Apparatus and methods for coordination of wireless systems

• US 8,965,992 B2
• Filed: 07/11/2008
• Issued: 02/24/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 07/27/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Blackberry Limited
• Original Assignee: Blackberry Limited
• Inventors: Boudreau, Jesse, Murphy, Thomas, Omar, Salim, Washburn, Mike
• Primary Examiner(s): DINH, KHANH Q
• Application Number:
  US12/171,950
• Publication Number:
  US 20090030974A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,419 Days
• Field of Search: 709/217, 709/207, 709/224, 709/228, 707/10, 702/178
• US Class Current: 709/207
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/104 Grouping of entities
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/20 for managing network security; network security policies in general filtering policies H04L63/0227
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/04 specially adapted for terminals or networks with limited capabilities; specially adapted for terminal portability
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/06 specially adapted for file transfer, e.g. file transfer protocol [FTP]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/10 in which an application is distributed across nodes in the network software deployment G06F8/60; multiprogramming arrangements G06F9/46
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/329 in the application layer [OSI layer 7]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 9/40 Network security protocols
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/02 Protecting privacy or anonymity, e.g. protecting personally identifiable information [PII]
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/00 Services specially adapted for wireless communication networks; Facilities therefor

Abstract

Apparatus and methods for wireless systems provide a mechanism to enhance the communication capabilities of wireless users. In an embodiment, data associated with information acquired in wireless entities is synced among the wireless entities based on a privacy status and verification of identities corresponding to the privacy status. The wireless entities include a wireless server and a set of mobile wireless clients of the wireless server. In an embodiment, a mobile wireless client is configured to browse files in a wireless server. In an embodiment, a wireless server is configured to provide views of its file content to a mobile wireless client authorized to view the file content of the wireless server.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

determining, in a mobile wireless device, privacy status of information acquired in the mobile wireless device, the information at least partially stored in the mobile wireless device, the mobile wireless device registered with a first wireless server and enabled to register with one or more other wireless servers, the one or more other wireless servers separate from the first wireless server, the mobile wireless device enabled to integrate a plurality of policies, each policy from a separate wireless server from among the first wireless server and the one or more other wireless servers such that integration of policies includes designation, in the mobile wireless device, of a primary server selected from among the first wireless server and the one or more other wireless servers;

overriding, in the mobile wireless device, policies from other servers using the policies of the primary server, each policy with each wireless server including instructions that control information flow and conduct of interaction of the mobile wireless server with the respective wireless server;

determining, in the mobile wireless device, which of the first wireless server and the one or more other wireless servers is the primary server, wherein all policy permissions and changes in the mobile wireless device is controlled by the primary server and all other wireless servers are secondary servers unable to override policies set by the primary server unless permitted by the policy set by the primary server; and

syncing data in the mobile wireless device with the first wireless server, based on the privacy status and verification of identities corresponding to the privacy status and one or more policies integrated in the mobile wireless device relative to the policy with the wireless server having the designation, in the mobile wireless device, of the primary server, the data associated with the information.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the method includes syncing the information acquired in the mobile wireless device with the wireless server over a secure channel in which essentially all communications between the mobile wireless device and the wireless server is conducted.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the method includes uploading the information acquired from the mobile wireless device to the wireless server.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the method includes receiving informational content from the wireless server and storing the informational content in a sync folder of the mobile wireless device.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein receiving the informational content from the wireless server includes monitoring available capacity in the sync folder with respect to the information being received.

6. The method of claim 4, wherein storing the informational content in a sync folder of the mobile wireless device includes storing the informational content in a secure digital memory in the mobile wireless device.

