Note : Les descriptions sont présentées dans la langue officielle dans laquelle elles ont été soumises.
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SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR PROVISIONING A REMOTE RESOURCE FOR AN
ELECTRONIC DEVICE
Field of the Invention
[0001]The invention relates to providing a resource, such as data,
information, text
or a file, to a communication device. More particularly, the invention relates
to a
system and method for provisioning dynamic resources through a central server
for
the device.
Background
[0002] Mobile communication devices allow their users to communicate with
others
in more flexible ways and at more flexible times. Frequently, it is useful to
provide
such devices with resources, such as data files, help files, text and other
information.
Some resources may be pre-loaded into a device at manufacturing time, but it
may
be difficult to manage and maintain an update regime for that device. If a
device has
a help application, for example, and if the text for the application is
permanently
stored in the device, it is difficult to make changes and update the text.
[0003] It is desirable to provide an improved system and method for
dynamically
managing resources provided to one or more electronic devices.
Summary
[0004] In accordance with an aspect of the invention, a method of provisioning
a
resource to an electronic device is provided. The method comprises the steps
of:
(a) maintaining the resource at a remote server from the device; and (b) after
a
triggering event, providing a data transmission to the device, the data
transmission
containing access information for the resource that can be extracted by the
device
and used to access the resource.
[0005] In the method the transmission may further contain text information
about the
resource and the access information is a link to a web page associated with
the
resource.
[0006] In the method, the text information may be incorporated into a
graphical user
interface (GUI) operating on the device; and the GUI provides an interface to
access
and activate the link through a browser operating on the device.
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[0007] In the method, the GUI may also provide information about the device
that is
stored locally on the device.
[0008] In the method, the resource may provide information relating to a
wireless
carrier associated with the device. Alternatively, the resource may provide
information relating to a user's account associated with the device.
Alternatively still,
a second resource may be provided to the device with access information and
text
information relating to the second resource provided to the device; and the
GUI may
prioritize the presentation the text information for the resource and the
second
resource based on a ranking scheme. The triggering event may relate to the
recent
appearance of the device to a communication network associated with the
resource.
[0009] In a second aspect, a system for provisioning a resource to an
electronic
device is provided. The system comprises: a resource providing information for
the
device; a server providing maintenance for the resource; a communication link
providing the device with access to the resource; a data transmission module
for
extracting access information about the resource and selectively providing the
access information to the device in a data transmission through the
communication
link; and a data processing module for receiving the data transmission and
updating
access information in the device for the resource. In the device, a GUI
provides
information on a topic retrieved from local storage on the device and
additional
information about the resource is incorporated into the GUI for that topic.
[0010] In the system, the data transmission may further contain text
information
about the resource and the access information may be a link to a web page
associated with the resource.
[0011] In the system, the text information may be incorporated into the GUI
operating
on the device; and the GUI may provide an interface to access and activate the
link
through a web browser operating on the device.
[0012] In the system, the device may also provide information that is stored
locally on
the device that is provided in the GUI.
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[0013] In the system, the resource may provide information relating to a
wireless
carrier associated with the device. Alternatively, the resource may provide
information
relating to a user's account associated with the device.
[0014] In the system, a second resource may be provided to the device with
access
information and text information relating to the second resource provided to
the device; and
the GUI may prioritize the text information of the resources based on a
ranking scheme.
[0015] In the system, the data transmission module may selectively build and
send
the data transmission upon receipt of a triggering event relating to the
status of the device.
[0016] In the system, the triggering event may be based on the location of the
device. Alternatively, the triggering event may be,a status of the device as
known by the
server.
[0017] Additional features and aspects of the invention are described in the
following
description of several exemplary embodiments of the invention.
Brief Description of the Drawings
[0018] In the drawings:
[0019] Fig. 1 is a schematic diagram of a resource provided to an electronic
device as per an embodiment;
[0020] Fig. 2 is another schematic diagram of the electronic device of Fig. 1
illustrating a graphical user interface (GUI) screen on its
display;
[0021] Fig. 3 is another schematic diagram of the device of Fig. 1 showing
another GUI screen on its display;
[0022] Fig. 4 is an exemplary screen image produced on the display of the
device of Fig. 1 when a help application is being executed
thereon according to an embodiment;
[0023] Fig. 5 is a block diagram of internal components of the device of Fig.
1;
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[0024] Fig. 6 is a block diagram of a system that may be used to provide a
resource to the device of Fig. 1;
[0025] Fig. 7a is a flow chart of exemplary processes and steps conducted by
a resource server when providing a data packet relating to a
resource to a device in the system of Fig. 6;
[0026] Fig. 7b is a flow chart of exemplary processes and steps conducted by
a device when monitoring for and processing a data packet
received from a resource from a resource server in the system
of Fig. 6; and
[0027] Fig. 8 is a block diagram of another system that may be used to
provide a resource to the device of Fig. 1 according to an
embodiment.
Detailed Description
[0028] The present invention provides a system and method for provisioning
resources to an electronic device. Typically, although not necessarily, the
device is
a mobile, wireless communication device. The associated resource is
dynamically
provided to the device from a remote source, such as a server. As such, the
resource may be dynamically maintained, updated and changed at the remote
source, thereby providing the device (and other devices accessing the
resource) with
common set of data and information for that resource.
