111111
`
`1111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111
`US007149511Bl
`
`c12) United States Patent
`Bachner, III et al.
`
`(10) Patent No.:
`(45) Date of Patent:
`
`US 7,149,511 B1
`Dec. 12, 2006
`
`(54) WIRELESS INTELLIGENT PERSONAL
`SERVER
`
`(75)
`
`Inventors: Edward F. Bachner, III, Lockport, IL
`(US); John Major, Rancho Santa Fe,
`CA (US); Xin Du, Bartlett, IL (US)
`
`(73) Assignee: Rosetta-Wireless Corporation,
`Oakbrook Terrace, IL (US)
`
`5,953,507 A
`5,982,520 A
`6,003,068 A *
`6,058,106 A
`6,067,451 A
`6,108,727 A *
`6,112,206 A *
`6,128,661 A
`
`9/1999 Cheung et al.
`11/1999 Weiser et al.
`12/1999 Sopko ........................ 709/205
`5/2000 Cudak et a!.
`5/2000 Campana, Jr. et al.
`8/2000 Boals eta!. .................. 710/68
`8/2000 Morris et al .................. 707/10
`10/2000 Flanagin et al.
`
`(Continued)
`
`( *) Notice:
`
`Subject to any disclaimer, the term of this
`patent is extended or adjusted under 35
`U.S.C. 154(b) by 488 days.
`
`FOREIGN PATENT DOCUMENTS
`
`EP
`
`1 016 986 A2
`
`7/2000
`
`(21) Appl. No.: 09/652,734
`
`(22) Filed:
`
`Aug. 31, 2000
`
`(51)
`
`Int. Cl.
`H04Q 7120
`(2006.01)
`H04Q 7132
`(2006.01)
`(52) U.S. Cl. ................ 455/419; 455/412.1; 455/412.2;
`455/418; 455/422.1; 455/550.1; 455/557;
`455/556.1; 709/202; 709/203; 709/216; 709/219
`(58) Field of Classification Search ................ 455/550,
`455/556,557,566,572,573,418,419,420,
`455/403,422,412,414,517,554,555,558,
`455/575, 90, 412.1, 412.2, 426.1, 426.2,
`455/500, 502, 423, 424, 425, 67.11, 552.1,
`455/562.1, 556.1, 561, 466, 414.4; 345/901,
`345/903, 905, 1.1, 2.3, 3.1; 709/202,203,
`709/216, 219
`See application file for complete search history.
`
`(56)
`
`References Cited
`
`U.S. PATENT DOCUMENTS
`
`4,916,441 A * 4/1990 Gombrich ................... 455/575
`5,297,192 A * 3/1994 Gerszberg ................... 455/419
`8/1995 Campana, Jr. eta!.
`5,438,611 A
`5,479,472 A
`12/1995 Campana, Jr. eta!.
`5,625,670 A
`4/1997 Campana, Jr. eta!.
`5,754,625 A * 5/1998 Shimura ..................... 455/573
`9/1998 Lazaridis et a!.
`5,802,312 A
`5,819,172 A
`10/1998 Campana, Jr. eta!.
`
`Primary Examiner-Keith Ferguson
`(74) Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Momkus McCluskey;
`Jefferson Perkins
`
`(57)
`
`ABSTRACT
`
`A wireless intelligent personal server includes a radio fre(cid:173)
`quency (RF) receiver, a memory for storing electronic files,
`a set of embedded machine language instructions, a central
`processing unit (CPU), a first interface for a display device,
`such as a personal digital assistant (PDA), and a second
`interface for a wireless telephone. The RF receiver receives
`downstream data transmitted over a downstream wireless
`communications channel. The CPU executes the machine
`language instructions to process the downstream data and,
`thereby, either update an existing target electronic file stored
`in the memory, so that the target electronic file reflects
`changes made to a source electronic file, or create a new
`electronic file in the memory. A display device may be
`brought into communication with the wireless intelligent
`personal server, via the first interface, to access the elec(cid:173)
`tronic files stored in the memory. The wireless intelligent
`personal server may also transmit an upstream signal over an
`upstream wireless communication channel, such as by using
`a wireless telephone, in communication via the second
`interface. The upstream signal may acknowledge receipt of
`the downstream data, or it may include upstream data
`reflecting changes to the electronic files stored in the
`memory made by the display device.
