Abstract:
Disclosed is a hybrid terminal, which includes a mobile terminal unit for a Global System for Mobile communication (GSM) or a General Packet Radio Service (GPRS), a PDA (Personal Digital Assistant) unit combined with the mobile terminal unit, and a mirror database being connected between the mobile terminal and the PDA, for providing a memory space required for operations of the mobile terminal and the PDA, wherein the PDA includes a database for storing PDA data, reads the PDA data, and stores the read PDA data in the mirror database, wherein the mobile terminal includes a Subscriber Identity Module (SIM) card for storing SIM data, reads the SIM data, and stores the read SIM data in the mirror database.

Description:
PRIORITY  
       [0001]     This application claims priority to an application entitled “Method For Reliably Managing Database In GSM/GPRS Hybrid Terminal And Hybrid Terminal” filed in the Korean Intellectual Property Office on Oct. 25, 2004 and assigned Serial No. 2004-85232, the contents of which are incorporated herein by reference.  
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0002]     1. Field of the Invention  
         [0003]     The present invention relates to a hybrid terminal for a Global System for Mobile communication (GSM) or a General Packet Radio Service (GPRS), and more particularly to method for managing a database in a GSM/GPRS hybrid terminal.  
         [0004]     2. Description of the Related Art  
         [0005]     A GSM/GPRS system is a digital mobile telephone system widely used in Europe and other regions. In the general GSM/GPRS system, a GSM Mobile Equipment (ME) means a combination of a GSM/GPRS Mobile Terminal (MT) with a Subscriber Identity Module (SIM) card. A SIM card stores information relating to a subscriber identity such as an International Mobile Subscriber Identity (IMSI). Further, a SIM card stores contents of a phone book or SMS of a GSM/GPRS user.  
         [0006]     Recently, a hybrid terminal (smart phone) has been developed, in which a GSM/GPRS mobile terminal is combined with a Personal Digital Assistant (PDA) for a personal information management function. The hybrid terminal is shown in  FIG. 1 .  
         [0007]      FIG. 1  is a block diagram illustrating the construction of an existing hybrid terminal. The hybrid terminal includes a PDA unit  200  and a phone unit  100 . The phone unit  100  includes a first controller  110 , a Radio Frequency (RF) unit  120 , a SIM card  130  and a voice processor  140 . The first controller  110  controls the general operation and communication function of the phone unit  100 . The SIM card  130  stores an International Mobile Subscriber Identity (IMSI), Short Messaging Service (SMS) information, a phone book, etc. Further, the PDA unit  200  includes a display unit  210 , a user interface  220 , a second controller  230  and a database  240 . The second controller  230  controls the general operation of the PDA unit  200 . The database  240  is connected between the first controller  110  and the second controller  230  and stores data of the PDA unit  200  and data of the phone unit  100 . Further, the database  240  is used by both the first controller  110  and the second controller  230 .  
         [0008]     In the aforementioned hybrid terminal, separate power is supplied to the PDA unit  200  and the phone unit  100 . That is, the PDA unit  200  and the phone unit  100  may be separately turned on/off. However, since the hybrid terminal generally operates based on the PDA unit  200 , when the PDA unit  200  is in an off state, the phone unit  100  is also in off state. In contrast, when the PDA unit  200  is in an on state, the phone unit  100  may be turned on or turned off.  
         [0009]     In particular, in the hybrid terminal including the GSM/GPRS mobile terminal, the mobile terminal cannot use a communication function without the SIM card  130 . When a user uses only the PDA unit  200  in a state in which the phone unit  100  is turned off, it is possible to use phone book data stored in the PDA unit  200 . When the phone unit  100  is in on state, the database  240  is used by both the phone unit  100  and the PDA unit  200 . Accordingly, the database  240  stores PDA data a and SIM data b as shown in an upper part of  FIG. 1 . The SIM data b stored in the database  240  is loaded from the SIM card  130  when the phone unit  100  is turned on, and the phone unit  100  manages the SIM data by means of the database  240 .  
         [0010]     In the meanwhile, since the PDA unit  200  constructs the database  240  in a volatile memory, the database  240  is deleted when the hybrid terminal is discharged. Accordingly, a user may back up the database  240  of the PDA unit  200  to a Personal Computer (PC), etc., and then restore the database  240  to the PDA unit  200  again.  
         [0011]     Herein, since the database  240  is used by both the PDA unit  200  and the phone unit  100 , the SIM data stored in the database  240  is also backed up together with the PDA data. This will be described with reference to  FIG. 2 .  
