111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111
`US007149511Bl
`
`(12) United States Patent
`Bachner, III et al.
`
`(10) Patent No.:
`(45) Date of Patent:
`
`US 7,149,511 Bl
`Dec. 12, 2006
`
`(54) WIRELESS Il"'TELLIGENT 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,ll2,206 A *
`6,128,661 A
`
`9! 1999 Cheung et al.
`11/1999 Weiser et al.
`12/1999 Sopko ........................ 709/205
`512000 Cudak et a!.
`512000 Campana, Jr. et al.
`8!2000 Boals eta!. .................. 710168
`812000 Y!orris et al .................. 707/10
`10/2000 Flanagin eta!.
`
`(Continued)
`
`( *) Notice:
`
`Subject to any disclaimer, the term of this
`patent is extended or adjusted under 3 5
`U.S.C. 154(b) by 488 days.
`
`FOREIGN PATENT DOCUMENTS
`
`EP
`
`I 016 986 A2
`
`7/2000
`
`(21) Appl. No.: 09/652,734
`
`(22) Filed:
`
`Aug. 31, 2000
`
`(51)
`
`(52)
`
`(58)
`
`Int. CI.
`(2006.01)
`H04Q 7120
`(2006.01)
`H04Q 7132
`U.S. CI. ................ 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
`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 *
`5,297,192 A *
`5,438,611 A
`5,479,472 A
`5,625,670 A
`5,754,625 A *
`5,802,312 A
`5,819,172 A
`
`4/1990 Gombrich ................... 455/575
`3/1994 Gerszberg ................... 455/419
`811995 Campana, Jr. ct a!.
`1211995 Campana, Jr. eta!.
`4/J 997 Campana, Jr. et a!.
`511998 Shimura ..................... 455/573
`911998 Lazaridis et a!.
`1 0/J 998 Campana, Jr. et a!.
`
`Primary Examiner-Keith Ferguson
`(74) Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Mom1:us 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. 'D1e RF receiver receives
`downstream data transmitted over a downstrean1 wireless
`communications cham1el. 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 collllllmJ.ication 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. 1l1e 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
`
`LG Electronics, Inc. et al.
`EXHIBIT 1001
`IPR Petition for
`U.S. Patent No.7, 149,511
`
`

`
`US 7,149,511 B1
`Page 2
`
`US. PATENT DOCUMENTS
`
`3/2001 Doviak er 31-
`6,198,920 B1
`3/2001 A110 er 81-
`6,198,941 B1
`8/2001 Flanagin er 81-
`6,272,545 B1
`8/2001 B1 et 31
`6,279,153 B1
`6,311,058 B1 * 10/2001 Wecker et a1. ............ .. 455/418
`6,317,592 B1
`11/2001 Campana, Jr. et a1.
`6,317,793 B1
`11/2001 Toyosawa
`6,389,457 B1
`5/2002 Lazaridis et a1.
`6,401,113 B1
`6/2002 Lazéridis eta1~
`6,418,324 B1
`7/2002 Dovlak
`6,430,601 B1
`8/2002 Eldridge et a1.
`6,434,403 B1 *
`8/2002 Ausems et a1. ........... .. 455/556
`
`8/2002 Mousseau et a1.
`6,438,585 B1
`9/2002 GOlIlieb
`6,446,118 B1
`10/2002 Godfrey @1211.
`6,463,463 B1
`10/2002 Lazaridis @1211.
`6,463,464 B1
`6,512,919 Bl* 1/2003 Ogasawara ............... .. 455/422
`6,516,202 B1
`2/2003 Hawkins @1211.
`6,546,425 B1
`4/2003 Hanson et 31‘
`6,680,923 B1
`1/2004 Leon
`6,701,378 B1
`3/2004 Gilhuly et a1.
`6,721,288 B1
`4/2004 King et 31‘
`2001/0029178 Al* 10/2001 Criss 61211. ............... .. 455/419
`2004/0204041 Al* 10/2004 Fillebrown 61211. .... .. 455/556.1
`
`* cited by examiner
`
`

`
`U.S. Patent
`
`Dec. 12, 2006
`
`Sheet 1 of3
`
`US 7,149,511 B1
`
`14
`
`12
`K
`
`Enterprise IT system
`
`16
`
`Enterprise
`Database
`
`Wireless Network
`ManagementSystem 29
`
`Intermediate
`Network
`
`28
`
`First
`/ Wireless
`20
`Network
`
`Second
`Wireless \\
`Network
`22
`
`27
`
`\
`26
`
`I
`|
`/ vvlPs ¢ ---------- --> "P24
`30
`III
`
`K
`34
`V
`<7
`
`1‘
`V
`/ Displlay
`32
`Device
`
`/'
`
`FIG. 1
`
`