`
`80 Claims, 3 Drawing Sheets
`
`Samsung Exhibit 1001 Page 00001
`
`

`
`US 7,149,511 Bl
`Page 2
`
`U.S. PATENT DOCUMENTS
`
`3/2001 Doviak eta!.
`6,198,920 B1
`3/2001 Aho et al.
`6,198,941 B1
`8/2001 Flanagin et al.
`6,272,545 B1
`8/2001 Bi et al.
`6,279,153 B1
`6,311,058 B1 * 10/2001 Wecker eta!. .............. 455/418
`6,317,592 B1
`1112001 Campana, Jr. et a!.
`6,317,793 B1
`1112001 Toyosawa
`6,389,457 B1
`5/2002 Lazaridis et a!.
`6,401,113 B1
`6/2002 Lazaridis et a!.
`6,418,324 B1
`7/2002 Doviak
`6,430,601 B1
`8/2002 Eldridge et a!.
`6,434,403 B1 * 8/2002 Ausems eta!. ............. 455/556
`
`6,438,585 B1
`6,446,118 B1
`6,463,463 B1
`6,463,464 B1
`6,512,919 B1 *
`6,516,202 B1
`6,546,425 B1
`6,680,923 B1
`6,701,378 B1
`6,721,288 B1
`200110029178 A1 *
`2004/0204041 A1 *
`* cited by examiner
`
`8/2002 Mousseau et a!.
`9/2002 Gottlieb
`10/2002 Godfrey et a!.
`10/2002 Lazaridis et a!.
`112003 Ogasawara ................. 455/422
`2/2003 Hawkins et a!.
`4/2003 Hanson et al.
`112004 Leon
`3/2004 Gilhuly et a!.
`4/2004 King et al.
`10/2001 Criss eta!. ................. 455/419
`10/2004 Fillebrown eta!. ...... 455/556.1
`
`Page 00002
`
`

`
`U.S. Patent
`
`Dec. 12, 2006
`
`Sheet 1 of 3
`
`US 7,149,511 B1
`
`1
`
`
`Ill (
`
`i1 ' l - - - - -1 Enterpris~ ~T system 1------1 ____ 1~6
`
`Wireless Network
`Management System 29
`
`First
`Wireless
`Network
`
`20
`
`28
`
`Second
`
`22
`
`1'\
`26
`
`WIPS
`
`-------------..
`
`30
`
`Display
`Device
`
`32
`
`~
`10
`
`FIG.1
`
`Page 00003
`
`

`
`Bar-Code L
`// Reader Input 1
`170
`~ GPS Receiver L
`I
`/
`Input
`172
`Keyboard L 180 ~\
`//
`Input
`1
`17 4 1-----------'
`Card Reader L
`Input
`
`1
`
`//
`176
`
`/
`178
`
`(106
`I Forward Error
`/104 Auxiliary
`/
`j Memory~,
`.------"--------,
`~~~~~ ~.------L_--("'" r----;;-M-;-e-m-'-o-ry---,
`112
`Flash
`-Management - Memory ~ \
`Control
`// CPU
`108
`,__ ___ --,'10b
`System
`\ Volatile
`(/102
`Other Inputs ~
`RAM ~ \
`~ 10
`Embedded
`Machine
`Language
`Instructions
`
`U.S. Patent
`
`Dec. 12, 2006
`
`Sheet 2 of 3
`
`US 7,149,511 B1
`
`/122
`"7
`
`.-----'-------, 120
`_...I
`RF
`/
`n Receiver
`
`I Status
`
`Indicators
`
`124
`.----------L.----,
`
`Correction
`
`I Real Time r
`
`Clock
`
`/..--140
`
`T
`
`Wireless
`Phone
`Interface
`
`.
