Method for updating a personal data file in mobile units of communication networks

• US 7,817,992 B2
• Filed: 05/31/2002
• Issued: 10/19/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 05/31/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Gemalto SA (Thales SA)
• Original Assignee: Gemalto SA (Thales SA)
• Inventors: Tuilier, Edmond
• Primary Examiner(s): Dean; Raymond S
• Application Number:
  US10/479,067
• Publication Number:
  US 20040235467A1
• Time in Patent Office: 3,063 Days
• Field of Search: 455/432.1, 455/517, 455/422.1, 455/451, 455/466, 455/445, 455/458, 455418-420, 455/432.3, 455/463, 455518-519, 709204-207
• US Class Current: 455/418
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/306 User profiles
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/2757 by data transmission, e.g. downloading
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72436 for text messaging, e.g. short messaging services [SMS] or e-mails

Abstract

The invention concerns a method for updating in at least a first mobile communication apparatus (48) of a network, in particular of the GSM type, a personal data file concerning at least a correspondent of the user of the first communication apparatus, said correspondent being equipped with a second mobile communication apparatus (60) and having modified at least one personal information concerning him. The invention is characterized in that it comprises the following main steps which consist in: (a) detecting in said second mobile communication apparatus (60) the call number of said first mobile communication apparatus (48), and (b) transmitting to at least said first mobile communication apparatus (48) said modified personal information.

Claims

1. A method of updating, in at least one first mobile communication apparatus of a network, a file of personal information relating to at least one correspondent of the user of said first communication apparatus, said correspondent being equipped with a second mobile communication apparatus and having modified at least one item of personal information concerning said correspondent, comprising the following steps:

(a) detecting the call number of said first mobile communication apparatus, based on data stored in said second mobile communication apparatus;

(b) determining whether said first mobile communication apparatus contains a software program that is executed in said first mobile communication apparatus to update said file of personal information;

(c) transmitting, by means of a communication on the network to at least said first mobile communication apparatus, said personal information that is modified, by sending an E-SMS (“

Enhanced Short Message Service”

) message to said first communication apparatus,

(d) transmitting said software program with said E-SMS message if a determination is made that said first mobile communication apparatus does not contain said software program; and

(e) executing said software program in said first communication apparatus to update said file of personal information.

2. A method according to claim 1, wherein step (a) comprises the following steps:

(a₁) filtering the data of the second mobile communication apparatus to deduce therefrom at least one correspondent affected by the personal information that has been modified; and

(a₂) detecting the call number of the first apparatus of each identified correspondent.

3. A method according to claim 1 wherein step (a) is carried out by said second mobile communication apparatus via software recorded in a SIM card.

4. A method according to claim 1 wherein step (a) is carried out by a terminal which is connected to the network.

5. A method according to claim 1, wherein the message sent in step (c) includes a message in text form informing the user of the first mobile communication apparatus that an item of personal information of one of his correspondents has been modified.

6. A method according to claim 1, wherein the message contains the old and the new value of the information to be modified.

7. A method according to claim 1, wherein the software program contained in the message is executed in a SIM card of the first apparatus during step (e).

8. A method according to claim 1, wherein the information that has been modified is an address of the user of the second mobile communication apparatus.

9. A method according to claim 1, wherein the information that has been modified is a fax number of the user of the second mobile communication apparatus.

10. A method according to claim 1, wherein the information that has been modified is a call number of the user of the second mobile communication apparatus.

11. A method according to claim 9, wherein the message also contains the old number that has been modified and the new number resulting from the modification.

12. A method according to claim 1, wherein the software program for updating the file of personal data in at least one first communication apparatus executes the following steps:

recognizing in said file of personal data of at least one first communication apparatus the value modified by the correspondent; and

automatically modifying this recognized value with the new value.

13. A method according to claim 10, wherein the message also contains the old number that has been modified and the new number resulting from the modification.

14. The method of claim 1, further including the step of deleting the software program from said first mobile communication apparatus after said program is executed to update said file of personal information.