7. A method comprising:

determining privacy status of information acquired in a wireless server, the information at least partially stored in the wireless server;

automatically syncing data in the wireless server with a mobile wireless device, the mobile wireless device registered with the wireless server, the automatic syncing based on the privacy status and verification of identities corresponding to the privacy status and based on a controlling policy from a determination of the wireless server as being a secondary wireless server or a primary wireless server for the mobile wireless device, wherein the wireless server as the primary wireless server controls all policy permissions and changes and the wireless server as the secondary wireless server is unable to override policies set by the primary wireless server unless permitted by the controlling policy set by the primary wireless server.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein the method includes limiting, in the wireless server, flow of information to the mobile wireless device based on being designated as a secondary wireless server.

9. The method of claim 7, wherein the method includes syncing the information acquired in the wireless server with the mobile wireless device over a secure channel in which essentially all communications between the wireless server and the mobile wireless device is conducted.

10. The method of claim 7, wherein the method includes storing the information in a folder of the wireless server generated to hold information for an entity identified as a user of the mobile wireless device.

11. The method of claim 7, wherein the method includes accessing a unique identifier of the mobile wireless device stored in a table in the wireless server, the unique identifier in the table indicating the mobile wireless device being authorized to access the information.

12. The method of claim 7, wherein automatically syncing data includes automatically downloading an indicator to the mobile wireless device, the indicator representing that the wireless server has acquired the information.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein automatically downloading an indicator includes automatically downloading the indicator in response to the information being moved into a sync folder accessible by the wireless server.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein moving the information into a sync folder accessible by the wireless server includes storing the information in a storage medium external to the wireless server, the wireless server authorized to read the information from the storage medium.

15. The method of claim 7, wherein automatically syncing data includes automatically downloading the information to the mobile wireless device.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein the method includes determining that the information corresponds to a type of information categorized as automatically downloadable.

17. The method of claim 7, wherein syncing data associated with the information with wireless entities includes syncing the data via one or more of a Wi-Fi capability, a wired cable, or a carrier-based network.

18. A method comprising:

establishing communication from a mobile wireless device to a wireless server, the mobile wireless device being a registered wireless client of the wireless server;

determining if a policy for the mobile wireless device associated with another wireless server is primary with respect to a control of flow of information from the mobile wireless device and determining a controlling policy with respect to the control of flow of information from the mobile wireless device, wherein all policy permissions and changes in the mobile wireless device are controlled by a primary server and all other wireless servers are secondary servers unable to override policies set by the primary less permitted by the policy set by the primary server;

initiating a browser in the mobile wireless device to control browsing a file directory of the wireless server based on the determination of the controlling policy; and

generating a signal to the wireless server to select a file in the file directory.

19. The method of claim 18, wherein establishing communication from a mobile wireless device to a wireless server includes establishing communication from the mobile wireless device to the wireless server such that essentially all communications between the mobile wireless device are automatically conducted over a secure communication channel between the mobile wireless device and the wireless server.

20. The method of claim 18, wherein the method includes generating a signal to the wireless server to download the selected file to the mobile wireless device to store the selected file on the mobile wireless device.

21. The method of claim 18, wherein the method includes generating a signal to the wireless server to email the selected file as an e-mail attachment.

22. The method of claim 18, wherein the method includes generating a signal to the wireless server to view the selected file using an attachment server of the wireless server.

23. The method of claim 18, wherein controlling the browsing of the file directory of the wireless server includes browsing files having a format indicator selected from doc, xls, pdf, ppt, jpg, png, bmp, gif, mp3, and wav.

24. A method comprising:

establishing communication in a wireless server with a mobile wireless device, the mobile wireless device being a registered wireless client of the wireless server;

receiving, by the wireless server, a signal from a mobile wireless device, the signal being a browser signal to browse a directory of the wireless server;

determining in the wireless server if the wireless server is a secondary wireless server or a primary wireless server for the mobile wireless device and determining a policy to control flow of information with the mobile wireless device based on designation as a secondary wireless server or a primary wireless server, wherein the primary server controls all policy permissions and changes in the mobile wireless device and all other wireless servers are secondary servers unable to override policies set by the primary server unless permitted by the policy set by the primary server;

browsing files in the directory in response to browse commands from the mobile wireless device including a select command and based on the policy; and

providing content of a file selected from the directory.

