Abstract:
The present invention is a method and system for pushing data to a mobile station. A message is pushed from the push content server to a Java-enabled mobile terminal. A Java MIDlet on the mobile terminal then intercepts the message and determines the appropriate delivery of the SMS message. The Java MIDlet can determine whether to present the SMS message via normal SMS protocol, present the SMS message to the screen of the mobile device, reject the SMS message, or automatically accept the SMS message. If the message is accepted by the mobile device, the Java MIDlet may initiate GPRS or EDGE interface to request data to the mobile device.

Description:
PRIORITY 
     This application claims the benefit of priority from U.S. Provisional Application No. 60/384,740 entitled “INTERACTIVE PUSH SERVICE” filed on May 30, 2002. 
    
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates to the field of telecommunications, and more particularly, to a method and system for pushing data to a mobile device. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Push services in mobile devices currently utilize SMS or WAP technology. Push services surrounding the use of SMS are disadvantageous because SMS bandwidth is a very finite commodity. SMS bandwidth is limited to one channel in any sector, regardless of whether a GSM or ANSII service is involved. Thus, a SMS push may only use one out of thirty or one out of sixty channels to deliver the message. Additionally, SMS push poses significant size requirements on the message, with a maximum payload of 128 bytes. 
     Another alternative push for a mobile device in the prior art is a WAP push. A WAP push involves an IP push of a message onto the mobile device. However, a WAP push is also disadvantageous because such a push requires a WAP-enabled mobile device. While a mobile device may be SMS-enabled, the mobile device may not necessarily be WAP-enabled as well. Furthermore, the WAP push is also limited by a small message size, in addition to the required WAP overhead in order to effectuate the WAP push. 
     Thus, there is a need in the art for a system and method for providing an system and method for pushing data to a mobile device that overcomes the aforementioned deficiencies in the prior art. There is also a need for a method and system for pushing data to a mobile device wherein both the mobile device and the associated SIM card for the mobile device are JAVA-enabled. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     To alleviate these constraints, this invention utilizes the broadband services that are currently entering wireless technology. By utilizing a Java-enabled handset, the user experience is enhanced so that the SMS message is accepted by the mobile device and is filtered into a Java MIDlet. The Java MIDlet performs actions to allow the SMS to process the message and to procure additional messaging through a broadband connection. The Java MIDlet may even allow a user to specify only acceptance of messages from a particular sender. Once the customer configures these preferences, the Java MIDlet effectuates the filtering action, the acceptance, and the procuring of the additional data through the broadband side without utilizing the limited SMS resource. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       Preferred and alternative embodiments will now be described with reference to the attached figures wherein like reference numerals indicate similar or identical features or functions, and wherein: 
         FIG. 1  is a block diagram representation illustrating an exemplary environment in accordance with the first embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 2  is a block diagram representation of the data storage unit of the communication device in accordance with present invention. 
         FIG. 3  is a block diagram illustrating the exemplary system in accordance with the present invention. 
         FIG. 4  is a diagram further illustrating the method and system of the present invention. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     Reference will now be made in detail to the present invention, examples of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings. Wherever possible, the same reference numbers will be used throughout the drawings to refer to the same or like parts. Generally stated, the present invention provides a method and system for pushing data to a mobile device. In particular, the present invention provides a method and system for pushing data to a mobile device wherein both the mobile device and the associated SIM card for the mobile device are JAVA-enabled. 
       FIG. 1  is a block diagram representation illustrating an exemplary system in accordance with the first embodiment of the present invention. The communication device  100  places and receives calls with communications network  102 , in addition to any other communications, via a bi-directional communications link  104 . Computer system  106  may also communicate with communication device  100 , and is coupled to communications network  102  via a bi-directional communications link  108 . Communication device  100  may be any device capable of receiving and transmitting data on a communications network to establish communication with another communication device. 
     As depicted in  FIG. 1 , communication device comprises a processing unit  110  that is communicatively coupled via bi-directional communications link to the other components of the communication device via a bus  114 . Communication device  100  also comprises an I/O interface  116 , which may reside on the same microprocessing chip as the processing unit  110 . However, I/O interface  116  may also reside on an external unit. I/O interface  116  connects the processing unit  210  to a user interface  128 . 
     In the case of a telephone device such as a wireless or wired device, user interface  128  comprises keypad input  118 , microphone input  120 , and speaker output  122 . The I/O interface  116  may include an analog-to-digital converter for converting an analog microphone signal to a digital signal for use by the processing unit  110 . I/O interface  116  may also include a digital-to-analog converter to convert digital information from the processing unit  111  to the speaker  122 , such as voice data. 
