Abstract:
In one embodiment, a system is disclosed. The system includes a wireless data processing device, a messaging service to maintain data objects on behalf of a user, and a data center, coupled to the wireless device and the messaging service. The data center establishes a plurality of routing connections between the wireless device and the messaging service. Each of the plurality of connections corresponds to a data service level authorized by the data center.

Description:
PRIORITY  
       [0001]     This application is a continuation-in-part of co-pending U.S. Application entitled SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR FULL WIRELESS SYNCHRONIZATION OF A DATA PROCESSING APPARATUS WITH A DATA SERVICE, application Ser. No. 10/109,928, filed Mar. 29, 2002, which is a continuation-in-part of co-pending U.S. Application entitled APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR CONSERVING BANDWIDTH BY BATCH PROCESSING DATA TRANSACTIONS, application Ser. No. 09/924,283, filed Aug. 7, 2001. 
     
    
     COPYRIGHT NOTICE  
       [0002]     Contained herein is material that is subject to copyright protection. The copyright owner has no objection to the facsimile reproduction of the patent disclosure by any person as it appears in the Patent and Trademark Office patent files or records, but otherwise reserves all rights to the copyright whatsoever.  
       FIELD OF THE INVENTION  
       [0003]     This invention relates generally to the field of network data services. More particularly, the invention relates to an apparatus and method for synchronizing a wireless data processing device with a wireless messaging service.  
       BACKGROUND  
       [0004]     A variety of wireless data processing devices have been introduced over the past several years. These include wireless personal digital assistants (“PDAs”) such as the Palm® VIIx handheld, cellular phones equipped with data processing capabilities (e.g., those which include wireless application protocol (“WAP”) support), and, more recently, wireless messaging devices such as the Blackberry™ wireless pager developed by Research In Motion (“RIM”).™ 
         [0005]     Personal digital assistants such as the Palm devices typically provide only limited wireless messaging capabilities (e.g., instant messaging and basic Internet access). For example, these devices typically require a user to manually establish a connection to the Internet via an Internet Service Provider (“ISP”) or to a corporate server to check e-mail messages.  
         [0006]     Although corporate messaging systems such as the RIM Blackberry provide more comprehensive messaging capabilities, there are significant limitations to these systems. Specifically, these systems employ e-mail “redirection” or “forwarding” techniques in which messages are redirected to the wireless device only if certain conditions are met. These conditions, referred to as “redirection events,” may include, for example, an indication that the user is not working at his corporate desktop (e.g., removal of the wireless device from the desktop cradle, a screen saver firing on the desktop, . . . etc) or a manual redirection command initiated by the user (e.g., via the wireless device or the corporate desktop). One such message redirection system is described in U.S. Pat. No. 6,219,694 (“System and Method for Pushing Information From a Host System to a Mobile Data Communication Device Having a Shared Electronic Address”).  
         [0007]     As a result, these systems are (as a practical matter) incapable of providing complete synchronization between the wireless device and the corporate e-mail database. For example, because messages are only redirected to the wireless device under certain conditions (e.g., following a redirection event), at any given point in time, the wireless device may contain an incomplete set of e-mail data. Moreover, even when messages are actively being forwarded to the wireless device, the e-mail data stored at the wireless device and the e-mail database are not truly synchronized. For example, certain types of transactions performed on the wireless device, such as an indication that a message has been viewed by the user, message deletions, movement of messages from one folder to another, . . . etc., are not updated at the e-mail service wirelessly.  
         [0008]     Moreover, only basic e-mail functions such as sending and receiving messages may be controlled at the wireless device. More advanced e-mail management functions must be set at the user&#39;s desktop (e.g., configuring e-mail filters, outgoing e-mail signatures, security settings such as passwords, . . . etc).  
         [0009]     In addition, prior messaging systems require a corporate desktop to which the device must be attached when the user is in the office. The problem with this is not merely that a corporate desktop is required, but also that the corporate desktop must be configured with software and a proprietary “cradle” that allows it to communicate directly to the wireless device.  
         [0010]     Accordingly, what is needed is a system and method for providing complete synchronization and management between a wireless device and a messaging service (e.g., a corporate e-mail account). What is also needed is a wireless apparatus for receiving and sending e-mail messages, which does not require a corporate desktop or any software to be installed and executed on the corporate desktop.  