25. The method of claim 24, wherein establishing communication in a wireless server with a mobile wireless device includes establishing communication in the wireless server with the mobile wireless device such that essentially all communications between the mobile wireless device are automatically conducted over a secure communication channel between the mobile wireless device and the wireless server.

26. The method of claim 24, wherein the method includes limiting, in the wireless server, flow of information to the mobile wireless device based on being designated as a secondary wireless server.

27. The method of claim 24, wherein providing content of a file selected from the directory includes downloading the selected file to the mobile wireless device to store the selected file on the mobile wireless device.

28. The method of claim 24, wherein providing content of a file selected from the directory includes emailing the selected file as an e-mail attachment.

29. The method of claim 24, wherein providing content of a file selected from the directory includes using an attachment server of the wireless server to view the selected file.

30. The method of claim 24, wherein browsing files in the file directory includes browsing files having a format indicator selected from doc, xIs, pdf, ppt, jpg, png, bmp, gif, mp3, and wav.

31. A non-transitory machine-readable medium that stores instructions, which, when performed by a machine, cause the machine to perform operations comprising:

determining, in a mobile wireless device, privacy status of information acquired in the mobile wireless device, the information at least partially stored in the mobile wireless device, the mobile wireless device registered with a first wireless server and enabled to register with one or more other wireless servers, the one or more other wireless servers separate from the first wireless server, the mobile wireless device enabled to integrate a plurality of policies, each policy from a separate wireless server from among the first wireless server and the one or more other wireless servers such that integration of policies includes designation, in the mobile wireless device, of a primary server selected from among the first wireless server and the one or more other wireless servers;

overriding, in the mobile wireless device, policies from other servers using policies of the primary server, each policy with each wireless server including instructions that control information flow and conduct of interaction of the mobile wireless server with the respective wireless server;

determining, in the mobile wireless device, which of the first wireless server and the one or more other wireless servers is the primary server, wherein all policy permissions and changes in the mobile wireless device is controlled by the primary server and all other wireless servers are secondary servers unable to override policies set by the server unless permitted by the policy set by the primary server; and

syncing data in the mobile wireless device with the first wireless server, based on the privacy status and verification of identities corresponding to the privacy status and one or more policies integrated in the mobile wireless device relative to the policy with the wireless server having the designation, in the mobile wireless device, of the primary server, the data associated with the information.

32. The non-transitory machine-readable medium of claim 31, wherein the instructions include syncing the information acquired in the mobile wireless device with the wireless server over a secure channel in which essentially all communications between the mobile wireless device and the wireless server is conducted.

33. The non-transitory machine-readable medium of claim 32, wherein the instructions include one or more instructions to upload the information acquired from the mobile wireless device to the wireless server.

34. The non-transitory machine-readable medium of claim 32, wherein the instructions include storing received informational content at the mobile wireless device in a sync folder of the mobile wireless device.

35. A non-transitory machine-readable memory that stores instructions, which, when performed by a machine, cause the machine to perform operations comprising:

determining privacy status of information acquired in a wireless server, the information at least partially stored in the wireless server;

automatically syncing data in the wireless server with a mobile wireless device, the mobile wireless device registered with the wireless server, the automatic syncing based on the privacy status and verification of identities corresponding to the privacy status and based on a controlling policy from a determination of the wireless server as being a secondary wireless server or a primary wireless server for the mobile wireless device, wherein the primary wireless server controls all policy permissions and changes in the mobile wireless device is and all other wireless servers are secondary servers unable to override policies set by the primary server unless permitted by the policy set by the primary server.

36. The non-transitory machine-readable memory of claim 35, wherein the instructions includes one or more instructions to limit, in the wireless server, flow of information to the mobile wireless device based on being designated as a secondary wireless server.

37. The non-transitory machine-readable memory of claim 35, wherein the instructions include one or more instructions to conduct essentially all communications between the wireless server and the mobile wireless device over a secure channel between the wireless server and the mobile wireless device.