[0029] First, a description is provided relating to a device that accesses a
resource
managed by an embodiment. Referring to Fig. 1, an electronic device for
receiving
electronic communications, in accordance with an embodiment of the invention
is
indicated generally at 10. In the present embodiment, electronic device 10 is
based
on a computing platform having functionality of an enhanced personal digital
assistant with cellphone, web browsing and e-mail features. Such
functionalities are
provided through software and firmware modules operating on device 10. It is,
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device 10. It is, however, to be understood that electronic device 10 can be
based
on construction, design and functions of other electronic devices, such as
smart
telephones, desktop computers pagers or laptops having telephony equipment. In
a
present embodiment, electronic device 10 includes, a housing 12, which frames
an
LCD display 14, a speaker 16, an LED indicator 19, a trackwheel 20, an exit
key 22,
keypad 24 and a telephone headset comprised of an ear bud 28 and a microphone
30. Trackwheel 20 and exit key 22 can be inwardly depressed along the path of
arrow "A" as a means to provide additional user-input. Keypad 24 is shown as a
matrix of three rows of keys with each row having ten keys. In other
embodiments a
directional key can be provided (not shown), where it is a "rocker"-type key
that has
a center rest position and can be tilted or moved from its rest position in
one of
several directions (e.g. up, down, left or right, when viewing the front of
device 10) to
activate a programmed function associated with the direction of activation. A
joystick
or a rollerball input device may also be provided instead or in addition to a
directional
key. Other arrangements of input / output devices (including the number,
configuration and layout keys, display, speakers etc.) may be used.
[0030] Remote resource 32 is managed and maintained by server 34.
Resource 32 may be a file, data or a combination of other resources. Resource
management software operating on server 34 allows resource 32 to be updated
and
information about resource 32 to be extracted and distributed to device 10.
The
software can periodically extract and build reference data transmissions
through data
packets 38 about resource 32. The resource management software allows a user
at
the server to update and manage the content and associated text and links for
resource 32. The software may also control or signal when a data transmission
should be created and provided to one or more devices 10. Any trigger may
initiate
the data transmission, including a change in resource 32, a change in the
network or
detection of any new devices to the network. It will be appreciated that the
devices
may be notified of changes or new resources 32 by other communication methods.
For example, in another embodiment, the management software may generate and
send an email message to device 10 containing a notification of the new
content and
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access link for resource 32. Alternatively, a specific background transmission
may
be sent to device 10 that is received and processed by device 10 without any
interaction by its user. The transmission may include a command to update a
text
message in a GUI of an application to indicate that new content is available.
For
example, the command may produce a special "*" flag in the GUI that indicates
the
presence of the new content. Other commands and messages may be provided.
Thereafter, the software can forward data packets 38 to a transmission
interface of
communication network 36 for conversion and transmission to one or more
devices
10. Network 36 may provide a wired connection, a wireless connection or a
combination of both between server 34 and device 10.
[0031] Referring to Figs. 1 and 2, further detail is provided on device 10 and
how it
requests, receives and processes data packets 38 from resources 32. Device 10
has components therein to receive such data packets 38 from network 36 and to
extract and process data from any received data packets 38. The data extracted
from data packets 38 is used by applications operating on device 10.
[0032] Referring to Fig. 1, various applications are provided on device 10,
including
email, telephone, calendar, address book and help applications. A GUI to
activate
these applications is provided on display 14 through a series of icons 26.
Some of
the shown icons include telephone icon 26A, calendar icon 26C, address book
icon
26D, email icon 26E, web browser icon 26F and help icon 26G and option icon
26H.
Such applications can be selected and activated using the keypad 24 and / or
the
trackwheel 20 to navigate through icons 26 and individually highlight same.
Cursor
40 provides a visual cue for each icon as it indicates what icon 26 is
currently being
"highlighted" as the icons are being navigated. Referring to Fig. 2, at the
bottom of
display 14 a corresponding text message may be generated to provide additional
information relating to the currently highlighted icon 26. For example, when
option
icon 26H is highlighted, the text "option" is presented at the bottom of
display 14.
[0033] Device 10 may be configured to operate with one or more standardized
content languages such as WML or HTML, to allow standardized pages of data and
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forms to be transmitted to it and to be displayed on display 14. This may be
done by
installing (or having installed) an appropriate browser application on device
10. The
data packets transmitted to device 10 may include pages formatted in a content
language for which device 10 is configured. Alternatively, the data packets
may
identify the address of a server where such pages are available.
[0034] In the embodiment, the resource 32 is accessed through an application,
such
as the help application. Generally, the application provides a GUI for
configuring
operational parameters of device 10 (e.g. local time display preferences, font
sizes
etc.). Specifically, Help application provides additional information on any
topic,
such as help information, relating to services, features and notices for the
communication network associated with device 10. In an embodiment resources
access through the help application is pre-loaded on the device. The resources
may
relate to general help information and specific information for specific
application.
This pre-loaded help information about a topic may be enhanced, supplemented
or
augmented by the additional information provided by resource 32. It will
further be
appreciated that the GUI can encompass any visual interface generated on
device
10 that provides any combination of text and graphics content to the user and
not
just a combination of selection menus, drop down menus, radio buttons and
other
interfaces that allow a user to make a selection from a set of choice during
execution
of the application associated with the GUI. Further it will be appreciated
that the
application generating the GUI can provide routines that can modify the
textual/graphical content of the GUI by inserting links to resource 32 within
that
content whenever that textual/graphical information is presented to the user.
