Cellular device management

• US 8,498,621 B2
• Filed: 08/20/2008
• Issued: 07/30/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 08/20/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: AT&T Mobility II LLC (AT&T, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: AT&T Mobility II LLC (AT&T, Inc.)
• Inventors: Jones, Gregory, Jones, Corey
• Primary Examiner(s): Afshar, Kamran
• Assistant Examiner(s): Obayanju, Omoniyi
• Application Number:
  US12/195,309
• Publication Number:
  US 20100048192A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,805 Days
• Field of Search: 455/412.1, 455/419, 455/420
• US Class Current: 455/412.1
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/2757 by data transmission, e.g. downloading
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72445 for supporting Internet browser applications
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72448 with means for adapting the functionality of the device according to specific conditions
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/42161 via computer interface
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/245 from a network towards a terminal

Abstract

A server device of a communication system provides a web interface to allow a user to modify user interface settings and contact information. The server device communicates the modified settings and contact information to the mobile communication device via a wireless communication network. Accordingly, the user can conveniently configure user interface settings, such as ring tones, alarm settings, or the like, via a web interface, rather than through a cumbersome interface at the mobile communication device. In addition, the user interface settings are communicated to the mobile communication device via the same wireless communication network that carries voice data. Thus, the user interface of the mobile communication device, as well as the stored contact information, can be updated without requiring the user to connect the device to a computer.

Claims

1. A method, comprising:

providing an interface program, using a server device, to receive a plurality of updates corresponding to a plurality of programmable user interface features and a stored contact list of a mobile communication device upon receiving a request to update the mobile communication device, the plurality of programmable user interface features including a ring tone setting, a volume setting, an alarm setting, and a game setting, the plurality of programmable user interface features being updated with a video data and

updating the mobile communication device, using the server device, with the received plurality of updates, the server device maintaining previous versions of the programmable user interface features to enable a recall of any of the previous versions of the programmable user interface features, the recall being necessitated by at least one of an accidental change or a data corruption;

wherein the interface program is a web interface including a contact information panel, a ring tone menu button, and alarm menu button, a game menu, and a calendar menu, the contact information panel including a name column to display a name information and a phone number column to display a phone number corresponding to the name information, the contact information panel enabling an entry of a new contact information and an adjustment to an existing contact information.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the game setting includes a customizable mobile game setting.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the plurality of programmable user interface features further includes a screen brightness setting.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the request is received in response to an expiration of a defined period of time.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the request is received from the mobile communication device.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the request is received via a wireless communication network.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the receiving of the request comprises:

receiving an identification information for the mobile communication device;

determining a data format based on the identification information; and

communicating the plurality of updates to the mobile communication device upon converting the plurality of updates to the data format.

16. The method of claim 1, wherein the plurality of programmable user interface features is further updated with at least one of a picture data or a music data.

17. The method of claim 7, wherein the converted plurality of updates is communicated via a wide area network.

8. A method, comprising:

providing an interface program, using a server device, to receive a plurality of updates corresponding to a plurality of programmable user interface features of a plurality of mobile communication devices, the plurality of programmable user interface features including a ring tone setting, a volume setting, an alarm setting, and a game setting, the plurality of programmable user interface features being updated with a video data; and

updating the plurality of mobile communication devices, using the server device, with the received plurality of updates, the server device maintaining previous versions of the programmable user interface features to enable a recall of any of the previous versions of the programmable user interface features, the recall being necessitated by at least one of an accidental change or a data corruption;

wherein the interface program is a web interface including a contact information panel, a ring tone menu button, and alarm menu button, a game menu, and a calendar menu, the contact information panel including a name column to display a name information and a phone number column to display a phone number corresponding to the name information, the contact information panel enabling an entry of a new contact information and an adjustment to an existing contact information.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein the plurality of mobile communication devices comprises a first mobile communication device and a second mobile communication device.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein communicating the plurality of updates further comprises:

determining a second device type associated with the second mobile communication device;

converting the plurality of updates to a second data format to determine a second converted plurality of updates, the second data format being based on the second device type; and

communicating the second converted plurality of updates to the wireless communication network.