38. The non-transitory machine-readable memory of claim 35, wherein the instructions include one or more instructions to store the information in a folder of the wireless server generated to hold information for an entity identified as a user of the mobile wireless device.

39. The non-transitory machine-readable memory of claim 35, wherein the instructions include one or more instructions to access a unique identifier of the mobile wireless device stored in a table in the wireless server, the unique identifier in the table indicating the mobile wireless device being authorized to access the information.

40. The non-transitory machine-readable memory of claim 35, wherein automatically syncing data includes automatically downloading an indicator to the mobile wireless device, the indicator representing that the wireless server has acquired the information.

41. The non-transitory machine-readable memory of claim 40, wherein automatically downloading an indicator includes automatically downloading the indicator respond to the information being moved into a sync folder accessible by the wireless server.

42. The non-transitory machine-readable memory of claim 35, wherein automatically syncing data includes automatically downloading the information to the mobile wireless device.

43. The non-transitory machine-readable memory of claim 42, wherein the instructions include determining that the information corresponds to a type of information categorized as automatically downloadable.

44. The non-transitory machine-readable memory of claim 35, wherein syncing data associated with the information with wireless entities includes syncing the data via one or more of a WiFi capability, a wired cable, or a carrier-based network.

45. A non-transitory machine-readable memory that stores instructions, which, when performed by a machine, cause the machine to perform operations comprising:

establishing communication from a mobile wireless device to a wireless server, the mobile wireless device being a registered wireless client of the wireless server;

determining if a policy for the mobile wireless device associated with another wireless server is primary with respect to a control of flow of information from the mobile wireless device and determining a controlling policy with respect to the control of flow of information from the mobile wireless device, wherein all policy permissions and changes in the mobile wireless device are controlled by a primary server and all other wireless servers are secondary servers unable to override policies set by the primary server unless permitted by the policy set by the primary server;

initiating a browser in the mobile wireless device to control browsing a file directory of the wireless server based on the determination of the controlling policy; and

generating a signal to the wireless server to select a file in the file directory.

46. The non-transitory machine-readable memory of claim 45, wherein establishing communication from a mobile wireless device to a wireless server includes establishing communication from the mobile wireless device to the wireless server such that essentially all communications between the mobile wireless device are conducted over a secure communication channel between the mobile wireless device and the wireless server.

47. The non-transitory machine-readable memory of claim 45, wherein the instructions include generating a signal to the wireless server to download the selected file to the mobile wireless device to store the selected file on the mobile wireless device.

48. The non-transitory machine-readable memory of claim 45, wherein the instructions include generating a signal to the wireless server to email the selected file as an email attachment.

49. The non-transitory machine-readable memory of claim 45, wherein the instructions include generating a signal to the wireless server to view the selected file using an attachment server of the wireless server.

50. The non-transitory machine-readable memory of claim 45, wherein controlling the browsing of the file directory of the wireless server includes browsing files having a format indicator selected from doc, xIs, pdf, ppt, jpg, png, bmp, gif, mp3, and wav.

51. A non-transitory machine-readable memory that stores instructions, which, when performed by a machine, cause the machine to perform operations comprising:

establishing communication in a wireless server with a mobile wireless device, the mobile wireless device being a registered wireless client of the wireless server;

receiving a signal from a mobile wireless device, the signal being a browser signal to browse a directory of a wireless server;

determining in the wireless server if the wireless server is a secondary wireless server or a primary wireless server for the mobile wireless device and determining a policy to control flow of information with the mobile wireless device based on designation as a secondary wireless server or a primary wireless server, wherein the wireless server as the primary wireless server controls all policy permissions and changes and the wireless server as the secondary wireless server is unable to override policies set by the primary wireless server unless permitted by the controlling policy set by the primary wireless server;

browsing files in the directory in response to browse commands from the mobile wireless device including a select command and based on the policy; and

providing content of a file selected from the directory.