`
`U.S. Patent
`
`Dec. 12, 2006
`
`Sheet 2 of3
`
`US 7,149,511 B1
`
`Bar-Code
`Reader Input _
`
`170
`
`/122
`Y?
`
`120
`Regeliver /
`
`184
`/
`t t
`lngigaLtlgrs
`
`GPS Receiver _
`Input
`K
`elilitmrd — 180“
`.‘
`.
`Card Reader _- Ahhgg?gy
`/ Input
`COntro|
`176
`/ Other Inputs _
`178
`
`17
`
`174/r
`
`r 148
`
`Real Tilrne
`0C
`182/
`
`th
`t
`BI
`/ ue oo
`
`/
`I D \ \Alggeless r a one
`
`144 E t I
`I / Interface
`ec rlca
`/
`/
`/
`/
`t
`142 Connec or
`132/
`
`//
`100
`
`124
`I
`Forward Error)
`Correction
`I
`CPU
`
`1
`(/ O6
`Auxiliary
`/1o4
`Memory \\
`/
`Flash
`112
`Memory
`\Magfl‘ggrgent _ Memory “ \
`Volatile “108
`RAM
`\
`110
`K140
`Y
`'
`
`//102
`Embeoided
`Ligggnglgee
`Instructions
`
`//13O
`BluetoO’th
`/
`-
`\
`"D3
`glgeilgg
`136
`Interface \ -
`Electncal
`Connector \
`
`,
`K 158
`
`/15O
`
`/16O
`’
`
`134
`
`'
`
`/
`
`On-Demand
`
`-
`
`”/ 1 56
`/162
`Dlsplay
`p
`On-Demand
`power _ Battery _ OWer _ Device
`Cell Phone
`On-Demand _ Manlagelment
`On-Demand
`POWeF
`Circuitry
`Power
`Contacts
`Contacts
`
`Charger and
`Overcharge 1 5/54
`Protection /’
`Circuitry
`152
`I
`/
`Recharging
`Contacts /
`
`3O /’
`
`FIG. 2
`
`

`
`U.S. Patent
`
`Dec. 12, 2006
`
`Sheet 3 of3
`
`US 7,149,511 B1
`
`214/
`30
`
`236/
`
`FIG.3
`
`/ 30
`
`230
`
`[I532
`
`234
`
`FIG. 4
`
`

`
`US 7,149,511 B1
`
`1
`WIRELESS INTELLIGENT PERSONAL
`SERVER
`
`BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
`
`A. Field of the Invention
`This invention relates to the ?eld of Wireless telecommu
`nications. More particularly, this invention relates to a
`Wireless intelligent personal server that receives data trans
`mitted over a Wireless communications channel and auto
`matically processes it so as to maintain a copy of at least one
`electronic ?le stored in a source computer.
`B. Description of Related Art
`A typical modern of?ce uses a number of different data
`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 ?les on either an o?ice-Wide
`server or on individual personal computers located in the
`of?ce space. Typically, individual Workers in the o?ice 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 con?guration, the most up-to-date ver
`sions of the databases are typically available to the indi
`vidual Workers, even though the electronic database ?les are
`frequently updated.
`HoWever, many Workers often Work outside of the o?ice
`environment at least one day per Week, and, typically, it is
`more dif?cult to gain access to the most up-to-date versions
`of important electronic ?les When outside of the o?ice
`environment. A currently used solution is to use portable
`computers to “dial in” to the o?ice netWork using the PSTN,
`Internet, or other Wireline netWorks. HoWever, mobile Work
`ers do not alWays have access to Wireline connections at all
`desired times. Accordingly, Wireless communications sys
`tems have been developed by Which mobile Workers can
`access their o?ice databases even Without a Wireline con
`nection. As an example, some Wireless telephones are able
`to send and receive limited amounts of data using the
`Wireless application protocol (WAP).
`HoWever, most of these Wireless communications
`approaches, including the WAP approach, use a “pull”
`methodology, Whereby the user ?rst 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
`mation. In particular, there is the time spent entering the
`keystrokes needed to make the request, the airtime spent
`transmitting the request, the delay in having the request
`reaching the of?ce netWork through intermediate netWorks,
`the delay in having the o?ice netWork search through its
`databases to formulate a response, and the delay in trans
`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
`transaction becomes. A user using WAP to retrieve a neW
`e-mail message With an attachment provides a simple illus
`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
`airtime. Second, the user reads the neW e-mail message and
`sees that it has an attachment. Then the user must make
`
`20
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`25
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`30
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`35
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`2
`another request to receive the attachment. The user Waits for
`another latency period to receive it, thereby typically incur
`ring additional airtime charges. Moreover, the latency period
`may be quite long, because ?les 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
`speci?c, i.e., they are based on providing Wireless function
`ality to existing devices, such as speci?c models of personal
`digital assistants (PDAs). HoWever, there are a number of
`problems With device-speci?c approaches. First, many
`people use different computing devices at different times, so
`that providing only one of the user’s computing devices With
`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,
`and peripherals to display information and provide function
`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
`ability of different hardWare, different computing devices
`may have different operating systems and applications avail
`able to them. Accordingly, approaches that provide Wireless
`functionality only to speci?c devices have substantial dis
`advantages.
`For example, Kaufman, US. Pat. No. 6,034,621, dis
`closes systems and methods for communicating changes
`made to a data ?le on a personal computer (PC) to a personal
`digital assistant (PDA). In accordance With some of the
`disclosed embodiments, When the data ?le on the PC is
`changed, synchronization information is transmitted over a
`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 ?le 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
`cally on all of the time. Thus, update information may be
`missed because of the PDA being off. Second, PDAs typi
`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 ?les that they
`can access at their of?ces.
`
`SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
`
`In a ?rst 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 communications 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 ?le in the memory, and a ?rst interface for
`alloWing an external display device to access the at least one
`electronic ?le.
`In a second principal aspect, the present invention pro
`vides a Wireless data communication system that comprises
`a Wireless intelligent personal server and a Wireless tele
`phone in communication With the Wireless intelligent per
`sonal server. The Wireless intelligent personal server
`includes a memory and a radio frequency (RF) receiver. The
`
`

