Methods and apparatus for automatically causing a mobile device to download a file

• US 8,648,714 B2
• Filed: 07/09/2012
• Issued: 02/11/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 06/13/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: RPX Corporation
• Original Assignee: RPX Corporation
• Inventors: Raduchel, William J.
• Primary Examiner(s): TRIEU, VAN THANH
• Application Number:
  US13/544,465
• Publication Number:
  US 20120276890A1
• Time in Patent Office: 582 Days
• Field of Search: 340/505, 340/506, 340/539.1, 340/539.11, 340/539.13, 340/539.17, 340/7.2, 340/7.55, 340/7.56, 455/412.1, 455/412.2, 455/414.1, 379/142.04, 379/142.17, 370/389, 370/392, 395/566, 395/733, 715/739, 715/752, 705/2, 709/217, 709/227, 709/231, 709/239, 710/72, 717/177
• US Class Current: 340/539.11
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/24 Reminder alarms, e.g. anti-loss alarms
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/12 Messaging; Mailboxes; Announcements
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/14 between corresponding nodes

Abstract

Disclosed methods and apparatus automatically cause a mobile communication device to download a file using a designated remote device. A user interface enables selection of the designated remote device and of a designated code corresponding to downloading the file to the mobile communication device from the designated remote device. A processor: receives a coded electronic communication (CEC), identifies origination of the CEC, determines whether the identified originator of the CEC is the designated remote device, identifies a code included in the CEC, upon determining that the identified originator of the CEC is the designated remote device, determines whether the identified code included in the CEC is the designated code, and provides an instruction to cause the mobile communication device to download the file, upon determining that the identified code included in the CEC is the designated code.

Claims

1. An apparatus for automatically causing a mobile communication device to download a file using a designated remote device, comprising:

a user interface configured to enable selection of the designated remote device and selection of a designated code corresponding to downloading the file to the mobile communication device from the designated remote device;

a processor that is separate from the designated remote device and configured to;

receive a coded electronic communication subsequent to selection of the designated remote device and the designated code;

identify origination of the coded electronic communication;

determine whether the identified originator of the coded electronic communication is the designated remote device;

identify a code included in the coded electronic communication, upon determining that the identified originator of the coded electronic communication is the designated remote device;

determine whether the identified code included in the coded electronic communication is the designated code; and

provide an instruction to cause the mobile communication device to download the file, upon determining that the identified code included in the coded electronic communication is the designated code.

2. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the processor is configured to identify a code included in a coded electronic communication that is in the form of one of a text message, a short message service message, a phone call, and an Internet Protocol (IP) communication.

3. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the processor is configured to identify origination of a coded electronic communication from the designated remote device over a network as facilitated by a service provider.

4. The apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the service provider facilitates direct communication between the designated remote device and the processor, and direct communication between the mobile communication device and the designated remote device, such that the designated remote device sends the coded electronic communication directly to the processor, the mobile communication device directly downloads the file from the designated remote device, and the mobile communication device includes the user interface and the processor.

5. The apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the service provider facilitates indirect communication between the mobile communication device and the designated remote device, such that the designated remote device downloads the file to the service provider, the service provider downloads the file to the mobile communication device, and the service provider includes the processor.

6. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the user interface is configured to enable selection of multiple designated codes corresponding to different types of files to be downloaded to the mobile communication device, and the processor determines whether the identified code included in the coded electronic communication is one of the designated codes, and downloads the corresponding file to the mobile communication device, upon determining that the identified code included in the coded electronic communication is one of the designated codes.

7. The apparatus according to claim 6, wherein the user interface is configured to enable selection of multiple designated remote devices, the user interface is configured to enable selection of different of the multiple codes for each of the multiple designated remote devices;

and the processor downloads the corresponding file to the mobile communication device, upon determining that the identified code included in the coded electronic communication is one of the designated codes for the corresponding designated remote device.

8. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the file for downloading to the mobile communication device is a software update for the mobile communication device.

9. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the file for downloading to the mobile communication device is an electronic media file.

10. The apparatus according to claim 9, wherein the electronic media file includes data relating to at least one of a picture, a song, and a video.

