System and method for redirecting data to a wireless device over a plurality of communication paths

• US 7,606,936 B2
• Filed: 08/09/2001
• Issued: 10/20/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 05/29/1998
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Malikie Innovations Limited (Key Patent Innovations Limited)
• Original Assignee: Blackberry Limited
• Inventors: Mousseau, Gary, Edmonson, Peter J., Lazaridis, Mihal
• Primary Examiner(s): STRANGE, AARON N
• Application Number:
  US09/925,810
• Publication Number:
  US 20020029258A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,994 Days
• Field of Search: 709/206, 709/207, 709/238, 709/239, 709/248, 455/456.1, 455/456.5, 455/412.1, 455/412.2, 455436-440, 455/444, 455/575.2, 370/332
• US Class Current: 709/239
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/107 Computer-aided management of electronic mailing [e-mailing]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/066 Format adaptation, e.g. format conversion or compression
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/214 using selective forwarding
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/48 Message addressing, e.g. address format or anonymous messages, aliases
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/58 Message adaptation for wireless communication
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/0428 wherein the data content is protected, e.g. by encrypting or encapsulating the payload
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/083 using passwords cryptographic mechanisms or cryptographic arrangements for entity authentication using a predetermined code H04L9/3226
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/01 Protocols
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/04 specially adapted for terminals or networks with limited capabilities; specially adapted for terminal portability
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/1095 Replication or mirroring of data, e.g. scheduling or transport for data synchronisation between network nodes
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/51 Discovery or management thereof, e.g. service location protocol [SLP] or web services
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/52 specially adapted for the location of the user terminal
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/55 Push-based network services
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/329 in the application layer [OSI layer 7]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 9/40 Network security protocols
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2203/353 where the information comprises non-audio but is provided over voice channels protocols for multimedia information services per se H04L65/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/4211 where the identifier is used to access a profile
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/4872 Non-interactive information services
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/00 Services specially adapted for wireless communication networks; Facilities therefor
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 40/00 Communication routing or communication path finding
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 48/18 : Selecting a network or a communication service
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 64/00 : Locating users or terminals or network equipment for network management purposes, e.g. mobility management
• 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 84/04 : Large scale networks; Deep hierarchical networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/10 : Small scale networks; Flat hierarchical networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/18 : Self-organising networks, e.g. ad-hoc networks or sensor networks

Abstract

A system and method for redirecting data to a mobile device having a long-range RF transceiver and a short-range RF transceiver is provided. The system determines whether the mobile device is in physical proximity to the short-range RF network, and if so, redirects data to the mobile device via the short-range RF network, and if not, redirects data to the mobile device via the long-range RF network. Multiple methods for determining the physical location of the mobile device are provided. Also provided is a short-range RF network including a plurality of RF-enabled interface cradles for generating a network of pico-cells within one or more office locations. As a mobile device comes within the vicinity of one of these pico-cells, contact information is provided to the system indicating the phyiscal location of the mobile device.

Claims

1. A method of redirecting data from a host system to a mobile communication device capable of communicating via a short-range wireless communication network and a long-range wireless communication network, the method comprising:

receiving data at the host system;

determining whether the mobile communication device is within coverage of the short-range wireless communication network;

if the mobile communication device is within coverage of the short-range wireless communication network, then redirecting the received data from the host system to the mobile communication device via the short-range wireless communication network;

if the mobile communication device is not within coverage of the short-range wireless communication network, then redirecting the received data from the host system to the mobile communication device via the longrange wireless communication network,

wherein the short-range wireless network includes a plurality of short-range wireless sub-networks, each short-range wireless sub-network including a plurality of RF-enabled interface cradles for communicating with a short-range RF transceiver of the mobile communication device;

maintaining contact information at the host system, the contact information indicating an office space where the mobile communication device is located and also indicating the network address of an RF-enabled interface cradle with which the mobile communication device is communication; and

providing the contact information to each of the short-range wireless sub-networks.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

the short-range wireless network detecting that the mobile communication device is outside of coverage of the short-range wireless network; and

transmitting lack of contact information to the host system indicating that the mobile communication device is outside of coverage of the short-range wireless communication network.

3. The method of claim 2, further comprising:

storing the contact information and the lack of contact information at the host system.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the host system is coupled to the short-range wireless network via a local area network (LAN), the method further comprising:

providing a user profile database at the host system, the user profile database including identification information for a plurality of mobile communication devices, and also including contact information and lack of contact information for each of the plurality of mobile communication devices.