         [0012]      FIG. 2  is a diagram illustrating the conventional data backup and restoration process in the hybrid terminal. When a user selects a backup function in the hybrid terminal, the hybrid terminal backs up the database  240  of the PDA unit  200  shown in  FIG. 2A  to the PC as shown in  FIG. 2B . Accordingly, PDA data a and first SIM data b stored in the database  240  are stored in the PC. Further, PDA data a and first SIM data b of the PC shown in  FIG. 2C  is restored to a database  10  of the hybrid terminal as shown in  FIG. 2D . If the phone unit  100  of the hybrid terminal is turned on, data of the SIM card  130  currently used in the phone unit  100  are loaded to the database  10 . Accordingly, the first SIM data b restored from the PC and the second SIM data c currently loaded from the SIM card  130  co-exists in the database  10 .  
         [0013]     In the prior art as described above, since the hybrid terminal cannot separately manage the PDA data and the SIM data, the SIM data may be undesirably backed up or restored when a backup or a restoration is performed during PC synchronization. Further, as described above, when a user only the PDA unit  200  in a state where the PDA unit  200  is turned off, the database  240  may store not only the PDA data of the PDA unit  200  but also the SIM data of the phone unit  100 . Therefore, the user cannot exclusively use the database  240  as a database of the PDA unit  200 . Further, when the PDA unit  200  provides the PDA data to another hybrid terminal, the SIM data may also be transferred to another hybrid terminal. Therefore, there may be a problem in protection of the SIM data.  
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0014]     Accordingly, the present invention has been made to solve the above-mentioned problems occurring in the prior art, and an object of the present invention is to provide a method capable of ensuring the reliability of a database when a data backup or a data restoration is performed by separately managing PDA data of a PDA unit and SIM data of a phone unit in a hybrid terminal.  
         [0015]     In accordance with one aspect of the present invention, there is provided a hybrid terminal including a mobile terminal unit for a Global System for Mobile communication (GSM) or a General Packet Radio Service (GPRS), a PDA (Personal Digital Assistant) unit combined with the mobile terminal unit, and a mirror database being connected between the mobile terminal and the PDA, for providing a memory space required for operations of the mobile terminal and the PDA, wherein the PDA includes a database for storing PDA data, reads the PDA data, and stores the read PDA data in the mirror database, wherein the mobile terminal includes a Subscriber Identity Module (SIM) card for storing SIM data, reads the SIM data, and stores the read SIM data in the mirror database. 
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0016]     The above and other objects, features and advantages of the present invention will be more apparent from the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:  
         [0017]      FIG. 1  is a block diagram, illustrating the construction of an existing hybrid terminal;  
         [0018]      FIG. 2  is a diagram illustrating a conventional data backup and restoration process in a hybrid terminal;  
         [0019]      FIG. 3  is a block diagram illustrating the construction of a hybrid terminal according to an embodiment of the present invention.  
         [0020]      FIG. 4  is a chart illustrating a mirror database according to an embodiment of the present invention;  
         [0021]      FIG. 5  is a flowchart illustrating an operation of a hybrid terminal according to an embodiment of the present invention;  
         [0022]      FIG. 6  is a flowchart illustrating a control operation of a phone unit for a mirror database according to an embodiment of the present invention;  
         [0023]      FIG. 7  is a flowchart illustrating a control operation of a PDA unit for a mirror database according to an embodiment of the present invention; and  
         [0024]      FIG. 8  is a diagram illustrating a data backup and restoring process in a hybrid terminal according to an embodiment of the present invention. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT  
       [0025]     Hereinafter, a preferred embodiment according to the present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings. In the following description of the present invention, a detailed description of known functions and configuration incorporated herein will be omitted when it may make the subject matter of the present invention unclear.  
         [0026]      FIG. 3  is a block diagram illustrating the construction of a hybrid terminal according to an embodiment of the present invention. The hybrid terminal includes a PDA unit  400  and a phone unit  300 . The phone unit  300  includes a first controller  310 , an RF unit  320 , a SIM card  330  and a voice processor  340 . The first controller  310  controls the general operation and communication function of the phone unit  300 . The RF unit  320  performs a baseband conversion operation, an amplification operation and an up-converting operation for digital signals and transmits the processed signals through an antenna (not shown). Further, the RF unit  320  converts signals received through the antenna into digital signals through a down-converting operation and an amplification operation, and outputting the digital signals. The SIM card  330  stores an IMSI, SMS information, a phone book, etc. The voice processor  340  demodulates signals received via the antenna and voice-outputs the demodulated signals through a speaker. Further, the voice processor  340  converts voice signals inputted through a microphone into digital signals and outputs the digital signals.  