Further
the links are dynamic in that they reflect any changes to the links that are
provisioned on the device at any given point in time.
[0035] In Fig. 3, an exemplary screen shot 300 generated on display 14 is
shown
when the help application is operating on device 10. Generally, the help
application
presents navigable web pages that provides text, video and audio clips about
device
10 or one or more applications operating on it.
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[0036] Additional information may be provided by resource 32. The text
displayed in
the appropriate location in the GUI may be customized to provide additional
information for the resource. Activation of the entry (or text) in the menu
will cause
device 10 to access resource 32. Alternatively or additionally, additional
information
provided by resource 32 may be inserted as additional links in the actual
descriptions
generated in the help application.
[0037] Additionally, a series of cascading menu bars, drop down menus and
selections through a GUI are provided as the user navigates through the
application.
For example, help application may generate a GUI menu bar 302 at the top of
display 14 containing a series of selections 304 therein. Additional "pull
down" menu
306 is generated when a selection is activated or highlighted. A user
navigates
through bar 302 and menu 306 using a combination of input devices such as
wheel
20, exit key 22 and key pad 24. The interface for controlling navigation
through the
GUI using signals generated by the input devices is provided by software and
firmware modules operating on device 10. Such modules are known to those
skilled
in the art. One or more entries in either the pull down menu 306 or the
selection 304
in the bar 302 may relate to resource 32 provided by an embodiment through
information provided from data packets 36. Other GUI implementations may be
used including pop-up-menus that appear when the user clicks a specific key
(such
as the trackwheel) and disappear when the user presses another button (such as
the
escape button). As an example, a pop-up menu may be generated when a new or
updated resource 32 is available from a server 34 (after the server software
generates and sends an appropriate message to device 10). An option for the
GUI
is that the pop-up feature may be selectively enabled.
[0038] Referring to Fig. 4, exemplary screen shot 400 generated by a help
application on display 14 of device 10 is shown. The help application had been
activated from the option application using the GUI noted above. The help
application provides information on any relevant topic as designated for
device 10.
The information may be customized for device 10, the location of device 10,
the state
of the device or the carrier connecting to device 10. The contents of the
screen shot
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include can include any static and variable data, including text, and status
information provided by resource 32. For example, text in any of the boxes may
be
linked to a web link (as provided in the data packets relating to resource 32)
to one
or more remote web sites associated with remote resource 32. The help
application
has taken the access and text information from the data packets and has
embedded
the text information and any link access commands to the associated remote
link into
the GUI. The contents can provide static text, images, video clips, access to
search
screens and other media information through display 14. Additional media, such
as
audio clips, can be presented through ear bud 28. As such, a resource 32, text
relating to the resource and access information for resource 32 can be
integrated
with the GUI of the help application (or other applications), such that the
resource
effectively becomes an extension to the application (as opposed to generic,
non-
application-specific, downloadable content), thereby providing the ability to
extend
the look and feel of those applications, dynamically, in the field.
[0039] Referring to Figs. 1 and 5, further detail is now provided on the help
application resource and how it is accessed by device 10. Generally, some
local
resources managed by an embodiment may be stored locally on device 10;
however,
additional resources 32 may be accessed remotely from device 10. Specifically
for
information provided through a help application, some content is already pre-
loaded
on the device 10 to allow it to be accessible when the device is out of
coverage from
the network. However, additional remote resources may be provided through web
links to supplement the help information pre-loaded on device 10. Such remote
resources 32 may be provisioned to device 10 through server 34. When a server
34
is provided, then one or more devices 10 can access resource 32 and resource
32
can be centrally managed, maintained and distributed. Any particular
information
required by device 10 on how to access resource 32 may be provided by server
34
through data packets 38 generated and sent from server 34 to device 10.
[0040] Referring to Fig. 5, functional elements of device 10 are provided. The
functional elements are generally electronic or electro-mechanical devices. In
particular, microprocessor 18 is provided to control and receive almost all
data,
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transmissions, inputs and outputs related to device 10. Microprocessor 18 is
shown
schematically as coupled to keypad 24, display 14 and other internal devices.
Microprocessor 18 controls the operation of the display 14, as well as the
overall
operation of the device 10, in response to actuation of keys on the keypad 24
by a
user. Exemplary microprocessors for microprocessor 18 include Data 950 (trade-
mark) series microprocessors and the 6200 series microprocessors, all
available
from Intel Corporation.
[0041] In addition to the microprocessor 18, other internal devices of the
device 10
include: a communication subsystem 41; a short-range communication subsystem
43; keypad 24; and display 14; with other input/output devices including a set
of
auxiliary I/O devices through port 45, a serial port 47, a speaker 16 and a
microphone port 32 for microphone 30; as well as memory devices including a
flash
memory 42 (which provides persistent storage of data) and random access memory
(RAM) 44; clock 46 and other device subsystems (not shown). The device 10 is
preferably a two-way radio frequency (RF) communication device having voice
and
data communication capabilities. In addition, device 10 preferably has the
capability
to communicate with other computer systems via the Internet.
[0042] Operating system software executed by microprocessor 18 is preferably
stored in a computer readable medium, such as flash memory 42, but may be
stored
in other types of memory devices, such as read only memory (ROM) or similar
storage element. In addition, system software, specific device applications,
or parts
thereof, may be temporarily loaded into a volatile storage medium, such as RAM
44.
