Application data syncing across multiple cellular mobile communication devices

• US 9,467,821 B1
• Filed: 06/09/2011
• Issued: 10/11/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 06/09/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Cellco Partnership, Inc. (Verizon Communications Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Cellco Partnership, Inc. (Verizon Communications Inc.)
• Inventors: Saatchi, Saeed, Ramos, Jesus, Zhang, Ning
• Primary Examiner(s): JAKOVAC, RYAN J
• Application Number:
  US13/156,788
• Time in Patent Office: 1,951 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/08 User group management

Abstract

An application data synchronization system may include a data storage system and a data synchronization module. The data storage system may store the identity of entities and, for each entity, the identity of a group of cellular communication devices used by the entity and at least one application that has been delivered to at least two of the cellular communication devices in the group. The data synchronization module may detect that an application has changed data while operating in one of the cellular communication devices. The data synchronization module may consult the data storage system to determine whether the application was also delivered to one or more other cellular communication devices within the same entity group and, if so, cause the changed data to be propagated to the one or more other cellular communication devices within the same entity group.

Claims

1. An application data synchronization system comprising:

a data storage system configured to store, for each respective one of a plurality of entities;

an identity of the respective entity;

an identity for each of a plurality of cellular communication devices forming a group of cellular communication devices used by the respective entity; and

an identity for an application that has been delivered to at least two of the cellular communication devices in the group of cellular communication devices used by the respective entity; and

a data synchronization module comprising a computer, including a processor, a memory, and software to configure the computer of the data synchronization module to, for each of the plurality of entities;

detect that one of a plurality of applications resident on a cellular communication device of the group of cellular communication devices used by the respective entity has changed data while operating in the cellular communication device;

compare, based at least in part on the identity of the respective entity, an identity of the one application that changed data with the identity for the application that has been delivered to at least two of the cellular communication devices, as stored in the data storage system, to determine whether a match exists; and

upon a determination that the identity of the one application that changed data matches the identity for the application that has been delivered to at least two of the cellular communication devices, cause the changed data to be propagated only to the one or more other cellular communication devices within the group used by the respective entity to which the one application that changed the data was delivered.

2. The application data synchronization system of claim 1 wherein the software further configures the data synchronization module to cause the changed data to be propagated on demand.

3. The application data synchronization system of claim 1 wherein the software further configures the data synchronization module to cause the changed data to be propagated on a periodic schedule.

4. The application data synchronization system of claim 1 wherein the data storage system is configured to store, for each respective one of the plurality of entities, the data that is changed by applications operating in cellular communication devices within the group used by the respective entity.

5. The application data synchronization system of claim 1 wherein the at least one application comprises a contacts application and the changed data is contact data.

6. The application data synchronization system of claim 1 wherein the at least one application comprises a calendar application and the changed data is calendar data.

7. The application data synchronization system of claim 1 wherein the at least one application comprises a map application and the changed data is mapping data.

8. The application data synchronization system of claim 1 wherein the at least one application comprises a navigation application and the changed data is navigation data.

9. The application data synchronization system of claim 1 further comprising a user interface configured to allow each entity to change the group of cellular communication devices used by the entity stored in the data storage system.

10. The application data synchronization system of claim 1 wherein:

the data storage system is configured to store, for each respective one of the plurality of entities, user-specified options indicating to which cellular communication devices within the group used by the respective entity the data synchronization module should propagate changed data;

the application data synchronization system includes a user interface configured to receive the user-specified options, which are subsequently stored in the data storage system; and

the software further configures the data synchronization module to propagate changed data in conformance with the user-specified options.

11. The application data synchronization system of claim 1 wherein:

the data storage system is configured to store, for each respective one of the plurality of entities, user-specified options indicating which applications operating in the cellular communication devices within the group used by the respective entity are to be subject to data synchronization;

the application data synchronization system includes a user interface configured to receive the user-specified options, which are subsequently stored in the data storage system; and

the software further configures the data synchronization module to propagate changed data in conformance with the user-specified options.

12. The application data synchronization system of claim 1 further comprising a notification routing module comprising a computer, including a processor, a memory, and software to configure the computer of the notification routing module to, for each of the plurality of entities:

detect a notification that is directed to at least one of the cellular communication devices within the group used by the respective entity;

determine which cellular communication device(s) is or are active within the group used by the respective entity; and

route the notification to the active cellular communication device(s) within the group used by the respective entity.

