Systems and methods for enhancing the provisioning and functionality of wireless instruments

• US 8,155,710 B2
• Filed: 09/11/2007
• Issued: 04/10/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 02/23/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Arlene J. Harris
• Original Assignee: Arlene J. Harris
• Inventors: Harris, Arlene J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Appiah, Charles
• Assistant Examiner(s): Peaches, Randy
• Application Number:
  US11/853,577
• Publication Number:
  US 20070298776A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,673 Days
• Field of Search: 455/517, 455/552, 455/553, 455/422, 455/556.1, 455/557, 455/550.1, 455/13, 455/403, 455/414, 455/405, 455/408, 455/445, 455/435.2, 455/410
• US Class Current: 455/573
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/0044 specially adapted for holding portable devices containing batteries H02J7/0045 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/04 Supports for telephone transmitters or receivers
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/2757 by data transmission, e.g. downloading
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72406 by software upgrading or downloading
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2201/40 using speech recognition speech recognition per se G10L15/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/42153 by subscriber
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/42178 by downloading data to substation equipment
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/4938 comprising a voice browser which renders and interprets, e.g. VoiceXML

Abstract

A system and method for enhancing the provisioning and functionality of wireless or portable devices, and more particularly a charging device configured to bi-directionally communicate to a database through the Internet or a private network to configure, update, and provision a wireless portable device while charging the portable or wireless device. Additionally, a system and method for alerting a user that the portable or wireless device requires a programmable action.

Claims

1. A method of provisioning a wireless communications device, the method comprising:

storing information identifying a wireless communications device and information including names and telephone numbers to be downloaded to the wireless communications device in a database accessible via a communications network;

downloading the stored information to the wireless communications device via a charging device coupled to said communications network;

wherein said communication network is a public telephone network;

wherein said wireless communications device is a cellular telephone; and

where said information identifying a wireless communications device is an electronic serial number available on the cellular telephone or packaging.

2. A method of provisioning a wireless communications device, the method comprising:

storing information identifying a wireless communications device and information including names and telephone numbers to be downloaded to the wireless communications device in a database accessible via a communications network;

downloading the stored information to the wireless communications device via a charging device coupled to said communications network;

wherein said communication network is a public telephone network;

wherein said wireless communications device is a cellular telephone; and

wherein the method further comprises;

provisioning another cellular telephone with said stored information following a user misplacing said cellular telephone.

3. A method of provisioning a wireless communications device, the method comprising:

storing information identifying a wireless communications device and information including names and telephone numbers to be downloaded to the wireless communications device in a database accessible via a communications network;

downloading the stored information to the wireless communications device via a charging device coupled to said communications network;

wherein said communication network is a public telephone network;

wherein said wireless communications device is a cellular telephone; and

wherein the method further comprises;

updating information stored in said database with information from the cellular telephone; and

provisioning another cellular telephone with said stored information following a user misplacing said cellular telephone.

4. A method of provisioning a wireless communications device, the method comprising:

storing information identifying a wireless communications device and information including names and telephone numbers to be downloaded to the wireless communications device in a database accessible via a communications network;

downloading the stored information to the wireless communications device via a charging device coupled to said communications network;

wherein said communication network is a public telephone network;

wherein said wireless communications device is a cellular telephone; and

wherein said cellular telephone is a newly purchased cellular telephone which is provisioned, via said downloading, with said information by connecting the newly purchased cellular telephone to the charging device.

5. A method of provisioning a wireless communications device, the method comprising:

storing information identifying said wireless communications device and information including names and telephone numbers to be downloaded to the wireless communications device in a database accessible via a communications network;

downloading the stored names and telephone numbers to be downloaded to the wireless communications device via a charging device that is connected said communications network;

wherein said communication network is a telephone network;

wherein said wireless communications device is a cellular telephone; and

wherein the method further comprises;

updating information stored in said database with information from the cellular telephone; and

provisioning another cellular telephone with said stored information following a user misplacing said cellular telephone.