Communication signals received by the mobile device may also be stored to RAM
44.
[0043] Microprocessor 18, in addition to its operating system functions,
enables
execution of software applications on device 10. A set of software
applications 48
that control basic device operations, such as a voice communication module 48A
and a data communication module 48B, may be installed on the device 10 during
manufacture or downloaded thereafter.
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[0044] Communication functions, including data and voice communications, are
performed through the communication subsystem 41 and the short-range
communication subsystem 43. Collectively, subsystem 41 and subsystem 43
provide the signal-level interface for all communication technologies
processed by
device 10. Various other applications 48 provide the operational controls to
further
process and log the communications. Communication subsystem 41 includes
receiver 50, transmitter 52 and one or more antennas, illustrated as receive
antenna
54 and transmit antenna 56. In addition, communication subsystem 41 also
includes
processing module, such as digital signal processor (DSP) 58 and local
oscillators
(LOs) 60. The specific design and implementation of communication subsystem 41
is dependent upon the communication network in which device 10 is intended to
operate. For example, communication subsystem 41 of the device 10 may be
designed to operate with the Mobitex (trade-mark), DataTAC (trade-mark) or
General
Packet Radio Service (GPRS) mobile data communication networks and also
designed to operate with any of a variety of voice communication networks,
such as
Advanced Mobile Phone Service (AMPS), Time Division Multiple Access (TDMA),
Code Division Multiple Access CDMA, Personal Communication Service (PCS),
Global System for Mobile Communication (GSM), etc. Communication subsystem
41 provides device 10 with the capability of communicating with other devices
using
various communication technologies, including instant messaging (IM) systems,
text
messaging (TM) systems and short message service (SMS) systems.
[0045] In addition to processing communication signals, DSP 58 provides
control of
receiver 50 and transmitter 52. For example, gains applied to communication
signals in receiver 50 and transmitter 52 may be adaptively controlled through
automatic gain control algorithms implemented in DSP 58.
[0046] In a data communication mode a received signal, such as a text message
or
web page download, is processed by the communication subsystem 41 and is
provided as an input to microprocessor 18. The received signal is then further
processed by microprocessor 18 which can then generate an output to the
display
14 or to an auxiliary I/O port 45. A user may also compose data items, such as
e-
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mail messages, using keypad 24, a thumbwheel associated with keypad 24, and/or
some other auxiliary I/O device connected to port 45, such as a touchpad, a
rocker
key, a separate thumbwheel or some other input device. The composed data items
may then be transmitted over communication network 68 via communication
subsystem 41.
[0047] In a voice communication mode, overall operation of device 10 is
substantially
similar to the data communication mode, except that received signals are
output to
speaker 16, and signals for transmission are generated by microphone 30.
Alternative voice or audio I/O subsystems, such as a voice message recording
subsystem, may also be implemented on device 10.
[0048] Short-range communication subsystem 43 enables communication between
device 10 and other proximate systems or devices, which need not necessarily
be
similar devices. For example, the short-range communication subsystem may
include an infrared device and associated circuits and components, or a
Bluetooth
(trade-mark) communication module to provide for communication with similarly-
enabled systems and devices. A WiFi connection may also be provided.
[0049] Powering the entire electronics of the mobile handheld communication
device
is power source 62. Preferably, the power source 62 includes one or more
batteries.
More preferably, the power source 62 is a single battery pack, especially a
rechargeable battery pack. A power switch (not shown) provides an "on/off"
switch
for device 10. Upon activation of the power switch an application 48 is
initiated to
turn on device 10. Upon deactivation of the power switch, an application 48 is
initiated to turn off device 10. Power to device 10 may also be controlled by
other
devices and by internal software applications.
[0050] Brief descriptions are provided on the applications 48 stored and
executed in
device 10. Additional applications include calendar 48C which tracks
appointments
and other status matters relating to the user and device 10. Calendar 48C is
activated by activation of calendar icon 26 on display 14. It provides a
daily/weekly/month electronic schedule of appointments, meetings and events
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entered by the user. Calendar 48C tracks time and day data for device 10 using
processor 18 and internal clock 46. The schedule contains data relating to the
current accessibility of the user. For example it can indicate when the user
is busy,
not busy, available or not available. In use, calendar 48C generates input
screens
on device 10 prompting the user to input scheduled events through keypad 24.
Alternatively, notification for scheduled events could be received via an
encoded
signal in a received communication, such as an e-mail, SMS message or
voicemail
message. Once the data relating to the event is entered, calendar 48C stores
processes information relating to the event; generates data relating to the
event; and
stores the data in memory in device 10.
[0051] Address book 48D enables device 10 to store contact information for
persons
and organizations. Address book 48D is activated by activation of address book
icon
26 on display 14. In particular, name, address, telephone numbers, e-mail
addresses, cellphone numbers and other contact information is stored. The data
can
be entered through keypad 24 and is stored in an accessible a database in non-
volatile memory, such as persistent storage 70, which is associated with
microprocessor 18, or any other electronic storage provided in device 10.
[0052] Email application 48E provides modules to allow user of device 10 to
generate email messages on device 10 and send them to their addressees.
Application 48E also provides a GUI which provides a historical list of emails
received, drafted, saved and sent. Text for emails can be entered through
keypad
24. Email application 48E is activated by activation of email icon 26 on
display 14.