       SUMMARY  
       [0011]     According to one embodiment, a method is described. The method includes receiving identification (ID) information from a messaging service at a data center to initiate a wireless data service between the messaging service and a wireless device. The method also includes the data center establishing one or more routing connections between the wireless device and the messaging service. Each of the one or more routing connections corresponds to a data service component authorized by the data center.  
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0012]     A better understanding of the present invention can be obtained from the following detailed description in conjunction with the following drawings, in which:  
         [0013]      FIG. 1  illustrates an exemplary network architecture used to implement elements of the present invention;  
         [0014]      FIG. 2  illustrates one embodiment of a flow diagram for initiating service between a server and a wireless device;  
         [0015]      FIG. 3  illustrates one embodiment of network connections between a wireless device and a server;  
         [0016]      FIG. 4  is a flow diagram illustrating one embodiment of upgrading service at a wireless device;  
         [0017]      FIG. 5  illustrates another embodiment of data network connections between a wireless device and a server;  
         [0018]      FIG. 6  illustrates yet another embodiment of data network connections between a wireless device and a server; and  
         [0019]      FIG. 7  illustrates one embodiment of a computer system.  
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION  
       [0020]     In the following description, for the purposes of explanation, numerous specific details are set forth in order to provide a thorough understanding of the present invention. It will be apparent, however, to one skilled in the art that the present invention may be practiced without some of these specific details. In other instances, well-known structures and devices are shown in block diagram form to avoid obscuring the underlying principles of the present invention.  
         [0021]     Reference in the specification to “one embodiment” or “an embodiment” means that a particular feature, structure, or characteristic described in connection with the embodiment is included in at least one embodiment of the invention. The appearances of the phrase “in one embodiment” in various places in the specification are not necessarily all referring to the same embodiment.  
       An Exemplary Network Architecture  
       [0022]      FIG. 1  illustrates one embodiment of a network architecture. A “customer site”  120  illustrated in  FIG. 1  may be any local-area or wide-area network over which a plurality of servers  103  and clients  110  communicate. For example, customer site  120  may include all servers and clients maintained by a single corporation.  
         [0023]     Servers  103  may be configured to provide a variety of different messaging and groupware services  102  to network users (e.g., e-mail, instant messaging, calendaring, . . . etc). In one embodiment, these services are provided by Microsoft Exchange.™ However, the underlying principles of the invention are not limited to any particular messaging/groupware platform.  
         [0024]     In one embodiment, an interface  100  forwards data objects maintained by service  102  (e.g., e-mail messages, instant messages, calendar data, . . . etc) to a plurality of wireless data processing devices (represented in  FIG. 1  by wireless device  130 ) via an external data network  170  and/or a wireless service provider network  171 . For example, if the service  102  includes an e-mail database, the interface  100  transmits any new e-mails, which arrive in a user&#39;s mailbox on the service  102  to the user&#39;s wireless data processing device  130  (over the network(s)  170  and/or  171 ).  
         [0025]     Alternatively, or in addition, the service  102  may provide the e-mail to the user&#39;s local computer (e.g., client  110 ) upon request (i.e., so that the user will receive the e-mail on his/her wireless device  130  when out of the office and on his/her personal computer  110  when in the office). Conversely, e-mail messages sent from the user&#39;s wireless data processing device  130  are transmitted to the service  102  via the interface  100 .  
         [0026]     In one embodiment, the interface  100  is a software module adapted to work with the particular service  102 . It should be noted, however, that interface  100  may be implemented in hardware or any combination of hardware and software while still complying with the underlying principles of the invention.  
         [0027]     In one embodiment, the external data network  170  is comprised of a plurality of databases, servers/clients (not shown) and other networking hardware (e.g., routers, hubs, . . . etc) for transmitting data between the interface  100  and the wireless devices  130 . In one embodiment, the interface  100  encapsulates data in one or more packets containing an address identifying the wireless devices  130  (e.g., such as a 24-bit Mobitex Access Number (“MAN #”)).  
