US2006073820A1PendingUtilityA1

Method and apparatus for remote control and updating of wireless mobile devices

49
Individually held — no corporate assignee on recordPriority: Oct 10, 2002Filed: Oct 10, 2003Published: Apr 6, 2006
Est. expiryOct 10, 2022(expired)· nominal 20-yr term from priority
Inventors:Ronald CraswellDavid S. PrattPaul Klassen
H04M 1/72406H04W 8/22H04M 3/42144G06F 8/65H04M 3/42178H04W 8/245
49
PatentIndex Score
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Claims

Abstract

A method and apparatus are provided to in one aspect update data on a wireless mobile device. Available updates may include both mandatory and discretionary updates, where the mandatory updates are always installed on the wireless mobile device. In another aspect, a method and apparatus for of remotely instructing a wireless mobile device to perform a service is provided. The wireless mobile device receives a ping message that instructs it to retrieve further instruction for performing services actions on the wireless mobile device.

Claims

exact text as granted — not AI-modified
1 . A wireless computing apparatus having: 
 a processor; and    a memory comprising computer executable instructions which, when executed are operative to: 
 request available updates;  
 receive an update catalog for available updates, wherein said updates are selected from the group consisting of discretionary updates and mandatory updates;  
 receive any of said mandatory updates;  
 install any of said mandatory updates; and  
 depict representations of any relevant discretionary updates in a selectable manner.  
   
     
     
         2 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , further operative to select a desired discretionary update from said depicted relevant discretionary updates; and obtain said desired discretionary update.  
     
     
         3 . The apparatus of  claim 2 , further operative to install said obtained discretionary update.  
     
     
         4 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein said relevant discretionary updates are determined from a current state of the apparatus.  
     
     
         5 . The apparatus of  claim 4 , wherein said current state comprises the currently installed software on the apparatus.  
     
     
         6 . A wireless computing apparatus having: 
 a processor; and    a memory comprising computer executable instructions which, when executed are operative to: 
 execute a stub application, said stub application automatically querying a remote source for a full application;  
 receive said current application from said remote source;  
 automatically install said full application; and  
 automatically execute said full application.  
   
     
     
         7 . The apparatus of  claim 6 , wherein said stub application further displays a placeholder screen for said full application.  
     
     
         8 . The apparatus of  claim 6 , wherein said full application is installed in place of said stub application.  
     
     
         9 . The apparatus of  claim 8 , wherein subsequent executions of a stub application's execution point executes said full application.  
     
     
         10 . A method of updating data on a wireless mobile device, the method comprising: 
 requesting available updates;    receiving an update catalog for available updates, wherein said updates are selected from the group consisting of discretionary updates and mandatory updates;    receiving any mandatory updates;    installing any of said mandatory updates; and    depicting any relevant discretionary updates in a selectable manner.    
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 10 , further comprising selecting a desired discretionary update from said depicted relevant discretionary updates; and 
 obtaining said discretionary update.    
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 10 , further comprising selecting a desired discretionary update from said depicted relevant discretionary updates; and 
 obtaining said discretionary update.    
     
     
         13 . A method of updating a nonfunctional stub application to a full application on a wireless mobile device, the method comprising: 
 executing the stub application;    the stub application automatically querying a remote source for a full application;    receiving said current application from said remote source;    automatically installing said full application; and    automatically executing said full application.    
     
     
         14 . A wireless computing apparatus having: 
 a processor; and    a memory comprising computer executable instructions which, when executed are operative to:    receive a message;    determine that the message is a ping message for the apparatus;    obtain further instructions, said instructions being directed to an action for a service selected from the group consisting of update services, backup services and mobile services; and    perform said action on the wireless computing apparatus.    
     
     
         15 . The apparatus of  claim 14 , wherein said action updates the wireless computing apparatus.  
     
     
         16 . The apparatus of  claim 14 , wherein said action performs a mobile service.  
     
     
         17 . The apparatus  claim 14 , wherein said action erases a portion of a memory of the wireless computing apparatus.  
     
     
         18 . The apparatus of  claim 14 , wherein said action backs up a portion of a memory of the wireless computing apparatus.  
     
     
         19 . The apparatus of  claim 14 , wherein said action is performed automatically upon receipt of said instructions.  
     
     
         20 . The apparatus of  claim 19 , wherein said action is performed without notifying a user of the wireless computing apparatus.  
     
     
         21 . The apparatus of  claim 20 , wherein said message is a security notice.  
     
     
         22 . The apparatus of  claim 21 , wherein said security notice triggers a backup of user data on the wireless computing apparatus.  
     
     
         23 . The apparatus of  claim 21 , wherein said security notice triggers an erasure of data on the wireless computing apparatus.  
     
     
         24 . The apparatus of  claim 21 , wherein said security notice triggers a mobile service that locks the wireless computing apparatus.  
     
     
         25 . A method of remotely instructing a wireless mobile device to perform a service, comprising: 
 receiving a message;    determining that the message is a ping message for the wireless mobile device;    obtaining instructions, said instructions being directed to an action for a service selected from the group consisting of update services, backup services and mobile services; and    performing said action on the wireless mobile device.    
     
     
         26 . The method of  claim 25 , wherein said action updates the wireless device.  
     
     
         27 . The method of  claim 25 , wherein said action performs a mobile service.  
     
     
         28 . The method  claim 25 , wherein said action erases a portion of a memory of the wireless mobile device.  
     
     
         29 . The method of  claim 25 , wherein said action backs up a portion of a memory of the wireless mobile device.

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