System and method for pushing information from a host system to a mobile data communication device in a wireless data network

• US 20040136358A1
• Filed: 03/19/2003
• Published: 07/15/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 05/29/1998
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Malikie Innovations Limited (Key Patent Innovations Limited)
• Original Assignee: Blackberry Limited
• Inventors: Naqvi, Noushad, Patterson, Ian M., Mousseau, Gary P., Knowles, Michael, Lazaridis, Mihal, Bajar, David, Hind, Hugh, Burns, Anthony G., Lewis, Allan D.
• Granted Patent: US 8,516,055 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 370/352
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/212 using filtering or selective blocking
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/214 using selective forwarding
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/58 Message adaptation for wireless communication
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/04 specially adapted for terminals or networks with limited capabilities; specially adapted for terminal portability
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/10 in which an application is distributed across nodes in the network software deployment G06F8/60; multiprogramming arrangements G06F9/46
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/55 Push-based network services

Abstract

A system and method for redirecting data from a host system (or messaging server) to one or more mobile data communication devices via a wireless packet data network is provided in which the wireless packet data network dynamically assigns addresses to the one or more mobile data communication devices on an as-needed basis. A redirector application operating at the host system is configured by each user to continuously redirect certain data to the wireless packet data network, as the data is received (or otherwise altered) at the host system. Two methods are provided for communicating the redirected data from the network to the mobile device. In a first method, the mobile device is configured to periodically contact a store-and-forward server within the wireless network, which, when contacted, assigns a network address to the mobile device and then transmits the stored, redirected data to the mobile device. In a second method, the network transmits a connection request command to the mobile device via a parallel voice network, or via a command channel, or other type of low-bandwidth data channel. The mobile device then contacts the data network and requests a network address so that the store-and-forward server can send the redirected data to the mobile device.

Claims

1. A method of redirecting data from a messaging server to a mobile device via a wireless packet data network, comprising the steps of:

receiving data at the messaging server and redirecting the received data to the wireless packet data network;

receiving the redirected data at a store-and-forward server associated with the wireless packet data network;

determining whether a valid wireless network address is associated with the mobile device;

if a valid wireless network address is associated with the mobile device, then;

(a) addressing the redirected data using the valid wireless network address; and

(b) transmitting the redirected data to the mobile device via the wireless packet data network; and

if a valid wireless network address is not associated with the mobile device, then;

(a) transmitting a connection request command to the mobile device;

(b) the mobile device transmitting an address request to the wireless packet data network and obtaining a valid wireless network address;

(c) providing the valid wireless network address to the store-and-forward server;

(d) addressing the redirected data using the valid wireless network address; and

(e) transmitting the redirected data to the mobile device via the wireless packet data network.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising the steps of:

receiving data at the messaging server, wherein the data is addressed to a plurality of users, each user having an associated mobile device;

redirecting the data to the wireless packet data network and receiving the redirected data at the store-and-forward server;

associating the redirected data to one of the users'"'"' mobile devices using addressing information embedded within the redirected data; and

storing the redirected data in a database coupled to the store-and-forward server, wherein the database includes a plurality of sub-stores for each of the plurality of users for storing the users'"'"' redirected data.

3. The method of claim 2, further comprising the step of:

providing an Internet Protocol (IP) based network as the wireless packet data network; and

providing an IP address as the addressing information embedded within the redirected data.

4. The method of claim 2, further comprising the step of:

providing an E-mail address as the addressing information embedded within the redirectd data.

5. The method of claim 3, further comprising the step of:

providing the General Packet Radio Service (GPRS) network as the IP based network.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the determining step further comprises the steps of:

receiving a valid network address for the mobile device at the store-and-forward server;

setting an inactivity timer for the mobile device when the valid network address is received at the store-and-forward server;

if the inactivity timer expires, then setting a flag indicating that the network address is invalid.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the determining step further comprises the steps of:

the store-and-forward server contacting an address assignment component of the wireless packet data network;

receiving information from the address assignment component as to whether the wireless network address for the mobile device is valid.

