Network support for reconfiguration of subscriber mobile configuration data

• US 7,587,473 B2
• Filed: 10/16/2003
• Issued: 09/08/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 10/16/2003
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Alcatel-Lucent USA, Inc. (Nokia Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Alcatel-Lucent USA, Inc. (Nokia Corporation)
• Inventors: Blackmore, David H., Benco, David S., True, Sandra L.
• Primary Examiner(s): Donaghue; Larry D
• Assistant Examiner(s): TAYLOR, NICHOLAS R
• Application Number:
  US10/687,456
• Publication Number:
  US 20050085225A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,154 Days
• Field of Search: 709/223
• US Class Current: 709/220
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/1095 Replication or mirroring of data, e.g. scheduling or transport for data synchronisation between network nodes
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/125 involving control of end-device applications over a network
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/205 Transfer to or from user equipment or user record carrier
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/245 from a network towards a terminal

Abstract

In general terms the system and method is for providing network support for reconfiguration of mobile configuration data for a mobile station. In one embodiment the method may have the steps of: storing mobile configuration data for a mobile station in a mobile subscriber database in the mobile station; storing the mobile configuration data in a network subscriber database in the network; changing via a user interface the mobile configuration data in the network subscriber database; and synchronizing, in response to the changing of the mobile configuration data in the network subscriber database, the mobile configuration data in the mobile subscriber database with the mobile configuration data in the network subscriber database of the mobile station.

Claims

1. A method for providing network support for reconfiguration of mobile configuration data for a mobile station, comprising the steps of:

storing mobile configuration data for a mobile station in a mobile subscriber database in the mobile station;

storing the mobile configuration data in a network subscriber database in the network;

changing, directly via the mobile station, the mobile configuration data in the network subscriber database;

synchronizing, in response to the changing of the mobile configuration data in the network subscriber database, the mobile configuration data in the mobile subscriber database with the mobile configuration data in the network subscriber database of the mobile station, such that the changed mobile configuration data is first updated in the network subscriber database and then downloaded to the mobile station where the changes are applied to the mobile configuration data in the mobile subscriber database of the mobile station; and

wherein new mobile configuration data is updated in the network subscriber database and then downloaded to the mobile station if the configuration data was updated via user interfaces that are unassociated with the mobile station; and

wherein when a PC-based application locally reconfigures data directly on the mobile station, the mobile station then sends the reconfigured data to the network subscriber database for storage.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein the synchronizing of the mobile configuration data in the mobile subscriber database with the mobile configuration data in the network subscriber database of the mobile station is performed automatically upon occurrence of the changing of the mobile configuration data in the network subscriber database.

3. The method according to claim 1, wherein the synchronizing of the mobile configuration data in the mobile subscriber database with the mobile configuration data in the network subscriber database of the mobile station is performed upon sending a sync request from the mobile station to the network.

4. The method according to claim 1, wherein the network has a networked-based feature that provides at least one of periodic uploads of the mobile configuration data from the mobile station to the network and periodic downloads of the mobile configuration data from the network to the mobile station, and wherein the synchronizing of the mobile configuration data in the mobile subscriber database with the mobile configuration data in the network subscriber database of the mobile station is performed automatically upon occurrence of uploading and/or downloading of the mobile configuration data.

5. The method according to claim 1, wherein the mobile configuration data in the network subscriber database is a master copy.

6. The method according to claim 1, wherein the network is the focus of storage of the mobile configuration data and synchronization events with the mobile station.

7. A method for providing network support for reconfiguration of mobile configuration data for a mobile station, comprising the steps of:

storing mobile configuration data for a mobile station in a mobile subscriber database in the mobile station;

storing the mobile configuration data in a network subscriber database in the network;

changing, directly via the mobile station, the mobile configuration data in the network subscriber database;

automatically synchronizing, in response to the changing of the mobile configuration data in the network subscriber database, the mobile configuration data in the mobile subscriber database with the mobile configuration data in the network subscriber database of the mobile station, such that the changed mobile configuration data is first updated in the network subscriber database and then downloaded to the mobile station where the changes are applied to the mobile configuration data in the mobile subscriber database of the mobile station;

wherein the mobile configuration data in the network subscriber database is a master copy; and

wherein new mobile configuration data is updated in the network subscriber database and then downloaded to the mobile station if the configuration data was updated via user interfaces that are unassociated with the mobile station; and

wherein when a PC-based application locally reconfigures data directly on the mobile station, the mobile station then sends the reconfigured data to the network subscriber database for storage.

8. The method according to claim 7, wherein the synchronizing of the mobile configuration data in the mobile subscriber database with the mobile configuration data in the network subscriber database of the mobile station is performed upon sending a sync request from the mobile station to the network.

9. The method according to claim 7, wherein the network has a networked-based feature that provides at least one of periodic uploads of the mobile configuration data from the mobile station to the network and periodic downloads of the mobile configuration data from the network to the mobile station, and wherein the synchronizing of the mobile configuration data in the mobile subscriber database with the mobile configuration data in the network subscriber database of the mobile station is performed automatically upon occurrence of uploading and/or downloading of the mobile configuration data.

10. The method according to claim 7, wherein the network is the focus of storage of the mobile configuration data and synchronization events with the mobile station.

11. A system for providing network support for reconfiguration of mobile configuration data for a mobile station, comprising the steps of:

a mobile subscriber database in a mobile station, and mobile configuration data stored in the a mobile subscriber database in a mobile station;

a network subscriber database in the network, and a master copy of the mobile configuration data stored in the network subscriber database in the network;

a user interface operatively connected to the network, the mobile configuration data in the network subscriber database being changeable via the user interface, the user interface being the mobile station;

a synchronizing system in the network, the synchronizing system effecting, in response to a change of the mobile configuration data in the network subscriber database, a synchronization of the mobile configuration data in the mobile subscriber database with the mobile configuration data in the network subscriber database of the mobile station;

wherein the mobile configuration data in the network subscriber database is changed directly by the mobile station, the changed mobile configuration data being first updated in the network subscriber database and then downloaded to the mobile station where the changes are applied to the mobile configuration data in the mobile subscriber database of the mobile station; and

wherein new mobile configuration data is updated in the network subscriber database and then downloaded to the mobile station if the configuration data was updated via user interfaces that are unassociated with the mobile station; and

wherein when a PC-based application locally reconfigures data directly on the mobile station, the mobile station then sends the reconfigured data to the network subscriber database for storage.

12. The system according to claim 11, wherein the synchronizing of the mobile configuration data in the network subscriber database with the mobile configuration data in the mobile subscriber database of the mobile station is performed automatically upon occurrence of the changing of the mobile configuration data in the network subscriber database.

13. The system according to claim 11, wherein the synchronizing of the mobile configuration data in the network subscriber database with the mobile configuration data in the mobile subscriber database of the mobile station is performed upon sending a sync request from the mobile station to the network.

14. The system according to claim 11, wherein the network has a networked-based feature that provides at least one of periodic uploads of the mobile configuration data from the mobile station to the network and periodic downloads of the mobile configuration data from the network to the mobile station, and wherein the synchronizing of the mobile configuration data in the network subscriber database with the mobile configuration data in the mobile subscriber database of the mobile station is performed automatically upon occurrence of uploading and/or downloading of the mobile configuration data.