[0053] Browser application 48F is an application that can access information
from the
Internet (such as HTML or active documents) or an intranet, as well as folders
in the
local file system and on a network and generate results on display 14. Such
applications are known in the art. If a link (as an address) to a web site is
provided
by another application to browser 48F, it will search the Internet or intranet
(as
relevant) for the web site associated with the link.
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[0054] Help application 48G provides text, audio images, video images and
links to
additional information to provide general help on various topics relating to
device 10,
its applications, its services or its connections to wireless carriers. Some
of the
information and resources may be stored locally on device 10. Additional
external
resources may be provided from resource 32. Links to the external resources
may
be provided as web page addresses embedded in the information locally stored
on
device 10. The remote resources may relate to specific applications, general
application, information specific to the user himself or the device or class
of devices
(e.g. relating to models, manufacturers and specific features provided to
devices) or
any other information that can be remotely stored and selectively provided to
device
10.
[0055] Option application 48H is an application that provides a GUI for a user
to
review and change configuration options and retrieve operating information
about
device 10. Some of the resources for the information come from device 10.
Other
resources are remote to device 10 and are accessed through network 36.
Preferably, all accesses are seamless to the user.
[0056] Further detail is provided on remote resource management, maintenance
and
distribution systems as provided by server 34 for device 10.
[0057] One implementation for a shared resource 32 accessible by device(s) 10
is for
an embodiment is "help" information for application 48G. The help information
can
relate to general help and information about services provided for device(s)
10 and
broadcast information about the network that device(s) are connected to. One
or
more help resources may be provided on device 10 through its GUI.
[0058]As noted, the help information can be pre-loaded on device 10. For
example,
a locally store web-page may be provided on device 10 that provides a user
with
information on general (non-application specific) content and application-
specific
content. Additional remote information from resource 32 may be embedded into
the
pre-loaded help information. The additional information may be automatically
sought
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by device 10 or specific access links (such as web links) may be embedded into
the
pre-loaded information.
[0059] Alternatively, an access choice in menu option for the remote resource
32
may be built into the GUI for device 10. With the above described GUI for
device 10,
the help menu item can be used to present remote resources 32 to device 10. As
noted, the help menu can provide additional text relating to the resource.
[0060] Alternatively still, the help information may be all based on remote
resource
32.
[0061] In providing remote resource 32 to device 10, remote resource 32
typically
has at least two data elements associated with it in device 10: access
information
for the resource; and any ancillary text that is to be displayed through the
GUI for the
resource 32. Both data elements are provided to and stored on device 10 in its
non-
volatile memory. All relevant applications operating on device 10 can access
both
data elements.
[0062]The first data element provides a link to the resource itself. As the
resource is
centrally managed, the link provides an indirect method of accessing the
resource.
Different embodiments provide different types of links. One link is an
accessible link,
such as a Universal Resource Link (URL) that is provided to device 10 and can
be
selectively activated on device 10 to access the associated resource. The URL
provides an HTTP address for a page at a web site that provides the resource
(help
information); an exemplary URL would be http://www.helppage.com/page1.htm1. In
use, when a user navigates through screen 300 and activates the menu option
associated with the help resource, the associated URL is retrieved by device
10 and
is provided to its web browser application. Next, the web browser sends a
request
for the noted HTML page to its web server. The web server then accesses the
Internet to retrieve and display the web page. The web page itself is stored
on a
remote server (as associated with the web address of the URL). As such, the
specific contents of the web site and its particular links can be managed
remotely
from device 10.
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[0063] In an alternative embodiment, the first data element provides a link to
a FTP
site, where an executable file providing an application as a downloadable
software
program that can be downloaded, stored and executed on device 10. As such, the
data in device 10 does not need to maintain the resource.
[0064] The second data element is typically a text string providing a short
description
of the resource that is incorporated into the GUI when the user navigates
through a
GUI that allows access to the resource. In some embodiments, the second data
element may not be provided.
[0065]The above noted data elements (and additional data elements) relating to
the
resource(s) may be provided to device 10 through several mechanisms. One
simple
mechanism is manual entry and storage of the data elements into device 10
through
a user input screens. The screen prompt the user to enter the relevant links
and text
manually through input dialog boxes. Once the data elements are entered, they
are
processed and stored in the non-volatile memory. Then the resource (and its
related
information) can be accessed by device 10 as necessary through the GUI noted
above. This mechanism requires the user to have accurate knowledge of the data
elements.
[0066] A more preferable mechanism is to automatically download the data
elements
into device 10. The downloading of the data elements requires a data
processing
module operating on device 10 to receive and process a data packet 38 from an
external server 34, then extract the relevant data elements from it and store
the
elements in relevant non-volatile memory of device 10. For the embodiment, the
data packet 38 is provided as a service record, which is a transmittable data
structure containing set fields where dedicated fields contain the contents of
element. The data packet has a predefined and known structure of fields so
that
certain data elements are expected at certain accessible locations in the data
packet. As such, expected data elements can be extracted from the packet by
device 10. The data packet may have a header fields for one or more of the
data
elements. The data packet can contain almost any type of information that
relates to
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either the device, user, the user's account, carrier service or one or more
applications. Different databases can store different information. A
particular data
packet relating to particular information may be selectively generated and
sent to
one or more devices depending on triggering conditions set by the embodiment.