`(/ 158
`
`/~ 162
`On-Demand __j
`I
`Power
`8e_lbPhoned
`np eman _ Man.age:ment
`ower
`C1rcu1try
`Contacts
`
`-
`
`138
`Display
`r---
`lrDa
`~\
`Device
`Interface
`~ Electrical ~6
`._____ __ ______,
`Con nectar
`\
`/160
`134
`~~ 156
`/150
`/
`D'
`On-Demand
`(
`L
`1sp ay
`Power
`1
`Battery I Management r- On~6~~~nd
`I
`Circuitry
`Power
`Contacts
`
`Charger and
`154
`Overcharge
`Protection v
`I
`Circuitry
`152
`
`Recharging
`Contacts
`
`FIG.2
`
`30 ./'
`
`Page 00004
`
`

`
`U.S. Patent
`
`Dec. 12, 2006
`
`Sheet 3 of 3
`
`US 7,149,511 B1
`
`260
`
`200
`
`216
`
`202
`
`L.....------112~0
`.__ _ ____.r~2
`
`212
`
`206
`
`152
`
`. .
`------·
`
`214
`
`~
`\
`
`30
`
`1D 1D /D 1D
`250
`252
`254
`256
`
`~---
`1
`I
`I
`I
`I
`I
`I
`I
`
`~---
`1
`I
`I
`I
`I
`I
`I
`I
`
`236
`
`238
`
`220
`
`208
`
`FIG. 3
`
`~o;4o
`~\ \
`[}~26
`~~28
`~30
`
`\
`
`~\32
`234
`
`FIG.4
`
`~.
`\
`2 18
`
`Page 00005
`
`

`
`US 7,149,511 B1
`
`1
`WIRELESS INTELLIGENT PERSONAL
`SERVER
`
`BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
`
`A. Field of the Invention
`This invention relates to the field of wireless teleconnnu(cid:173)
`nications. More particularly, this invention relates to a
`wireless intelligent personal server that receives data trans(cid:173)
`mitted over a wireless connnunications channel and auto- 10
`matically processes it so as to maintain a copy of at least one
`electronic file stored in a source computer.
`B. Description of Related Art
`A typical modem office uses a number of different data(cid:173)
`bases of information that are frequently updated. Examples
`of such databases include schedules, contact lists, price lists,
`real estate lists, and incoming e-mails. Such databases are
`typically stored as electronic files on either an office-wide
`server or on individual personal computers located in the
`office space. Typically, individual workers in the office space
`are able to use personal computers, usually with network
`connections, to access the databases. More particularly, the
`personal computers typically run applications that retrieve
`the desired information from the databases and display it to
`the user. With this configuration, the most up-to-date ver(cid:173)
`sions of the databases are typically available to the indi(cid:173)
`vidual workers, even though the electronic database files are
`frequently updated.
`However, many workers often work outside of the office
`environment at least one day per week, and, typically, it is
`more difficult to gain access to the most up-to-date versions
`of important electronic files when outside of the office
`environment. A currently used solution is to use portable
`computers to "dial in" to the office network using the PSTN,
`Internet, or other wireline networks. However, mobile work(cid:173)
`ers do not always have access to wireline connections at all
`desired times. Accordingly, wireless communications sys(cid:173)
`tems have been developed by which mobile workers can
`access their office databases even without a wireline con-
`nection. As an example, some wireless telephones are able 40
`to send and receive limited amounts of data using the
`wireless application protocol (WAP).
`However, most of these wireless connnunications
`approaches, including the WAP approach, use a "pull"
`methodology, whereby the user first requests the information
`and then waits for a response. This "pull" methodology has
`the disadvantage of high latency and, typically, high cost.
`The high latency arises from the delay that typically occurs
`in each step of the process of retrieving the desired infor(cid:173)
`mation. In particular, there is the time spent entering the 50
`keystrokes needed to make the request, the airtime spent
`transmitting the request, the delay in having the request
`reaching the office network through intermediate networks,
`the delay in having the office network search through its
`databases to formulate a response, and the delay in trans- 55
`mitting the response through the intermediate networks and
`then over the air interface. The high latency is not only
`troublesome to the user; it leads to high costs due to the
`airtime needed to process the request and the response.
