Method and system for updating capabilities of a device

• US 7,512,401 B2
• Filed: 04/04/2005
• Issued: 03/31/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 04/04/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Google LLC (Alphabet Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Nokia Corporation
• Inventors: Hannikainen, Ari, Aaltonen, Janne La, Pajusalo, Ari, Antola, Janne, Muhonen, Ahti, Salo, Juha H.
• Primary Examiner(s): Le; Thanh C
• Application Number:
  US11/097,376
• Publication Number:
  US 20060223503A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,457 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 455/414.1
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 8/61 Installation
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72406 by software upgrading or downloading

Abstract

A method and system for transmitting data to a device is described. The method includes steps of comparing, in a server, a list of capabilities of the server against a list of capabilities of a mobile terminal and creating a list of capabilities in the server and not in the mobile terminal. The method and system wirelessly transmit, to the mobile terminal, a request to confirm the capabilities of the mobile terminal. The mobile terminal receives the request and the list of capabilities and compares the list of capabilities to current capabilities of the mobile terminal and then wirelessly transmits data identifying its capabilities to the server, the data including information of new capabilities of the mobile terminal. The server then updates the list of capabilities of the mobile terminal based on the information of new capabilities.

Claims

1. A method, comprising:

receiving from a server a request to confirm a set of capabilities of a mobile terminal, said request comprising a list of capabilities, wherein said list of capabilities does not include a first capability;

comparing at the mobile terminal the list of capabilities received from the server to a current set of capabilities of the mobile terminal;

determining that the first capability is not in the received list of capabilities;

identifying to the server the first capability of the mobile terminal;

receiving a second request to confirm a second capability of a second mobile terminal, said second request including the list of capabilities;

comparing the list of capabilities to current capabilities of the second mobile terminal;

updating the list of capabilities to include whether the second capability of the second mobile terminal matches any capability listed in the list of capabilities; and

transmitting to the server the updated list of capabilities, including whether the second capability of the second mobile terminal matches any capability in the list of capabilities.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the identifying includes:

updating the received list of capabilities to include the first capability; and

transmitting the updated list of capabilities to the server.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the first capability includes at least one of:

a new application, a new driver, and a new feature.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising updating a second list of capabilities of the mobile terminal to include the first capability.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising receiving at the mobile terminal a service configured to utilize the first capability.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising receiving a service based upon information provided in the updated list of capabilities, including whether the second capability of the second mobile terminal matches any capability in the list of capabilities.

7. The method of claim 6, further comprising determining whether a threshold number of devices includes the capability.

8. The method of claim 1, further comprising transmitting location information, the location information identifying where the first capability is available for usage.

9. The method of claim 8, further comprising receiving a service based upon information provided in the updated list of capabilities and a location of the mobile terminal.

10. A computer-readable medium comprising computer-executable instructions, which when executed on a computing device, perform the method of claim 1.

11. A method comprising:

maintaining a first list of capabilities for each of a plurality of network nodes, and a second list of capabilities for each of a plurality of terminals;

determining whether a network node of the plurality of network nodes is capable of delivering a service to a terminal of the plurality of terminals in accordance with a specified format;

upon determining that the network node is not capable of delivering the service to the terminal in accordance with the specified format, updating the network node to be able to deliver the service;

selecting the network node for transmission of the service to the terminal; and

delivering the service to the terminal via the network node.

12. The method of claim 11, further comprising determining a number of terminals configured to receive the service in accordance with the specified format.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein updating the network node occurs when the number of terminals is greater than a specified threshold value.

14. A computer-readable medium comprising computer-executable instructions, which when executed on a computing device, perform the method of claim 11.

15. A method comprising:

maintaining a first list of capabilities of a plurality of network nodes, and a second list of capabilities of a plurality of terminals;

determining whether a first network node of the plurality of network nodes is capable of delivering a service to a terminal of the plurality of terminals in accordance with a specified format;

upon determining that the network node is not capable of delivering the service to the terminal in accordance with the specified format, identifying a second network node of the plurality of network nodes configured to deliver the service;

selecting the second network node for transmission of the service to the terminal; and

delivering the service to the terminal through the second network node.

16. A computer-readable medium comprising computer-executable instructions, which when executed on a computing device, perform the method of claim 15.

