Apparatus and methods for communicating system state information change to wireless devices

• US 9,155,023 B2
• Filed: 04/12/2007
• Issued: 10/06/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 11/06/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Inventors: Chen, An Mei, Kannan, Prasanna
• Primary Examiner(s): Figueroa, Marisol
• Application Number:
  US11/734,656
• Publication Number:
  US 20080108376A1
• Time in Patent Office: 3,099 Days
• Field of Search: 455/412.2, 455/515
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 40/18 Arrangements characterised by circuits or components specially adapted for receiving
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 48/08 Access restriction or access information delivery, e.g. discovery data delivery signalling during connection H04W76/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 68/00 User notification, e.g. alerting and paging, for incoming communication, change of service or the like
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/245 from a network towards a terminal
• CPC Class Codes: Y02D 30/70 in wireless communication networks

Abstract

Apparatus and methods for communication system state information change to wireless devices in a content server network in a resource and power efficient manner are disclosed. In particular, a disclosed method for conveying system state information to a wireless device includes sending a primary message including first information configured to communicate a current system state to the wireless device, and then sending second information set usable by the wireless device to update system state information. By summarizing or abbreviating the first information, a receiving device can easily compare to past system states to determine whether further processing, such as processing of the second information, is needed, thereby affording the conservation of processing and power resources of a receiving device. Corresponding apparatus are also disclosed.

Claims

1. A method for conveying system information to a wireless device, comprising:

sending a primary message comprising first information, wherein the first information comprises a summary of system state version information and directory information, the directory information comprising location information that indicates where the wireless device may locate system state update information in a wireless network and information that specifies unicast messages that are signed and verified, and the system state version information being indicative of updates to the directory information; and

sending a second information set comprised of the system state update information in accordance with the location information, wherein sending the second information set comprises sending the second information set via one or more of the unicast messages in response to receiving an update request from the wireless device.

2. The method as defined in claim 1, wherein the primary message is configured as a summary message configured to convey communication of a current system state to the wireless device in an abbreviated manner.

3. The method as defined in claim 2, wherein the system state version information comprises a primary message system state version information field that is changed with each change in the system state.

4. The method as defined in claim 1, wherein the directory information is configured to communicate location information to the wireless device where the wireless device may locate the second information set in a wireless network.

5. The method as defined in claim 1, wherein the primary message is repeatedly sent to the wireless device.

6. The method as defined in claim 1, wherein the second information set is repeatedly sent to the wireless device.

7. The method as defined in claim 1, wherein the wireless device receives the primary information over at least one of a wireless broadcast network or channel.

8. The method as defined in claim 1, wherein the first information comprises a program guide information record field comprising information regarding programs of various services of a particular network.

9. The method as defined in claim 1, wherein the first information comprises a market place information record field comprising information regarding media packages that are available for subscription.

10. The method as defined in claim 1, wherein the first information comprises a plurality of system state version information fields related to application upgrades and configuration file updates for the wireless device.

11. An apparatus for conveying system information to a wireless device, comprising:

means for sending a primary message comprising first information, wherein the first information comprises a summary of system state version information and directory information, the directory information comprising location information that indicates where the wireless device may locate system state update information in a wireless network and information that specifies unicast messages that are signed and verified, and the system state version information being indicative of updates to the directory information; and

means for sending a second information set comprised of the system state update information in accordance with the location information, wherein sending the second information set comprises sending the second information set via one or more of the unicast messages in response to receiving an update request from the wireless device.

12. The apparatus as defined in claim 11, wherein the primary message is configured as a summary message configured to convey a current system state to the wireless device in an abbreviated manner.

13. The apparatus as defined in claim 12, wherein the system state version information comprises a primary message system state version information field that is changed with each change in the system state.

14. The apparatus as defined in claim 11, wherein the directory information is configured to communicate location information to the wireless device where the wireless device may locate the second information set in a wireless network.

15. The apparatus as defined in claim 11, wherein the means for sending the primary message is configured to repeatedly sent the primary message to the wireless device.

16. The apparatus as defined in claim 11, wherein the means for sending the second information set is configured to repeatedly send the second information set.