[0067] It will be seen that a data packet can be generated by resource server
34
associated with the resource 32, which can then encode and transmit the data
packet through its associated communication network to one or more devices 10.
The extraction and transmission of the access information is provided by a
data
transmission module operating on server 34 and resource 32. Transmission of
the
data packet may be provided based on predetermined conditions. One
transmission
condition may be the detection of a new device 10 within the transmission
capabilities of the communication network 36. For a wireless communication
network the transmission capabilities may be set by the transmission range of
the
network. For a wired communication network, the transmission capabilities may
be
limited to the devices 10 that are connected to predetermined access points to
the
network.
[0068] Another transmission condition may be to periodically generate and
broadcast
the data packet to all devices 10 that are in transmission capabilities of the
communication network. For example, the data packet may be sent whenever the
server initiates a change to the resource.
[0069] For the embodiment, the data packet 38 is also known as a service
record.
Service records for one or more resources 32 may be provided through one or
more
resource servers 34. Each resource servers can communicate with device 10 to
selectively provide a service record to device 10 through its associated
communication network 36. To assist in identifying resource servers 34, each
resource server 34 can be provided with a unique identification address to
identify it
to devices 10 and other servers 34.
[0070] Further detail is now provided on the operation of the resource servers
34. It
will be appreciated that device 10 can be configured to operate on one or more
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communication networks. The networks may include wireless components and the
device may have a wireless or wired communication system, or it may have both
wireless and wired communication systems. In some embodiments, the device is
configured to operate on a wireless network that permits access to a wire-
based
network such as the Internet.
[0071]The embodiment provides several resource servers 34 including a
registration
server, a corporate mobile data service (MDS) server, a public MDS server, a
generic provisioning server, a wireless application protocol (WAP) server.
Each
server can manage different resources and as such different help resources.
Each
server may be positioned at different access points within the communication
network(s) for device 10 (e.g. behind firewalls, incorporated with local
corporate
servers, incorporated with specific carriers for wireless/wired services,
incorporated
with a generic services for multiple carriers, etc.). As such, different
servers can
provide different levels of security, access and speed of access when
providing
resources to devices 10. Each server may also have different protocols for
providing
their updated service records to device 10. Each server may provide resources
32
relating to applications, accounts, access information, carrier information
(if
applicable), devices, or other information that it can store, process or
extract from
any of its related systems and software.
[0072] One feature of an embodiment provides a selectable prioritization
protocol
when two or more resources 32 are provided from one or more servers 34. When
two or more service records 38 are received by device 10, the prioritization
protocol,
if implemented, ranks the service records 38 according to a preset ranking
scheme.
Following the scheme, the presentation arrangement in the GUI for the received
and
extracted links from the service records may be presented in an order
reflecting the
ranking. In some instances where there is a conflict or ranking of resources
between
two or more service records, only a subset of the service records may be used
and
presented in the GUI. It will be appreciated that the protocol may be based on
several factors including a relative trustworthiness of resource server,
redundancy of
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information provided by one resource in view of the availability of another
resource
from another server, speed of access from a server, etc.
[0073] Based on the received service records 38 and any prioritization
protocols
applied there against, the GUI may be modeled on device 10 to show the
resources
in a certain order, show some resources as subgroups in a menu, not show
selected
resources or a combination of any ranking techniques.
[0074] As an example of provisioning a resource 32 to device 10, further
detail is
provided on the processing of a service record 38 received by device 10 from a
registration server 34 for a communication network 36. The communication
network
is a wireless network provided by a given carrier. As such, the carrier is
offering
wireless services to its customers and sells, rents and leases devices 10 to
its
customers. An address is associated with the registration server 34 to
identify the
registration server in its communication network 36. For devices 10 connecting
to
the communication network 36, the address of the registration server may be
stored
in the device after it is manufactured. This may be done by the carrier, an
operator
of the wireless network relating to the device or by another entity.
Typically, the
address of the registration server will be designated by the provider of the
communication network.
[0075] Eventually the device 10 is delivered to a user. The user may obtain
the
device from the wireless network operator or from a reseller who sells the
device on
behalf of one of the operator. After obtaining the device, the user enables
the
communication system of the device. The communication system detects the
presence of at least one of the networks 36 and uses the stored address of the
registration server 34 to send a registration request to the registration
server. The
registration server, in conjunction with a provisioning server determines
whether the
device may be provisioned with a service record using the present method. If
the
service record has been provisioned for the device before, or if the device
has been
designated not to be provisioned with the associated resource, or if the
device has
been designated to be provisioned with the associated resource by an alternate
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method, the registration request is denied. If the registration request is
approved,
the device is provided with a service record 38 generated by server 34
relating to
resource 32 that contains links and text that enable the device 10 to access
resource
32. Additional services may also be provisioned in the record.
[0076] The device is typically capable of using various data display and data
collection protocols. In one embodiment, the device is capable of displaying
pages
in WML and HTML on a display screen, using an application installed on the
device.
The pages can include forms with dialogs allowing the device's user to enter
data
into the form using an input device.
