Method and system for updating capabilities of a device

• US 20060223503A1
• Filed: 04/04/2005
• Published: 10/05/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 04/04/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Google LLC (Alphabet Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Nokia Corporation
• Inventors: Muhonen, Ahti, Salo, Juha H., Hannikainen, Ari, Aaltonen, Janne La, Pajusalo, Ari, Antola, Janne
• Granted Patent: US 7,512,401 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/414.100
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 8/61 Installation
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72406 by software upgrading or downloading

Abstract

A method and system for transmitting data to a device is described. The method includes steps of comparing, in a server, a list of capabilities of the server against a list of capabilities of a mobile terminal and creating a list of capabilities in the server and not in the mobile terminal. The method and system wirelessly transmit, to the mobile terminal, a request to confirm the capabilities of the mobile terminal. The mobile terminal receives the request and the list of capabilities and compares the list of capabilities to current capabilities of the mobile terminal and then wirelessly transmits data identifying its capabilities to the server, the data including information of new capabilities of the mobile terminal. The server then updates the list of capabilities of the mobile terminal based on the information of new capabilities.

Claims

1. A method for updating capabilities of a device comprising steps of:

receiving a capability;

receiving a request to confirm a capability of the device, said request including a list of capabilities;

comparing the list of capabilities to current capabilities of the device; and

identifying to a server the capability of the device.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of identifying includes steps of:

updating the list of capabilities to include the capability; and

transmitting the updated list of capabilities.

3. The method of claim 2, further comprising a step of receiving a service based upon information provided in the updated list of capabilities.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of receiving a capability is performed in a mobile terminal.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the capability includes at least one of:

a new application, a new driver, and a new feature.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising a step of updating a second list of capabilities of the device to include the capability.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising a step of receiving a service based upon the identified capability.

8. The method of claim 1, further comprising steps of:

receiving a second request to confirm a second capability of a second device, said second request including the list of capabilities;

comparing the list of capabilities to current capabilities of the second device;

updating the list of capabilities to include whether the second capability of the second device matches any capability listed in the list of capabilities; and

transmitting the updated list of capabilities, including whether the second capability of the second devices matches any capability in the list of capabilities.

9. The method of claim 8, further comprising a step of receiving a service based upon information provided in the updated list of capabilities, including whether the second capability of the second devices matches any capability in the list of capabilities.

10. The method of claim 9, further comprising a step of determining whether a threshold number of devices includes the capability.

11. The method of claim 1, further comprising a step of transmitting location information, the location information identifying where the capability is available for usage.

12. The method of claim 11, further comprising a step of receiving a service based upon information provided in the updated list of capabilities and a location of the device.

13. A computer-readable medium comprising computer-executable instructions for performing the steps of claim 1.

14. A method for selecting a network node for transmission of a service from a server to a terminal, the method comprising steps of:

maintaining a first list of capabilities for each of a plurality of network nodes, a second list of capabilities for each of a plurality of terminals, and a third list of capabilities of a server;

determining whether a network node of the plurality of network nodes is capable of delivering a service to a terminal of the plurality of terminals in accordance with a specified format;

upon determining that the network node is not capable of delivering the service to the terminal in accordance with the specified format, updating the network node to be able to deliver the service; and

delivering the service to the terminal via the network node.

15. The method of claim 14, further comprising a step of determining a number of terminals configured to receive the service in accordance with the specified format.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein the step of updating the network node occurs when the number of terminals is greater than a specified threshold value.

17. A computer-readable medium comprising computer-executable instructions for performing the steps of claim 14.

18. A method for selecting a network node for transmission of a service from a server to a terminal, the method comprising steps of:

maintaining a first list of capabilities of a plurality of network nodes, a second list of capabilities of a plurality of terminals, and a third list of capabilities of a server;

determining whether a first network node of the plurality of network nodes is capable of delivering a service to a terminal of the plurality of terminals in accordance with a specified format;

upon determining that the network node is not capable of delivering the service to the terminal in accordance with the specified format, selecting a second network node of the plurality of network nodes configured to deliver the service; and

delivering the service to the terminal through the second network node.

