Method and apparatus for providing remote access of personal data

• US 20030120784A1
• Filed: 06/24/2002
• Published: 06/26/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 06/25/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Intellisync Corporation (Nokia Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Intellisync Corporation (Nokia Corporation)
• Inventors: Johnson, Kent, Johnson, Craig, Newcomb, Steve, Solorzano, Jose, Squires, Jack
• Granted Patent: US 7,761,531 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 709/228
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/029 Firewall traversal, e.g. tunnelling or, creating pinholes
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/08 for authentication of entities cryptographic mechanisms or cryptographic arrangements for entity authentication H04L9/32
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/01 Protocols
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/04 specially adapted for terminals or networks with limited capabilities; specially adapted for terminal portability
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/34 involving the movement of software or configuration parameters network booting or remote initial program loading [RIPL] G06F9/4416
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/329 in the application layer [OSI layer 7]
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/06 Authentication
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 74/00 Wireless channel access

Abstract

A method and apparatus for remote access of personal data using a remote device. The personal data is stored on a storage medium in a personal device. The personal data may include personal information of a user of the remote device, or the personal data may be that of another user who intends to share their personal data with the user. The personal device is uniquely associated with the user and may be configured to allow multiple users to access the device. User identification data is received from the remote device. The user is authenticated, using the user identification data received from the remote device, as the user with whom the personal device is associated, either uniquely or through configuration of sharing. When the user is authenticated, menu data is sent to the remote device. The menu data includes a list of personal data management applications on the personal device associated with the user. Selection data is received from the remote device. The selection data identifies one of the personal data management applications from the list as a selected application. From the personal device, a portion of the personal data accessible by the selected application is requested. The requested portion of personal data is received from the storage medium in the personal device and sent to the remote device.

Claims

1. A method of providing for remote access of personal data using a remote device, the personal data stored on a storage medium in a personal device, the personal data including personal information of a user of the remote device or an individual intending to share the personal data with the user, the personal device associated with the user, either uniquely or by sharing, the method comprising the steps of:

receiving user identification data from the remote device;

authenticating the user, using the user identification data received from the remote device, as the user with whom the personal device is associated, either uniquely or by sharing;

sending, when the user is authenticated, menu data to the remote device, the menu data including a list of personal data management applications on the personal device associated with the user;

receiving, from the remote device, selection data identifying one of the personal data management applications from the list as a selected application;

requesting, from the personal device, a portion of the personal data accessible by the selected application;

receiving, from the storage medium in the personal device, the requested portion of personal data; and

sending the requested portion of personal data to the remote device.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the personal device is a personal computer.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the personal device is a service gateway.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the personal device is a set-top box.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the selected application is an email application.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the selected application is a contacts application.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the selected application is a schedule or calendar application.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the selected application is a file access application.

9. A method of providing for remote access of personal data using a remote device, the personal data stored on storage media within a plurality of personal devices, the personal data including personal information of a user of the remote device or an individual intending to share the personal data with the user, the personal devices associated with the user, either uniquely or by sharing, the method comprising the steps of:

receiving user identification data from the remote device;

authenticating the user, using the user identification data received from the remote device, as the user with whom the personal devices are associated, either uniquely or by sharing;

sending first menu data to the remote device, the first menu data including a list of the personal devices associated with the user;

receiving, from the remote device, first selection data identifying one of the personal devices from the list as a selected personal device;

sending second menu data to the remote device, the second menu data including a list of personal data management applications on the selected personal device associated with the user;

receiving, from the remote device, second selection data identifying a selected application from the list of personal data management applications;

requesting, from the selected personal device, a portion of the personal data accessible by the selected application;

receiving, from a storage medium in the selected personal device, the requested portion of personal data;

sending the requested portion of personal data to the remote device.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein the selected personal device is a personal computer.

11. The method of claim 9, wherein the selected personal device is a service gateway.

12. The method of claim 9, wherein the selected personal device is a set-top box.

13. The method of claim 9, wherein the requested portion of personal data includes email data.

14. The method of claim 9, wherein the requested portion of personal data includes contact data.

15. The method of claim 9, wherein the requested portion of personal data includes schedule or calendar data.

16. The method of claim 9, wherein the requested portion of personal data includes a computer data file.

17. An apparatus providing for remote access of personal data using a remote device, the personal data stored on a storage medium in a personal device, the personal data personal information of a user of the remote device or an individual intending to share the personal data with the user, the personal device associated with the user, either uniquely or by sharing, the apparatus comprising:

a remote device interface capable of communicating with the remote device and;

i) receiving user identification data from the remote device,

ii) sending menu data to the remote device, the menu data including a list of personal data management applications on the personal device associated with the user, and

iii) receiving, from the remote device, selection data identifying one of the personal data management applications from the list as a selected application;

an authentication module capable of authenticating the user, using the user identification data received from the remote device, as the user with whom the personal device is associated, either uniquely or by sharing;

a personal device interface in communication with only the personal device over a communications path;

the personal device interface capable of;

i) requesting, from the personal device, a portion of the personal data accessible by the selected application, and

ii) receiving, from the storage medium in the selected personal device, the requested personal data;

the remote device interface further capable of sending the requested personal data to the remote device.

18. The apparatus of claim 17, wherein the remote device is a web phone.

19. The apparatus of claim 17, wherein the communications path includes an XML-based RPC connection.

20. A processor readable medium having processor readable program code that, when executed by a processor in a data processing apparatus, performs a method of providing for remote access of personal data using a remote device, the personal data stored on a storage medium in a personal device, the personal data including personal information of a user of the remote device or an individual intending to share the personal data with the user, the personal device associated with the user, either uniquely or by sharing, the method comprising:

receiving user identification data from the remote device;

authenticating the user, using the user identification data received from the remote device, as the single user with whom the personal device is associated, either uniquely or by sharing;

sending, when the user is authenticated, menu data to the remote device, the menu, data including a list of personal data management applications on the personal device associated with the user;

receiving, from the remote device, selection data identifying one of the personal data management applications from the list as a selected application;

requesting, from the personal device, a portion of the personal data accessible by the selected application;

receiving, from the storage medium in the personal device, the requested portion of personal data; and

sending the requested portion of personal data to the remote device.

21. The processor readable medium of claim 20, wherein the selected application is an email application.

22. The processor readable medium of claim 20, wherein the selected application is a contacts application.

23. The processor readable medium of claim 20, wherein the selected application is a schedule application.

24. The processor readable medium of claim 20, wherein the selected application is a file access application.