Wireless device address book updates

• US 9,397,963 B2
• Filed: 06/11/2013
• Issued: 07/19/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 12/13/2001
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I LP (AT&T, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I LP (AT&T, Inc.)
• Inventors: Jordan, Royce D. Jr.
• Primary Examiner(s): Thieu, Benjamin M
• Application Number:
  US13/914,787
• Publication Number:
  US 20130275537A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,134 Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/27 Replication, distribution or synchronisation of data between databases or within a distributed database system; Distributed database system architectures therefor
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/10 Office automation; Time management
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/1895 for short real-time information, e.g. alarms, notifications, alerts, updates
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/66 Arrangements for connecting between networks having differing types of switching systems, e.g. gateways
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/00 User-to-user messaging in packet-switching networks, transmitted according to store-and-forward or real-time protocols, e.g. e-mail
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/42 Mailbox-related aspects, e.g. synchronisation of mailboxes
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/48 Message addressing, e.g. address format or anonymous messages, aliases
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/58 Message adaptation for wireless communication
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99952 Coherency, e.g. same view to multiple users

Abstract

A system for maintaining an address book, wherein the address book includes a plurality of entries with each entry containing contact information and wherein address book updates are transmitted over a wireless network. The system includes a gateway for storing the address book and transmitting the address book updates to a wireless device.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

allowing, by a gateway, an authorized network device to modify an address book residing on the gateway of a wireless network;

allowing the address book, as modified, to be saved on the gateway;

comparing a local address book on the network device with the address book stored on the gateway;

determining, based on at least one of a type of the network device and an application of the network device, a protocol to communicate with the network device; and

if the local address book differs from the address book stored on the gateway, providing, by the gateway, an update to the network device using the protocol,

wherein the update is based on a difference between the local address book and the address book; and

wherein the application is an email application and providing the portion of the address book to the network device comprises formatting the portion to enable the email application to import the portion.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

if the local address book differs from the address book stored on the gateway, prior to providing the update to the network device, determining if the network device is capable of receiving the update.

3. The method of claim 2, further comprising:

if the network device is not capable, deferring providing the update.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein each user of a plurality of users is allowed a different level of access to the address book.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein each user of a plurality of users is allowed a different level of modification of the address book.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the update comprises an updated portion of the address book.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein allowing the network device to modify the address book comprises determining that the network device is authorized to modify the address book.

8. An apparatus comprising:

a processor; and

memory, coupled to the processor, the memory comprising executable instructions that when executed by processor cause the processor to effectuate operations comprising;

if the attempt to access the address book is authorized;

allowing an authorized network device to modify an address book residing on a gateway of a wireless network;

allowing the address book, as modified, to be saved on the gateway;

comparing a local address book on the network device with the address book stored on the gateway;

determining, based on at least one of a type of the network device and an application of the network device, a protocol to communicate with the network device; and

if the local address book differs from the address book stored on the gateway, providing an update to the network device using the protocol,

wherein the update is based on a difference between the local address book and the address book; and

wherein the application is an email application and providing the portion of the address book to the network device comprises formatting the portion to enable the email application to import the portion.

9. The apparatus of claim 8, the operations further comprising:

if the local address book differs from the address book stored on the gateway, prior to providing the update, determining if the network device is capable of receiving the update.

10. The apparatus of claim 9, the operations further comprising:

if it is determined that the network device is not capable, deferring providing the update.

11. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein each user of a plurality of users is allowed a different level of access to the address book.

12. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein each user of a plurality of users is allowed a different level of modification of the address book.

13. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein the update comprises an updated portion of the address book.

14. A processor-readable storage medium that is not a propagating signal, the processor-readable storage medium comprising executable instructions that when executed by a processor, cause the processor to effectuate operations comprising:

allowing an authorized network device to modify an address book residing on a gateway of a wireless network;

allowing the address book, as modified, to be saved on the gateway;

comparing a local address book on the network device with the address book stored on the gateway;

determining, based on at least one of a type of the network device and an application of the network device, a protocol to communicate with the network device; and

if the local address book differs from the address book stored on the gateway, providing an update to the network device using the protocol,

wherein the update is based on a difference between the local address book and the address book; and

wherein the application is an email application and providing the portion of the address book to the network device comprises formatting the portion to enable the email application to import the portion.

15. The processor-readable storage medium of claim 14, further comprising:

if the local address book differs from the address book stored on the gateway, prior to providing the update, determining if the network device is capable of receiving the update.

16. The processor-readable storage medium of claim 15, further comprising:

if the network device is not capable, deferring providing the update.

17. The processor-readable storage medium of claim 14, wherein:

each user of a plurality of users is allowed a different level of access to the address book; and

each user of the plurality of users is allowed a different level of modification of the address book.

18. The processor-readable storage medium of claim 14, wherein the update comprises an updated portion of the address book.

19. The processor-readable storage medium of claim 14, wherein providing the portion of the address book to the network device comprises:

determining an email application type on the network device; and

using a format associated with the email application to provide the update to the network device.