`The problem becomes more acute the more interactive the 60
`transaction becomes. A user using WAP to retrieve a new
`e-mail message with an attachment provides a simple illus(cid:173)
`tration of the problem. First, the user requests the new e-mail
`message and receives it after waiting for the latency period
`described above, for which the user is typically charged 65
`airtime. Second, the user reads the new e-mail message and
`sees that it has an attachment. Then the user must make
`
`2
`another request to receive the attachment. The user waits for
`another latency period to receive it, thereby typically incur(cid:173)
`ring additional airtime charges. Moreover, the latency period
`may be quite long, because files attached to e-mails are often
`quite large. Accordingly, existing "pull" approaches, such as
`WAP have substantial disadvantages.
`Another problem with many technologies for receiving
`data over wireless channels is that they are highly device(cid:173)
`specific, i.e., they are based on providing wireless function(cid:173)
`ality to existing devices, such as specific models of personal
`digital assistants (PDAs). However, there are a nnmber of
`problems with device-specific approaches. First, many
`people use different computing devices at different times, so
`that providing only one of the user's computing devices with
`15 wireless functionality is, at best, only a partial solution.
`Second, different computing devices differ in their abilities
`to handle different types of data. For example, desktop PCs
`typically have much more memory than PDAs, and desktop
`PCs often have access to high quality monitors, speakers,
`20 and peripherals to display information and provide function(cid:173)
`ality to the user in ways that are unavailable to typical PDAs.
`On the other hand, PDAs also have many advantages over
`a desktop PC, such as portability. In addition to the avail(cid:173)
`ability of different hardware, different computing devices
`25 may have different operating systems and applications avail(cid:173)
`able to them. Accordingly, approaches that provide wireless
`functionality only to specific devices have substantial dis(cid:173)
`advantages.
`For example, Kaufman, U.S. Pat. No. 6,034,621, dis-
`30 closes systems and methods for connnunicating changes
`made to a data file on a personal computer (PC) to a personal
`digital assistant (PDA). In accordance with some of the
`disclosed embodiments, when the data file on the PC is
`changed, synchronization information is transmitted over a
`35 paging network to a pager that is connected to the PDA, such
`as by a serial or parallel connection. A synchronization
`routine in the PDA then interacts with the synchronization
`information output from the pager to update the data file in
`the PDA.
`While potentially reducing the latency problem, at least
`for small amounts of data, the Kaufman approach suffers
`from a number of disadvantages. First, PDAs are not typi(cid:173)
`cally on all of the time. Thus, update information may be
`missed because of the PDA being off. Second, PDAs typi-
`45 cally have a very limited memory, i.e., 8 megabytes or less.
`Because of this limited memory, mobile workers may not be
`able to access some of the very large electronic files that they
`can access at their offices.
`
`SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
`
`In a first principal aspect, the present invention provides
`a wireless intelligent personal server that comprises a radio
`frequency (RF) receiver for receiving downstream data
`transmitted over a wireless connnunications channel, a
`memory, a central processing unit (CPU), a set of embedded
`machine language instructions that are executable by the
`CPU for processing the downstream data to provide at least
`one electronic file in the memory, and a first interface for
`allowing an external display device to access the at least one
`electronic file.
`In a second principal aspect, the present invention pro(cid:173)
`vides a wireless data connnunication system that comprises
`a wireless intelligent personal server and a wireless tele(cid:173)
`phone in connnunication with the wireless intelligent per(cid:173)
`sonal server. The wireless
`intelligent personal server
`includes a memory and a radio frequency (RF) receiver. The
`
`Page 00006
`
`

`
`US 7,149,511 B1
`
`3
`RF receiver receives downstream data transmitted over a
`first wireless communications channel, and the wireless
`intelligent personal server processes the downstream data to
`provide at least one electronic file in the memory. The
`wireless telephone transmits an acknowledgement over a
`second wireless communications channel when the wireless
`intelligent personal server receives the downstream data.