17. The apparatus as defined in claim 11, wherein the first information comprises a program guide information record field comprising information regarding programs of various services of a particular network.

18. The apparatus as defined in claim 11, wherein the first information comprises a market place information record field comprising information regarding media packages that are available for subscription.

19. The apparatus as defined in claim 11, wherein the first information comprises a plurality of system state version information fields related to application upgrades and configuration file updates for the wireless device.

20. The apparatus as defined in claim 11, wherein the primary information is sent to the wireless device over at least one of a wireless broadcast network or channel.

21. A computer program product, comprising:

a non-transitory computer-readable medium comprising;

code for causing a computer to send a primary message comprising first information, wherein the first information comprises a summary of system state version information and directory information, the directory information comprising location information that indicates where a wireless device may locate system state update information in a wireless network and information that specifies unicast messages that are signed and verified, and the system state version information being indicative of a change in the directory information, wherein the change in the directory information corresponds to an upgrade of an application comprising an update to a first content item of a plurality of content items of the application; and

code for causing the computer to send the upgrade of the application comprising the update to the first content item of the plurality of content items of the application in accordance with the location information, wherein sending the upgrade of the application comprises sending the upgrade of the application via one or more of the unicast messages in response to receiving an update request from the wireless device.

22. The computer program product as defined in claim 21, wherein the primary message is configured as a summary message configured to convey a current system state to the wireless device in an abbreviated manner.

23. The computer program product as defined in claim 22, wherein the system state version information comprises a primary message system state version information field that is changed with each change in the system state.

24. The computer program product as defined in claim 21, wherein the upgrade to the application further comprises an update to a second content item of the plurality of content items of the application.

25. The computer program product as defined in claim 21, wherein the primary message is repeatedly sent to the wireless device.

26. The computer program product as defined in claim 24, wherein the update to the second content item of the plurality of content items of the application is repeatedly sent.

27. The computer program product as defined in claim 21, wherein the primary message comprises a plurality of system state version information fields related to application upgrades and configuration file updates for the wireless device.

28. The computer program product as defined in claim 21, wherein the primary message comprises a program guide information record field comprising information regarding programs of various services of a particular network.

29. The computer program product as defined in claim 21, wherein the primary message comprises a market place information record field comprising information regarding media packages that are available for subscription.

30. The computer program product as defined in claim 21, wherein the primary information is sent to the wireless device over at least one of a wireless broadcast network or channel.

31. A server processor for conveying system state information to a wireless device, comprising:

a first hardware module for sending a primary message comprising first information, wherein the first information comprises a summary of system state version information and directory information, the directory information comprising location information that indicates where the wireless device may locate system state update information in a wireless network and information that specifies unicast messages that are signed and verified, and the system state version information being indicative of updates to the directory information; and

a second module for sending a second information set comprised of the system state update information in accordance with the location information, wherein sending the second information set comprises sending the second information set via one or more of the unicast messages in response to receiving an update request from the wireless device;

wherein the first information further comprises a plurality of system state version information fields corresponding to a plurality of types of system state information, wherein each of the plurality of system state version information fields is configured to indicate a change in a corresponding one of the plurality of types of system state information, and

wherein one of the plurality of system state version information fields corresponds to an application upgrade or a configuration file update for the wireless device.

32. The server processor as defined in claim 31, wherein the primary message is configured as a summary message configured to convey a current system state to the wireless device in an abbreviated manner.

33. The server processor as defined in claim 31, wherein the first information comprises a primary message system state version information field that is changeable with each change in the system state.

34. The server processor as defined in claim 31, wherein the first hardware module is configured to repeatedly send the primary message to the wireless device.

35. The server processor as defined in claim 31, wherein the second module is configured to repeatedly send the second information set to the wireless device.

36. The server processor as defined in claim 31, wherein the plurality of system state version information fields comprise a program guide information record field comprising information regarding programs of various services of a particular network.

37. The server processor as defined in claim 31, wherein the plurality of system state version information fields comprise a market place information record field comprising information regarding media packages that are available for subscription.

38. The server processor as defined in claim 31, wherein the one of the plurality of system state version information fields corresponds to the application upgrade, and the application upgrade corresponds to an update of content of an application.

