Mobile device synchronization based on proximity to a data source

• US 7,941,167 B2
• Filed: 03/31/2005
• Issued: 05/10/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 03/31/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
• Inventors: Dhawan, Anil Kumar, Fortier, Dominique, Xu, Jon
• Primary Examiner(s): Nguyen; Duc
• Assistant Examiner(s): Jain; Ankur
• Application Number:
  US11/094,921
• Publication Number:
  US 20060223556A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,231 Days
• Field of Search: 455/502
• US Class Current: 455/502
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/1095 Replication or mirroring of data, e.g. scheduling or transport for data synchronisation between network nodes
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/52 specially adapted for the location of the user terminal
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/02 Services making use of location information

Abstract

A system for data communication is disclosed. The system comprises a detection module that ascertains when a mobile wireless communication device is located within a first range of a data source. The system further comprises a data module that automatically sends information to the mobile wireless communication device when the mobile wireless communication device is within the first range. Methods of using the system are also disclosed.

Claims

1. A system for data communication, comprising:

a detection module that ascertains when a mobile wireless communication device is located within a first range of a data source;

a proximity detector that determines whether the mobile wireless communication device is within a second range from the data source that is less than the first range;

a verification module that determines, when the detection module has determined that the mobile wireless communication device is located within the first range, whether the mobile wireless communication device is a known device based on a previous pairing with the data source or acceptable security credentials; and

a data transfer module associated with the data source having access to a primary data store and a secondary data store,

where the data transfer module upon direction of the detection module automatically sends first information from the primary data store in at least one first data packet comprising a payload field containing at least a first identifier and security credentials to the known mobile wireless communication device when the mobile wireless communication device is within the first range, and

where the data transfer module upon direction of the proximity detector automatically sends second information from the secondary data store in at least one second data packet comprising a payload field containing at least a second identifier and security credentials to the known mobile wireless communication device when the mobile wireless communication device is within the second range.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the information includes data to be synchronized with data of the mobile wireless communication device.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the mobile wireless communication device is one of a personal information manager, a cellular telephone, a personal digital assistant, and a palmtop computer.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the proximity detector includes a near-field communication device.

5. The system of claim 4, wherein the mobile wireless communication device is a Bluetooth device.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein the first information and the second information are different.

7. A computer implemented method for data communication, comprising:

detecting through a detection module when a wireless computing device is within a first range of a data source;

verifying, upon detecting that the wireless computing device is located within the first range, that the wireless computing device is a known device by validating at least one of a previous pairing with the data source and security credentials;

automatically initiating through a data transfer module associated with the data source a first data transfer from a primary data store comprising at least one data packet having a payload field containing at least a first identifier and security credentials to the known wireless computing device when the known wireless computing device is in the first range;

detecting through a proximity detector module when the known wireless computing device is within a second range from the data source that is less than the first range; and

automatically initiating through a data transfer module associated with the data source a second data transfer from a second data store comprising at least one data packet having a payload field containing at least a second identifier and security credentials to the known wireless computing device when the known wireless computing device is in the second range.

8. The method of claim 7, further comprising synchronizing information of the data source with information of the wireless computing device.

9. The method of claim 7, further comprising calculating a measure of proximity of the wireless computing device to the data source.

10. A method of claim 9, wherein calculating a measure of proximity of the wireless computing device to the data source includes measuring a strength of a signal.

11. The method of claim 7, further comprising using a near field communication device to determine whether the wireless computing device is within the second range from the data source.

12. The method of claim 7, wherein the first data transfer and the second data transfer are different.

13. A system for data communication, comprising:

means for detecting through a detection module when a wireless computing device is in a first range of a data source;

means for determining, when the detection module has determined that the wireless computing device is located within the first range, whether the wireless computing device is a known device based on a previous pairing with the data source or acceptable security credentials;

means for automatically initiating through a data transfer module associated with the data source a first data transfer from a primary data store comprising at least one data packet having a payload field containing at least a first identifier and security credentials when the wireless computing device is in the first range;

means for detecting through a proximity detector module when the known wireless computing device is within a second range less than the first range of the data source; and

means for automatically initiating through a data transfer module associated with the data source a second data transfer from a second data store comprising at least one data packet having a payload field containing at least a second identifier and security credentials to the known wireless computing device when the known wireless computing device is in the second range.

14. The system of claim 13, further comprising means for synchronizing information of the data source with information of the wireless computing device.

15. The system of claim 13, further comprising means for calculating a measure of proximity of the wireless computing device to the data source.

16. The system of claim 13, wherein the first data transfer and the second data transfer are different.