Method for auto-updating application program

• US 8,014,944 B2
• Filed: 07/14/2006
• Issued: 09/06/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 07/15/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: MiTAC International Corporation (MiTAC Holdings Corp.)
• Original Assignee: MiTAC International Corporation (MiTAC Holdings Corp.)
• Inventors: Lee, Chun-Yi, Cheng, Huey-Ping
• Primary Examiner(s): Trammell; James
• Assistant Examiner(s): Marc; McDieunel
• Application Number:
  US11/457,466
• Publication Number:
  US 20070016361A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,880 Days
• Field of Search: 455/456.5, 701/200, 340/995.1, 704/E15.047, 709/203, 709/204, 709/21
• US Class Current: 701/208
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/3889 Transmission of selected map data, e.g. depending on route
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/3896 Transmission of map data from central databases

Abstract

A method for auto updating application program suitable for a global position system (GPS) navigator is provided. The method comprises the following steps. First, a map-update short message is sent to the GPS navigator at a client terminal from a wireless station. Then, a map-downloading program inside the GPS navigator is woken up when the GPS navigator receives the map-update short message. Then, connecting to a map server through the map-update short message when a user decides to update the map. Accordingly, a newest electronic map can be downloaded from the wireless station.

Claims

1. A method for auto-updating application program suitable for a Global Position System (GPS) navigator, the method comprising:

sending a map-update short message to the GPS navigator at a client terminal from a wireless station, wherein the wireless station transmits the map-update short message to the GPS navigator without any prompt from the GPS navigator;

receiving the map-update short message and waking up a map-downloading program inside the GPS navigator;

connecting to a map server through the map-update short message when a user decides to update an electronic map of the GPS navigator; and

downloading a newest electronic map from the map server to the GPS navigator, the newest electronic map corresponding to a current geographical location of the GPS navigator and indicating street names, longitude coordinates, and latitude coordinates for points depicted in the newest electronic map.

2. The method for auto-updating application program of claim 1, wherein the map-update short message comprises address information of the wireless station and map version information.

3. The method for auto-updating application program of claim 1, wherein the steps of receiving the map-update short message further comprise:

decoding the map-update short message for obtaining a wake-up message; and

decoding the wake-up message for obtaining a Wireless Data Protocol (WDP) port number.

4. The method for auto-updating application program of claim 3, further comprising:

verifying the WDP port number to wake up the map-downloading program inside the GPS navigator.

5. The method for auto-updating application program of claim 3, wherein the map-update short message is decoded by a Short Message Service (SMS) router for obtaining the wake-up message.

6. The method for auto-updating application program of claim 3, wherein the wake-up message is decoded by a Wireless Application Protocol (WAP) router for obtaining the WDP port number.

7. The method for auto-updating application program of claim 1, wherein the map server has a WAP web page for supporting the step of downloading the newest electronic map.

8. The method for auto-updating application program of claim 1, wherein the GPS navigator at the client terminal is connected to the map server through a General Packet Radio Service (GPRS) for downloading the newest electronic map.

9. The method for auto-updating application program of claim 1, further comprising the step of providing a mode for the user to select a map range of the newest electronic map.

10. The method for auto-updating application program of claim 9, wherein the map range includes a local map or a city map, which matches with a desired area for browsing.

11. The method for auto-updating application program of claim 1, further comprising disregarding or deleting the map-update short message when the user decides not to update the electronic map of the GPS navigator.