52. The non-transitory machine-readable memory of claim 51, wherein establishing communication in a wireless server with a mobile wireless device includes establishing communication in the wireless server with the mobile wireless device such that essentially all communications between the mobile wireless device are conducted over a secure communication channel between the mobile wireless device and the wireless server.

53. The non-transitory machine-readable memory of claim 51, wherein the instructions include one or more instructions to limit, in the wireless server, flow of information to the mobile wireless device based on being designated as a secondary wireless server.

54. The non-transitory machine-readable memory of claim 51, wherein providing content of a file selected from the directory includes downloading the selected file to the mobile wireless device to store the selected file on the mobile wireless device.

55. The non-transitory machine-readable memory of claim 51, wherein providing content of a file selected from the directory includes emailing the selected file as an email attachment.

56. The non-transitory machine-readable memory of claim 51, wherein providing content of a file selected from the directory includes using an attachment server of the wireless server to view the selected file.

57. The non-transitory machine-readable memory of claim 51, wherein browsing files in the file directory includes browsing files having a format indicator selected from doc, xIs, pdf, ppt, jpg, png, bmp, gif, mp3, and wav.

58. A mobile wireless apparatus comprising:

a controller;

an identifier, the identifier being unique and providing capability to establish a registered client relationship with a wireless server;

a policy agent to determine if a policy for the mobile wireless apparatus associated with another wireless server is primary with respect to a control of flow of information from the mobile wireless apparatus, wherein all policy permissions and changes in the mobile wireless device is controlled by the primary server and all other wireless servers are secondary servers unable to override policies set by the primary server unless permitted by the policy set by the primary server; and

a machine-readable medium responsive to the controller, the machine-readable medium to store and retrieve data based on the determination of the controlling policy, the data including instructions to direct browse activity of files in the wireless server.

59. The mobile wireless apparatus of claim 58, wherein the mobile wireless apparatus includes a communication control to establish communication with the wireless server such that essentially all communications between the mobile wireless apparatus and the wireless server are conducted over a secure communication channel between the mobile wireless apparatus and the wireless server.

60. The mobile wireless apparatus of claim 58, wherein the instructions include instructions to upload information content in the mobile wireless apparatus to the wireless server.

61. The mobile wireless apparatus of claim 60, wherein the instructions include instructions to upload information content in the mobile wireless apparatus to the wireless server automatically based on loading the information content in a sync folder designated as automatically uploadable to the wireless server.

62. The mobile wireless apparatus of claim 61, wherein a sync folder designated as automatically uploadable to the wireless server includes the sync folder specifically correlated to the wireless server from a plurality of wireless servers.

63. The mobile wireless apparatus of claim 58, wherein the mobile wireless apparatus includes a display operable to display a representation of availability new informational content on the wireless server.

64. The mobile wireless apparatus of claim 58, wherein the mobile wireless apparatus includes a display operable to display a representation of an automatic download of informational content from the wireless server.

65. The mobile wireless apparatus of claim 58, wherein the files include files having a format indicator selected from doc, xIs, pdf, ppt, jpg, png, bmp, gif, mp3, and wav.

66. A wireless server comprising:

a controller;

a data storage area operable with the controller, the data storage area including one or more identifiers to uniquely establish a registered relationship with one or more mobile wireless clients, the one or more mobile wireless clients corresponding to a respective one of the identifiers, the one or more mobile wireless clients identified as belonging to a group;

a policy agent to control flow of information to the one or more mobile wireless clients, for each of the one or more mobile wireless clients the policy agent is arranged to designate the wireless server as a secondary wireless server or a primary wireless server for the respective mobile wireless client and to determining a policy to control flow of information with each mobile wireless client based on the designation as a secondary wireless server or a primary wireless server for the respective mobile wireless client, wherein the wireless server as the primary wireless server controls all policy permissions and changes and the wireless server as the secondary wireless server is unable to override policies set by the primary wireless server unless permitted by the controlling policy set by the primary wireless server;

a machine-readable medium responsive to the controller, the machine-readable medium to store and retrieve data, the data including instructions to browse files in the wireless server based on commands from a mobile wireless client belonging to the group based on the policy for mobile wireless client from which the commands are received in the wireless server; and

an interface through which the information is transmitted to the mobile wireless client.

