Remotely updatable PDA

• US 6,163,274 A
• Filed: 09/04/1997
• Issued: 12/19/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 09/04/1997
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: IP Edge LLC
• Original Assignee: NCR Corporation
• Inventors: Lindgren, Gary L.
• Primary Examiner(s): Tokar, Michael
• Assistant Examiner(s): JEANGLAUDE, JEAN BRUNER
• Application Number:
  US08/923,790
• Time in Patent Office: 1,202 Days
• Field of Search: 340/825.44, 340/988, 340/989, 340/990, 340/991, 340/994, 340/995, 70/201, 70/207, 701/204, 455/38.1, 455/38.2, 455/344, 455/346, 370/313, 370/349, 379/93.13, 379/93.19, 379/93.23, 379/344, 379/346
• US Class Current: 340/7.29
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 15/0266 for time management, e.g. calendars, diaries
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 5/228 combined with other devices having a different main function, e.g. watches

Abstract

A PDA'"'"'s calendar/agenda data are remotely updatable, preferably in real time. Data changes and or updates are input at a base computer station that includes a pager card with modem and preferably wireless transmission capability. The base computer station transmits data with an appropriate pager ID to a pager system that preferably wirelessly re-broadcasts the data. The PDA receives the re-broadcast data, which preferably is broadcast substantially in real-time. Software stored in and executable by the PDA recognizes the incoming calendar/agenda data and stores the update and new data. Simultaneously, the PDA display flashes an alert to the user that data has just been updated, and the PDA sound transducer can also sound an alert. Preferably the PDA software recognizes any scheduling conflict and, in addition to alerting the user to such conflict, causes the PDA to transmit to the pager service a query concerning the conflict.

Claims

1. A method of automatically updating calendar data for a plurality of users, the calendar data being associated with a calendar program executable by a personal digital assistant (PDA) with calendar data resident in a base computer system, comprising:

(a) associating with updated and/or new calendar data in the base computer system with identification identifying an intended recipient of the data identified from the plurality of users;

(b) transmitting, using a wireless broadcast system, the updated and/or new calendar data for reception and use by the PDA; and

(c) the receiving the transmitted updated and/or new calendar data and updating the calendar data associated with the calendar program executable by the PDA.

2. The method of claim 1, comprising transmitting of the pager-ID for a given user of the PDA.

3. The method of claim 1, comprising transmitting said data to a pager service that re-broadcasts the updating data to said PDA.

4. The method of claim 1, comprising wirelessly transmitting, by the base computer station, said calendar data.

5. The method of claim 1, comprising identifying any conflict between calendar data stored in the PDA with newly received calendar data, and if a conflict is identified, causing the PDA to provide at least one warning selected from the group consisting of (i) a visual warning displayable on a screen of the PDA, and (ii) an audible warning sounded by the PDA.

6. The method of claim 1, comprising identifying any conflict between calendar data stored in the PDA with newly received calendar data and transmitting information to alert the base computer system of the identified conflict.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein a conflict is a time conflict between existing PDA stored data and the received updated and/or new calendar data.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein said PDA is updated substantially in real-time.

9. A computer-implemented system of automatically updating calendar data for a plurality of users, the calendar data being associated with a calendar program executable by a personal digital assistant (PDA) with calendar data residing in a base computer system, the PDA and the base computer each having a processor and a memory coupled to said processor, each of the memories having stored therein sequences of instructions, which, when executed by said processors, causes said processors to perform the steps of:

(a) associating updated and/or new calendar data in the base computer system with identification identifying an intended recipient of the data identified from the plurality of users;

(b) transmitting, using a wireless broadcast system, the updated and/or new calendar data for reception and use by the PDA;

(c) the PDA receiving the transmitted updated and/or new calendar data and updating the calendar data associated with the calendar program executable by the PDA.

10. The system of claim 9, comprising transmitting of the pager-ID for a given user of the PDA.

11. The system of claim 9, wherein said PDA is updated substantially in real-time.

12. The system of claim 9, further including a pager system;

wherein said computer system transmits said pager-ID and said calendar data to pager system, said pager system wirelessly transmitting said data to said PDA to permit updating said calendar program stored in said PDA.

13. The system of claim 12, wherein:

said calendar program executable by said PDA recognizes any conflict between data previously stored in said PDA and new or modified data received by said PDA, and said PDA sounds a visual and/or audible warning upon detection of a said conflict;

said PDA includes a transmitter; and

when a said conflict is recognized, said PDA transmits information to said pager system to alert said base computer system as to a recognized conflict.

14. The system of claim 9, wherein:

said calendar program executable by said PDA recognizes any conflict between data previously stored in said PDA and new or modified data received by said PDA;

said PDA alerting a user of said PDA of any conflict recognized by said calendar program executable by said PDA.

15. The system of claim 14, wherein:

said PDA includes a transmitter; and

when a conflict is recognized, said PDA transmits information to alert said base computer system as to a recognized conflict.