19. A computer-readable medium comprising computer-executable instructions for performing the steps of claim 18.

20. A method for transmitting data to a device, the method comprising steps of:

comparing a first list of capabilities of a server against a second list of capabilities of a device;

creating a third list of capabilities in the server but not in the device;

transmitting, to the device, a request to confirm the capabilities of the device, said request including the third list;

receiving data identifying a current capability of the device on the third list; and

updating, at the server, the second list of capabilities based on the identified current capability.

21. The method of claim 20, wherein the step of receiving data identifying a current capability includes receiving an updated list of capabilities, the updated list including information of current capabilities of the device.

22. The method of claim 21, wherein the step of updating, at the server, the second list, includes updating the second list based on the updated list of capabilities.

23. The method of claim 20, further comprising steps of:

reviewing the updated second list; and

transmitting a service to the device based upon the updated second list.

24. The method of claim 20, further comprising steps of:

wirelessly transmitting data to update a particular capability of the device; and

receiving confirmation of the update of the particular capability.

25. The method of claim 24, further comprising a step of wirelessly transmitting a service to the device based upon the confirmation of the update of the particular capability.

26. The method of claim 25, wherein the service is wirelessly transmitted in accordance with the particular capability.

27. A computer-readable medium comprising computer-executable instructions for performing the steps of claim 20.

28. A server for transmitting data to a device, the server comprising:

a subscriber information database, the subscriber information database comprising a first listing of capabilities of the device associated with the server;

a server information database, the server information database comprising a second listing of the capabilities of the server;

a first application for updating the subscriber information database;

a second application for updating the server information database; and

a third application for comparing information between the subscriber information database and the server information database,

wherein the server is configured to create a list of capabilities in the server and not in the device,

wherein the server is configured to transmit, to the device, a request to confirm a capability of the device, the request including the list of capabilities,

wherein the server is configured to receive data identifying a current capability of the device from the list of capabilities,

wherein the server is configured to transmit a service to the device based upon the identified current capability.

29. The server of claim 28, wherein the server further includes:

a network node information database, the network node information database comprising a third listing of capabilities of network nodes associated with the server; and

a fourth application for updating the network node information database,

wherein the third application for comparing information between the subscriber information database and the server information database further is configured to compare information between the network node information database and the server information database.

30. The server of claim 29, wherein the server is configured to select a network node from the network node information database.

31. The server of claim 30, wherein the server is configured to determine whether the selected network node is configured to transmit the service to the device.

32. The server of claim 31, wherein the server is configured to select a second network node from the network node information database when the selected network node is unable to transmit the service to the device.

33. The server of claim 28, wherein the device is a wireless mobile terminal.

34. An apparatus for receiving data from a device, the apparatus comprising:

an apparatus information database, the apparatus information database comprising a listing of capabilities of the apparatus; and

a client proxy component configured to receive a request to confirm the capabilities of the apparatus, said request including a list of capabilities associated with a device, to compare the list of capabilities to current capabilities of the apparatus, to update the list of capabilities to include information of a new capability of the apparatus, and to transmit the updated list of capabilities in order to receive a service based upon the updated list of capabilities.

35. The apparatus of claim 34, wherein the apparatus is a mobile terminal.

36. The apparatus of claim 34, wherein the apparatus is a network node.

37. The apparatus of claim 34, wherein the device is a server.

38. A method for transmitting data to a terminal, the method comprising steps of:

comparing, in a server, a first list of capabilities of the server against a second list of capabilities of a mobile terminal;

creating a third list of capabilities in the server and not in the mobile terminal;

wirelessly transmitting, to the mobile terminal, a request to confirm the capabilities of the mobile terminal, said request including the third list;

receiving the request at the mobile terminal and comparing the third list to current capabilities of the mobile terminal;

identifying, to the server, a current capability of the mobile terminal on said third list; and

updating, at the server, the second list of capabilities based on the identified current capability.

39. The method of claim 38, wherein the step of identifying includes transmitting an updated list of capabilities to the server, the updated list including information of current capabilities of the mobile terminal.

40. The method of claim 39, wherein the step of updating, at the server, the second list includes updating, at the server, the second list of capabilities based on the updated list of capabilities.

41. The method according to claim 38, further comprising steps of:

reviewing the updated second list of capabilities; and

transmitting a service to the mobile terminal based upon the updated second list.