8. The method of claim 7, further comprising the step of:

providing a DHCP server as the address assignment component of the wireless packet data network.

9. The method of claim 7, further comprising the step of:

integrating the address assignment component into the store-and-forward server.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein the determining step further comprises the steps of:

providing an address assignment component at the store-and-forward server;

receiving network addressing information at the address assignment component and associating this addressing information with a mobile device; and

the address assignment component providing this addressing information to the store-and-forward server.

11. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of:

providing information in the connection request command as to whether the store-and-forward gateway includes an address assignment component.

12. The method of claim 11, further comprising the step of:

if the store-and-forward server does not include an address assignment component, then the mobile device transmitting the valid network address to the store-and-forward server.

13. The method of claim 11, further comprising the step of:

if the store-and-forward server does include an address assignment component, then the address assignment component detecting the valid network address obtained from the wireless packet data network and providing the valid network address to the store-and-forward server.

14. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of:

providing a PING command as the connection request command.

15. The method of claim 1, further comprising the steps of:

configuring the mobile device to periodically transmit an address request to the wireless packet data network in order to obtain a valid wireless network address; and

providing the valid wireless network address to the store-and-forward server.

16. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of:

providing an address mapping database at the store-and-forward server, wherein the address mapping database associates a plurality of wireless network addresses with a plurality of mobile devices.

17. The method of claim 1, further comprising the steps of:

providing a wireless voice network operating in association with the wireless packet data network, wherein the mobile device is capable of communicating data signals via the wireless packet data network and voice signals via the wireless voice network; and

transmitting the connection request command to the mobile device via the wireless voice network.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein the connection request command is transmitted via a data channel of the wireless voice network.

19. The method of claim 18, wherein the data channel is an SMS channel.

20. The method of claim 17, further comprising the step of:

providing the GSM network as the wireless voice network and the GPRS network as the wireless packet data network.

21. The method of claim 1, further comprising the steps of:

determining whether the mobile device is connected to the messaging server; and

if the mobile device is connected to the messaging server, then disabling the redirecting of the received data to the wireless packet data network until the mobile device is no longer connected to the messaging server.

22. The method of claim 21, further comprising the step of:

providing an interface cradle for directly connecting the mobile device to the messaging server.

23. The method of claim 22, further comprising the step of:

coupling the mobile device to the interface cradle via a short range RF link.

24. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of:

providing a desktop system as the messaging server, wherein the desktop system is associated with a user of the mobile device.

25. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of:

providing a network server as the messaging server, wherein the network server is associated with a plurality of users operating a plurality of mobile devices.

26. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of:

transmitting the connection request command to the mobile device via a command channel of the wireless packet data network.

27. The method of claim 1, wherein the redirected data includes E-mail messages.

28. The method of claim 1, wherein the redirected data includes digitized voice messages.

29. The method of claim 1, wherein the redirected data includes E-mail messages and digitized voice messages.

30. A method of transmitting data to a dual-mode device capable of communicating via a wireless data network and a wireless voice network, comprising the steps of:

transmitting data to a wireless gateway coupled to the wireless data network;

transmitting a connection request command to the dual-mode device via the wireless voice network;

in response to the connection request command, the dual-mode device transmitting an address request to the wireless packet data network;

in response to the address request, assigning a network address of the wireless packet data network to the dual-mode device;

providing the assigned network address to the wireless gateway; and

transmitting the data from the wireless gateway to the dual-mode device via the wireless data network using the assigned network address.

31. A method of redirecting data from a messaging server to a mobile device via a wireless packet data network, comprising the steps of:

receiving data at the messaging server;

redirecting the data from the messaging server to the wireless packet data network;

storing the redirected data at a store-and-forward server associated with the wirless packet data network;

configuring the mobile device to periodically transmit an address request to the wireless packet data network;

in response to the address request, the network assigning a network address to the mobile device;

providing the assigned network address to the store-and-forward server; and

transmitting the data form the store-and-forward server to the mobile device using the assigned network address for the mobile device.

