Technique for configuring data synchronization

• US 8,458,297 B2
• Filed: 03/11/2011
• Issued: 06/04/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 11/03/2003
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Grape Technology Group Incorporated (KGB)
• Original Assignee: Grape Technology Group Incorporated (KGB)
• Inventors: Glatt, Darin C., Richardson, Steven W.
• Primary Examiner(s): VU, VIET DUY
• Application Number:
  US13/045,902
• Publication Number:
  US 20120166388A1
• Time in Patent Office: 816 Days
• Field of Search: 709/217, 709/219, 709/223, 709/225, 709/227, 709/228
• US Class Current: 709/219
• 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: H04L 67/34 involving the movement of software or configuration parameters network booting or remote initial program loading [RIPL] G06F9/4416
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/329 in the application layer [OSI layer 7]

Abstract

A system is provided for configuring data synchronization between two devices. The first device generates a user configuration interface to be presented on the second device. The user interface elicits information from a user regarding a personal information manager (PIM) that is installed on the second device. This information is transmitted to the first device, which downloads to the second device a synchronization application package based on the PIM. The user interface installs the synchronization application on the second device, obtains information regarding data to be synchronized, and transmits that information to the synchronization application.

Claims

1. A method for use in a first server device to configure a second mobile device to perform data synchronization with the first server device in a directory assistance system, said method comprising the steps of:

storing on a server at a directory assistance system personal contacts connection information in a folder associated with a user;

receiving a communication, at said directory system from a mobile device of said user, wherein a profile including said folder associated with said user is identified by said system using a code identifying said user;

as part of said received communication, receiving a request for synchronization of a second set of personal contacts connection information from a personal information manager (PIM) of said user operating on said mobile device with said personal contacts connection information in said folder in said server of said system associated with said user;

transmitting to the second mobile device from said server at said system, via a communication connection, instructions for generating a web-based user interface on the second mobile device, said web-based user interface for use on said second mobile device being the same interface displayed to said user when interacting with said first server device, the user interface being programmed to elicit from a user at the second mobile device information identifying said personal information manager (PIM) used on the second mobile device, and to transmit the information to the first server device at said system via the communication connection; and

providing to the second mobile device via the communication connection a synchronization package based on the PIM-identifying information where the PIM-identifying information is determined by the user interface by detecting settings on the second mobile device, the synchronization package including a synchronization application, the synchronization application being installed on the second mobile device to be utilized via said web-based user interface, the web-based user interface also being programmed to elicit from the user synchronization information regarding data to be synchronized, and to provide the synchronization information to the synchronization application installed on the second mobile device from said first server device at said system.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein the synchronization information is provided to the synchronization application via a component object model (COM) interface.

3. The method according to claim 1, wherein the PIM-identifying information of said second mobile device is provided by the user.

4. The method according to claim 1, further comprising obtaining by the first server device identifying information from the user.

5. The method according to claim 1, wherein the synchronization information comprises folder names and locations.

6. The method according to claim 1, wherein the synchronization information comprises synchronization direction and synchronization schedule.

7. The method according to claim 1, wherein the first server device a network-based server.

8. The method according to claim 7, wherein the network is the Internet.

9. The method according to claim 7, wherein the network is a local area network.

10. The method according to claim 7, wherein the network is the public switched telephone network.

11. The method according to claim 1, wherein the first server device is accessed through an information assistance service.

12. The method according to claim 1, wherein the first and second devices are remotely connected to each other.

13. The method according to claim 1, wherein the first and second devices communicate with each other wirelessly.