`In a third principal aspect, the present invention provides
`a wireless data display system that comprises a wireless
`intelligent personal server and a display device in commu(cid:173)
`nication with the wireless intelligent personal server. The
`wireless intelligent personal server includes a memory and
`a radio frequency (RF) receiver. The RF receiver receives
`downstream data transmitted over a wireless communica(cid:173)
`tions channel, and the wireless intelligent personal server 15
`processes the downstream data to provide at least one
`electronic file. The display device has at least one applica(cid:173)
`tion that accesses the at least one electronic file to display
`information to a user.
`In a fourth principal aspect, the present invention provides 20
`a method for updating a target electronic file to reflect
`changes made to a source electronic file. In accordance with
`the method, the target electronic file is stored in a wireless
`intelligent personal server. The wireless intelligent personal
`server receives downstream data transmitted over a wireless 25
`communications channel. The downstream data reflects
`changes made to the source electronic file. The wireless
`intelligent personal server automatically updates the target
`electronic file with the downstream data to provide an
`updated electronic file. A display device is brought into
`communication with the wireless intelligent personal server,
`and the display device accesses the updated electronic file.
`In a fifth principal aspect, the present invention provides
`a method for creating, without user intervention, an elec(cid:173)
`tronic file on a wireless intelligent personal server. In 35
`accordance with the method, the wireless intelligent per(cid:173)
`sonal server receives downstream data transmitted over a
`wireless communications channel. The wireless intelligent
`personal server automatically creates the electronic file from
`the downstream data. A display device is brought into
`communication with the wireless intelligent personal server,
`and the display device accesses the electronic file.
`
`BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
`
`4
`technology services for a business or other organization. As
`shown in FIG. 1, one or more personal computers, such as
`personal computer (PC) 14, are connected to enterprise IT
`system 12. Enterprise IT system 12 may also have access to
`a centralized database for the enterprise, such as enterprise
`database 16, as shown in FIG. 1. Enterprise IT system 12
`may be located entirely within one office area, or it may be
`distributed over various remote locations.
`System 10 also includes a first wireless network 20 and a
`10 second wireless network 22. First wireless network 20 is
`able to transmit data, at least intermittently, over one or more
`downstream wireless channels to wireless receivers operat(cid:173)
`ing within its wireless coverage area. Preferably, first wire-
`less network 20 uses subcarriers of frequency modulated
`(FM) radio transmissions and/or televisions transmissions to
`provide the downstream wireless channels. Most preferably,
`the subcarriers used by first wireless network 20 are modu(cid:173)
`lated using orthogonal frequency division multiplexing
`(ODFM) in order to minimize multipath effects, such as
`fading and distortion, and to increase data throughput.
`Alternatively, first wireless network 20 may be a one-way
`paging network, which may use the FLEX™ protocol of
`Motorola, Inc., a two-way paging network, which may use
`the ReFLEX™ protocol of Motorola, Inc., or it may wire(cid:173)
`lessly transmit data by some other means.
`Second wireless network 22 is preferably a cellular or
`PCS network that provides two-way wireless communica(cid:173)
`tions, in a format, such as AMPS, TDMA, CDMA, or GSM,
`for wireless telephones, such as wireless telephone 24. Thus,
`30 with reference to FIG. 1, wireless telephone 24 is able to
`transmit to wireless network 22 over an upstream channel 26
`and is able to receive from wireless network 22 using a
`downstream channel 27.
`An intermediate network 28 is connected to first wireless
`network 20 and to second wireless network 22, and enter(cid:173)
`prise IT system 12 uses a wireless network management
`system 29 to communicate with wireless networks 20 and
`22, via intermediate network 28. Intermediate network 28
`maybe any wide-area network (WAN) or local-area network
`40 (LAN) capable of transmitting digital data between enter(cid:173)
`prise IT system 12 and wireless networks 20 and 22.
`Preferably, intermediate network 28 is either the Internet or
`a private corporate network.
