Method, system and computer readable medium for downloading a software component to a device in a short distance wireless network

• US 7,016,648 B2
• Filed: 11/18/2002
• Issued: 03/21/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 12/18/2001
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: FCO V CLO Transferor LLC (SoftBank Group Corp.)
• Original Assignee: IXI Mobile (R&D) Ltd. (IXI Mobile, Inc.)
• Inventors: Haller, Amit, Fornell, Peter, Itzchak, Avraham, Haparnas, Ziv
• Primary Examiner(s): Trost, William
• Assistant Examiner(s): RAMPURIA, SHARAD K
• Application Number:
  US10/298,753
• Publication Number:
  US 20030143952A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,219 Days
• Field of Search: 455/419, 455/41.2, 455/414.2, 455/426.1, 4555561-557
• US Class Current: 455/41.2
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 8/654 using techniques specially adapted for alterable solid state memories, e.g. for EEPROM or flash memories
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/48 Accumulators combined with arrangements for measuring, testing or indicating the condition of cells, e.g. the level or density of the electrolyte constructional details of current conducting connections for detecting conditions inside cells or batteries, e.g. details of voltage sensing terminals, H01M50/569
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/04 specially adapted for terminals or networks with limited capabilities; specially adapted for terminal portability
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/303 Terminal profiles
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/306 User profiles
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/34 involving the movement of software or configuration parameters network booting or remote initial program loading [RIPL] G06F9/4416
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/535 Tracking the activity of the user network monitoring arrangements H04L43/00; recording of computer activity G06F11/34
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/56 Provisioning of proxy services store-and-forward switching systems in data switching networks H04L12/54
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72406 by software upgrading or downloading
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72412 using two-way short-range wireless interfaces
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/00 Arrangements for metering, time-control or time indication ; Metering, charging or billing arrangements for voice wireline or wireless communications, e.g. VoIP
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/58 based on statistics of usage or network monitoring
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/80 Rating or billing plans; Tariff determination aspects
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/8083 involving reduced rates or discounts, e.g. time-of-day reductions or volume discounts
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/81 Dynamic pricing, e.g. change of tariff during call
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/0112 Dynamic pricing, e.g. change of tariff during call
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/0152 General billing plans, rate plans, e.g. charge rates, numbering plans, rate centers, customer accounts
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/0184 involving reduced rates or discounts, e.g. time-of-day reductions, volume discounts, cell discounts, group billing, frequent calling destination(s) or user history list
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/0188 Network monitoring; statistics on usage on called/calling number
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/32 Involving wireless systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/00 : Services specially adapted for wireless communication networks; Facilities therefor
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/245 : from a network towards a terminal
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/06 : adapted for operation in multiple networks or having at least two operational modes, e.g. multi-mode terminals
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 60/10 : Energy storage using batteries

Abstract

A method, system, and computer readable medium allows downloading of a software component to a short distance wireless network in response to device information and/or user information. In an embodiment of the present invention, the device information includes type of device, manufacturer of device, where purchased, when activated in the short distance wireless network. In an embodiment of the present invention, user information includes a user preference, price plan, usage, promotional plan and/or replacement plan. In an embodiment of the present invention, device information is included in a short-range radio signal generated from the device to a cellular device. In an embodiment of the present invention, software components are downloaded from a processing device in a Wide Area Network (WAN) coupled to the short distance wireless network.

Claims

1. A method, comprising:

obtaining device information from a device in a short distance wireless network,

wherein the device information includes a manufacturer of the device and a type of the device,

wherein the obtaining includes;

generating a short-range radio signal, including the device information, from the device to a cellular device, and

generating a cellular signal, including the device information, from the cellular device to a processing device in a wide area network; and

,

downloading a software component to the device from the processing device in response to the device information.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the software component is downloaded in response to a user preference of a type of the software component.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the software component is downloaded in response to a date, and wherein the software component is an application software component.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the software component is downloaded in response to where the device was purchased.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the software component is downloaded in response to a user price plan.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the device is a Bluetooth™

device communicating with a cellular device.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the device is a messaging terminal.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the device is a cellular device.

9. The method of claim 7, wherein the software component is an instant messaging terminal software component.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein the device includes a short-range radio processor and a 2.4 GHZ transceiver.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein the device includes a short-range radio processor and a 5.7 GHZ transceiver.

12. The method of claim 1, wherein the device is selected from a group consisting of a desktop computer, a laptop computer, a personal digital assistant, a headset, a pager, a printer, a watch, a thin terminal, a digital camera and an equivalent.

13. The method of claim 1, wherein the short distance wireless network is a Bluetooth™

network.

14. A method, comprising:

generating a short-range radio signal, including device information, from a device;

to a cellular device, wherein the device information includes a manufacturer of the device and a type of the device, and wherein the device and cellular device is in a short distance wireless network;

generating a cellular signal, including the device information, from the cellular device to a processing device in a wide area network; and

,

downloading a software component to the device from the processing device using an Internet Protocol data packet in response to the device information and user information.

15. A system, comprising:

a device to generate a short-range radio signal including device information, wherein the device information includes a manufacturer of the device and a type of the device;

a cellular device to generate a cellular signal, including the device information, in response to the short-range radio signal; and

,

a processing device, having a database containing a plurality of software components, to provide a first software component in the plurality of software components, to the cellular device, in response to the device information.

16. The system of claim 15, wherein the database includes a user preference of a type of the first software component and the first software component is downloaded in response to the device information and the user preference.

17. The system of claim 15, wherein the first software component is downloaded in response to the device information and a date, and wherein the software component is an application software component.

18. The system of claim 15, wherein the first software component is downloaded in response to the device information and where the device was purchased.

19. The system of claim 15, wherein the first software component is downloaded in response to a user price plan.

20. The system of claim 15, wherein the database includes a user usage plan and the first software component is downloaded in response to the device information and the user usage.

21. The system of claim 15, wherein the device is a Bluetooth™

device.

22. The system of claim 15, wherein the device is a messaging terminal.

23. The system of claim 15, wherein the first software component is an instant messaging terminal software component.

24. The system of claim 15, wherein the device includes a short-range radio processor and a 2.4 GHZ transceiver.

25. The system of claim 15, wherein the device includes a short-range radio processor and a 5.7 GHZ transceiver.

26. The system of claim 15, wherein the device is selected from a group consisting of a desktop computer, a laptop computer, a personal digital assistant, a headset, a pager, a printer, a watch, a thin terminal, a digital camera and an equivalent.

27. The system of claim 15, wherein the device and cellular device are in a short distance wireless network.

28. The system of claim 15, wherein the processing device is in a wide area network including a cellular network.

29. An article of manufacture, including a computer readable medium, comprising:

a short-range radio software component to receive a short-range radio signal, including device type information and device manufacturer information, from a device in a short distance wireless network; and

,

a cellular software component to generate a cellular signal, including the device type information and device manufacturer information, in a cellular network and receive a software component for the device in response to the device type information and device manufacturer information.

30. A method, comprising:

obtaining a device type information and a device manufacturer information for a device in a short distance wireless network, wherein the obtaining includes,

generating a short-range radio signal, including the device type information and the device manufacturer information, from the device to a cellular device;

obtaining a user preference of a type of software component;

generating a cellular signal, including the device type information and the device manufacturer information, from the cellular device, in the short distance wireless network, to a processing device in a wide area network; and

,

downloading a software component to the cellular device from the processing device in response to the device type information, the device manufacturer information and the user preference.