Method and apparatus for storing and retrieving profile data for electronic devices

• US 8,737,967 B2
• Filed: 08/14/2013
• Issued: 05/27/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 04/05/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.
• Inventors: Osborne, John, Russell, David W.
• Primary Examiner(s): Ajayi, Joel
• Application Number:
  US13/966,994
• Publication Number:
  US 20130331084A1
• Time in Patent Office: 286 Days
• Field of Search: 455/412.1
• US Class Current: 455/412.1
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/275 Synchronous replication
• 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 69/40 for recovering from a failure of a protocol instance or entity, e.g. service redundancy protocols, protocol state redundancy or protocol service redirection management of faults, events, alarms or notifications in data switching networks H04L41/06
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/2757 by data transmission, e.g. downloading
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72406 by software upgrading or downloading
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2203/553 Data upload
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/42 Systems providing special services or facilities to subscribers specially adapted for wireless communication networks H04W4/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/245 from a network towards a terminal

Abstract

A method and system for backing up and restoring personal data are provided. The method includes establishing a first communication connection between the first communication device and an entity in a remote computer network upon detecting changes of personal data stored in a first communication device; communicating between the first communication device and the remote computer network entity an identity of an archival function to be performed over the first communication connection, wherein the archival function to be performed includes backing up the personal data; performing a backup function by receiving the changed personal data from the first communication device; establishing a second communication connection between a second communication device and the remote computer network entity; and performing a restore function using the second communication connection by transmitting the changed personal data from the remote computer network entity to the second communication device.

Claims

1. A method, performed by a server, for backing up and restoring personal data, the method comprising:

communicating with a first communication device over a first communication connection when the first communication device detects changes to personal data stored in a first communication device;

receiving the changed personal data over the first communication connection;

performing a backup function by receiving the changed personal data from the first communication device;

automatically communicating with a second communication device that is associated with a same user account as a user account associated with the first communication device, over a second communication connection uponperforming the backup function; and

automatically performing a restore function by transmitting the changed personal data to the second communication device over the second communication connection upon performing the backup function.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the personal data is selected from among phone book entries, stored images, audio files, calendars, and appointment books.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein each of the first and second communication connections is established using a back-channel communication protocol, where the back-channel communication protocol is selected from among Small Messaging Service, General Packet Radio Service (GPRS), Synchronization Markup Language (SyncML), and 3rd Generation Partnership Project (3GPP).

4. The method of claim 3, further comprising automatically selecting a most efficient back-channel communication protocol, from a plurality of available back-channel communicating protocols available for use in communicating between the server and each of the first and second communication devices.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein each of the backup function and the restore function is performed without any indication to a user.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the changed personal data is stored in the user account in a storage device.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the restore function is performed periodically, or whenever changes are made to the personal data of the first communication device.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the first communication connection and the second communication connection are automatically established.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the backup function is automatically performed.

10. A system for backing up and restoring personal data, the system comprising:

a server being configured to;

communicate with a first communication device over a first communication connection when the first communication device detects changes to personal data stored in a first communication device,

receiving the changed personal data over the first communication connection,

perform a backup function by receiving the changed personal data from the first communication device,

automatically communicating with a second communication device that is associated with a same user account as a user account associated with the first communication device, over a second communication connection upon performing the backup function, and

automatically perform a restore function by transmitting the changed personal data to the second communication device over the second communication connection upon performing the backup function; and

a storage device for storing the changed personal data.

11. The system of claim 10, wherein the first communication device is a wireless telephone.

12. The system of claim 10, wherein the personal data is selected from among phone book entries, stored images, audio files, calendars, and appointment books.

13. The system of claim 10, wherein the storage device stores at least one data set, and

wherein a plurality of communication devices are associated with the data set and are capable of receiving a transmission of the data set transmitted from the storage device.

14. The system of claim 10, further comprising a remote workstation in communication with the server,

wherein the remote workstation may be used to alter personal data stored in the storage device.

15. The system of claim 14, wherein the remote workstation is connected to the server by the internet.

16. The system of claim 10, further comprising an upload converter, the upload converter configured to convert personal data transmitted from the first communication device from a first format to a second format prior to the personal data being stored on the storage device.

17. The system of claim 10, wherein each of the backup function and the restore function is performed without any indication to a user.

18. The system of claim 10, wherein the changed personal data is stored in the user account in the storage device.

19. The system of claim 10, wherein the restore function is performed periodically, or whenever changes are made to the personal data of the first communication device.

20. The system of claim 10, wherein the first communication connection and the second communication connection are automatically established.

21. The system of claim 10, wherein the backup function is automatically performed.

22. A system for backing up and restoring personal data, the system comprising:

a first communication device being configured to;

communicate with a server over a first communication connection upon detecting changes to personal data stored in the first communication device,

transmitting the changed personal data over the first communication connection, and

perform a backup function by transmitting the changed personal data to the server so that the server can automatically communicate with a second communication device that is associated with a same user account as a user account associated with the first communication device upon performing the backup function and automatically perform a restore function by transmitting the changed personal data to the second communication device over the second communication connection upon performing the backup function.

23. The system of claim 22, wherein the personal data is selected from among phone book entries, stored images, audio files, calendars, and appointment books.

24. The system of claim 22, wherein the first communication connection is established using a back-channel communication protocol, where the back-channel communication protocol is selected from among of Small Messaging Service, General Packet Radio Service (GPRS), Synchronization Markup Language (SyncML), and 3rd Generation Partnership Project (3GPP).

25. The system of claim 22, wherein the backup function is performed without any indication to a user.

26. The system of claim 22, wherein the first communication connection is automatically established.

27. The system of claim 22, wherein the backup function is automatically performed.