     Communication device  100  further comprises a data storage unit  112 , which is discussed in greater detail in  FIG. 2 . Data storage unit  112  may be any type of memory, including but not limited to RAM, EPROM, or EEPROM memory, and may store either volatile or non-volatile memory. The processing unit  110  and the data storage unit  112  may communicate via a system bus  114 . Alternatively, the processing unit  110  and the data storage unit  112  may be included on the same microprocessing chip. 
     The processing unit  110  transmits and receives digital signals to be communicated outside the communication device  100  via the communication circuitry  124 . The communications circuitry  124  communicates with the communications network  102  via bi-directional communications link  104 . If communication device  100  is a wireless device, the communication circuitry  124  is connected to communications network interface  126 , which is an antenna in the wireless device embodiment. Antenna  126  then communicates signals through airwaves to communications network  102  via a bi-directional communications link  104 . The bi-directional communications link  104  is a wireless link established when a call is placed to or from the communication device  100 , or when another activity involving the utilization of bandwidth occurs with communication device  100 . 
     Communications network  102  includes various components required to enable communication between two or more communication devices, including wired connections, wireless connections, switches, and other devices for establishing communication in the network. Communications network  102  is also communicatively coupled to a computer system  106  via a bi-directional communication link  108 . The computer system  106  may be any computer system interacting with the communications network, including but not limited to, a SMS server, an instant messaging client or a server for a wireless services carrier. 
       FIG. 2  is a block diagram representation of the data storage unit of the communication device in accordance with present invention. Data storage unit  112  comprises operating system  202 , which contains instructions for operating the communication device  100 . The program instructions unit  204  includes instructions for the processing unit to execute the methods disclosed in the present invention, in addition to any other instructions. The configuration data unit  206  is also included in the data storage unit  212 , and contains configuration information regarding the assortment of components that make up the system of the present invention. 
     The data storage unit  112  further comprises a device settings unit  208 . The device settings unit  208  contains various parameters indicating the settings of the communication device  100 , in addition to any other data. Device settings which may be stored in the device settings unit  208  include, but are not limited to, ring type, touch tone type, or appearance of the user interface  128 . 
       FIG. 3  is a block diagram illustrating the exemplary system in accordance with the present invention. In the exemplary system  300 , communications network  102  is a combined signaling and data network which is coupled to an interfacing unit (not shown) to allow direct IP access to prevent the need to direct all IP signaling through the mobile switching office (“MSO”) device. 
     The SMS device  304  may be a stand-alone device. Alternatively, SMS device  304  may be incorporated within the MSO device  306 . In accordance with the present invention, the SMS sends a message to mobile device  308  via communications network  102 . The mobile device  308  is a Java-enabled device. The SMS message is normally prefixed according to how the message originated or the type of message. In accordance with the present invention, however, particular sockets in the mobile device are requested for each SMS message. 
     A Java MIDlet on the mobile device intercepts the message. This Java MIDlet contains two portions: an operator portion and the carrier portion. These two portions are not mutually exclusive, and are not necessarily required to effectuate the present invention. These two portions allow a carrier to build a routine that will allow for particular message types to be handled in a certain manner. 
     The operator-based portion comprises the user-defined preferences. The user may define the preferences for handling messages of different types. These two portions include the information which is input to the Java MIDlet to specify how each message is to be handled. Thus, the message handling process is completely automated by the Java MIDlet in the mobile device  308 . Instead of receiving notification of an incoming SMS message, upon receipt of an incoming message, the Java MIDlet examines the carrier and the operator, the carrier only, or the operator only, depending on the configuration, in order to receive information back as to how to handle the particular push message. 
     The push message will normally be associated with various detailed information regarding the message. However, because the mobile device is Java-enabled, no user interaction is required to handle incoming SMS messages. Thus, this process utilizes the communication channel via the telecommunications network between the content provider  302  and the mobile device  308 , which alleviates stress upon the SMS device  304 . 
       FIG. 4  is a diagram further illustrating the method and system of the present invention. As illustrated in  FIG. 4 , the push content server communicates a SMS to the specific Java MIDlet in the Java-enabled mobile device. Once the Java-MIDlet processes the incoming information, the message request is examined to determine how the message should be handled. If the mobile device is accepting all SMS messages, packet delivery is initiated through the desired protocol. If the SMS message is to be displayed on the screen, the message is displayed pursuant to the capabilities of the mobile device. If the SMS message is to be displayed as a normal SMS message, the SMS message appears pursuant to the configuration of the mobile device or user preferences. If the mobile device is rejecting all SMS messages, then the SMS message is not displayed and all buffers are cleared in the mobile device. 
     Other embodiments of this invention will be apparent to those skilled in the art from consideration of the specification and practice of the invention disclosed herein. It is intended that the specification and examples be considered as exemplary only, and within the scope and spirit of the invention as indicated in the description and the following claims.