`A wireless intelligent personal server (WIPS) 30 is able to
`45 receive data wirelessly transmitted by first wireless network
`20. When WIPS 30 receives data transmitted by wireless
`network 20, WIPS 30 stores it in its memory, as described
`in more detail below. WIPS 30 is able to transfer the data
`stored in its memory to and from different types of display
`devices 32, on at least an intermittent basis, as indicated by
`the dotted line in FIG. 1. WIPS 30 may also be able to
`transfer data from its memory to and from wireless tele(cid:173)
`phone 24 on at least an intermittent basis, as indicated by the
`dotted line in FIG. 1.
`Display device 32 is a device that has a user interface for
`displaying the data stored in WIPS 30. More particularly,
`display device 32 typically runs one or more applications to
`access the data stored in WIPS 30 and to display it to the
`user. The applications on display device 32 may also allow
`60 the user to modifY the data stored in WIPS 30. Display
`device 32 may be a fixed-mounted device, such as a desktop
`PC, an advanced video game device, such as a Sony "Play(cid:173)
`Station 2" device, or a set-top television controller box, such
`as the type used to access services such as WebTV© (and
`65 which may also provide game-type functionality), or display
`device 32 may be a portable device, such as a laptop PC or
`a personal digital assistant (PDA). Moreover, WIPS 30
`
`FIG. 1 is a functional block diagram of a wireless syn(cid:173)
`chronization system, in accordance with an exemplary
`embodiment of the present invention.
`FIG. 2 is a functional block diagram of a wireless intel(cid:173)
`ligent personal server, in accordance with an exemplary 50
`embodiment of the present invention.
`FIG. 3 is a front plan view of the wireless intelligent
`personal server of FIG. 2, in accordance with an exemplary
`embodiment of the present invention.
`FIG. 4 is a side plan view of the wireless intelligent 55
`personal server of FIG. 2, in accordance with an exemplary
`embodiment of the present invention.
`
`DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE
`INVENTION
`
`FIG. 1 is a functional block diagram of a wireless com(cid:173)
`munication system 10 in accordance with an exemplary
`embodiment of the present invention. System 10 includes an
`enterprise information technology (IT) system 12, which
`typically includes a plurality of computers and other devices
`networked together to provide computing and information
`
`Page 00007
`
`

`
`US 7,149,511 B1
`
`5
`preferably allows different kinds of display device 32 to
`access the data stored on it at different times. For example,
`a user may use a first desktop PC as display device 32 to
`access the data stored in WIPS 30 at work, may use a PDA
`as display device 32 to access the data stored in WIPS 30
`while traveling, and may use a Sony "PlayStation 2" device
`as display device 32 while at home.
`Data transfer between WIPS 30 and wireless telephone 24
`and display device 32 may occur in various ways. For
`example, WIPS 30 may be electrically connected to wireless
`telephone 24 and/or display device 32. Such electrical
`connection may be direct, i.e., so that electrical contacts on
`WIPS 30 directly contact electrical contacts on wireless
`telephone 24 and/or display device 32. Alternatively, the
`electrical connection may be through electrical cables,
`which may be provided with standard connectors, such as
`USB connectors. Data transfer between WIPS 30 and wire(cid:173)
`less telephone 24 and display device 32 may also be wire(cid:173)
`less. For example, WIPS 30 and either wireless telephone 24
`or display device 32 may be provided with infrared ports,
`such as IrDA ports. Alternatively, WIPS 30 and either
`wireless telephone 24 or display device 32 may use short(cid:173)
`range RF communication, such as the Bluetooth protocol, to
`transfer data. Other methods for data transfer may also be
`used. For example, WIPS 30 may be provided with a flash
`memory card, in which case data transfer to display device
`32 may be effected by removing the flash memory card from
`WIPS 30 and connecting it to display device 32. In any
`event, the connections between WIPS 30 and wireless
`telephone 24 and display device 32 may be only intermittent.
`For example, in some embodiments, wireless telephone 24
`may be directly electrically connected to WIPS 30 most of
`the time. However, the user may disconnect wireless tele(cid:173)
`phone 24 from WIPS 30 in order to make or receive calls.
