Configuring a mobile device

• US 20050245249A1
• Filed: 06/20/2005
• Published: 11/03/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 07/30/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
• Inventors: Jain, Sandhya D., Wierman, Dean M., Seera, Sarabjit Singh
• Granted Patent: US 7,583,960 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/419
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 8/61 Installation
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72406 by software upgrading or downloading
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2203/052 software update
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/42144 by service provider
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/42178 by downloading data to substation equipment

Abstract

A method of configuring a mobile device allows an administrator to select multiple installation items from a set of possible installation items to include in a deployment package. At least one of the installation items includes parameters provided by an administrator that are requested from the administrator based on a configuration file associated with the installment items. The deployment package is transferred to a mobile device and the parameter values are extracted and are used to configure the mobile device.

Claims

1. A method of configuring a mobile device, the method comprising:

creating a first installation item based on a first set of parameter values provided by an administrator;

creating a second installation item based on a second set of parameter values provided by an administrator;

selecting one of either the first installation item or the second installation item as a selected installation item to include in a deployment package;

creating a deployment package based on the selected installation item and at least one other installation item that is based on parameter values provided by an adminstrator;

transferring the deployment package to the mobile device; and

extracting the parameter values provided by the administrator from the deployment package and configuring the mobile device based on the parameter values.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the parameter values comprise a network parameter used to establish a network connection on the mobile device.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein the parameter values comprise a communication parameter used to establish a wireless connection to the mobile device.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein the first installation item further comprises an application and the parameter values comprise an application parameter associated with the application.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein transferring the deployment package comprises storing the deployment package on a computer-readable medium and inserting the computer-readable medium in the mobile device.

6. The method of claim 1 wherein transferring the deployment package comprises connecting the mobile device to a computing device through a non-network connection, transferring the deployment package to the computing device and transferring the deployment package from the computing device to the mobile device across the non-network connection.

7. The method of claim 1 wherein transferring the deployment package comprises storing the deployment package on a network server, providing the location of the deployment package to the mobile device, and sending the deployment package from the network server to the mobile device based on a request from the mobile device.

8. The method of claim 1 wherein creating a deployment package comprises:

selecting at least two installation items; and

compressing a combination of the at least two installation items to produce the deployment package.

9. The method of claim 8 wherein creating the first installation item comprises:

examining a configuration file associated with the first installation item to identify parameter values that must be determined;

acquiring the parameter values from the administrator based on the configuration file; and

incorporating the parameter values into the installation item.

10. The method of claim 9 further comprising selecting a configuration file to associate with the first installation item.

11. A method of configuring multiple mobile devices, the method comprising:

selecting a configuration file to associate with an installation item;

accessing the configuration file to identify at least one parameter value that should be acquired from a user;

acquiring the at least one parameter value from a user;

storing the acquired at least one parameter value as part of the installation item;

creating a deployment package comprising the installation item;

transferring the deployment package to a plurality of mobile devices; and

extracting the parameter value from the deployment package on each mobile device and storing the parameter value in the memory of each mobile device.

12. The method of claim 11 wherein the user is a system administrator.

13. The method of claim 11 wherein the at least one parameter value comprises a network parameter used to make a connection between the mobile device and a network.

14. The method of claim 11 wherein the at least one parameter value comprises a communication parameter used to provide wireless communication to the mobile device.

15. The method of claim 11 wherein transferring the deployment package comprises storing the deployment package on a computer readable medium and inserting the computer-readable medium in the mobile device.

16. The method of claim 11 wherein transferring the deployment package comprises connecting the mobile device to a computing device through a connection other than a network connection, transferring the deployment package to the computing device and transferring the deployment package from the computing device to the mobile device.

17. The method of claim 11 wherein transferring the deployment package comprises connecting the mobile device to a network, having an agent on the mobile device request the deployment package over the network, and transferring the deployment package over the network to the mobile device.

18. The method of claim 11 wherein creating the deployment package further comprises compressing multiple installation items to form the deployment package.

19. A computer-readable medium having computer-executable instructions for performing steps comprising:

receiving the location of a configuration file associated with a first installation item;

accessing the configuration file to identify parameters values that should be requested from the user;

requesting the identified parameter values from the user;

receiving parameter values from the user;

receiving an indication from a user to include the first installation item in a deployment package;

compressing the first installation item to form a deployment package;

transferring the deployment package to a mobile device; and

extracting the first installation item from the deployment package and using the first installation item to change the configuration of the mobile device.

20. The computer-readable medium of claim 19 further comprising:

receiving an indication from a user to include a second installation item in a deployment package; and

compressing the second installation item with the first installation item to form the deployment package.