5. The method of claim 4, further comprising:

receiving the contact information at the host system, the contact information including the identity of a particular mobile communication device and a network address on the LAN for a particular RF-enabled interface cradle;

storing the contact information in the user profile database;

associating the received data to the particular mobile communication device; and

redirecting the received data to the particular RF-enabled interface cradle using the contact information stored in the user profile database.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the determining further comprises:

when the mobile communication device is within the physical proximity of the short-range wireless network, generating the contact information;

transmitting the contact information to the host system; and

using the contact information to determine whether the mobile communication device is within coverage of the short-range wireless network.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein the determining further comprises:

when the mobile communication device is not within the physical proximity of the short-range wireless network, generating lack of contact information;

transmitting the lack of contact information to the host system; and

using the lack of contact information to determine whether the mobile communication device is within coverage of the short-range wireless network.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the determining further comprises:

placing the mobile communication device in an RF-enabled interface cradle of a particular short-range wireless sub-network;

generating contact information indicating that the mobile communication device is connected to the particular short-range wireless sub-network;

transmitting the contact information to the host system; and

using the contact information to determine whether the mobile communication device is within coverage of the short-range wireless network.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the determining further comprises:

activating a screen saver program at the host system; and

if the screen saver program is activated, then determining that the mobile communication device is not within coverage of the short-range wireless network.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein the determining further comprises:

detecting whether a user of the mobile communication device is in physical proximity to the short-range wireless network.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein the detecting further comprises:

providing a heat sensor in physical proximity to the short-range wireless network; and

detecting the physical presence of the user of the mobile communication device using the heat sensor.

12. The method of claim 10, wherein the detecting further comprises:

providing a visual image sensor in physical proximity to the short-range wireless network; and

detecting the physical presence of the user of the mobile communication device using the visual image sensor.

13. The method of claim 1, wherein each plurality of interface cradles comprises a plurality of Bluetooth-enabled cradles.

14. The method of claim 1, wherein the mobile communication device includes two wireless components, a first wireless component worn on the belt of a user and a second wireless component worn in the user'"'"'s ear, and further wherein the received data at the host system includes at least one voice call and at least one data message, the method further comprising:

redirecting the voice call to the second wireless component of the mobile communication device and redirecting the data message to the first wireless component of the mobile communication device.

15. The method of claim 14, further comprising:

redirecting the voice call from the host system to the first wireless component of the mobile communication device; and

redirecting the voice call from the first wireless component to the second wireless component of the mobile communication device.

16. The method of claim 1, wherein the long-range wireless network is a Mobitex network, a GSM/GPRS network, or a CDMA network.

17. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

connecting the mobile communication device to the short-range wireless network;

exchanging a shared secret between the connected mobile communication device and the host system; and

using the shared secret to encrypt the received data prior to redirecting it from the host system to the mobile communication device.

18. The method of claim 17, further comprising:

configuring a security password and storing the security password at the host system;

after the mobile communication device has been connected to the short-range wireless network, prompting a user of the mobile communication device to enter the security password; and

if the entered security password matches the stored security password, then generating the shared secret.

19. The method of claim 17, wherein the mobile communication device includes at least two wireless components, a first wireless component worn on the belt of a user and a second wireless component worn in the user'"'"'s ear, the method further comprising

storing the shared secret in the first wireless component of the mobile communication device;

detecting whether the second wireless component of the mobile communication device is physically and electrically connected to the first wireless component of the mobile communication device;

providing the shared secret to the second wireless component of the mobile communication device; and

using the shared secret to encrypt and decrypt communications between the first wireless component and the second wireless component of the mobile communication device.

20. The method of claim 1, wherein the host system is a desktop computer system.

21. The method of claim 1, wherein the host system is a network server.

22. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

providing two communication paths within the short-range wireless communication network for communicating with the mobile device;

determining which of the two communication paths is least congested; and

selecting the communication path that is least congested for redirecting data to the mobile device.