`
`US 7,149,511 B1
`
`3
`RF receiver receives downstream data transmitted over a
`?rst wireless communications channel, and the wireless
`intelligent personal server processes the downstream data to
`provide at least one electronic ?le 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
`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
`tions channel, and the wireless intelligent personal server
`processes the downstream data to provide at least one
`electronic ?le. The display device has at least one applica
`tion that accesses the at least one electronic ?le to display
`information to a user.
`In a fourth principal aspect, the present invention provides
`a method for updating a target electronic ?le to re?ect
`changes made to a source electronic ?le. In accordance with
`the method, the target electronic ?le is stored in a wireless
`intelligent personal server. The wireless intelligent personal
`server receives downstream data transmitted over a wireless
`communications channel. The downstream data re?ects
`changes made to the source electronic ?le. The wireless
`intelligent personal server automatically updates the target
`electronic ?le with the downstream data to provide an
`updated electronic ?le. A display device is brought into
`communication with the wireless intelligent personal server,
`and the display device accesses the updated electronic ?le.
`In a ?fth principal aspect, the present invention provides
`a method for creating, without user intervention, an elec
`tronic ?le on a wireless intelligent personal server. In
`accordance with the method, the wireless intelligent per
`sonal server receives downstream data transmitted over a
`wireless communications channel. The wireless intelligent
`personal server automatically creates the electronic ?le from
`the downstream data. A display device is brought into
`communication with the wireless intelligent personal server,
`and the display device accesses the electronic ?le.
`
`BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
`
`FIG. 1 is a functional block diagram of a wireless syn
`chroniZation system, in accordance with an exemplary
`embodiment of the present invention.
`FIG. 2 is a functional block diagram of a wireless intel
`ligent personal server, in accordance with an exemplary
`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
`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
`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
`
`20
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`25
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`30
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`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 of?ce area, or it may be
`distributed over various remote locations.
`System 10 also includes a ?rst wireless network 20 and a
`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
`ing within its wireless coverage area. Preferably, ?rst 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 ?rst wireless network 20 are modu
`lated using orthogonal frequency division multiplexing
`(ODFM) in order to minimiZe multipath effects, such as
`fading and distortion, and to increase data throughput.
`Alternatively, ?rst wireless network 20 may be a one-way
`paging network, which may use the FLEXTM protocol of
`Motorola, Inc., a two-way paging network, which may use
`the ReFLEXTM protocol of Motorola, Inc., or it may wire
`lessly transmit data by some other means.
`Second wireless network 22 is preferably a cellular or
`PCS network that provides two-way wireless communica
`tions, in a format, such as AMPS, TDMA, CDMA, or GSM,
`for wireless telephones, such as wireless telephone 24. Thus,
`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 ?rst wireless
`network 20 and to second wireless network 22, and enter
`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
`(LAN) capable of transmitting digital data between enter
`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
`receive data wirelessly transmitted by ?rst 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
`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
`the user to modify the data stored in WIPS 30. Display
`device 32 may be a ?xed-mounted device, such as a desktop
`PC, an advanced video game device, such as a Sony “Play
`Station 2” device, or a set-top television controller box, such
`as the type used to access services such as WebTV© (and
`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
`
`