[0077] The service record delivered to the device is compatible with the
device's
capabilities for displaying and collecting data. The service records may be
simply
data packets that contain collections of parameters. Some of those parameters
may
be references to resources 32 that can be associated either with the device or
with
specific applications on the device. Those parameters may be in the form of
content
(such as, but not limited to, HTML or WML links) that is compatible with the
display
capabilities of the device. But those parameters may also be more abstract
pieces
of data, such as just an URL and descriptive text associated with each
external
resource 32 (and possibly an identifier to describe which application(s) on
the device
each particular link applies to). In those cases, the applications themselves
may
choose to make those resources available to the user in their own way (such as
via a
menu item in that application, which, if selected, will access the content
indicated by
the resource) or by dynamically incorporating an access link within textual or
graphical content that the application presented to the user. Additionally,
any links
can be ordered or presented in the application in a manner determined by a pre-
set
ranking scheme.
[0078] It will be appreciated that resources 32 may be applicable to device 10
as a
whole (non-application-specific) and resources 32 may be application-specific.
In
the case of application-specific external resources, the provisioned
information
provides an indication of which applications those resources apply to.
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[0079] Some further aspects of an embodiment will now be described in
greater detail with reference to Fig. 6, which illustrates a system 100 for
provisioning
an associated resource for a mobile communication device 10.
[0080] System 100 includes a registration server 34, a provisioning server
106, another resource server 34, a subscriber registry 109 and a device
registry 118.
System 100 is typically operated by a service provider A, which may provide
the
associated resource itself or which may provision the associated resource for
device
on behalf of another service provider (not shown) that provides the associated
resource. In the present exemplary embodiment, resource 32 is a help
application
10 based as a web page provided by resource server 34.
[0081] System 100 communicates with device 10 across a network 110, such
as the Internet or a local area or wide area network (LAN or WAN). Typically,
although not necessarily, device 10 is a wireless communication device capable
of
communicating with network 110 using a wireless communication network 36,
which
typically will be operated by a network operator 116.
[0082] In this exemplary embodiment, device 10 is operated by a user who is
a subscriber of services provided by network operator 116.
[0083] In the present exemplary embodiment, the resource 32 is associated
with a server 34, which is provided by a service provider B. In the present
exemplary
embodiment, the network operator 116 is also service provider B, although the
network operator 116 may be a distinct entity from service provider B.
[0084] Network operator 116 / Service provider B maintains a primary service
provider system 114 for recording information relating to users that obtain
device 10
and/or the resource 34 from service provider B. In embodiments where the
network
operator 116 and service provider B are distinct entities, each of them may
maintain
separate systems to record information relating to the user and the specific
equipment (such as device 10) and services and resources (such as the primary
resource) that each of them provides to the user.
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[0085] The components of system 100 may communicate with one another through
network 110 or through another network 120. Furthermore, one or more
components of system 100 may operate on a single computer system or may be
integrated into a single server. For example, registration server 34 and
provisioning
server 106 may be integrated together or they may operate concurrently on a
single
computer system. In other embodiments of the present invention, registration
server
34 or provisioning server 106 or both may consist of multiple processes
operating on
two or more computers.
[0086] Subscriber registry 109 is used by system 100 to track the status of
subscribers, who are users of various devices that have subscribed to network
access resources offered by network operator 116.
[0087] Typically, additional wireless network operators (not shown), like
network
operator 116, will provide network access services allowing mobile devices to
connect to network 110 and to system 100. This is further described below.
Each of
these network operators may provide devices to subscribers of their services.
Subscriber registry 109 is used to track the status of all such subscribers
and the
record for each subscriber in subscriber registry 109 may include the identity
of the
specific network operator who provides network access services to the
subscriber.
[0088] In the present embodiment, subscriber registry 109 has a record for
each
subscriber that is known to system 100. This may include subscribers of
services
and resources provided by network operator 116 (and other network operators)
who
have not yet provisioned the associated resource for use on their mobile
devices in
addition to subscribers who have provisioned the associated resource for use
on
their mobile devices. The status of a subscriber in subscriber registry 109
may one
or more of the following:
Status Meaning
Associated resource provisioned for The subscriber has provisioned the
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subscriber associated resource his or her mobile
device.
Associated resource cannot or will not The subscriber is not permitted to use
be provisioned for subscriber through the provisioning method of the present
the method of this invention invention. It may be possible to
provision the resource using a different
method.
Subscriber known - associated The network operator has reported that
resource not provisioned the subscriber has subscribed to
resources from the network operator, but
the subscriber has not yet provisioned
the resource for use on his or her mobile
device.
Subscriber Suspended The subscriber device has been
suspended or blocked. This may be
done because the subscriber has failed
to pay fees to the network operator or for
other reasons.
These status descriptions are only exemplary and additional status categories
may be
used to describe the status of a subscriber. In addition, the record for each
subscriber
may contain additional information related to the resources or services that a
subscriber
has subscribed to.
[0089] Device registry 118 is used by system 100 to track the status of mobile
communication devices, such as device 10. All devices for which system 100 has
provisioned the associated resource have a record in device registry 118. In
addition, the device registry 118 may contain records for devices that are
capable of
having the associated resource provisioned for them. Subscriber registry 118
may
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also contain records for devices for which the associated resource cannot or
will not
be provisioned through the method of this invention. The status of a device
may be
one or more of the following:
Status Meaning
Associated resource provisioned for The associated resource has already
device been provisioned for the device.
Associated resource cannot or will not The device is not permitted to use the
be provisioned through the method of provisioning method of the present
this invention invention. It may be possible to
provision the resource using a different
method.
Device activated - associated resource The device is known to have been
not provisioned activated, but the associated resource
has not been provisioned for it. This
status may be used for a device that
has been reported as activated by a
network operator.