         [0027]     The PDA unit  400  includes a display unit  410 , a user interface  420 , a second controller  430 , a database  450  and a mirror database  440 . The second controller  430  controls the general operation of the PDA unit  400 . When the PDA unit  400  is powered on, the second controller  430  generates the mirror database  440 . Then, the second controller  430  reads PDA data stored in the database  450  and stores the read PDA data in the mirror database  440 . When a new PDA record to be stored in the database  450  is generated, the second controller  430  stores the new PDA record in the mirror database  440  and the database  450 . In the present invention, the PDA record represents all types of data stored in the database  450  of the PDA unit  400 . Further, when a PDA record to be deleted from the database  450  is generated, the second controller  430  deletes a corresponding PDA record stored in the mirror database  440  and the database  450 . In the meantime, when the PDA unit  400  is powered off, the second controller  430  deletes the mirror database  440 .  
         [0028]     Further, when the phone unit  300  is powered on, the first controller  310  reads the SIM data, such as a phone book, SMS information, etc., which is stored in the SIM card  330 , and stores the read SIM data in the mirror database  440 . When a new SIM record to be stored in the SIM card  330  is generated, the first controller  310  stores the new SIM record in the mirror database  440  and the SIM card  330 . In the present invention, the SIM record represents all types of data stored in the SIM card  330  of the phone unit  300 . Further, when a SIM record to be deleted from the SIM card  330  is generated, the first controller  310  deletes a corresponding SIM record stored in the mirror database  440  and the SIM card  330 . Hereinafter, the mirror database  440  will be described with reference to  FIG. 4 .  
         [0029]      FIG. 4  is a diagram illustrating the mirror database  440  according to an embodiment of the present invention. The mirror database  440  is constructed to be coupled to both the first controller  310  of the phone unit  300  and the second controller  430  of the PDA unit  400 . Further, the mirror database  440  provides a memory space required for operations of the PDA unit  400  and the phone unit  300 .  
         [0030]     When the PDA unit  400  is powered on, the mirror database  440  is constructed in a volatile memory by the second controller  430 . The second controller  430  stores PDA data read from the database  450  in the mirror database  440 . Further, when the phone unit  300  is powered on, the first controller  310  reads SIM data from the SIM card  330  and stores the read SIM data in the mirror database  440 . Herein, the PDA data stored in the mirror database  440  includes a PDA database file and a PDA execution file. The SIM data stored in the mirror database  440  includes a phone database file and a phone execution file. Accordingly, when the phone unit  300  operates, the mirror database  440  provides the data and execution file required for the first controller  310 . In addition, when the PDA unit  400  operates, the mirror database  440  provides the data and execution file required for the second controller  430 . The data of the mirror database  440  as described above include a copy protection attribute and a hidden attribute. Therefore, the data of the mirror database  440  is backed up and/or is concealed from a user.  
         [0031]     For example, when the PDA data is backed up to a PC, the PDA unit  400  backs up the PDA data of the database  450  to the PC, etc. Further, when the PDA data from the PC is restored, the PDA unit  400  restores the PDA data to the database  450 . Accordingly, the PDA data and the SIM data are separately managed.  
         [0032]     The user interface  420  includes a plurality of number keys and function keys and outputs input data corresponding to keys selected by a user to the first controller  310  or the second controller  430 . In detail, when the hybrid terminal is in a phone mode, the user interface  420  outputs the input data to the first controller  310  of the phone unit  300 . In contrast, when the hybrid terminal is in a PDA mode, the user interface  420  outputs the input data to the second controller  430  of the PDA unit  400 . The user interface  420  as described above may be a general key matrix or touch screen. When the user interface  420  employs a touch screen type interface, the number keys, the function keys and direction keys displayed on the touch screen may be selected or entered by an input means such as a stylus pen.  
         [0033]     Further, the display unit  410  displays various messages, etc., under the control of the first controller  310  and the second controller  430  and may be constructed using a Liquid Crystal Display (LCD), a Thin Film Transistor (TFT), organic Electroluminescence Display (EL), etc. Hereinafter, an operation of the PDA unit  400  according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to  FIG. 5 .  