39. The server processor as defined in claim 31, wherein the primary information is sent to the wireless device over at least one of a wireless broadcast network or channel.

40. A method for obtaining system information in a wireless device, comprising:

receiving a primary message comprising a summary of system state version information and directory information, the directory information comprising location information that indicates where the wireless device may locate system state update information in a wireless network and information that specifies unicast messages that are signed and verified, and the system state version information being indicative of updates to the directory information;

determining an update of the directory information based on the system state version information in the primary message; and

acquiring, when the update of the directory information is determined, content corresponding to the update of the directory information from a location indicated by the directory information via one or more of the unicast messages, wherein acquiring the content comprises sending a request for the content and acquiring the content via the one or more of the unicast messages in response to the request.

41. The method as defined in claim 40, wherein the system state version information corresponds to an interface protocol between the wireless device and a network.

42. The method as defined in claim 40, wherein the acquiring the content comprises receiving the content when the update of the directory information is determined.

43. The method as defined in claim 40, wherein the system state version information comprises a current version number.

44. The method as defined in claim 43, wherein determining the update of the directory information based on the system state version information in the primary message comprises comparing a previously stored version number with the current version number to determine the update of the directory information.

45. The method as defined in claim 40, further comprising:

sending the request for the content based on the directory information.

46. The method as defined in claim 40, wherein the primary message is configured as a summary message configured to reduce an amount of processing by the wireless device in order to determine the update of the directory information.

47. The method as defined in claim 40, wherein the primary message comprises a program guide information record field comprising information regarding programs of various services of a particular network.

48. The method as defined in claim 40, wherein the primary message comprises a market place information record field comprising information regarding media packages that are available for subscription.

49. The method as defined in claim 40, wherein the primary message comprises a plurality of system state version information fields related to application upgrades and configuration file updates for the wireless device.

50. The method as defined in claim 40, further comprising determining whether a value associated with the system state version information is greater than a previously stored value.

51. An apparatus for obtaining system information, comprising:

means for receiving a primary message comprising a summary of system state version information and directory information, the directory information comprising location information that indicates where a wireless device may locate system state update information in a wireless network and information that specifies unicast messages that are signed and verified, and the system state version information being indicative of updates to the directory information;

means for determining an update of the directory information based on the system state version information in the primary message; and

means for acquiring, when the update of the directory information is determined, content corresponding to the update of the directory information from a location indicated by the directory information via one or more of the unicast messages, wherein acquiring the content comprises sending a request for the content and acquiring the content via the one or more of the unicast messages in response to the request.

52. The apparatus as defined in claim 51, wherein the system state version information corresponds to an interface protocol between the wireless device and a network.

53. The apparatus as defined in claim 51, wherein the means for acquiring the content comprises means for receiving the content when the update of the directory information is determined.

54. The apparatus as defined in claim 51, wherein the system state version information comprises a current version number.

55. The apparatus as defined in claim 54, wherein determining the update of the directory information based on the system state version information in the primary message comprises comparing a previously stored version number with the current version number to determine the update of the directory information.

56. The apparatus as defined in claim 51, further comprising:

means for sending the request for the content based on the directory information.

57. The apparatus as defined in claim 51, wherein the primary message is configured as a summary message configured to reduce an amount of processing by the wireless device in order to determine the update of the directory information.

58. The apparatus as defined in claim 51, wherein the primary message comprises a program guide information record field comprising information regarding programs of various services of a particular network.

59. The apparatus as defined in claim 51, wherein the primary message comprises a market place information record field comprising information regarding media packages that are available for subscription.

60. The apparatus as defined in claim 51, wherein the primary message comprises a plurality of system state version information fields related to application upgrades and configuration file updates for the wireless device.

61. The apparatus as defined in claim 51, wherein the means for determining determines whether a value associated with the system state version information is greater than a previously stored value.