`WIPS 30 receives data transmitted by first wireless net- 35
`work 20 over a downstream channel 34. Because this data
`transmission may occur at any time, WIPS 30 is preferably
`always on in order to receive the transmission. When WIPS
`30 receives a data transmission, WIPS 30 determines
`whether the transmission is intended for it, and, if it is, WIPS
`30 processes the data transmission accordingly. Typically,
`this means that WIPS 30 uses the data from the transmission
`either to update one or more of the files stored in its memory
`or to add a new file to its memory. Preferably, WIPS 30
`performs these functions automatically, so that the user can
`receive the data while performing other tasks. As described
`in more detail below, the user is then able to use display
`device 32 to access the data stored in WIPS 30.
`Once WIPS 30 has successfully received the data trans(cid:173)
`mission, WIPS 30 preferably sends an acknowledgement
`signal. In preferred embodiments, WIPS 30 uses wireless
`telephone 24 to send the acknowledgement signal to second
`wireless network 22 over an upstream channel 26. To
`accomplish this, WIPS 30 may make use of electrical
`contacts, provided in most types of wireless telephone 24,
`that enable wireless telephone 24 to be remotely controlled.
`Thus, WIPS 30 sends signals to wireless telephone 24 to
`cause it to dial a predetermined telephone number and then,
`once the call is established, to transmit the acknowledge(cid:173)
`ment signal. Because the acknowledgement signal will
`typically be a digital signal, WIPS 30 may use different
`techniques for transmitting it, depending on the type of
`wireless telephone 24. For example, if wireless telephone 24
`can only transmit analog signals, then WIPS 30 preferably
`modulates the digital acknowledgement signal before trans- 65
`mitting it to wireless telephone 24. If wireless telephone 24
`can transmit digital signals, such as signals in CDMA,
`
`6
`TDMA, or GSM format, then WIPS 30 may transmit the
`acknowledgement signal to wireless telephone 24 in digital
`packet form.
`However, at certain times when WIPS 30 is ready to send
`the acknowledgement signal, wireless telephone 24 may not
`available. For example, wireless telephone 24 may not be
`connected to, or in the range of wireless communication
`with, WIPS 30. Wireless telephone 24 may also be unavail(cid:173)
`able because it is turned off or because it is engaged in a
`10 telephone call. When wireless telephone 24 is unavailable,
`WIPS 30 preferably postpones the acknowledgement until
`wireless telephone 24 becomes available for use. First
`wireless network 20 will typically re-transmit the data
`intended for WIPS 30 nntil the acknowledgement from
`15 WIPS 30 is received.
`As an alternative approach, WIPS 30 may be able to
`transmit wireless signals on its own, without the need for
`wireless telephone 24. For example, WIPS 30 may use
`cellular digital packet data (CDPD) technology to transmit
`20 signals to second wireless network 22 over upstream chan(cid:173)
`nel 26. As another approach, first wireless network 20 may
`be a two-way network, in which case, WIPS 30 may use the
`upstream channels of first wireless network 20.
`As noted above, the data stored in WIPS 30 may be
`25 accessed by display device 32. Preferably, display device 32
`accesses the memory in WIPS 30 as it would an external
`device, such as an external hard drive or a server on a local
`area network (LAN). In this way, display device 32 can take
`advantage of the much larger memory that may be available
`30 in WIPS 30.
`In addition, a user may use different display devices to
`access the data stored in WIPS 30 at different times. For
`example, a user may use a desktop PC to access WIPS 30
`while at home, a laptop PC to access WIPS 30 while at work,
`a customer's device to access WIPS 30 while visiting a
`customer, and a PDA to access WIPS 30 while traveling. In
`this way, WIPS 30 may serve as a convenient storage device
`so that a user's important files are available wherever the
`user goes and are automatically and continually updated
`40 with new information wherever the user travels within the
`range of wireless network 20.
