Synchronization of client application data between POTS telephone and content portal through PSTN

• US 9,049,285 B2
• Filed: 04/13/2006
• Issued: 06/02/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 12/01/2005
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I LP (AT&T, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I LP (AT&T, Inc.)
• Inventors: O'Neil, Douglas, Roden, Barbara
• Primary Examiner(s): KASSIM, KHALED M
• Application Number:
  US11/403,465
• Publication Number:
  US 20070127442A1
• Time in Patent Office: 3,337 Days
• Field of Search: 370352-356, 370/401, 379/201.01
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/2757 by data transmission, e.g. downloading
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/1309 Apparatus individually associated with a subscriber line, line circuits
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13106 Microprocessor, CPU
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13109 Initializing, personal profile
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/1336 Synchronisation

Abstract

Methods, Plain Old Telephone System (POTS) phones, and computer program products are provided for synchronizing client application data, such as names and associated telephone numbers in a phone book, between the POTS phone and a content portal through a Public Switched Telephone Network (PSTN). A dial-up data communication connection is established between the POTS phone and the content portal through the PSTN. A determination is made at the content portal that the POTS phone is associated with client application data in the portal database of the content portal. Client application data is synchronized between the POTS phone and the portal database in response to the determined association between the POTS phone and client application data in the portal database.

Claims

1. A method for synchronizing multiple devices, comprising:

registering the multiple devices as being associated with each other responsive to user input at a content portal;

receiving application data that have changed from a first one of the devices at the content portal;

determining at the content portal that the first one of the devices is associated with a second one of the devices;

initiating communication at the content portal with the second one of the devices; and

communicating the application data that have changed from the content portal to the second one of the devices so as to synchronize the application data that have changed between the first and the second one of the devices;

wherein the first one of the devices is a plain old telephone system phone comprising a modem; and

wherein receiving the application data comprises receiving the application data that have changed that have been transmitted by the modem over a dial-up communication connection established between the plain old telephone system phone and the content portal through a public switched telephone network;

wherein the method further comprises;

programmatically determining at the content portal that the plain old telephone system phone is associated with client application data in a portal database of the content portal;

wherein programmatically determining at the content portal that the plain old telephone system phone is associated with the client application data comprises;

programmatically determining at the content portal that at least some of the client application data in the portal database has changed;

determining at the content portal that the changed client application data is associated with the plain old telephone system phone; and

programmatically dialing from the content portal a telephone number associated with the plain old telephone system phone in response to the at least some of the client application data that has changed in the portal database; and

wherein the method further comprises;

programmatically synchronizing the client application data between the plain old telephone system phone and the portal database comprising communicating the client application data in the portal database that has changed to the plain old telephone system phone through the public switched telephone network over the dial-up communication connection.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the application data that have changed comprise one of contact data, picture data, ringtone data, and phone setting data.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the second one of the devices is a plain old telephone system phone.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the second one of the devices is a cellular phone.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the second one of the devices is an Internet protocol phone.

6. A system for synchronizing multiple devices, comprising:

a controller;

a memory coupled to the controller and comprising computer readable program instructions that when executed by the controller causes the controller to perform operations comprising;

registering the multiple devices as being associated with each other responsive to user input at a content portal;

receiving application data that have changed from a first one of the devices at the content portal;

determining at the content portal that the first one of the devices is associated with a second one of the devices;

initiating communication at the content portal with the second one of the devices; and

communicating the application data that have changed from the content portal to the second one of the devices so as to synchronize the application data that have changed between the first and the second one of the devices;

wherein the first one of the devices is a plain old telephone system phone comprising a modem; and

wherein receiving the application data comprises receiving the application data that have changed that have been transmitted by the modem over a dial-up communication connection established between the plain old telephone system phone and the content portal through a public switched telephone network;

wherein the operations further comprise;

programmatically determining at the content portal that the plain old telephone system phone is associated with client application data in a portal database of the content portal;

wherein programmatically determining at the content portal that the plain old telephone system phone is associated with the client application data comprises;

programmatically determining at the content portal that at least some of the client application data in the portal database has changed;

determining at the content portal that the changed client application data is associated with the plain old telephone system phone; and

programmatically dialing from the content portal a telephone number associated with the plain old telephone system phone in response to the at least some of the client application data that has changed in the portal database; and

wherein the operations further comprise;

programmatically synchronizing the client application data between the plain old telephone system phone and the portal database comprising communicating the client application data in the portal database that has changed to the plain old telephone system phone through the public switched telephone network over the dial-up communication connection.

7. The system of claim 6, wherein the second one of the devices is a plain old telephone system phone.

8. The system of claim 6, wherein the second one of the devices is a cellular phone.

9. The system of claim 6, wherein the second one of the devices is an Internet protocol phone.

11. The system of claim 6, wherein the application data that have changed comprise one of contact data, picture data, ringtone data, and phone setting data.

10. A computer program product for synchronizing multiple devices, comprising:

a non-transitory computer readable medium comprising computer readable program instructions that when executed by a controller causes the controller to perform operations comprising;

registering the multiple devices as being associated with each other responsive to user input at a content portal;

receiving application data that have changed from a first one of the devices at the content portal;

determining at the content portal that the first one of the devices is associated with a second one of the devices;

initiating communication at the content portal with the second one of the devices; and

communicating the application data that have changed from the content portal to the second one of the devices so as to synchronize the application data that have changed between the first and the second one of the devices;

wherein the first one of the devices is a plain old telephone system phone comprising a modem; and

wherein receiving the application data comprises receiving the application data that have changed that have been transmitted by the modem over a dial-up communication connection established between the plain old telephone system phone and the content portal through a public switched telephone network;

wherein the operations further comprise;

programmatically determining at the content portal that the plain old telephone system phone is associated with client application data in a portal database of the content portal;

wherein programmatically determining at the content portal that the plain old telephone system phone is associated with the client application data comprises;

programmatically determining at the content portal that at least some of the client application data in the portal database has changed;

determining at the content portal that the changed client application data is associated with the plain old telephone system phone; and

programmatically dialing from the content portal a telephone number associated with the plain old telephone system phone in response to the at least some of the client application data that has changed in the portal database; and

wherein the operations further comprise;

programmatically synchronizing the client application data between the plain old telephone system phone and the portal database comprising communicating the client application data in the portal database that has changed to the plain old telephone system phone through the public switched telephone network over the dial-up communication connection.

12. The computer program product of claim 10, wherein the application data that have changed comprise one of contact data, picture data, ringtone data, and phone setting data.

13. The computer program product of claim 10, wherein the second one of the devices is a plain old telephone system phone.

14. The computer program product of claim 10, wherein the second one of the devices is a cellular phone.

15. The computer program product of claim 10, wherein the second one of the devices is an Internet protocol phone.