13. The application data synchronization system of claim 1 wherein:

the data storage system is configured to store, for each respective one of the plurality of entities, an identity of an application or a unit of content that has been delivered to at least one of the cellular communication devices in the group used by the respective entity; and

the application data synchronization system further comprises;

an application or content delivery module comprising a computer, including a processor, a memory, and software to configure the computer of the application or content delivery module to deliver a requested application or unit of content to a requesting cellular communication device in response to a request for such delivery from the requesting cellular communication device; and

a multiple-delivery benefit determination module comprising a computer, including a processor, a memory, and software to configure the computer of the multiple-delivery benefit determination module to;

determine whether the requested application or unit of content had previously been delivered to a cellular communication device within the group containing the requesting cellular communication device by consulting the data storage system; and

provide a multi-delivery benefit if and only if the determination is that the requested application or unit of content had previously been delivered to a cellular communication device within the group containing the requesting cellular communication device by consulting the data storage system.

14. The application data synchronization system of claim 13 wherein the multi-delivery benefit in connection with at least one requested application or unit of content is a discount from the per-unit price of the application or unit of content.

15. The application data synchronization system of claim 13 wherein the multi-delivery benefit in connection with at least one requested application or unit of content is not to charge beyond what was charged for the delivery of the application or unit of content to the cellular communication device within the group to which the at least one requested application or unit of content had previously been delivered.

16. The application data synchronization system of claim 13 wherein the multi-delivery benefit is based on a stored benefit policy.

17. The application data synchronization system of claim 16 wherein the stored benefit policy is different for different applications or units of content.

18. A non-transitory, tangible, computer-readable medium containing a program of instructions configured to cause a computer system running the program of instructions to:

store, in a data storage system and for each respective one of a plurality of entities;

an identity of the respective entity;

an identity for each of a plurality of cellular communication devices forming a group of cellular communication devices used by the respective entity; and

an identity for at least one application that has been delivered to at least two of the cellular communication devices in the group of cellular communication devices used by the respective entity; and

for each of the plurality of entities;

detect that an application has changed data while operating in one of the cellular communication devices of the group of cellular communication devices used by the respective entity;

compare, based at least in part on the identity of the respective entity, an identity of the one application that changed data with the identity for the application that has been delivered to at least two of the cellular communication devices, as stored in the data storage system, to determine whether a match exists; and

upon a determination that the identity of the one application that changed data matches the identity for the application that has been delivered to at least two of the cellular communication devices, cause the changed data to be propagated only to the one or more other cellular communication devices within the group used by the respective entity to which the application that changed the data was also delivered.

19. A system comprising:

a computer system comprising;

a processor;

a memory coupled to the processor; and

data synchronization software stored in the memory;

a plurality of groups, each group being related to only one of a plurality of entities and each group comprising a plurality of cellular communication devices of the one related entity; and

a data storage system configured to store, for each group;

an identity for the one related entity;

an identity for each of the plurality of cellular communication devices forming the respective group; and

an identity for an application that has been delivered to at least two of the cellular communication devices of the respective group;

wherein execution of the data synchronization software by the processor of the computer system configures the computer system to implement functions, including functions to;

detect that one of a plurality of applications resident on a cellular communication device of one of the groups has changed data while operating in the cellular communication device;

compare, based at least in part on the identity of the respective entity, an identity of the one application that changed data with the identity for the application that has been delivered to at least two of the cellular communication devices, as stored in the data storage system, to determine whether a match exists; and

upon a determination that the identity of the one application that changed data matches the identity for the application that has been delivered to at least two of the cellular communication devices, cause the changed data to be propagated only to the one or more other cellular communication devices of the respective group to which the one application that changed the data was delivered.

20. The system of claim 19, further comprising:

an application or content delivery computer system comprising;

a processor;

a memory coupled to the processor; and

application or content delivery software stored in the memory; and

a multiple-delivery benefit determination computer system comprising;

a processor;

a memory coupled to the processor; and

multiple-delivery benefit determination software stored in the memory;

wherein;

the data storage system is further configured to store, for each group, an identity of an application or a unit of content that has been delivered to at least one of the cellular communication devices of the group;

execution of the application or content delivery software by the processor of the application or content delivery computer system configures the application or content delivery computer system to implement functions, including a function to;

deliver a requested application or unit of content to a requesting cellular communication device in response to a request for such delivery from the requesting cellular communication device; and

execution of the multiple-delivery benefit determination software by the processor of the multiple-delivery benefit determination computer system configures the multiple-delivery benefit determination computer system to implement functions, including functions to;

determine whether the requested application or unit of content had previously been delivered to a cellular communication device of the group containing the requesting cellular communication device by consulting the data storage system; and

provide a multi-delivery benefit if and only if the determination is that the requested application or unit of content had previously been delivered to a cellular communication device of the group containing the requesting cellular communication device by consulting the data storage system.