Methods and apparatus to integrate mobile communications device management with web browsing

• US 7,889,869 B2
• Filed: 08/20/2004
• Issued: 02/15/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 08/20/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Nokia Technologies Oy (Nokia Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Nokia Corporation
• Inventors: Mittal, Gaurav, Ypyä, Tapio
• Primary Examiner(s): TRAN, ELLEN C
• Application Number:
  US10/923,439
• Publication Number:
  US 20060039561A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,370 Days
• Field of Search: 380/270, 726/29, 725/114
• US Class Current: 380/270
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/0253 using browsers or web-pages for accessing management information
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/02 based on web technology, e.g. hypertext transfer protocol [HTTP]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/34 involving the movement of software or configuration parameters network booting or remote initial program loading [RIPL] G06F9/4416
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2203/053 remote terminal provisioning, e.g. of applets
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/42178 by downloading data to substation equipment
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 7/006 Networks other than PSTN/ISDN providing telephone service, e.g. Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) , including next generation networks with a packet-switched transport layer H04L65/00 takes precedence; aspects not specific to the type of network H04M3/00; special services in those networks H04M3/42
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 80/00 Wireless network protocols or protocol adaptations to wireless operation

Abstract

A method includes, in response to receiving a certain type of HTTP request message from a device during a browsing session, sending a HTTP response message to the device. The HTTP response message includes a dedicated MIME-type for indicating that a device management session is being initiated, and the device management session is identified by an identifier that forms part of the HTTP response message. The device replies to the HTTP response message with a device management session reply that comprises device details and the identifier. Using the device details, the system develops a list containing at least one download option that is compatible with the device and sends the list to the device. In response to a user selecting the at least one download option from the list, the system delivers the selected at least one download option to the device during a device management session.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

transmitting a certain type of hypertext transfer protocol request message from a device during a first type of session and in response, receiving a certain type of hypertext transfer protocol response message, the certain type of hypertext transfer protocol response message comprising a dedicated multipurpose internet mail extensions type indicating that a second type of session is being initiated, the second type of session being a different type of session from the first type of session, the second type of session being identified by an identifier embedded in the certain type of hypertext transfer protocol response message,

where the first type of session is used for communication between a web server and a web browser running on the device and the second type of session is used for communication between a device management server that is connected to the web server and a device management client running on the device, and

where the first type of session uses a first protocol and the second type of session uses a second, different client-server protocol;

in response to receiving the certain type of hypertext transfer protocol response message, transmitting in the second type of session a device management session reply that comprises device details and the identifier,

where the device details comprise at least one of a device identifier and a firmware identifier;

receiving in the first type of session a list at the device, the list comprising at least one download option that is descriptive of downloadable information that is compatible with the device details; and

in response to selecting the at least one download option from the list, receiving downloadable information described by the selected at least one download option at the device during the second type of session.

2. A method as in claim 1, where the certain type of hypertext transfer protocol response message comprises an encrypted client provisioning message.

3. A method as in claim 2, where the certain type of hypertext transfer protocol request message triggers a transaction with a workflow manager that establishes the identifier, where the workflow manager creates the client provisioning message and encrypts it with a secret key.

4. A method as in claim 1, where the list is received at the device using the first type of session.

5. A method as in claim 1, where the device comprises a unit having a wireless transceiver configured to communicate with a web server, and where the delivered downloadable information comprises an application program.

6. A method as in claim 1, where the device comprises a unit having a wireless transceiver configured to communicate with a web server, and where the delivered downloadable information comprises firmware.

7. A system comprising:

a device and a web server coupled together via a wireless link;

the web server being configured to send, in response to receiving a certain type of hypertext transfer protocol request message from the device during a first type of session, a certain type of hypertext transfer protocol response message towards the device, the hypertext transfer protocol response message comprising a dedicated multipurpose internet mail extensions type indicating that a second type of session is being initiated, the second type of session being identified by an identifier embedded in the hypertext transfer protocol response message;

said device comprising a device management client configured to reply in the second type of session to the certain type of hypertext transfer protocol response message with a device management session reply that comprises device details and the identifier, where the device details comprise at least one of a device identifier and a firmware identifier;

where said device management server is configured to use the device details, in cooperation with a workflow manager, to develop a list comprising at least one download option that is descriptive of downloadable information that is compatible with the device details,

the web server is configured to send the generated list to the device; and

in response to a user selecting the at least one download option from the list, said device management server is configured to deliver downloadable information described by the selected at least one download option to the device during a second type of session.

