Method for renewing program files of a programmable mobile telecommunications terminal

• US 8,280,361 B2
• Filed: 11/14/2002
• Issued: 10/02/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 11/15/2001
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: T-Mobile Deutschland GmbH (Deutsche Telekom AG)
• Original Assignee: T-Mobile Deutschland GmbH (Deutsche Telekom AG)
• Inventors: Schmitt, Harald
• Primary Examiner(s): Appiah, Charles
• Assistant Examiner(s): Holliday, Jaime
• Application Number:
  US10/495,181
• Publication Number:
  US 20050048959A1
• Time in Patent Office: 3,610 Days
• Field of Search: 455/418, 455/420, 455/419, 455/435.1
• US Class Current: 455/418
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/245 from a network towards a terminal

Abstract

The invention relates to a method for renewing program files of a programmable, mobile telecommunications terminal, according to which the program files are transmitted from a telecommunications network to the telecommunications terminal via the air interface. The aim of the invention is to allow the program files to be renewed in a simple and cost-effective manner and with little effort. To achieve this, the terminal type is determined by the telecommunications network, new program files that exist in devices of the telecommunications network, or are available elsewhere are determined and made available for the identified terminal type and the existing new program files are automatically transmitted to the terminal via the air interface.

Claims

1. A method for renewing program files of a programmable, mobile telecommunications terminal, in which the program files are transmitted by a mobile carrier'"'"'s telecommunications network via an air interface to the telecommunications terminal, comprising:

automatically transmitting an IMEI of the terminal from the terminal to the mobile carrier'"'"'s telecommunications network each time a connection is established between the terminal and the mobile carrier'"'"'s telecommunications network;

determining the terminal type at the telecommunications network on the basis of the IMEI for the terminal;

automatically identifying a need to replace program files in the terminal at the time of the connection and initiating a process for renewing of the program files based solely on transmission of the IMEI from the terminal to the telecommunications network and for determining whether new program files are available for the terminal type determined, each time a connection is established between the terminal and the telecommunications network and the IMEI of the terminal is transmitted from the terminal to the telecommunication network;

automatically initiating a process for transferring the existing new program files via the air interface to the terminal only when it is determined that new program files are available; and

automatically installing the transferred new program files in the terminal, or automatically replacing existing program files with the transferred new program files, wherein the terminal receives and stores program files or parts of program files from the telecommunications network during operation, and installs these program files or replaces existing program files automatically once the program files or parts of program files have been received completely.

2. The method as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that the transfer and installation of the program files take place only after acceptance by the user of the terminal (1).

3. The method of claim 1, wherein determining the terminal type at the telecommunications network on the basis of the IMEI for the terminal is performed each time the IMEI of the terminal is transmitted from the terminal to the telecommunications network.