System and method providing configuration services for communications devices

• US 20040267971A1
• Filed: 01/24/2002
• Published: 12/30/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 03/01/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Symbol Technologies, LLC (Zebra Technologies Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Symbol Technologies, Inc. (Zebra Technologies Corporation)
• Inventors: Seshadri, Krishna
• Granted Patent: US 7,114,021 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 710/8
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/31 User authentication
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2221/2149 Restricted operating environment
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/2757 by data transmission, e.g. downloading
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72406 by software upgrading or downloading
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72448 with means for adapting the functionality of the device according to specific conditions

Abstract

A communications system and method is provided for enabling remote user configuration of a communications device. The system includes at least one communications device configurable for a plurality of users and at least one remote computer for storing configuration information associated with the plurality of users. A configuration request message is generated by the communications device to initiate a configuration of the communications device and a configuration response message is generated by the remote computer to enable configuration of the communications device, wherein the configuration response message includes configuration information associated with at least one of the plurality of users.

Claims

1. A communications system providing user configuration, comprising:

at least one communications device configurable for a plurality of users;

a configuration request message generated by the communications device to initiate a configuration of the communications device; and

a configuration response message received by the communications device to enable configuration of the communications device, wherein the configuration response message includes configuration information associated with combination of at least one of the communications devices and at least one of the plurality of users.

2. The system of claim 1, further comprising a remote computer for generating the configuration response message.

3. The system of claim 2, further comprising a plurality of configuration files associated with the plurality of users.

4. The system of claim 3, wherein the configuration files include at least one of authorization, application, and settings information associated with at least one user.

5. The system of claim 1, further comprising a user identification service for processing login information associated with at least one user.

6. The system of claim 5, wherein the login information includes at least one of a user name and a password.

7. The system of claim 1, further comprising a message service for transmitting login information associated with at least one user.

8. The system of claim 1, fiber comprising a configuration service for processing the configuration response message and updating the communications device with the configuration information.

9. The system of claim 1, further comprising a logout service for sending updated user configuration information.

10. The system of claim 2, further comprising a user request service for processing a login request associated with at least one user.

11. The system of claim 2, further comprising an authentication service for verifying configurations that a user can access.

12. The system of claim 2, further comprising a record locate service for searching for configuration associated with a user.

13. The system of claim 2, further comprising a configuration message service for sending configuration information in the configuration response message.

14. The system of claim 2, further comprising an update service for updating configuration information that has changed by the user.

15. The system of claim 1, wherein the communications device is updated with at least one application and associated setting.

16. The system of claim 1, wherein the communications device is updated with a plurality of applications and associated settings.

17. The system of claim 1, wherein the communications device further comprises at least one of a Personal Digital Assistant (PDA), palm pilot, cell phone, pager, and laptop computer.

18. A method providing a configurable communications device, comprising:

generating a configuration request message;

generating a configuration response message including configuration information associated with a combination of at east one communications device and at least one of a plurality of users for the communications device based upon the configuration request message; and

configuring the communications device with the configuration information in the configuration response message.

19. The method of claim 18, further comprising,

sending an update message from the communications device to indicate user changes in the configuration information.

20. The method of claim 19, further comprising,

updating records associated with the user changes in the configuration information.

21. The method of claim 18, further comprising,

transmitting login information associated with a user.

22. The method of claim 21, wherein the login information includes at least one of a user name and a password.

23. The method of claim 22, further comprising,

authenticating the login information.

24. The method of claim 23, further comprising,

generating an error message if the authentication fails.

25. The method of claim 18, further comprising,

generating a logout message to transmit updated user configuration information.

26. A system providing a configurable communications device comprising:

means for generating a configuration request message;

means for generating configuration information associated with a combination of at least one communications device and at least one of a plurality of users for the communications device based upon the configuration request message; and

means for configuring the communications device with the configuration information.

27. The system of claim 26, further comprising,

means for sending an update message from the communications device to indicate user changes in the configuration information.

28. The system of claim 27, further comprising,

means for updating records associated with the user changes in the configuration information.

29. A communications system providing user configuration, comprising:

at least one remote computer for storing configurations associated with a plurality of users;

a configuration request message processed by the remote computer to determine configurations associated with a combination of at least one communications device and with the plurality of users; and

a configuration response message generated by the remote computer, wherein the configuration response message includes configuration information associated with a combination of at least one the communications devices and with at least one of the plurality of users.

30. The system of claim 29, further comprising a communications device for receiving the configuration response message and utilizing the configuration information to configure the communications device according to at least one of the plurality of users.

31. A communications system providing user configuration, comprising:

at least one communications device configurable for a plurality of users;

at least one remote computer for storing configuration information associated with a combination of the one or more communications devices and with the plurality of users;

a configuration request message generated by the communications device to initiate a configuration of the communications device; and

a configuration response message generated by the remote computer to enable configuration of the communications device, wherein the configuration response message includes configuration information associated with a combination of at least one communications device and with at least one of the plurality of users.