Swapping a nonoperational networked electronic system for an operational networked electronic system

• US 6,724,720 B1
• Filed: 05/10/2000
• Issued: 04/20/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 05/01/2000
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Palm, Inc. (TCL Technology Group Corp.)
• Inventors: Skinner, Craig Stuart
• Primary Examiner(s): HO, DUC CHI
• Application Number:
  US09/568,648
• Time in Patent Office: 1,441 Days
• Field of Search: 370/216, 370/221, 370/254, 709/203, 709/208, 709/220, 709/221, 709/225, 713/158, 713/200
• US Class Current: 370/216
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 45/00 Routing or path finding of packets in data switching networks routing or path finding in wireless networks H04W40/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 45/22 Alternate routing
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 45/28 using route fault recovery
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 48/18 Selecting a network or a communication service

Abstract

A method of switching a network access configuration associated with a first electronic system to a second electronic system via a network is described. The first electronic system is inoperable. The second electronic system replaces the first electronic system such that a user seamlessly transitions from the first electronic system to the second electronic system. The user continues to access the network resources using the second electronic system rather than the first electronic system. According to an embodiment of the present invention, an application for switching the network access configuration is invoked using the second electronic system. During a first phase, the application transmits first data to a network infrastructure provider. The network infrastructure provider obtains approval for switching the network access configuration from the network service provider. If the network service provider approves switching the network access configuration, the network infrastructure provider updates its databases such that the network access configuration of the first electronic system is associated with the second electronic system. During a second phase, the network service provider updates its databases such that the network access configuration of the first electronic system is associated with the second electronic system if the network infrastructure provider successfully updates its databases. At the conclusion of the second phase, the second electronic system can access the network using the network access configuration.

Claims

1. A method of switching a network access configuration associated with a first electronic system (FES) to a second electronic system (SES), comprising the steps of:

a) transmitting via a network to a network infrastructure provider (NIP) first data for requesting a re-association of said network access configuration to said SES, wherein said network access configuration includes a network identifier for accessing said network;

b) requesting approval of said re-association from a network service provider (NSP);

c) if said NSP approves said re-association, updating second data for controlling and managing access to said network such that said SES is able to access said network using said network access configuration and said FES network configuration is denied access to said network;

d) transmitting to said SES said network identifier; and

e) if said NIP successfully updates said second data, updating third data for authorizing and tracking usage of said network such that said SES is able to access said network using said network access configuration and said FES network configuration is denied access to said network.

2. A method as recited in claim 1 wherein said network identifier comprises a Mobitex access number.

3. A method as recited in claim 1 wherein said network comprises a Mobitex network.

4. A method as recited in claim 1 wherein said first data comprises a hardware serial number of said SES.

5. A method as recited in claim 1 wherein said first data comprises a Mobitex serial number of said SES.

6. A method as recited in claim 1 wherein said second data is stored in one or more first databases.

7. A method as recited in claim 1 wherein said third data is stored in one or more second databases.

8. A method as recited in claim 1 wherein said FES comprises a first personal digital assistant, and wherein said SES comprises a second personal digital assistant.

9. A method as recited in claim 1 wherein said second data is stored by said NIP.

10. A method as recited in claim 1 wherein said third data is stored by said NSP.

11. A method of switching a network access configuration associated with a first electronic system (FES) to a second electronic system (SES), said method comprising the steps of:

a) transmitting via a Mobitex network to a network infrastructure provider (NIP) first data for requesting a re-association of said network access configuration to said SES, wherein said network access configuration includes a Mobitex access number for accessing said Mobitex network;

b) requesting approval of said re-association from a network service provider (NSP);

c) if said NSP approves said re-association, updating second data for controlling and managing access to said Mobitex network such that said SES is able to access said Mobitex network using said network access configuration and said FES network configuration is denied access to said Mobitex network;

d) transmitting to said SES said Mobitex access number; and

e) if said NIP successfully updates said second data, updating third data for authorizing and tracking usage of said Mobitex network such that said SES is able to access said Mobitex network using said network access configuration and said FES network configuration is denied access to said Mobitex network.