         [0034]      FIG. 5  is a flowchart illustrating an operation of the hybrid terminal according to an embodiment of the present invention. After the PDA unit  400  is powered on in step  510 , step  520  is performed to allow the second controller  430  of the PDA unit  400  to generate the mirror database  440 . That is, when the PDA unit  400  is powered on, the mirror database  440  is generated. In contrast, when the PDA unit  400  is powered off, the mirror database  440  is deleted. In step  530 , the second controller  430  reads PDA data stored in the database  450  and stores the read PDA data in the mirror database  440 . If the phone unit  300  is powered on in step  540 , the first controller  310  of the phone unit  300  reads SIM data from the SIM card  330  in step  550 . Then, the first controller  310  stores the read SIM data in the mirror database  440  in step  560 .  
         [0035]     Hereinafter, a case in which a record is stored in or is deleted from the mirror database  440  will be described with reference to  FIGS. 6 and 7 .  
         [0036]      FIG. 6  is a flowchart illustrating a control operation of the phone unit  300  for the mirror database  440  according to an embodiment of the present invention. The first controller  310  of the phone unit  300  determines whether a new record has been generated in step  610 . The first controller  310  stores or deletes data generated according to an operation of the phone unit  300  in the SIM card  330 . As described above, this data is called a SIM record and represents all types of data stored in the SIM card  330  of the phone unit  300  in the present invention. As a result of the determination in step  610 , if a new record has been generated, step  620  is performed to allow the first controller  310  to store the new SIM record in the mirror database  440  and in the SIM card  330 . Then, the first controller  310  determines whether a SIM record to be deleted has been generated in step  630 . When the SIM record to be deleted has been generated, the first controller  310  deletes a corresponding SIM record stored in the mirror database  440  and the SIM card  330  in step  640 .  
         [0037]      FIG. 7  is a flow diagram illustrating a control operation of the PDA unit  400  for the mirror database  440  according to an embodiment of the present invention. The second controller  430  of the PDA unit  400  determines whether a new record has been generated in step  710 . The second controller  430  stores or deletes data generated according to an operation of the PDA unit  400  in the database  450 . As described above, this data is called a PDA record and represents all types of data stored in the database  450  of the PDA unit  400  in the present invention. As a result of the determination in step  710 , when the new record has been generated, step  720  is performed to allow the second controller  430  to store the new PDA record in the mirror database  440  and the database  450 . Then, the second controller  430  determines whether a PDA record to be deleted has been generated in step  730 . When the PDA record to be deleted has been generated, the second controller  430  deletes a corresponding PDA record stored in the mirror database  440  and the database  450  in step  740 .  
         [0038]     According to the present invention as described above, in the hybrid terminal having the combination of the PDA and the phone, the PDA data and the phone data are managed separately. Accordingly, it is possible to ensure the reliability of a database when the PDA data are backed up or restored. Hereinafter, a backup and restoration process will be described with reference to  FIG. 8 .  
         [0039]      FIG. 8  is a flow chart illustrating a data backup and restoration process in the hybrid terminal according to an embodiment of the present invention. When a user selects a backup function in the hybrid terminal, in the hybrid terminal backs up the database  450  of the PDA unit  400  shown in  FIG. 8A  to the PC as shown in  FIG. 8B . In the prior art, since a PDA unit and a phone unit shares a database, the database stores not only PDA data but also SIM data. However, according to the present invention, the mirror database  440  provides a memory space required for operations of the PDA unit  400  and the phone unit  300  and the database  450  is exclusively used by the PDA unit  400 , so that SIM data are not backed up in the backup process. Accordingly, only the PDA data a stored in the database  450  is stored in the PC. Further, the PDA data a of the PC shown in  FIG. 8C  are restored to the database  10  of the hybrid terminal as shown in  FIG. 8D . If the phone unit  300  of the hybrid terminal is turned on, data of the SIM card  330  currently used in the phone unit  300  are loaded to the database  10 . Accordingly, the database  10  stores the PDA data a restored from the PC and the second SIM data c currently loaded from the SIM card  330 . A hybrid terminal capable of restoring PDA data stored in a PC is constructed according to the present invention, the hybrid terminal includes a mirror database and a database. Accordingly, the reference number  10  represents the mirror database.  
         [0040]     According to the present invention as described above, PDA data of a PDA unit and SIM data of a phone unit are separately managed in a hybrid terminal, so that it is possible to ensure the reliability of a database when a data backup or a data restoration is performed.  
         [0041]     Although a preferred embodiment of the present invention has been described for illustrative purposes, those skilled in the art will appreciate that various modifications, additions and substitutions are possible, without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention as disclosed in the accompanying claims, including the full scope of equivalents thereof.