11. A non-transitory recording medium that stores a program for automatically causing a mobile communication device to download a file using a designated remote device via a user interface, the user interface being configured to enable selection of the designated remote device and selection of a designated code corresponding to downloading the file to the mobile communication device from the designated remote device, the program causing a computer to perform the following via a processor that is separate from the designated remote device:

receiving a coded electronic communication subsequent to selection of the designated remote device and the designated code;

identifying origination of the coded electronic communication;

determining whether the identified originator of the coded electronic communication is the designated remote device;

identifying a code included in the coded electronic communication, upon determining that the identified originator of the coded electronic communication is the designated remote device;

determining whether the identified code included in the coded electronic communication is the designated code; and

providing an instruction to cause the mobile communication device to download the file, upon determining that the identified code included in the coded electronic communication is the designated code.

12. The non-transitory recording medium according to claim 11, wherein the program causes the computer to identify a code included in a coded electronic communication that is in the form of one of a text message, a short message service message, a phone call, and an Internet Protocol (IP) communication.

13. The non-transitory recording medium according to claim 11, wherein the program causes the computer to identify origination of a coded electronic communication from the designated remote device over a network as facilitated by a service provider.

14. The non-transitory recording medium according to claim 13, wherein the service provider facilitates direct communication between the designated remote device and the processor, and direct communication between the mobile communication device and the designated remote device, such that the designated remote device sends the coded electronic communication directly to the processor, the mobile communication device directly downloads the file from the designated remote device, and the mobile communication device includes the user interface and the program.

15. The non-transitory recording medium according to claim 13, wherein the service provider facilitates indirect communication between the mobile communication device and the designated remote device, such that the designated remote device downloads the file to the service provider, the service provider downloads the file to the mobile communication device, and the service provider includes the program.

16. The non-transitory recording medium according to claim 11, wherein the user interface is configured to enable selection of multiple designated codes corresponding to different types of files to be downloaded to the mobile communication device, and the program causes the computer to determine whether the identified code included in the coded electronic communication is one of the designated codes, and download the corresponding file to the mobile communication device, upon determining that the identified code included in the coded electronic communication is one of the designated codes.

17. The non-transitory recording medium according to claim 16, wherein the user interface is configured to enable selection of multiple designated remote devices, the user interface is configured to enable selection of different of the multiple codes for each of the multiple designated remote devices, and the program causes the computer to download the corresponding file to the mobile communication device, upon determining that the identified code included in the coded electronic communication is one of the designated codes for the corresponding designated remote device.

18. The non-transitory recording medium according to claim 11, wherein the file for downloading to the mobile communication device is a software update for the mobile communication device.

19. The non-transitory recording medium according to claim 11, wherein the file for downloading to the mobile communication device is an electronic media file.

20. The non-transitory recording medium according to claim 19, wherein the electronic media file includes data relating to at least one of a picture, a song, and a video.

21. An apparatus for automatically causing a mobile communication device to download a file using a designated remote device, comprising:

a user interface configured to enable selection of the designated remote device and selection of a designated code corresponding to downloading the file to the mobile communication device from the designated remote device;

means for receiving a coded electronic communication that is transmitted subsequent to selection of the designated remote device and the designated code, the means for receiving being separate from the designated remote device;

means for identifying origination of the coded electronic communication;

means for determining whether the identified originator of the coded electronic communication is the designated remote device;

means for identifying a code included in the coded electronic communication, upon determining that the identified originator of the coded electronic communication is the designated remote device;

means for determining whether the identified code included in the coded electronic communication is the designated code; and

means for providing an instruction to cause the mobile communication device to download the file, upon determining that the identified code included in the coded electronic communication is the designated code.

22. A method for automatically causing a mobile communication device to download a file using a designated remote device via a user interface, the user interface configured to enable selection of the designated remote device and selection of a designated code corresponding to downloading the file to the mobile communication device from the designated remote device, the method comprising:

receiving a coded electronic communication, subsequent to selection of the designated remote device and the designated code, with a processor that is separate from the designated remote device;

identifying origination of the coded electronic communication;

determining whether the identified originator of the coded electronic communication is the designated remote device;

identifying a code included in the coded electronic communication, upon determining that the identified originator of the coded electronic communication is the designated remote device;

determining whether the identified code included in the coded electronic communication is the designated code; and

providing an instruction to cause the mobile communication device to download the file, upon determining that the identified code included in the coded electronic communication is the designated code.