62. A computer program product, comprising:

a non-transitory computer-readable medium comprising;

code for causing a computer to receive a primary message comprising a summary of system state version information and directory information, the directory information comprising location information that indicates where a wireless device may locate system state update information in a wireless network and information that specifies unicast messages that are signed and verified, and the system state version information being indicative of updates to the directory information;

code for causing the computer to exclusively process the system state version information of the primary message and to determine the update to an application based on the system state version information; and

code for causing the computer to acquire, when the update to the application is determined, changed first content item of a plurality of content items of the application from a location identified by the directory information via one or more of the unicast messages, wherein acquiring the content comprises sending a request for the content and acquiring the content via the one or more of the unicast messages in response to the request.

63. The computer program product as defined in claim 62, wherein the update to the application further comprises a change in a second content item of the plurality of content items of the application.

64. The computer program product as defined in claim 63, further comprising code for causing the computer to send a request for the second content item when the update to the application is determined and receiving the second content item in response to the request.

65. The computer program product as defined in claim 63, further comprising code for causing the computer to receive the second content item when the update to the application is determined.

66. The computer program product as defined in claim 62, wherein the system state version information comprises a current version number.

67. The computer program product as defined in claim 66, wherein the code for causing the computer to determine the update to the application based on the system state version information in the primary message comprises code for causing the computer to compare a previously stored version number with the current version number to determine the update to the application.

68. The computer program product as defined in claim 63, wherein the non-transitory computer-readable medium further comprises code for causing the computer to send a request for the changed first content item of the plurality of content items based on the directory information.

69. The computer program product as defined in claim 62, further comprising code for causing the computer to enter a low power state when the update to the application is not determined.

70. The computer program product as defined in claim 62, wherein the primary message comprises a program guide information record field comprising information regarding programs of various services of a particular network.

71. The computer program product as defined in claim 62, wherein the primary message comprises a market place information record field comprising information regarding media packages that are available for subscription.

72. The computer program product as defined in claim 62, wherein the primary message comprises a plurality of system state version information fields related to application upgrades and configuration file updates for the wireless device.

73. The computer program product as defined in claim 62, further comprising code for causing the computer to determine whether a value associated with the system state version information is greater than a previously stored value.

74. A wireless device for receiving system state information, comprising:

a first module for receiving a primary message configured to comprise first data, the first data comprising a summary of system state version information and directory information, the directory information comprising location information that indicates where the wireless device may locate system state update information in a wireless network and information that specifies unicast messages that are signed and verified, and the system state version information being indicative of updates to the directory information; and

a second module for determining a change in the system state information based on the first data in the primary message indicating the system state information;

wherein the first data comprises a plurality of system state version information fields corresponding to a plurality of types of system state information, wherein each of the plurality of system state version information fields is configured to indicate a change in a corresponding one of the plurality of types of system state information,

wherein one of the plurality of system state version information fields corresponds to an application upgrade or a configuration file update for the wireless device; and

a third module for acquiring second data via one or more of the unicast messages when a change in the first data is determined, wherein acquiring the second data comprises sending a request for the second data and acquiring the content via the one or more of the unicast messages in response to the request.

75. The wireless device as defined in claim 74, wherein the module for acquiring the second data is configured to receive second data comprising system state update information when a change in system information is determined.

76. The wireless device as defined in claim 74, wherein the first data comprises a current system state version number.

77. The wireless device as defined in claim 74, wherein the second module for determining the change in system state information based on the first data in the primary message is configured to compare a previously stored system state version number with the current system state version number to determine the change in system state information.

78. The wireless device as defined in claim 74, further comprising:

the first data comprising directory information configured to communicate location information to the wireless device; and

a fourth module for sending the request for the second data based on the directory information.

79. The wireless device as defined in claim 74, wherein the primary message is configured as a summary message configured to reduce an amount of processing by the wireless device in order to determine the system state information.

80. The wireless device as defined in claim 74, wherein the plurality of system state version information fields comprise a program guide information record field comprising information regarding programs of various services of a particular network.

81. The wireless device as defined in claim 74, wherein the plurality of system state version information fields comprise a market place information record field comprising information regarding media packages that are available for subscription.

82. The wireless device as defined in claim 74, wherein the one of the plurality of system state version information fields corresponds to the application upgrade, and the application upgrade corresponds to an update of content of an application.

83. The wireless device as defined in claim 74, wherein the second module is further configured for determining whether a value associated with one of the plurality of system state version information fields is greater than a previously stored value.