32. A method of transmitting data from a messaging server to a mobile device via an IP-based packet network that dynamically assigns IP addresses to mobile devices on an as-needed basis, comprising the steps of:

receiving redirected data addressed for a first mobile device from the messaging server at a store-and-forward gateway associated with the IP-based packet network;

determining whether the first mobile device is associated with a valid IP address;

if the first mobile device is associated with a valid IP address, then addressing the redirected data using the valid IP address and transmitting it to the mobile device via the IP-based packet network;

if the first mobile device is not associated with a valid IP address, then;

transmitting a connection request command to the first mobile device instructing it to acquire an IP address, the first mobile device obtaining a valid IP address from the IP-based packet network, providing the valid IP address of the first mobile device to the store-and-forward gateway, and transmitting the redirected data to the first mobile device using the valid IP address.

33. A system for transmitting data to a mobile device, comprising:

a messaging server having a redirector application for receiving data from a plurality of sources and for redirecting the received data to an external network;

a wireless packet data network coupled to the external network, the wireless packet data network having a store-and-forward server for receiving redirected data from the messaging server and for transmitting the redirected data to the mobile device;

wherein the mobile device is configured to periodically contact the wireless packet data network in order to obtain a valid network address, the valid network address being communicated to the store-and-forward server so that the store-and-forward server can address the redirected data to the mobile device via the wireless packet data network.

34. A system for transmitting data to a mobile device, comprising:

a messaging server having a redirector application for receiving data from a plurality of sources and for redirecting the received data to an external network;

a wireless packet data network coupled to the external network, the wireless packet data network having a store-and-forward server for receiving redirected data from the messaging server and for transmitting the redirected data to the mobile device;

wherein the store-and-forward server deteremines whether the mobile device is associated with a valid network address of the wireless packet data network, and if it is not then the store-and-forward server transmits a connection request command to the mobile device instructing it to obtain a valid network address from the wireless packet data network.

35. The system of claim 34, further comprising:

a parallel wireless voice network operating in conjunction with the wireless packet data network, wherein the mobile device is capable of communication over both the wireless packet data network and the wireless voice network.

36. The system of claim 35, wherein the wireless packet data network is an Internet Protocl (IP) based network.

37. The system of claim 36, wherein the IP based network is the GPRS network.

38. The system of claim 37, wherein the wireless voice network is the GSM network.

39. The system of claim 34, further comprising:

a local area network (LAN) coupling the messaging server to the plurality of sources.

40. The system of claim 39, wherein the messaging server is a desktop computer system associated with the user of the mobile device.

41. The system of claim 39, wherein the messaging server is a network server associated with a plurality of users operating a plurality of mobile devices.

42. The system of claim 34, further comprising:

a firewall system coupled between the messaging server and the external network.

43. The system of claim 34, wherein the external network is the Internet.

44. The system of claim 34, further comprising:

an interface cradle for coupling the mobile device to the messaging server.

45. The system of claim 44, wherein the mobile device makes a direct electrical connection to the interface cradle.

46. The system of claim 44, wherein the mobile device makes a wireless connection to the interface cradle.

47. The system of claim 44, wherein the messaging server detects whether the mobile device is coupled to the interface cradle, and if so, the messaging server disables redirection of the data.

48. The system of claim 35, wherein the connection request command is transmitted to the mobile device via the parallel wireless voice network.

49. The system of claim 35, wherein the parallel wireless voice network includes an SMS data channel for transmitting the connection request command to the mobile device.

50. The system of claim 34, whrein the connection request comman is a PING command.

51. The system of claim 34, wherein the connection request command includes information indicating whether the store-and-forward server includes an address assignment component.

52. The system of claim 34, wherein the messaging server is Microsoft Exchange Server.

53. The system of claim 34, wherein the store-and-forward server includes an integrated address assignment component.

54. The system of claim 53, wherein the integrated addresss assignment component is a DHCP server.

55. The system of claim 34, further comprising:

an address assignment component associated with the wireless packet data network and coupled to the store-and-forward server.