18. The method of claim 8, wherein the plurality of programmable user interface features is further updated with at least one of a picture data or a music data.

19. The method of claim 9, wherein communicating the plurality of updates comprises:

determining a first device type associated with the first mobile communication device;

converting the plurality of updates to a first data format to determine a first converted plurality of updates, the first data format being based on the first device type; and

communicating the first converted plurality of updates to the wireless communication network.

11. A method, comprising:

communicating to a mobile communication device, using a server device, a plurality of updates corresponding to a plurality of programmable user interface features and a stored contact list of a mobile communication device, the plurality of programmable user interface features including a ring tone setting, a volume setting, an alarm setting, and a game setting, the plurality of programmable user interface features being updated with a video data; and

implementing, using the server device, the plurality of updates on the mobile communication device, the server device maintaining previous versions of the programmable user interface features to enable a recall of any of the previous versions of the programmable user interface features, the recall being necessitated by at least one of an accidental change or a data corruption;

wherein the plurality of updates are specified using an interface program provided by the server device, the interface program including a contact information panel, a ring tone menu button, and alarm menu button, a game menu, and a calendar menu, the contact information panel including a name column to display a name information and a phone number column to display a phone number corresponding to the name information, the contact information panel enabling an entry of a new contact information and an adjustment to an existing contact information.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein the plurality of updates are communicated to the mobile communication device in response to an expiration of a defined period of time.

13. The method of claim 11, wherein the plurality of updates are communicated to the mobile communication device in response to a user interaction with the mobile communication device.

20. The method of claim 11, wherein the plurality of programmable user interface features is further updated with at least one of a picture data or a music data.

14. A system, comprising:

a mobile communication device; and

a server device in communication with the mobile communication device, the server device performing functions including;

providing an interface program to receive a plurality of updates corresponding to a plurality of programmable user interface features and a stored contact list of a mobile communication device upon receiving a request to update the mobile communication device, the plurality of programmable user interface features including a ring tone setting, a volume setting, an alarm setting, and a game setting, the plurality of programmable user interface features being updated with a video data; and

updating the mobile communication device with the received plurality of updates, the server device maintaining previous versions of the programmable user interface features to enable a recall of any of the previous versions of the programmable user interface features, the recall being necessitated by at least one of an accidental change or a data corruption;

wherein the interface program is a web interface including a contact information panel, a ring tone menu button, and alarm menu button, a game menu, and a calendar menu, the contact information panel including a name column to display a name information and a phone number column to display a phone number corresponding to the name information, the contact information panel enabling an entry of a new contact information and an adjustment to an existing contact information.

21. The system of claim 14, wherein the plurality of programmable user interface features is further updated with at least one of a picture data or a music data.

22. The system of claim 14, wherein the plurality of updates are communicated to the mobile communication device via a wide area network.

15. A mobile communication device, comprising:

a processor; and

an input device in communication with the processor to perform functions including;

receiving from a server device an interface program, the interface program being a web interface having a plurality of panels for a plurality of programmable user interface features and a contact list, the plurality of programmable user interface features including a ring tone setting, a volume setting, an alarm setting, and a game setting, the contact information panel including a name column to display a name information and a phone number column to display a phone number corresponding to the name information, the contact information panel enabling an entry of a new contact information and an adjustment to an existing contact information; and

inputting a plurality of updates corresponding to the plurality of programmable user interface features and the contact list of the mobile communication device, the plurality of programmable user interface features being updated with a video data, the inputted plurality of updates being received at the server device;

wherein the server device maintains previous versions of the programmable user interface features to enable a recall of any of the previous versions of the programmable user interface features, the recall being necessitated by at least one of an accidental change or a data corruption.

23. The mobile communication device of claim 15, wherein the plurality of programmable user interface features is further updated with at least one of a picture data or a music data.

24. The mobile communication device of claim 15, wherein the programmable user interface features further includes a screen brightness setting.