio signal via an RF link from the base unit to the handset for storage in handset programmable memory.

5. The method of claim 3, further comprising transmitting the decoded audio signal for storage in base unit programmable memory.

6. The method of claim 4, wherein the transmitting the decoded audio signal via an RE link comprises a connectionless transmission.

7. The method of claim 1,

wherein the device configured to transmit the audio data is one of a computing device and a media player, and

wherein the receiving the audio data comprises one of receiving a CD-ROM, DVD, diskette, compact disk, audio cassette, and video cassette containing the audio data and downloading the encoded audio signal onto a computing device for playback through an audio output port to the audio jack of the handset.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein the computing device is one of a laptop, personal computer, and personal digital assistant, and wherein the media player is one of a compact disk player, an MP3 player, audio cassette player, video cassette player, and DVD player.

9. A method for programming a cordless telephone system, comprising:

switching the system from an operations mode to a programming mode;

receiving executable software in a device configured to transmit the executable software as an encoded audio signal;

uploading the executable software code to a handset of the cordless telephone system via an audio jack, wherein the software is encoded as a signal in an audio band;

converting the encoded signal in the audio band into a modulated digital signal;

forwarding the executable software in the modulated digital signal to a base unit of the cordless telephone system;

decoding the software in the modulated digital signal into a native format in the base unit;

storing the decoded signal in programmable memory for operating the handset; and

switching the device from the programming mode to the operations mode.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein the system automatically switches to a programming mode upon receiving an encoded signal input via the audio jack.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein the audio jack is a microphone jack in the handset.

12. The method of claim 9, wherein the programmable memory is located in the handset.

13. The method of claim 9, wherein the programmable memory is located in the base unit.

14. The method of claim 9, wherein the switching the system from an operations mode to a programming mode comprises using one of a known key sequence and a graphical user interface of the cordless telephone system.

15. A programmable cordless telephone system, comprising:

an audio jack located in a handset of the system for receiving an encoded audio information signal;

a decoder located in a base unit of the system, the decoder configured for decoding encoded signals forwarded from the handset; and

a switch for switching between a programming mode and an operation mode,

wherein, when the system is in a programming mode, executable software code that is encoded as a signal in the audio band is uploaded via an audio jack, converted into a modulated digital signal, forwarded from the handset to the decoder, decoded into a native format in the decoder, and routed to programmable memory for operating the handset, and

wherein the system is configured to transmit the executable software code decoded into its native format from the base unit to the handset via both a connectionless and a connection transmission.

16. The device of claim 15, further comprising:

a transmitter in the handset; and

a receiver in the base unit for communicating uploaded audio signals to the decoder.

17. The device of claim 15, wherein the audio jack is connected to an audio output jack of one of a computer and a media player.

18. The device of claim 15, wherein the device automatically switches between the programming and operation modes upon detecting an encoded audio signal received via the audio jack.

19. The device of claim 15, wherein the uploaded signal is FSK encoded.

20. The system of claim 15, wherein the programmable memory is located in the handset.

21. The system of claim 15, wherein the programmable memory is located in the base unit.