56. The system of claim 34, wherein the wireless packet data network includes:

one or more network entry points, wherein the store-and-forward server is coupled to at least one of the one or more network entry points;

a plurality of network routers; and

a name server.

57. The system of claim 34, wherein the wireless packet data network creates a wireless network tunnel through the one or more network entry points and the plurality of network routers in order to transmit data to the mobile device.

58. The system of claim 57, wherein the wireless network tunnel transports TCP data packets.

59. The system of claim 57, wherein the wireless network tunnel transports UDP data packets.

60. The system of claim 57, wherein the mobile device is configured to transmit an address request to the wireless packet data netwok upon receiving the connection request command from the store-and-forward server.

61. The system of claim 60, wherein the wireless packet data network dynamically assigns a valid network address to the mobile device in response to the address request.

62. The system of claim 61, wherein the valid network address is provided to the store-and-forward server.

63. The system of claim 62, wherein the mobile device transmits the valid network address directly to the store-and-forward server.

64. The system of claim 62, wherein the valid network address is provided to the store-and-forward server by an address assignment component coupled to the wireless packet data network and integrated into the store-and-forward server.

65. The system of claim 34, further comprising:

an address mapping database for storing a table of mobile devices and associated network addresses.

66. The system of claim 34, wherein the mobile device is a two-way paging computer.

67. The system of claim 34, wherein the mobile device is a cellular telephone having data messaging capabilities.

68. The system of claim 34, wherein the mobile device is a portable digital assistant.

69. The system of claim 34, wherein the data includes E-mail messages.

70. The system of claim 44, wherein the mobile device is configured to communicate encryption/decryption information to the messaging server when the mobile device is coupled to the interface cradle.

71. The system of claim 34, further comprising:

an electronic alarm system in communication with the messaging server, wherein the electronic alarm system senses an alarm condition and transmits data to the messaging server to be redirected to the mobile device.

72. The system of claim 34, further comprising:

a personal monitoring system in communication with the messaging server, wherein the personal monitoring system monitors at least one vital sign of a human and transmits vital sign data to the messaging server to be redirected to the mobile device.

73. The system of claim 34, further comprising:

at least one of the plurality of sources selected from the group consisting of;

a motion detector, an Interent Web site, an E-mail message store, a PBX information exchange, or an information database.

74. The system of claim 34, wherein the received data is selected from the group consisting of:

digitized voice messages, E-mail messages, instant messages, corporate inventory records, corporate sales records, alarm information, vital sign information, or equipment monitoring information.

75. A method of receiving and processing data packets at a mobile device configured to operate with a wireless packet data network, comprising the steps of:

receiving a data packet at the mobile device;

determining whether the data packet is an application packet, and if so, then routing the packet to one or more applications operating on the mobile device;

determining whether the data packet is a connection request packet from the wireless packet data network, and if so, then initiating a wireless network tunnel request operation with the wireless packet data network.

76. The method of claim 75, further comprising the step of:

determining whether the data packet is a tunnel confirmation packet from the wireless packet data network, the tunnel confirmation packet including a valid network address, and if so, then transmitting the valid network address to a store-and-forward server associated with the wireless packet data network.

77. A mobile device for receiving data from a messaging server coupled to a wireless packet data network, comprising:

a receiver for receiving a connection request command instructing the mobile device to obtain a valid network address; and

a transmitter for transmitting an address request to the wireless packet data network in response to the connection request command, wherein the wireless packet data network dynamically allocates a valid network address in response to the address request and transmits the valid network address to the mobile device.

78. A dual-mode communicator for communicating data signals via a wireless packet data network and for communication voice signals via a wireless voice network, the dual-mode communicator comprising:

means for receiving a connection request command via the wireless voice network;

means for generating an address request in response to the connection request command and for transmitting the address request to the wireless data network; and

means for receiving a valid network address from the wirless data network in response to the address request.