`In this way, the electronic files stored in WIPS 30 may be
`automatically updated to reflect changes in the correspond(cid:173)
`ing electronic files of enterprise IT system 12. This capa-
`45 bility can be very important to a user who maintains impor(cid:173)
`tant data files on enterprise IT system 12 at work but who
`also needs to access the information while the user is
`traveling. Such important data files may include the user's
`calendar of appointments, inventory availability and current
`50 pricing, contacts, and incoming e-mail messages.
`For example, if the user is out of the office, the user's
`secretary may use computer 14 to enter a new appointment
`into the user's calendar. The calendar is typically stored as
`an electronic file on computer 14, enterprise database 16, or
`55 elsewhere on enterprise IT system 12. By means of WIPS
`30, the user is able to have access to the updated calendar in
`the following way. Enterprise IT 12 sends the information
`needed to update the calendar to wireless network manage(cid:173)
`ment system 29, which, in turn, transmits it to first wireless
`60 network 20 via intermediate network 28. First wireless
`network 20 then transmits the update information to WIPS
`30 over downstream channel 34. WIPS 30 receives the
`transmission and uses the information to update the calendar
`stored as an electronic file in its memory. To signal that it has
`successfully received the update information, WIPS 30 uses
`wireless telephone 24 to transmit an acknowledgement over
`upstream channel 26 to second wireless network 22. Second
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`7
`wireless network 22, in turn, transmits the acknowledgement
`to wireless network management system 29, via intermedi(cid:173)
`ate network 28. Preferably, wireless network management
`system 29 resends the update information, via intermediate
`network 28, to first wireless network 20 for re-transmission
`until management system 29 receives the acknowledgement,
`in order to ensure that WIPS 30 receives the update infor(cid:173)
`mation. In this way, updates to important files on enterprise
`IT system 12 are automatically sent to WIPS 30, so that
`WIPS 30 will maintain up-to-date copies of these important
`files. The user then brings WIPS 30 into communication
`with display device 32 in order to access the electronic files
`stored in WIPS 30.
`In many cases, it is desirable to have changes made to the
`electronic files stored in WIPS 30 reflected in the files stored 15
`in enterprise IT system 12. In particular, display device 32
`may change the electronic files stored in WIPS 30 that it
`accesses. For example, the accessed electronic file may be
`the user's incoming e-mail messages, in which case the user
`may wish to delete the incoming e-mails after the user has 20
`read them. WIPS 30 may make the change, e.g., deleting one
`or more of the incoming e-mail messages, in the electronic
`file stored in its memory. WIPS 30 may also generate a
`stream of upstream data in order to have the change reflected
`in the corresponding electronic file in enterprise IT system 25
`12. WIPS 30 causes wireless telephone 24 to transmit the
`upstream data over upstream channel 26 to second wireless
`network 22, which then passes the upstream data to wireless
`network management system 29, via intermediate network
`28. Management system 29 recognizes that a change is being 30
`requested, and, if the requested change is validated, man(cid:173)
`agement system 29 passes the upstream data to enterprise IT
`network 12. Enterprise IT network 12, in tum, uses the
`upstream data to change its copy of the electronic file.
`System 10 may also "push" other files to WIPS 30. For 35
`example, system 10 may "push" subscription data transmis(cid:173)
`sions, such as stock closing prices. System 10 may push
`audio files, such as conference calls or books in an audio
`format. System 10 may also push the calendars of others in
`a user's organization to allow scheduling of meetings.
`Shown in FIG. 2 is a functional block diagram of WIPS
`30, in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the
`present invention. The operation ofWIPS 30 is controlled by
`a central processing unit (CPU) 100 that executes a set of
`embedded machine language instructions 102. Embedded 45
`machine language instructions 102 are preferably contained
`a nonvolatile memory, such as a flash memory or a read only
`memory (ROM).
`CPU 100 also has access, via a memory management
`system 104, to a memory system 106 for storing the elec- 50
`tronic files that WIPS 30 automatically updates and that
`display devices are able to access. Memory system 106
`preferably includes a non-volatile memory, such as a flash
`memory 108. The electronic files are stored primarily in
`flash memory 108. In preferred embodiments, flash memory 55
`108 also contains emb