         [0028]     The external data network  170  transmits the packets to a wireless service provider network  171 , which in turn, transmits the packets (or the data contained therein) over a wireless communication link to the wireless device  130 . In one embodiment, the wireless service provider network is a 2-way paging network. However, various other network types may be employed (e.g., CDMA 2000, GPRS, PCS, . . . etc) while still complying with the underlying principles of the invention.  
         [0029]     It should be noted that the network service provider network  171  and the external data network  170  (and associated interface  100 ) may be owned/operated by the same organization or, alternatively, the owner/operator of the external data network  170  may lease wireless services from the wireless service provider network. The underlying principles of the invention are not limited to any particular service arrangement.  
       Service Initiation  
       [0030]     According to one embodiment, wireless service to a device  130  is initiated by downloading software to the device  130 . In such an embodiment, the device  130  is coupled directly to client  110  and initialized by installing the applicable software. The direct connection between wireless device  130  and client  110  may be a wired or wireless (e.g., Bluetooth) connection. According to a further embodiment, no further configuration is required. Particularly, the device  130  user is not required to take any further action to begin service.  
         [0031]      FIG. 2  illustrates one embodiment of a flow diagram for initiating service between interface  100  and a wireless device  130 . At processing block.  210 , interface  100  connects with data network  170  before the software has been downloaded to device  130 . At processing block  220 , interface  100  downloads a serial number for the wireless device  130  to data network  170 . Thus, interface  100  indicates to data network  170  that the particular device  130  is authorized to access server  103 .  
         [0032]     Subsequently, the wireless device  130  is turned on for the first time. Thus, at processing block  230 , device  130  requests data network  170  to establish a connection with server  103  by providing the network address and the serial number. At processing block  240 , data network  170  compares the identification information received from the wireless device and the identification information received from interface  100  in order to validate whether the device  130  is authorized to access server  103  based upon data received from interface  100 .  
         [0033]     In addition, data network  170  compares the identification information with a valid service plan that has been previously established for the device at purchase time. Once the service for the device  103  is authorized, data network  170  establishes one or more connections between wireless device  130  and interface  100 .  
         [0034]     According to one embodiment, a permanent connection is established at data network  170  for each type of service, e.g., email, calendar address book, etc. The connections represent routing information (e.g., a connection ID) that is in used to deliver service specific messages to and from device  130 .  FIG. 3  illustrates one embodiment of data network  170  routing connections between a wireless device  130  and a server  103 . In the illustrated embodiment, connections  0 ,  1 ,  2  and  3  are established between wireless device  130  and a server  103 .  
         [0035]     In one embodiment, each connection within data network  170  represents a wireless service authorized by a service plan provided to data network  170 . According to one embodiment, connection  0  is a channel defined to be a provisioning service that is used to establish other services. The provisioning service validates the authentication of device  130  each time device  130  attempts to provision on the network. In addition, the provisioning service verifies the service plan associated with the wireless device  130 .  
         [0036]     In a further embodiment, connection  1  represents an e-mail service, connection  2  represents a calendar service and connection  3  represents an address book service. As described above, each connection stored in network  170  is permanent. Consequently, subsequent communication between device  130  and server  103  are made faster and more efficient. According to one embodiment each connection is private, thus, guaranteeing that messages are only sent or received by devices and servers that have previously established connections.  
       Service Adjustment  
       [0037]     According to one embodiment, a wireless device  130  user&#39;s service may be upgraded/downgraded without configuration of wireless device  130 . Accordingly, it is not necessary for a user to take action to establish the new service plan.  FIG. 4  is a flow diagram illustrating one embodiment of upgrading (or downgrading) service at a wireless device  130 .  
         [0038]     Referring to  FIG. 4 , service adjustment information (e.g., upgrade or downgrade) is downloaded at data network  170 , processing block  410 . According to one embodiment, the service information is downloaded to data network  170  from server  103 . However, in other embodiments, the service information may be downloaded from other sources, such as a third party server, or may be entered directly into a database associated with data network  170 .  