8. A system as in claim 7, where the certain type of hypertext transfer protocol response message comprises an encrypted client provisioning message.

9. A system as in claim 8, where the certain type of hypertext transfer protocol request message triggers a transaction with said workflow manager that establishes the identifier, where the workflow manager creates the client provisioning message and encrypts it with a secret key.

10. A system as in claim 9, where said workflow manager comprises an interface with at least one back-end system, and where the client provisioning message is encrypted in cooperation with at least one back-end system.

11. A system as in claim 7, where the list is sent to the device using the first type of session and hypertext transfer protocol protocols.

12. A system as in claim 7, where the device comprises a wireless transceiver configured to communicate with the web server, and where the delivered downloadable information comprises an application program.

13. A system as in claim 7, where the device comprises a wireless transceiver configured to communicate with the web server, and where the delivered downloadable information comprises firmware.

14. A system as in claim 7, where the device comprises a communications unit having a wireless transceiver configured to communicate with the web server, and where the delivered downloadable information comprises a program.

15. A method comprising:

during a first type of session using a first protocol, receiving an inquiry from a device with regard to downloadable information;

in response to the inquiry, initiating a secure device management wireless dialogue using a second, different client-server protocol with the device to obtain device-specific parameters descriptive of at least certain capabilities of the device, where the device-specific parameters comprise at least one of a device identifier and a firmware identifier;

generating a list and sending the list to the device, the list comprising at least one entry that is descriptive of downloadable information that is compatible with the device capabilities; and

during the first type of session, in response to a selection of at least one entry from the list, downloading in the second type of session the downloadable information to the device corresponding to the selected at least one entry,

where initiating the secure device management wireless dialogue with the device uses a hypertext transfer protocol response message that is transmitted in the first type of session and comprises a predetermined multipurpose internet mail extensions type indicating that a second type of session is being initiated, the second type of session being identified by an identifier embedded in the hypertext transfer protocol response message.

16. A device comprising a user interface and a controller configured to operate with a program to perform operations:

during a first type of session using a first protocol to send an inquiry with regard to downloadable information;

in response to receiving a response to the inquiry through a wireless network, to establish a secure second type of session that is a different type of session from the first type of session, using a second, different client-server protocol to send device-specific parameters descriptive of at least certain capabilities of the device, where the device-specific parameters comprise at least one of a device identifier and a firmware identifier;

to receive in the first type of session a list having at least one entry that is descriptive of downloadable information that is compatible with the device capabilities;

to receive in the second type of session downloadable information corresponding to at least one entry from the list,

where establishment of the second type of session is performed in response to receiving in the first type of session a hypertext transfer protocol response message that comprises a predetermined multipurpose internet mail extensions type indicating that the second type of session is being initiated, the second type of session being identified by an identifier embedded in the hypertext transfer protocol response message.

17. A computer useable memory tangibly embodying a computer readable program, wherein the computer readable program when executed on a computer causes the computer to perform operations, comprising:

transmitting a certain type of hypertext transfer protocol request message during a first type of session and in response, receiving a certain type of hypertext transfer protocol response message, the certain type of hypertext transfer protocol response message comprising a dedicated multipurpose internet mail extensions type indicating that a second type of session is being initiated, the second type of session being a different type of session from the first type of session, the second type of session being identified by an identifier embedded in the certain type of hypertext transfer protocol response message;

in response to receiving the certain type of hypertext transfer protocol response message transmitting in the second type of session a device management session reply that comprises device details and the identifier,

where the device details comprise at least one of a device identifier and a firmware identifier;

receiving in the first type of session a list comprising at least one download option that is descriptive of downloadable information that is compatible with the device details;

transmitting a user selection of the at least one download option from the list; and

receiving the selected at least one download option to the device during a second type of session,

where the first type of session is used for communication between a web server and a web browser running on the device and the second type of session is used for communication between a device management server and a device management client running on the device.

18. A computer readable memory as in claim 17, where the certain type of hypertext transfer protocol response message comprises an encrypted client provisioning message.

19. A computer readable memory as in claim 17, where the delivered downloadable information comprises an application program.

20. A computer readable memory as in claim 17, where the delivered downloadable information comprises firmware.