79. A context activation method comprising the steps of:

(A) receiving data items at a store and forward gateway from a host system;

(B) storing the data items at the store and forward gateway;

(C) determining whether a valid network address is associated with the mobile;

(D) if there is a valid network address for the mobile, then;

i. sending the stored data items to the mobile, via the wireless network, by associating the valid network address with the stored data items;

(E) if there is no valid network address for the mobile, then;

i. sending a connection request command via a control channel;

ii. receiving the connection request command at the mobile;

iii. if the connection request command indicates that the store and forward gateway can detect an assignment of a network address, then;

(a) sending a network address request from the mobile to the wireless network;

(b) allocating an assigned network address for the mobile;

(c) sending the assigned network address to the mobile from the wireless network;

(d) detecting by the store and forward gateway the assigned network address;

(e) associating, at the store and forward gateway, the assigned network address with the mobile;

(f) sending stored data items at the store and forward gateway to the mobile by addressing data item with the assigned network address;

iv. if the connection request command indicates that the store and forward gateway cannot detect an assignment of a network address, then;

(a) sending a network address request from the mobile to the wireless network;

(b) assigning a network address for the mobile;

(c) sending the assigned network address to the mobile from the wireless network;

(d) sending the assigned network address to the store and forward gateway from the mobile;

(e) associating, at the store and forward gateway, the assigned network address with the mobile;

(f) sending stored data items at the store and forward gateway to the mobile by addressing data item with the assigned network address.

80. A context activation method of claim 79, further comprising the steps of:

(A) addressing data items as they are received at the store and forward gateway with the assigned network address;

(B) sending the stored data items to the mobile;

(C) upon detecting that the assigned network address is no longer a valid network address, ceasing the addressing and sending of data items with the assigned network address.

81. A context activation method as in claim 79, wherein the wireless network is at least a data-packet network.

82. A context activation method as in claim 79, wherein the network address is an Internet Protocol (IP) address.

83. A context activation method as in claim 79, wherein the sending step of (E) iii.(a) comprises sending the network address request to a Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol (DHCP) component of the wireless network.

84. A context activation method as in claim 83, wherein the allocation step of (E) iii.(b) comprises having the DHCP component assign the network address.

85. A context activation method as in claim 79, wherein the association step of (E) iii.(e) comprises associating a permanent identification mobile address with the assigned networked address.

86. A context activation method comprising the steps of:

(A) receiving data items at a store and forward gateway from a host system;

(B) storing the data items at the store and forward gateway;

(C) determining whether a valid network address is associated with the mobile;

(D) if there is a valid network address for the mobile, then;

i. ending the stored data items to the mobile, via the wireless network, by associating the valid network address with the stored data items;

(E) if there is no valid network address for the mobile, then;

i. sending a connection request command via a control channel;

ii. receiving the connection request command at the mobile;

iii. sending a network address request from the mobile to the wireless network;

iv. allocating an assigned network address for the mobile;

v. sending the assigned network address to the mobile from the wireless network;

vi. detecting by the store and forward gateway the assigned network address;

vii. associating, at the store and forward gateway, the assigned network address with the mobile; and

,

viii. sending stored data items at the store and forward gateway to the mobile by addressing data item with the assigned network address.

87. A context activation method comprising the steps of:

(A) receiving data items at a store and forward gateway from a host system;

(B) storing the data items at the store and forward gateway;

(C) determining whether a valid network address is associated with the mobile;

(D) if there is a valid network address for the mobile, then;

i. sending the stored data items to the mobile, via the wireless network, by associating the valid network address with the stored data items;

(E) if there is no valid network address for the mobile, then;

i. sending a connection request command via a control channel;

ii. receiving the connection request command at the mobile;

iii. sending a network address request from the mobile to the wireless network;

iv. assigning a network address for the mobile;

v. sending the assigned network address to the mobile from the wireless network;

vi. sending the assigned network address to the store and forward gateway from the mobile;

vii. associating, at the store and forward gateway, the assigned network address with the mobile; and

,

viii. sending stored data items at the store and forward gateway to the mobile by addressing data item with the assigned network address.