Apparatus, and associated method, for facilitating synchronization of a wireless device

• US 8,364,649 B2
• Filed: 05/21/2010
• Issued: 01/29/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 05/21/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Malikie Innovations Limited (Key Patent Innovations Limited)
• Original Assignee: Blackberry Limited
• Inventors: Holbein, Marc Edward, Usiski, Angela Dawn
• Primary Examiner(s): Woo, Isaac M
• Application Number:
  US12/785,344
• Publication Number:
  US 20110289238A1
• Time in Patent Office: 984 Days
• Field of Search: 707600-899
• US Class Current: 707/688
• 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: H04W 4/00 Services specially adapted for wireless communication networks; Facilities therefor
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/60 Subscription-based services using application servers or record carriers, e.g. SIM application toolkits

Abstract

An apparatus, and an associated method, facilitates synchronization of a wireless device, such as a portable mobile station. The wireless device is positioned at a support dock, such as a charging cradle of a charging assembly. Positioning of the wireless device at the support dock is detected, such a through detection of application of charging current to the wireless device. Detection of the positioning causes automatic initiation of synchronization operations. Synchronization operations are initiated and then carried out.

Claims

1. An apparatus of a wireless device for facilitating synchronization of a database of the wireless device with a database of a remote device, said apparatus comprising:

a detector configured to detect support-cradle positioning of the wireless device;

a synchronization initiator configured to initiate wireless sending of a synchronization request to the remote device responsive to detection by said detector of the support-cradle positioning of the wireless device;

a synchronization controller configured to control synchronization between the database of the wireless device and the database of the remote device responsive to the wireless device receiving a synchronization response message in response to the synchronization request; and

a transceiver, powered responsive to detection by said detector of the support-cradle positioning of the wireless device and configured to exchange all information necessary to facilitate synchronization directly over a wireless interface with a transceiver of the remote device, including the synchronization request message, the synchronization response message and synchronization data, said transceiver turned-off upon completion of synchronization.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said synchronization initiator is configured to determine that synchronization of the database of the wireless device is needed in response to said detection by said detector of the support-cradle positioning of the wireless device and initiate sending of the synchronization request in response to said determination that synchronization is needed.

3. The apparatus of claim 2 wherein said synchronization initiator determines that synchronization of the database of the wireless device is needed by detecting that the database of the wireless device has change.

4. The apparatus of claim 2 wherein said detector is further configured to detect a response to the synchronization request.

5. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said synchronization initiator is configured to automatically initiate the wireless synchronization upon the detection by said detector.

6. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said synchronization initiator is configured to initiate wireless synchronization via a Wi-Fi link.

7. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said synchronization initiator is configured to initiate wireless synchronization via a Bluetooth link.

8. A method of a wireless device for facilitating synchronization of a database of the wireless device with a database of a remote device, said method comprising:

detecting support-cradle positioning of the wireless device;

initiating wireless synchronization of the database of the wireless device responsive to detection during said detecting of support-cradle positioning of the wireless device;

powering a transceiver in the wireless device responsive to detection during said detecting of the support-cradle positioning of the wireless device;

exchanging all information necessary to facilitate synchronization directly on a wireless interface between the transceiver of the wireless device and a transceiver in the remote device, wherein the exchanging includes transmitting a synchronization request message, receiving a synchronization response message and exchanging synchronization data; and

turning off the transceiver upon completion of the synchronization.

9. The method of claim 8 wherein said initiating synchronization comprises determining that synchronization of the database of the wireless device is needed in response to said detection in the step of detecting, and, initiating sending of the synchronization request in the step of exchanging in response to a determination that synchronization is needed in the determining.

10. The method of claim 9 wherein said determining further comprises determining that synchronization of the database of the wireless device is needed by detecting that the database of the wireless device has changed.

11. The method of claim 10 further comprising powering a local-area transceiver of the wireless device.

12. The method of claim 11 further comprising de-powering the local-area transceiver upon completion of synchronization.

13. A method of a wireless device for synchronizing a database of the wireless device with a system-based database, said method comprising:

positioning the wireless device at a charging cradle;

detecting application of charging current to the wireless device;

powering a transceiver of the wireless device responsive to detection of the application of the charging current;

synchronizing the wireless-device database with the system-based database by way of the transceiver of the wireless device upon a direct radio interface to a transceiver of the system responsive to detection, during said detecting, of the charging current, wherein all information necessary to facilitate synchronization is exchanged directly between the transceiver of wireless device and the transceiver of the system; and

turning-off the transceiver upon completion of synchronization.