System and method for data synchronization between devices

• US 7,962,575 B2
• Filed: 11/03/2003
• Issued: 06/14/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 11/03/2003
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Grape Technology Group Incorporated (KGB)
• Original Assignee: Grape Technology Group Incorporated (KGB)
• Inventors: Richardson, Steven W., Glatt, Darin C.
• Primary Examiner(s): VU, VIET DUY
• Application Number:
  US10/700,083
• Publication Number:
  US 20050097225A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,780 Days
• Field of Search: 709/217, 709/219, 709/223, 709/225, 709/227, 709/228, 709/250
• US Class Current: 709/219
• 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 67/34 involving the movement of software or configuration parameters network booting or remote initial program loading [RIPL] G06F9/4416
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/329 in the application layer [OSI layer 7]

Abstract

In configuring data synchronization between two devices, the first device generates a user configuration interface to be presented on the second device. The user interface elicits information from a user regarding a personal information manager (PIM) that is installed on the second device. This information is transmitted to the first device, which downloads to the second device a synchronization application package based on the PIM. The user interface installs the synchronization application on the second device, obtains information regarding data to be synchronized, and transmits that information to the synchronization application. This information may include names and locations of folders to be synchronized and synchronization preferences such as synchronization direction and schedule. The devices may include servers, PCs, PDAs, handheld computers, and wireless phones. The server may be network-based, accessible via the Internet, a LAN, or the PSTN. Alternatively, the connection between the devices may be local or dedicated, and wired or wireless.

Claims

1. A method for use in a first device to configure a second device to perform data synchronization with the first device in a directory assistance system, said method comprising the steps of:

storing at a directory assistance system personal contacts connection information in a folder associated with a user;

receiving a communication at said directory system from said user, wherein a profile including said folder associated with said user is identified by said system using a code identifying said user;

as part of said received communication, receiving a request for synchronization of a second set of personal contacts connection information from a personal information manager (PIM) of said user with said personal contacts connection information in said folder at said system associated with said user;

transmitting to the second device from a first device at said system, via a communication connection, instructions for generating a web-based user interface on the second device, said web-based user interface for use on said second device being the same interface as used on said first device, the user interface being programmed to elicit from a user at the second device information identifying said personal information manager (PIM) used on the second device, and to transmit the information to the first device at said system via the communication connection; and

providing to the second device via the communication connection a synchronization package based on the PIM-identifying information where the PIM-identifying information is determined by the user interface by detecting settings on the second device, the synchronization package including a synchronization application, the synchronization application being installed on the second device to be utilized via said web-based user interface, the web-based user interface also being programmed to elicit from the user synchronization information regarding data to be synchronized, and to provide the synchronization information to the synchronization application installed on the second device from said first device at said system.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein the synchronization information is provided to the synchronization application via a component object model (COM) interface.

3. The method according to claim 1, wherein the PIM-identifying information is provided by the user.

4. The method according to claim 1, further comprising obtaining by the first device identifying information from the user.

5. The method according to claim 1, wherein the synchronization information comprises folder names and locations.

6. The method according to claim 1, wherein the synchronization information comprises synchronization direction and synchronization schedule.

7. The method according to claim 1, wherein the first device is a server.

8. The method according to claim 7, wherein the server is network-based.

9. The method according to claim 8, wherein the network is the Internet.

10. The method according to claim 8, wherein the network is a local area network.

11. The method according to claim 8, wherein the network is the public switched telephone network.

12. The method according to claim 7, wherein the server is accessed through an information assistance service.

13. The method according to claim 1, wherein the first and second devices are connected to each other.

14. The method according to claim 1, wherein the first and second devices communicate with each other wirelessly.

15. An apparatus at a directory assistance system for configuring a device to perform data synchronization with the apparatus, comprising:

A database at said directory assistance system for storing personal contacts connection information in a folder associated with a user;

An interface at said directory assistance system for receiving a communication at said directory system from said user, wherein a profile including said folder associated with said user is identified by said system using a code identifying said user, wherein as part of said received communication, receiving a request for synchronization of a second set of personal contacts connection information from a personal information manager (PIM) of said user with said personal contacts connection information in said folder at said system associated with said user;

a communication interface for transmitting from the system to the device, via a communication connection, instructions for generating a web-based user interface on the device, said web-based user interface for use on said device being the same interface as used on said apparatus, the user interface being programmed to elicit from a user at the device information identifying said personal information manager (PIM) used on the device, and to transmit the information to the apparatus at said system via the communication connection; and

a processor for providing to the device via the communication connection a synchronization package based on the PIM-identifying information where the PIM-identifying information is determined by the user interface by detecting settings on the second device, the synchronization package including a synchronization application, the synchronization application being installed on the device to be utilized via said web-based interface, the web-based user interface also being programmed to elicit from the user synchronization information regarding data to be synchronized, and to provide the synchronization information to the synchronization application installed on the device from said apparatus at said system.

16. The apparatus according to claim 15, wherein the synchronization information is provided to the synchronization application via a component object model (COM) interface.

17. The apparatus according to claim 15, wherein the PIM-identifying information is provided by the user.

18. The apparatus according to claim 15, wherein identifying information is obtained from the user.

19. The apparatus according to claim 15, wherein the synchronization information comprises folder names and locations.

20. The apparatus according to claim 15, wherein the synchronization information comprises synchronization direction and synchronization schedule.

21. The apparatus according to claim 15, wherein the apparatus is a server.

22. The apparatus according to claim 21, wherein the server is network-based.

23. The apparatus according to claim 22, wherein the network is the Internet.

24. The apparatus according to claim 22, wherein the network is a local area network.

25. The apparatus according to claim 22, wherein the network is the public switched telephone network.

26. The apparatus according to claim 21, wherein the server is accessed through an information assistance service.

27. The apparatus according to claim 15, wherein the apparatus and the device are connected to each other.

28. The apparatus according to claim 15, wherein the apparatus and the device communicate with each other wirelessly.