17. A method comprising:

comparing a first list of capabilities of a server against a second list of capabilities of a device;

creating a third list of capabilities in the server but not in the device;

transmitting data to the device, said data comprising a request to confirm the capabilities of the device, said request including the third list;

receiving data identifying a current capability of the device on the third list; and

updating, at the server, the second list of capabilities based on the identified current capability.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein receiving data identifying a current capability includes receiving an updated list of capabilities, the updated list including information of current capabilities of the device.

19. The method of claim 18, wherein updating, at the server, the second list, includes updating the second list based on the updated list of capabilities.

20. The method of claim 17, further comprising:

reviewing the updated second list; and

transmitting a service to the device based upon the updated second list.

21. A computer-readable medium comprising computer-executable instructions, which when executed on a computing device, perform the method of claim 17.

22. The method of claim 17, further comprising:

wirelessly transmitting data to update a particular capability of the device; and

receiving confirmation of the update of the particular capability.

23. The method of claim 22, further comprising wirelessly transmitting a service to the device based upon the confirmation of the update of the particular capability.

24. The method of claim 23, wherein the service is wirelessly transmitted in accordance with the particular capability.

25. An apparatus comprising:

a processor controlling at least some operations of the apparatus;

a memory comprising;

a subscriber information database, the subscriber information database comprising a first listing of capabilities of a device associated with the apparatus;

a server information database, the server information database comprising a second listing of the capabilities of the apparatus;

a first application configured to update the subscriber information database;

a second application configured to update the server information database; and

a third application configured to compare information between the subscriber information database and the server information database,

said memory storing computer executable instructions that, when executed by the processor, cause the apparatus to perform a method comprising;

creating a list of capabilities in the apparatus and not in the device,

transmitting to the device a request to confirm a capability of the device, the request including the list of capabilities,

receiving data identifying a current capability of the device from the list of capabilities, and

transmitting a service to the device based upon the identified current capability.

26. The apparatus of claim 25, wherein the memory further includes:

a network node information database, the network node information database comprising a third listing of capabilities of network nodes associated with the apparatus; and

a fourth application configured to update the network node information database,

wherein the third application configured to compare information between the subscriber information database and the server information database further is configured to compare information between the network node information database and the server information database.

27. The apparatus of claim 26, wherein the apparatus is configured to select a network node from the network node information database.

28. The apparatus of claim 27, wherein the apparatus is configured to determine whether the selected network node is configured to transmit the service to the device.

29. The apparatus of claim 28, wherein the apparatus is configured to select a second network node from the network node information database when the selected network node is unable to transmit the service to the device.

30. The apparatus of claim 25, wherein the device is a wireless mobile terminal.

31. A method comprising:

comparing, in a server, a first list of capabilities of the server against a second list of capabilities of a mobile terminal;

creating a third list of capabilities in the server and not in the mobile terminal;

wirelessly transmitting data to the mobile terminal, said data comprising a request to confirm the capabilities of the mobile terminal, said request including the third list;

receiving the request at the mobile terminal and comparing the third list to current capabilities of the mobile terminal;

identifying, to the server, a current capability of the mobile terminal on said third list; and

updating, at the server, the second list of capabilities based on the identified current capability.

32. The method of claim 31, wherein the identifying includes transmitting an updated list of capabilities to the server, the updated list including information of current capabilities of the mobile terminal.

33. The method of claim 32, wherein updating, at the server, the second list includes updating, at the server, the second list of capabilities based on the updated list of capabilities.

34. The method according to claim 31, further comprising:

reviewing the updated second list of capabilities; and

transmitting a service to the mobile terminal based upon the updated second list.

35. A mobile device comprising

a processor controlling at least some operations of the mobile device;

a memory storing computer executable instructions that, when executed by the processor, cause the mobile device to perform a method comprising steps of;

receiving a first capability at the mobile device;

receiving from a server a request to confirm a set of capabilities of the mobile device, said request comprising a list of capabilities, wherein said list of capabilities does not include the first capability;

comparing at the mobile device the list of capabilities received from the server to a current set of capabilities of the mobile device;

determining that the first capability is not in the received list of capabilities;

identifying to the server the first capability of the mobile device;

transmitting location information, the location information identifying where the first capability is available for usage.

36. The mobile device of claim 35, wherein the first capability includes at least one of:

a new application, a new driver, and a new feature.

37. The mobile device of claim 35, the method further comprising:

updating the received list of capabilities to include the first capability; and

transmitting the updated list of capabilities to the server.

38. The mobile device of claim 37, the method further comprising receiving a service configured to utilize the first capability based upon information transmitted in the updated list of capabilities and a location of the mobile device.