Simultaneous nationwide update of database information on mobile communications devices

• US 8,019,317 B2
• Filed: 04/12/2002
• Issued: 09/13/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 04/12/2002
• Status: Expired

• Current Assignee: Thomson Licensing (Vantiva SA)
• Original Assignee: Thomson Licensing (Vantiva SA)
• Inventors: Litwin, Louis Robert
• Primary Examiner(s): FERGUSON, KEITH
• Application Number:
  US10/121,404
• Publication Number:
  US 20040203556A1
• Time in Patent Office: 3,441 Days
• Field of Search: 455/403, 455/412.1, 455/412.2, 4554141-4144, 455/415, 455/416, 455/422.1, 455/418, 455/419, 455/420, 455/550.1, 455/500, 455/517, 455/556.1, 455/556.2, 455/557, 455/558, 455/518, 455/519, 455/564, 455/575.1, 379/207.14, 379/207.15, 379/201.01
• US Class Current: 455/403
• 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

Abstract

A system and method for supporting updates of database contact information to mobile communications devices includes a system having a data entry computer for compiling database contact information for a group of mobile communications devices, a service provider computer server in signal communication with the data entry computer for uploading the database contact information into the service provider computer server and for downloading the database contact information substantially simultaneously to the group of mobile communications devices, and a mobile communications device in signal communication with the service provider computer server for receiving the database contact information and for updating its own global logical database; wherein the method for supporting updates of database contact information to mobile communications devices includes the steps of compiling database contact information for a group of mobile communications devices, uploading the database contact information to a service provider computer server, and downloading the database contact information to the group of mobile communications devices.

Claims

1. A method for supporting updates of database contact information to mobile communications devices, the method comprising:

compiling database contact information for a group of mobile communications devices, each mobile communications device including a local database and a global database;

uploading the database contact information to a master database of a service provider computer server;

downloading the database contact information to and updating each global database of the group of mobile communications devices, wherein the database contact information comprises a plurality of contact names and an associated telephone number for each contact name;

entering database contact information directly into a mobile communications device, said mobile communications device including a local database and a global database; and

enabling a user to indicate whether the entered information is to remain local or global, wherein local information is stored in the local database to be stored only on that mobile communications device and global information is stored in the global database, said global information being sent to the service provider computer server to update the master database.

2. A method as defined in claim 1 wherein said compiling is performed on a data entry computer having a full alphanumeric keyboard.

3. A method as defined in claim 1 wherein said uploading is performed over an internet.

4. A method as defined in claim 1 wherein said downloading is performed substantially simultaneously to each member of the group of mobile communications devices.

5. A method as defined in claim 1 wherein said downloading is performed via wireless links to each member of the group of mobile communications devices.

6. A method as defined in claim 1 wherein the group of mobile communications devices is a subset of the mobile communications devices serviced by the service provider computer server.

7. A method as defined in claim 1 wherein the group of mobile communications devices is one of a plurality of groups serviced by the service provider computer server.

8. A method as defined in claim 1 wherein the database contact information further comprises a Database Number Type parameter.

9. A method as defined in claim 1, further comprising:

locally storing the entered contact information in a local logical database if the information is to be kept private;

globally storing the entered contact information in a global logical database if the information is to be shared with a group;

uploading information to be shared to the service provider computer server; and

updating the database contact information for the group to reflect the uploaded information to be shared.

10. A method as defined in claim 9 wherein said entering is performed manually via a keypad.

11. A method as defined in claim 9 wherein said entering is performed automatically in response to Caller ID information.

12. A method as defined in claim 9 wherein said globally storing requires an affirmative decision by a user.

13. A method as defined in claim 9 wherein said uploading is performed via a wireless link.

14. A method as defined in claim 9 wherein said uploading is performed via a cellular network.

15. A method as defined in claim 1 wherein said downloading comprises downloading a Mobile Database Update message.

16. A program storage device readable by machine, tangibly embodying a program of instructions executable by the machine to perform method steps for supporting updates of database contact information to mobile communications devices, the method steps comprising:

compiling database contact information for a group of mobile communications devices, each mobile communications device including a local database and a global database;

uploading the database contact information to a master database of a service provider computer server;

downloading the database contact information to and updating each global database of the group of mobile communications devices, wherein the database contact information comprises a plurality of contact names and an associated telephone number for each contact name;

entering database contact information directly into a mobile communications device, said mobile communications device including a local database and a global database; and

determining whether the entered information is to remain local or global, wherein local information is stored in the local database to be stored only on that mobile communications device and global information is stored in the global database, said global information being sent to the service provider computer server to update the master database.

17. A program storage device as defined in claim 16, the method steps further comprising:

locally storing the entered contact information in a local logical database if the information is to be kept private;

globally storing the entered contact information in a global logical database if the information is to be shared with a group;

uploading information to be shared to the service provider computer server; and

updating the database contact information for the group to reflect the uploaded information to be shared.

18. A system for supporting updates of database contact information to mobile communications devices, the system comprising:

compiling means for compiling database contact information for a group of mobile communications devices, each mobile communications device including a local database and a global database;

uploading means for uploading the database contact information to a master database of a service provider computer server;

downloading and updating means for downloading the database contact information to and updating each global database of the group of mobile communications devices, wherein the database contact information comprises a plurality of contact names and an associated telephone number for each contact name;

entering means for entering database contact information directly into a mobile communications device, said mobile communications device including a local database and a global database; and

determining means for determining whether the entered information is to remain local or global, wherein local information is stored in the local database to be stored only on that mobile communications device and global information is stored in the global database, said global information being sent to the service provider computer server to update the master database.

19. A system as defined in claim 18, further comprising:

locally storing means for locally storing the entered contact information in a local logical database if the information is to be kept private;

globally storing means for globally storing the entered contact information in a global logical database if the information is to be shared with a group;

uploading means for uploading information to be shared to the service provider computer server; and

updating means for updating the database contact information for the group to reflect the uploaded information to be shared.

20. A system for supporting updates of database contact information to mobile communications devices comprising:

a data entry computer for compiling database contact information for a group of mobile communications devices, each mobile communications device including a local database and a global database;

a service provider computer server in signal communication with the data entry computer for uploading the database contact information into a master database of the service provider computer server and for downloading the database contact information substantially simultaneously to each global database of the group of mobile communications devices; and

a mobile communications device in signal communication with the service provider computer server for receiving the database contact information and for updating its own global logical database, wherein the mobile device further comprises

entering means for entering database contact information directly into said mobile device;

determining means for enabling a user to determine whether the entered information is to remain local or global;

a local database for locally storing the entered contact information in a local logical database if the information is to be stored only on that mobile communications device; and

a global database for globally storing the entered contact information in a global logical database if the information is to be shared with a group, wherein global information is sent to the service provider computer server to update the master database.

21. A system as defined in claim 20, further comprising:

an internet coupled in signal communication between the data entry computer and the service provider computer server; and

a cellular network coupled in signal communication between the service provider computer server and the mobile communications device.

22. A system as defined in claim 21, further comprising:

a base station coupled in signal communication between the cellular network and the mobile communications device.

23. A system as defined in claim 22, further comprising:

a wireless link coupled in signal communication between the base station and the mobile communications device.

24. A system as defined in claim 20, further comprising:

a plurality of mobile communications devices, each in signal communication with the service provider computer server for receiving the database contact information.