67. The wireless server of claim 66, wherein the wireless server includes a communication control to establish communication with the mobile wireless client such that essentially all communications between the wireless server and the mobile wireless client are conducted over a secure communication channel between the wireless server and the mobile wireless client.

68. The wireless server of claim 66, wherein the wireless server includes a policy service to determine a policy to control flow of information to the mobile wireless device, the mobile wireless device enabled to register with one or more other wireless servers.

69. The wireless server of claim 66, wherein the instructions include one or more instructions to download informational content to the mobile wireless.

70. The wireless server of claim 66, wherein the wireless server includes a folder corresponding to the one or more corresponding mobile wireless clients based on a designation as private or shared.

71. The wireless server of claim 70, wherein the designation as shared includes a designation to identify two or more mobile wireless clients, each having an identifier, the two or more mobile wireless clients being less than all of the one or more corresponding mobile wireless clients having an identifier stored in the wireless server.

72. The wireless server of claim 66, wherein the instructions include one or more instructions to automatically download data to the mobile wireless client based on storage of the informational content in a folder accessible by the wireless server, the folder associated with the wireless client.

73. The wireless server of claim 72, wherein the data includes the informational content.

74. The wireless server of claim 72, wherein the data includes a representation of an availability of informational content accessible by the wireless server.

75. The wireless server of claim 66, wherein the files include files having a format indicator selected from doc, xIs, pdf, ppt, jpg, png, bmp, gif, mp3, and wav.

76. A wireless server comprising:

a controller;

a data storage area operable with the controller, the data storage area including one or more identifiers to uniquely establish a registered relationship with one or more mobile wireless clients, the one or more mobile wireless clients corresponding to a respective one of the identifiers, the one or more mobile wireless clients identified as belonging to a group;

a policy agent to control flow of information to the one or more mobile wireless clients, for each of the one or more mobile wireless clients the policy agent is arranged to designate the wireless server as a secondary wireless server or a primary wireless server for the respective mobile wireless client and to determining a policy to control flow of information with each mobile wireless client based on the designation as a secondary wireless server or a primary wireless server for the respective mobile wireless client, wherein the wireless server as the primary wireless server controls all policy permissions and changes and the wireless server as the secondary wireless server is unable to override policies set by the primary wireless server unless permitted by the controlling policy set by the primary wireless server;

a machine-readable medium responsive to the controller, the machine-readable medium to store and retrieve data, the data including instructions to automatically download informational content to a mobile wireless client belonging to the group, based on storage of the informational content in a folder accessible by the wireless server and based on the policy for mobile wireless client to which the informational content is to be automatically download from the wireless server, the folder associated with the mobile wireless client corresponding to its identifier; and

an interface through which the informational content is transmitted to the mobile wireless client.

77. The wireless server of claim 76, wherein the wireless server includes a communication control to establish communication with the mobile wireless client such that essentially all communications between the wireless server and the mobile wireless client are conducted over a secure communication channel between the wireless server and the mobile wireless client.

78. The wireless server of claim 76, wherein the wireless server includes a policy service to determine a policy to control flow of information to the mobile wireless device, the mobile wireless device enabled to register with one or more other wireless servers.

79. The wireless server of claim 76, wherein the folder is configured with a designation as private or shared corresponding to the mobile wireless client belonging to the group.

80. The wireless server of claim 79, wherein the designation as shared is attributable to less than all of mobile wireless clients having their unique identifier stored in the wireless server.

81. The wireless server of claim 76, wherein the data includes the informational content.

82. The wireless server of claim 76, wherein the data includes a representation of an availability of informational content accessible by the wireless server.