Method and apparatus for synchronizing information between a mobile device and a data collection device through a telephone switching network

• US 6,240,426 B1
• Filed: 11/18/1998
• Issued: 05/29/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 11/18/1998
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Unify GmbH & Co. KG (Atos SE)
• Original Assignee: Siemens Information & Communication Networks, Inc. (Siemens AG)
• Inventors: Beyda, William Joseph, Shaffer, Shmuel
• Primary Examiner(s): Breene, John
• Assistant Examiner(s): BLACK, LINH
• Application Number:
  US09/196,627
• Time in Patent Office: 923 Days
• Field of Search: 707/10, 707/201
• US Class Current: 707/617
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/329 in the application layer [OSI layer 7]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 9/40 Network security protocols
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99952 Coherency, e.g. same view to multiple users

Abstract

A system for connecting a mobile computing device (10) to a remotely located data collection device (20). The system includes a synchronization device (38) that couples the mobile device to a digital telephone (40). The synchronization device operates to convert the data received from the mobile computing device into a format that can be transmitted by the digital telephone. In addition, the synchronization device transmits an identifier that specifies the data collection device to which the data shall be transmitted. The identifier is preferably read by a digital PBX and used to establish a communication path between the data collection device and the mobile computing device.

Claims

1. A synchronization device for synchronizing data between a mobile computing device and a data collection device through a telephone switching network, of the type that includes a plurality of digital phones and a private branch exchange (PBX), the synchronization device comprising:

a serial computing port connectable to the mobile computing device through which the mobile computing device and the synchronization device communicate;

a telephone data port connectable to a digital phone through which the synchronization device and the digital phone communicate;

an I/O controller for handling data between the serial computing port and the telephone data port;

a buffer for storing the data received at the serial computing port and the telephone data port;

a processor that is programmed to;

access a data collection identifier for addressing the data collection device upon the detection of data at the serial computing port;

store the data in the buffer as buffered data; and

transmit the data collection identifier followed by the buffered data through the telephone data port so that the telephone switching network may, upon receipt of the data collection identifier, locate the desired data collection device and establish a communication path between the mobile computing device and the data collection device.

2. The synchronization device of claim 1, wherein the processor is further programmed to execute a sync detection process that detects whether data at the serial computing port is synchronization data from a mobile computing device or non-synchronization data from a computing device.

3. The synchronization device of claim 1, wherein the processor is further programmed to execute a time-out watcher process that sends stay alive packets to the mobile computing device on pre-determined time intervals while waiting for an acknowledgment packet from the mobile computing device.

4. The synchronization device of claim 1, further comprising an identifier input means that updates the data collection identifier stored in the memory.

5. The synchronization device of claim 4, wherein the identifier input means is a keypad through which the data collection identifier may be entered.

6. The synchronization device of claim 4, wherein the identifier input means is a field in the data from the mobile computing device.

7. A synchronization system for synchronizing data between two devices, the system comprising:

a mobile computing device having an interface;

a synchronization device having a serial computing port, a telephone data port, an I/O controller, a buffer, a processor, and memory;

a telephone switching network comprising a plurality of digital devices and a telecommunication network;

a first connector having one end operationally connected to the mobile device interface and the other end operationally connected to the serial computing port;

a second connector having one end operationally connected to the telephone data port and the other end operationally connected to one of the plurality of digital devices;

a data collection device operably connected to communicate with the telecommunication network;

a data collection identifier accessible by the processor for addressing the data collection device,

wherein upon detection of data at the serial computing port, the processor stores the data in the buffer as buffered data, transmits the data collection identifier followed by the buffered data through the telephone data port so that the telephone switching network may, upon receipt of the data collection identifier, locate the desired data collection device and establish a communication path between the mobile computing device and the data collection device.

8. The synchronization system of claim 7, wherein the processor further executes a sync detection process that detects whether data at the serial computing port is synchronization data from a mobile computing device or non-synchronization data from a computing device.

9. The synchronization system of claim 7, wherein the processor further executes a time-out watcher process that sends stay alive data to the mobile computing device on pre-determined time intervals while waiting for an acknowledgment data from the mobile computing device.

10. The synchronization system of claim 7, wherein the synchronization device further comprises an identifier input means that updates the data collection identifier stored in the memory.

11. The synchronization of system of claim 10, wherein the identifier input means is a keypad through which the data collection identifier may be entered.

12. The synchronization system of claim 10, wherein the identifier input means is a field in the synchronization data from the mobile computing device.

13. The synchronization system of claim 7, further comprising a cradle having a connector means coupled to the mobile computing device interface so that the end of the first connector operationally connected to the mobile device interface is through this connector means and an output port so that the other end of the first connector is operationally connected to the serial computing device through this output port.

14. The synchronization system of claim 7, wherein the mobile computing device interface is a serial interface that implements a synchronization protocol layered on top of an EIA-232 protocol for communicating between the mobile device and the synchronization device.

15. The synchronization system of claim 7, wherein the digital device is a digital telephone.

16. The synchronization system of claim 7, wherein the telecommunication network includes a digital PBX.

17. The synchronization system of claim 16, wherein the data collection device is part of the PBX.

18. A method of synchronizing data between a mobile computing device and a data collection device through a telephone network, the telephone network comprising a plurality of digital phones and a digital telephone switch (PBX), the method comprising:

(a) coupling the mobile computing device to one of the plurality of digital phones;

(b) sending synchronization request data through the digital phone to the telecommunication network, the synchronization request data comprising a data collection device identifier and synchronization formatted data;

(c) receiving the data collection device identifier at the PBX;

(d) locating the data collection device indicated by the data collection device identifier;

(e) establishing a communication path to the data collection device;

(f) transferring the synchronization data between the mobile computing device and data collection device.