23. A method of routing data from a host system to a mobile device, wherein the mobile device includes two wireless components, a first wireless component for transmitting and receiving data messages and a second wireless component for transmitting and receiving voice calls, the method comprising:

providing a short-range wireless network having a first coverage area;

providing a long-range wireless network having a second coverage area which overlaps with and is larger than the first coverage area;

determining whether the mobile device is within the first coverage area;

if the mobile device is within the first coverage area, then routing data received at the host system for a user of the mobile device to the mobile device via the short-range wireless network;

if the mobile device is not within the first coverage area, then routing data received at the host system for a user of the mobile device to the mobile device via the long-range wireless network,

wherein the short-range wireless network includes a plurality of short-range wireless sub-networks, each short-range wireless sub-network including a plurality of RF-enabled interface cradles for communicating with a short-range RF transceiver of the mobile communication device;

routing voice calls received at the host system to the second wireless component of the mobile device;

routing data messages received at the host system to the first wireless component of the mobile device; and

upon detecting that the second wireless component is connected to the first wireless component, routing voice calls from the host system to a voice mail system account associated with the user of the mobile device.

24. The method of claim 23, wherein the determining further comprising detecting whether the user of the mobile device is within physical proximity to the host system.

25. The method of claim 24, wherein the detecting is accomplished using a heat sensor or a visual image sensor coupled to the host system.

26. The method of claim 23, further comprising:

placing the mobile device in contact with one of the RF-enabled interface cradles;

entering a security password into the mobile device;

if the entered security password is valid, then exchanging a shared secret between the mobile device and the host system; and

using the shared secret to encrypt and decrypt communications between the host system and the mobile device.

27. The method of claim 23, wherein the determining further comprises:

if the mobile device comes within the first coverage area, then generating contact information indicating that the mobile device is within the first coverage area; and

providing the contact information to the host system.

28. The method of claim 23, wherein both the first and second wireless components are operable to effectuate communication over the short-range wireless network.

29. The method of claim 23, wherein the second wireless component includes a rechargeable battery and a short-range wireless transceiver, the method further comprising:

recharging the rechargeable battery of the second wireless component using a power source in the first wireless component when the second wireless component is connected to the first wireless component.

30. A system for redirecting data to a mobile device via a long-range wireless network and a short-range wireless network, the mobile device having a long-range transceiver and a short-range transceiver, the system comprising:

a redirector program for receiving data associated with a user of the mobile device and for redirecting the received data to the mobile device; and

a component configured to determine whether the mobile device is within a coverage area of the short-range wireless network, and if so, to instruct the redirector program to redirect the received data to the mobile device via the short-range wireless network, and if not, to instruct the redirector program to redirect the received data to the mobile device via the long-range wireless network,

wherein the short-range wireless network includes a plurality of short-range wireless sub-networks, each short-range wireless sub-network including a plurality of RF-enabled interface cradles for communicating with the short-range transceiver of the mobile communication device, and further wherein the plurality of short-range wireless sub-networks comprise office-specific sub-networks that are connected via a virtual private network.

31. The system of claim 30, wherein the redirector program is configured to redirect data to a plurality of mobile devices.

32. The system of claim 30, wherein the virtual private network is implemented over the Internet.

33. The system of claim 30, wherein at least one RF-enabled interface cradle is operable to detect whether the mobile device is within its proximity and to generate contact information.

34. The system of claim 33, wherein the contact information includes an electronic address of the at least one RF-enabled interface cradle.

35. The system of claim 30, wherein the plurality of interface cradles of a short-range wireless sub-network comprise a plurality of Bluetooth-enabled interface devices.

36. The system of claim 30, wherein at least one RF-enabled interface cradle includes an interface for electrically and physically coupling to the mobile device.

37. The system of claim 36, further comprising:

means for detecting that the mobile device is coupled to the interface of the at least one RF-enabled interface cradle; and

means for exchanging a shared secret between the mobile device and the redirector program when the mobile device is coupled to the interface of the at least one RF-enabled interface cradle.

38. The system of claim 30, wherein the mobile device is a cellular telephone, a two-way pager, or a personal digital assistant.

39. The system of claim 30, further comprising:

means for detecting short-range RF communications from the mobile device and for generating contact information.

40. The system of claim 30, further comprising:

a sensor for detecting the physical presence of a user of the mobile device within the proximity of the short-range wireless network.

41. The system of claim 40, wherein the sensor is a heat sensor or a visual image sensor.

42. The system of claim 30, wherein the redirector program is operable to the received data with a shared secret prior to redirecting it to the mobile device.

43. The system of claim 42, further comprising:

means for detecting that the mobile device is connected via a secure connection to the redirector program; and

means for exchanging the shared secret between the mobile device and the redirector program.