Device known but not activated The device is known to exist (i.e. the
identification code of the device has
been assigned to it), but the device has
not been activated.
Suspended The device has been suspended or
blocked. This may be done because
the device has been reported lost or
stolen.
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These status descriptions are only exemplary and additional status categories
may
be used to describe the status of a device. In some embodiments of the present
invention, some of these status descriptions may not be used. In addition, the
record
for each device may contain additional information related to the device's
capabilities, other services provisioned by service provider A or other
service
providers, etc. The status of a device in device registry 118 may be set based
on
advice from network operator 116. For example, the network operator 118 may
advise when it has delivered a device to a user, or when a user has reported a
device lost or stolen, or when a device should be suspended because the user
has
failed to pay required fees, etc.
[0090] Returning to the present example, the user obtains the primary service
from
service provider B, and will enter an arrangement with service provider B
relating to
the primary service.
[0091] The user obtains device 10 and subscribes to wireless network access
services from network operator 116. The user obtains e-mail service, which is
the
primary service, from service provider B. As noted above, network operator 116
and
service provider B are the same entity, in this exemplary embodiment.
[0092] During manufacturing, device 10 is configured to operate with one or
more
types of communication networks. For example, network 36 may be a GPRS
network which provides "always-on" communication capabilities for mobile
devices
such as device 10. Device 10 will contain a radio antenna and associated
circuitry
required to detect the presence of the network 36 and to communicate with
other
components in the network. Device 10 may also be configured to operate with
other
types of networks, such as other GSM networks or CDMA networks. During or
after
manufacture, device 10 will typically also be configured with an
identification code
such as electronic serial number (ESN) or an International Mobile Equipment
Identifier (IMEI) that is typically used for wireless communication devices in
GSM
networks (such as a GPRS network).
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[0093] In some embodiments, after device 10 has been manufactured, a record
may
be created for it subscriber registry 118. If a record is created, the status
of device
will be set to "Device known but not activated". In the present exemplary
embodiment, this is not typically done and a record for the device is not
created in
5 the device registry until the device is activated.
[0094] Referring to Fig. 7a, flow chart 700 shows exemplary steps and
processes
executed by resource server 34 in determining how and when to send a new data
packet relating to its resource 32 to device 10. After the server has been
activated at
step 702, it monitors its trigger conditions to determine whether a trigger
condition
10 has been activated to generate and send a data packet at step 704. The
condition
may be that an access parameter has changed or that a new device has been
detected or that a timeout condition has occurred. An addition trigger that
may be
initiated upon startup of device 10 is "Device Not Yet Provisioned". If no
trigger
condition has occurred, then the If no trigger condition has occurred, then
the
process returns to start at step 702. If a trigger condition has occurred,
then the
resource is analyzed for any new access and text information and a data packet
containing the information is built at step 706. Next the packet is provided
to the
communication network for conversion to a transmission signal and transmission
to
device 10 at step 708. It will be appreciated that in other system other steps
may be
provided or the steps may be executed in a different order.
[0095] Referring to Fig. 7b, flow chart 710 shows exemplary steps and
processes
executed by device 10 in determining when to request a new data packet
relating to
a resource 32 from server 34 and what to do once a packet is received. After
device
10 has been activated at step 712, it checks whether it has roamed to a new
carrier
service or if it has not been registered with the current carrier service at
step 714. If
either condition is true, it sends a request for a data packet for the
resource through
the carrier at step 716. If neither condition is true, it monitors for the
receipt of new
data packets at step 718. Once a new data packet is received (after either
step 716
or 718), at step 720, device 10 extracts the access and display information
from the
data packet. At step 722, all data from all received data packets from all
servers 34
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is prioritized. At step 724, the data in ranked and the text data to be
populated in the
various GUI fields is provided to the GUI. Thereafter, when option application
is
activated and the user navigates through the GUIs, when a request for a help
application is activated, device 10 retrieves the website information
associated with
the activated help application and provides it to the browser application 40G
to fetch
and manage the information as it is retrieved from server 34. It will be
appreciated
that in other devices, other steps may be provided or the steps may be
executed in a
different order.
[0096] Reference is next made to Fig. 8, which illustrates another system 400
that
may be used by an embodiment. System 800 is similar to system 100 and similar
components are given the same reference numeral as in system 100. System 800
includes a gateway 820 and a provisioning proxy 822.
[0097] Gateway 820 operates as an interface between device 10 and provisioning
server 106 and associated resource. Gateway 820 may be an assembly of one or
more computer systems that serve to streamline communications between
provisioning server 106 and mobile communication devices such as device 10.
Similarly, gateway 820 serves to streamline communications between associated
resource provider and mobile communication devices.
[0098] Provisioning proxy 822 serves as an interface between gateway 820 and
provisioning server 106, similarly serving to streamline communications
between
gateway 820 and provisioning server 106 by, for example, conducting the
operation
of pushing service records to device 10. Provisioning proxy 822 may also serve
to
provide secure communication between device 10 and provisioning server 106.
[0099] It will be appreciated that all of the modules, processes, data bases,
data
processing data transmission and other features and techniques described
herein
may be implemented in software, firmware and hardware processes and designs
using skill of those skilled in the art.
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[00100] The present invention has been described here by way of example
only. Various modification and variations may be made to these exemplary
embodiments without departing from the scope of the invention.
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