Patent Publication Number: US-2006011368-A1

Title: Transfer center

Description:
RELATED APPLICATION  
      This application is continuation-in-part of U.S. application Ser. No. 10/848,104, filed May 17, 2004, which claims the benefit of the prior filing date of U.S. provisional patent application No. 60/554,797, filed Mar. 19, 2004, herein incorporated by reference in its entirety. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE DISCLOSURE  
      1. Field of the Disclosure  
      The transfer center is directed to a data transfer hub that permits interfacing data between a first electronic device and a second electronic device having different interface connectors and electronic signaling requirements. In particular, the data transfer hub interfaces data between a first cellular phone and a second cellular phone.  
      2. General Background  
      Cellular phones are able to recharge their batteries and exchange data through an interface connector provided with the cellular phones. Each cellular phone manufacturer, however, may utilize different interface connectors, and therefore the interface connector may be different from one manufacturer to another. That is, there is no standard with regard to the configuration of the interface connectors to interface data between the cellular phone and other electronic devices such as personal computers (computer systems) and Personal Digital Assistants (PDAs).  
      As such, to interface information between a particular cellular phone and a computer system or between cellular phone a user needs to have a specific cable with a particular connector that is designed for that particular cellular phone to interface the information.  
      Furthermore, when it comes to backing up data of a cell phone, or update data, upload data to a cell phone, current systems lack uniformity since current systems tailor, if at all, to one manufacturer. Most importantly, transferring data from one cell phone to a second cell phone is very difficult because each manufacturer has different data transmission and storage standards.  
     SUMMARY  
      In one aspect there is a method of interfacing data between a first electronic device and a second electronic device. In one embodiment, the first and second electronic devices are cell phones manufactured by different manufacturers. The first electronic device can be the source device, and the second electronic device can be the target device. A data transfer hub having universal connectors is coupled with at least one of a plurality of adapter cables. The first and second electronic devices are connected to the data transfer hub using at least one of the plurality of adapter cables. The data transfer hub is connected to the computer system, wherein the computer system is configured to receive and transmit data from the first electronic device and the second electronic device. The data is then transmitted from the first electronic device to the second electronic device.  
      The first electronic device and the second electronic device can be cell phones, personal data assistants, etc. In another aspect, the first electronic device is manufactured by a different manufacturer than the second electronic device.  
      Furthermore, the computer system can be configured to convert data from the first electronic device into a data format that can be recognized by the second electronic device. The computer system can also include a computer application that is configured to convert data from the data from the first electronic device into a data format that can be recognized by the second electronic device. The data transfer hub and the computer system can be connected via a universal serial bus connection.  
      In another aspect, there is a method of interfacing data between a computer system and a plurality of portable wireless devices. A data transfer hub and a plurality of adapter cables are provided, wherein the a data transfer hub has a computer system connector and at least one universal port, and wherein each of the plurality of adapter cables has an adapter connector end and an adapter interface end. The data transfer hub is configured to communicably couple with a computer system. The adapter connector end of each of the plurality of the adapter cables is configured to communicably couple with a corresponding data communication connector provided in the plurality of portable devices. The adapter interface end of each of the plurality of the adapter cables is configured to communicably couple with the at least one universal port of the data transfer hub to allow the computer system to communicate with any one of the plurality of portable devices. The plurality of the portable devices can be wireless devices manufactured by different manufacturers.  
      The computer system device can be configured to recognize the communication signals of each of the plurality of portable devices based on the adapter cable portion being used.  
      The adapter cables can be marked with a different symbol to associate each of the plurality of adapter cables with the corresponding data communication connector provided in the plurality of portable devices.  