         [0039]     At processing block  420 , data network  170  transmits a message to the wireless device  130  indicating that a new service plan has been established for the device  130 . At processing block  430 , the device  130  accesses data network  170  to ascertain the service adjustments. At processing block  440 , information corresponding to the service change is transmitted from data network  170  to the wireless device  130 . As a result, services are added to (or deleted from) wireless device  130 . At processing block  450 , routing connections at data network  170  are updated based upon the service change.  
         [0040]      FIG. 5  illustrates one embodiment of data network  170  upgraded routing connections between a wireless device  130  and a server  103 . Referring to  FIG. 5 , connections  4 ,  5  and  6  are added to connections  0 - 3 . In one embodiment, connection  4  represents a second e-mail account, connection  5  represents a third email account and connection  6  represents a fax service.  
         [0041]     In a further embodiment, the additional e-mail accounts (e.g., connection  4  and connection  5 ) enable a user to access accounts having different e-mail addresses.  FIG. 6  illustrates one embodiment of data network  170  downgraded routing connections between a wireless device  130  and a server  103 . Referring to  FIG. 6 , connections  2  and  3  have been deleted, indicating that the service plan only authorizes one e-mail account in addition to the provisioning service.  
       Exemplary Computer System  
       [0042]      FIG. 7  illustrates a computer system  700  on which wireless device  130  and or server  103  may be implemented. Computer system  700  includes a system bus  720  for communicating information, and a processor  710  coupled to bus  720  for processing information. According to one embodiment, processor  710  is implemented using one of the multitude of Motorola DragonBall MC68328-family of microprocessors. Nevertheless one of ordinary skill in the art will appreciate that other processors may be used.  
         [0043]     Computer system  700  further comprises a random access memory (RAM) or other dynamic storage device  725  (referred to herein as main memory), coupled to bus  720  for storing information and instructions to be executed by processor  710 . Main memory  725  also may be used for storing temporary variables or other intermediate information during execution of instructions by processor  710 . Computer system  700  also may include a read only memory (ROM) and/or other static storage device  726  coupled to bus  720  for storing static information and instructions used by processor  710 .  
         [0044]     A data storage device  725  such as a magnetic disk or optical disc and its corresponding drive may also be coupled to computer system  700  for storing information and instructions. Computer system  700  can also be coupled to a second I/O bus  750  via an I/O interface  730 . A plurality of I/O devices may be coupled to I/O bus  750 , including a display device  724 , an input device (e.g., an alphanumeric input device  723  and/or a cursor control device  722 ).  
         [0045]     The communication device  721  is for accessing other computers (servers or clients) via network  170 . The communication device  721  may comprise a modem, a network interface card, or other well-known interface device, such as those used for coupling to Ethernet, token ring, or other types of networks.  
         [0046]     Embodiments of the invention may include various steps as set forth above. The steps may be embodied in machine-executable instructions. The instructions can be used to cause a general-purpose or special-purpose processor to perform certain steps. Alternatively, these steps may be performed by specific hardware components that contain hardwired logic for performing the steps, or by any combination of programmed computer components and custom hardware components.  
         [0047]     Elements of the present invention may also be provided as a machine-readable medium for storing the machine-executable instructions. The machine-readable medium may include, but is not limited to, floppy diskettes, optical disks, CD-ROMs, and magneto-optical disks, ROMs, RAMs, EPROMs, EEPROMs, magnetic or optical cards, propagation media or other type of media/machine-readable medium suitable for storing electronic instructions. For example, the present invention may be downloaded as a computer program which may be transferred from a remote computer (e.g., a server) to a requesting computer (e.g., a client) by way of data signals embodied in a carrier wave or other propagation medium via a communication link (e.g., a modem or network connection).  
         [0048]     Throughout the foregoing description, for the purposes of explanation, numerous specific details were set forth in order to provide a thorough understanding of the invention. It will be apparent, however, to one skilled in the art that the invention may be practiced without some of these specific details. For example, while illustrated as an interface  100  to a service  102  executed on a server  103  (see  FIG. 1 ), it will be appreciated that the underlying principles of the invention may be implemented on a single client in which the client transmits data over a network.  
         [0049]     Moreover, although described in the context of a wireless data processing device, the underlying principles of the invention may be implemented to compress data in virtually any networking environment, both wired and wireless. Accordingly, the scope and spirit of the invention should be judged in terms of the claims which follow.