12. A method as recited in claim 11 wherein said first data comprises a hardware serial number of said SES.

13. A method as recited in claim 11 wherein said first data comprises a Mobitex serial number of said SES.

14. A method as recited in claim 11 wherein said second data is stored in one or more first databases.

15. A method as recited in claim 11 wherein said third data is stored in one or more second databases.

16. A method as recited in claim 11 wherein said FES comprises a first personal digital assistant, and wherein said SES comprises a second personal digital assistant.

17. A method as recited in claim 11 wherein said second data is stored by said NIP.

18. A method as recited in claim 11 wherein said third data is stored by said NSP.

19. A computer-readable medium comprising computer-executable instructions for performing a method of switching a network access configuration associated with a first electronic system (FES) to a second electronic system (SES), said method comprising the steps of:

a) transmitting via a network to a network infrastructure provider (NIP) first data for requesting a re-association of said network access configuration to said SES, wherein said network access configuration includes a network identifier for accessing said network;

b) requesting approval of said re-association from a network service provider (NSP);

c) if said NSP approves said re-association, updating second data for controlling and managing access to said network such that said SES is able to access said network using said network access configuration and said FES network configuration is denied access to said network;

d) transmitting to said SES said network identifier; and

e) if said NIP successfully updates said second data, updating third data for authorizing and tracking usage of said network such that said SES is able to access said network using said network access configuration and said FES network configuration is denied access to said network.

20. A computer-readable medium as recited in claim 19 wherein said network identifier comprises a Mobitex access number.

21. A computer-readable medium as recited in claim 19 wherein said network comprises a Mobitex network.

22. A computer-readable medium as recited in claim 19 wherein said first data comprises a hardware serial number of said SES.

23. A computer-readable medium as recited in claim 19 wherein said first data comprises a Mobitex serial number of said SES.

24. A computer-readable medium as recited in claim 19 wherein said second data is stored in one or more first databases.

25. A computer-readable medium as recited in claim 19 wherein said third data is stored in one or more second databases.

26. A computer-readable medium as recited in claim 19 wherein said FES comprises a first personal digital assistant, and wherein said SES comprises a second personal digital assistant.

27. A computer-readable medium as recited in claim 19 wherein said second data is stored by said NIP.

28. A computer-readable medium as recited in claim 19 wherein said third data is stored by said NSP.

29. An electronic system comprising:

a processor coupled to a bus;

an electronic display device coupled to said bus;

a communication port coupled to said bus; and

a memory device coupled to said bus and having computer-executable instructions for performing a method of switching a network access configuration associated with another electronic system to said electronic system (ES), said method comprising the steps of;

a) transmitting via a network to a network infrastructure provider (NIP) first data for requesting a re-association of said network access configuration to said ES, wherein said network access configuration includes a network identifier for accessing said network;

b) requesting approval of said re-association from a network service provider (NSP);

c) if said NSP approves said re-association, updating second data for controlling and managing access to said network such that said ES is able to access said network using said network access configuration and said another electronic system network configuration is denied access to said network;

d) transmitting to said ES said network identifier; and

e) if said NIP successfully updates said second data, updating third data for authorizing and tracking usage of said network such that said ES is able to access said network using said network access configuration and said another electronic system network configuration is denied access to said network.

30. An electronic system as recited in claim 29 wherein said network identifier comprises a Mobitex access number.

31. An electronic system as recited in claim 29 wherein said network comprises a Mobitex network.

32. An electronic system as recited in claim 29 wherein said first data comprises a hardware serial number of said ES.

33. An electronic system as recited in claim 29 wherein said first data comprises a Mobitex serial number of said ES.

34. An electronic system as recited in claim 29 wherein said second data is stored in one or more first databases.

35. An electronic system as recited in claim 29 wherein said third data is stored in one or more second databases.

36. An electronic system as recited in claim 29 wherein said another electronic system comprises a first personal digital assistant, and wherein said ES comprises a second personal digital assistant.

37. An electronic system as recited in claim 29 wherein said communication port comprises a radio frequency (RF) communication port.

38. An electronic system as recited in claim 29 wherein said second data is stored by said NIP.

39. An electronic system as recited in claim 29 wherein said third data is stored by said NSP.