Automated integration of content from multiple information stores using a mobile communication device

• US 9,661,063 B2
• Filed: 08/07/2013
• Issued: 05/23/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 01/28/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Malikie Innovations Limited (Key Patent Innovations Limited)
• Original Assignee: Blackberry Limited
• Inventors: Robertson, Ian
• Primary Examiner(s): Heiber, Shantell L
• Application Number:
  US13/961,448
• Publication Number:
  US 20130326015A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,385 Days
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/25 Integrating or interfacing systems involving database management systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 61/00 Network arrangements, protocols or services for addressing or naming
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/18 using different networks or channels, e.g. using out of band channels cryptographic mechanisms or cryptographic arrangements for key distribution involving distinctive intermediate devices or communication paths H04L9/0827; cryptographic mechanisms or cryptographic arrangements for authentication using a plurality of channels H04L9/3215
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/10 in which an application is distributed across nodes in the network software deployment G06F8/60; multiprogramming arrangements G06F9/46

Abstract

A system, device and method are provided for merging information from a plurality of network sources using a mobile device capable. The mobile device receives data of a first type from a first network source, then merges the received data with data of a different type stored at the mobile device to create a merged data set, the merging including matching an identifier associated with the received data against an identifier associated with the stored data. The merged data set is then merged with a data record at a different network source, this merging including matching an identifier associated with the merged data set against an identifier associated with the data record.

Claims

1. A method implemented by a mobile device having stored thereon a set of address book records, each address book record having a set of attributes, wherein a remote server stores a plurality of address book records including a copy of the set of address book records stored on the mobile device, the method comprising:

receiving, at the mobile device, a digital certificate from a first network source different from the remote server, the received digital certificate having attributes including a principal identifier, the digital certificate including one or more attributes different than attributes of the plurality of address book records;

matching, by the mobile device, the principal identifier with a value of an attribute in one of the address book records;

merging the received digital certificate with the matched address book record stored at the mobile device to create a merged address book record, wherein merging includes copying one or more attributes from the received digital certificate into an empty field of the matched address book record, and wherein the copied one or more attributes are non-existent in the matched address book record prior to the copying; and

transmitting the merged address book record that was created at the mobile device to the remote server to update the plurality of address book records at the remote server with the merged address book record.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising setting a flag indicating that the merged address book record has been modified.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the principal identifier comprises an attribute of the received digital certificate having a first value, and the attribute associated with the matched address book record comprises a different attribute of the stored address book record having a value matching the first value.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein the first value comprises either a name or an address.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein transmitting comprises initiating a synchronization procedure at the mobile device.

6. The method claimed in claim 1, wherein the remote server comprises a lightweight directory access protocol server and wherein the plurality of address book records at the remote server comprises a global address list.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein attributes of the plurality of address book records include at least one of a name, electronic mail address, business phone number, or organization name.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein attributes of the digital certificate include at least one of a public key, principal identifier, serial number, or validity period.

9. A mobile device, including:

at least one communications subsystem;

a data store having stored thereon a set of address book records, each address book record having a set of attributes, wherein a remote server stores a plurality of address book records including a copy of the set of address book records stored on the mobile device; and

at least one processor configured to enable;

receiving, using the at least one communications subsystem, a digital certificate from a first network source different from the remote server, the received digital certificate having attributes including a principal identifier, the digital certificate including one or more attributes different than attributes of the plurality of address book records;

matching, by the mobile device, the principal identifier with a value of an attribute in one of the address book records;

merging the received digital certificate with the matched address book record stored at the mobile device to create a merged address book record, wherein merging includes copying one or more attributes from the received digital certificate into an empty field of the matched address book record, and wherein the copied one or more attributes are non-existent in the matched address book record prior to the copying; and

transmitting the merged address book record that was created at the mobile device to the remote server to update the plurality of address book records at the remote server with the merged address book record.

10. The mobile device of claim 9, further comprising setting a flag indicating that the merged address book record has been modified.

11. The mobile device of claim 9, wherein the principal identifier comprises an attribute of the received digital certificate having a first value, and the attribute associated with the matched address book record comprises a different attribute of the stored address book record having a value matching the first value.

12. The mobile device of claim 11, wherein the first value comprises either a name or an address.

13. The mobile device of claim 9, wherein the at least one processor is configured to transmit the merged data record by initiating a synchronization procedure.

14. The mobile device of claim 9, wherein attributes of the address book records include at least one of a name, electronic mail address, business phone number, or organization name.

15. The mobile device of claim 9, wherein attributes of the digital certificate include at least one of a public key, principal identifier, serial number, or validity period.

16. A method implemented by a wireless handheld communication device, comprising:

maintaining, in a data store of the communication device, a plurality of data items of a first type including a first data item, each of the plurality of data items having a respective identifier relating to a first attribute of the plurality of data items;

receiving, by the communication device, a second data item of a second type different from the first type, the second data item being associated with a second identifier relating to a second attribute different from the first attribute;

determining whether the second identifier matches any of the respective identifiers of the plurality of data items;

when the second identifier matches the respective identifier of the first data item, merging the second data item with the first data item and storing the merged first data item at the communication device, wherein merging includes copying one or more attributes from the second data item of the second type to the first data item of the first type, and wherein the copied one or more attributes are non-existent in the first data item prior to the copying;

when the second identifier does not match any of the respective identifiers, storing a new data item of the first type comprising the second data item; and

providing the merged first data item that was created based on merging the second data item with the first data item for updating, in a remote data store, a remote data item corresponding to the merged first data item as determined by matching identifiers of the merged first data item and the remote data item,

wherein the data item of the second type comprises a public key certificate for encrypting communications with an individual associated with the data item of the second type, and wherein a matched first data item comprises contact information for the individual.

17. The method of claim 16, further comprising the communication device, prior to providing the merged first data item for updating:

receiving a further data item of the second type;

determining that a further identifier of the further data item matches the identifier of the merged first data item;

further merging the further data item with the merged first data item,

such that the merged first data item provided for updating the remote data item includes the further data item.