`
`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 ?rst 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
`less telephone 24 and display device 32 may also be wire
`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
`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 ?ash
`memory card, in which case data transfer to display device
`32 may be effected by removing the ?ash 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
`phone 24 from WIPS 30 in order to make or receive calls.
`WIPS 30 receives data transmitted by ?rst wireless net
`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 ?les stored in its memory
`or to add a new ?le 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
`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
`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
`mitting it to wireless telephone 24. If wireless telephone 24
`can transmit digital signals, such as signals in CDMA,
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`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
`able because it is turned off or because it is engaged in a
`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 until the acknowledgement from
`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
`signals to second wireless network 22 over upstream chan
`nel 26. As another approach, ?rst wireless network 20 may
`be a two-way network, in which case, WIPS 30 may use the
`upstream channels of ?rst wireless network 20.
`As noted above, the data stored in WIPS 30 may be
`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
`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 ?les are available wherever the
`user goes and are automatically and continually updated
`with new information wherever the user travels within the
`range of wireless network 20.
`In this way, the electronic ?les stored in WIPS 30 may be
`automatically updated to re?ect changes in the correspond
`ing electronic ?les of enterprise IT system 12. This capa
`bility can be very important to a user who maintains impor
`tant data ?les on enterprise IT system 12 at work but who
`also needs to access the information while the user is
`traveling. Such important data ?les may include the user’s
`calendar of appointments, inventory availability and current
`pricing, contacts, and incoming e-mail messages.
`For example, if the user is out of the o?ice, 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 ?le on computer 14, enterprise database 16, or
`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
`ment system 29, which, in turn, transmits it to ?rst wireless
`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 ?le 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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`US 7,149,511 B1
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`7
`wireless network 22, in turn, transmits the acknowledgement
`to wireless network management system 29, via intermedi
`ate network 28. Preferably, wireless network management
`system 29 resends the update information, via intermediate
`network 28, to ?rst wireless network 20 for re-transmission
`until management system 29 receives the acknowledgement,
`in order to ensure that WIPS 30 receives the update infor
`mation. In this way, updates to important ?les on enterprise
`IT system 12 are automatically sent to WIPS 30, so that
`WIPS 30 will maintain up-to-date copies of these important
`?les. The user then brings WIPS 30 into communication
`with display device 32 in order to access the electronic ?les
`stored in WIPS 30.
`In many cases, it is desirable to have changes made to the
`electronic ?les stored in WIPS 30 re?ected in the ?les stored
`in enterprise IT system 12. In particular, display device 32
`may change the electronic ?les stored in WIPS 30 that it
`accesses. For example, the accessed electronic ?le 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
`read them. WIPS 30 may make the change, e.g., deleting one
`or more of the incoming e-mail messages, in the electronic
`?le stored in its memory. WIPS 30 may also generate a
`stream of upstream data in order to have the change re?ected
`in the corresponding electronic ?le in enterprise IT system
`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
`requested, and, if the requested change is validated, man
`agement system 29 passes the upstream data to enterprise IT
`network 12. Enterprise IT network 12, in turn, uses the
`upstream data to change its copy of the electronic ?le.
`System 10 may also “push” other ?les to WIPS 30. For
`example, system 10 may “push” subscription data transmis
`sions, such as stock closing prices. System 10 may push
`audio ?les, 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 of WIPS 30 is controlled by
`a central processing unit (CPU) 100 that executes a set of
`embedded machine language instructions 102. Embedded
`machine language instructions 102 are preferably contained
`a nonvolatile memory, such as a ?ash 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
`tronic ?les 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 ?ash
`memory 108. The electronic ?les are stored primarily in
`?ash memory 108. In preferred embodiments, ?ash memory
`108 also contains embedded machine language instructions
`102. Accordingly, ?ash memory 108 preferably has a capac
`ity of 96 megabytes or larger, in order to be able to
`accommodate large electronic ?les. Flash memory 108 may
`also be removable and substitutable by the user.
`Memory system 106 may also include other types of
`memory, such as a volatile random access memory (RAM)
`110. Volatile RAM 110 may be DRAM, SRAM, or other
`type. Memory system 106 may also include an auxiliary
`memory 112, which may be a hard disk drive, such as the
`340 megabyte MicrodriveTM from IBM. Memory manage
`ment system 104 manages memory system 106 by keeping
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`track where memory is available in system 106 and routing
`