      In another aspect, there is a system to interface data between a computer system and a plurality of cell phones. The system includes a data transfer hub having a computer system connector and at least one universal port. The system can also include a plurality of adapter cables, wherein each of the plurality of adapter cables has an adapter connector end and an adapter interface end. The system can further include a computer system communicably coupled to the data transfer hub. The adapter connector end of each of the plurality of the adapter cables can be configured to communicably couple with a corresponding data communication connector provided in the plurality of portable devices. The adapter interface end of each of the plurality of the adapter cables can be configured to communicably couple with the at least one universal port of the data transfer hub to allow the computer system to communicate with any one of the plurality of portable devices. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
      The invention can be better understood with reference to the following figures. The components in the figures are not necessarily to scale, emphasis instead being placed upon illustrating the principles of the invention. Moreover, in the figures, like reference numerals designate corresponding parts throughout the different views.  
       FIG. 1  illustrates a cable system including a base cable and a plurality of adapter cables configured to interface data between a personal computer and a plurality of cellular phones.  
       FIG. 2  illustrates each of the adapter cables including a symbol on the adapter interface end, each of the symbols corresponding to a particular cellular phone.  
       FIG. 3  illustrates a cable system including a base cable adapted to communicably couple with an infrared attachment.  
       FIG. 4  illustrates a cable system including a base cable and an alternative plurality of adapters.  
       FIG. 5  illustrates a cable system including an alternative base cable and a plurality of adapter cables.  
       FIG. 6  illustrates a cable system including an intermediate cable between a base cable and a plurality of adapters to interface data between a personal computer and a plurality of cellular phones.  
       FIG. 7A  illustrates a data transfer hub and a converter to interface data between a personal computer and a plurality of cellular phones.  
       FIG. 7B  illustrates a data transfer hub and two converters that allow two cell phones to interface with a personal computer.  
       FIG. 8  illustrates a cable system adaptable to a transfer center to transfer data from a first cellular phone to a second cellular phone.  
       FIG. 9A  illustrates an external view of a data transfer hub.  
       FIG. 9B  illustrates a component diagram of a data transfer hub.  
       FIG. 10  illustrates the data transfer hub connectivity to a computer system and to at least two cellular phones.  
       FIG. 11  illustrates a screenshot of a computer interface application showing the data transfer operation. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION  
      The transfer center is directed to a data transfer hub that permits interfacing data between a first electronic device and a second electronic device having different interface connectors and electronic signaling requirements.  
      The data transfer hub and cable system can be used in a variety of applications. For instance, the data transfer hub and cable system may be used to interface data between a computer system and a plurality of cellular phones. The plurality of cellular phones may be manufactured by different manufacturers, and each manufacturer may use a different interface connector. The cable system can include a base cable and a plurality of adapter cables. Each of the adapter cables is configured to communicably couple with one of the plurality of cellular phones. Depending on the cellular phone a user is using, the user may select one adapter cable, from the plurality of adapter cables, which is configured to communicably couple with the user&#39;s cellular phone. The base cable has a base connector and a base interface end. The base connector of the base cable is adapted to communicably couple to a first electronic device such as a computer system. Each of the plurality of adapter cables has an adapter connector and an adapter interface end. The base interface end of the base cable is configured to communicably couple with the adapter interface end of the selected adapter cable, along with adapter interface ends of other adapter cables.  
      In another embodiment, the data transfer hub includes the functionality of the base cable and allows a plurality of cell phones to communicably couple a computer system. Thus, the data transfer hub can be communicably coupled with the computer system while the adapter connector of the selected adapter cable is communicably coupled to the user&#39;s cellular phone. With the communication line linked from the computer system to the data transfer hub, from the data transfer hub to the selected adapter cables, and from the selected adapter cables to the user&#39;s cellular phones, the computer may exchange electronic data with each of the cellular phones. As such, the cable method offers its users the flexibility to communicably couple a computer system to a plurality of cellular phones with different interface connectors and originating from different manufacturers. This allows the user to communicably couple more than one phone to a computer system, such as when the user upgrades to a new phone with a different interface connector or within a family where some members of the family use a different cellular phone with a different interface connector.  
      The data transfer hub permits simultaneous connectivity of more than one cell phone to a computer system. Where the computer system can be configured to upload and download data to each of the cell phones, multiple applications are possible. For example, data backup, data transfer from one cell phone to another, data format, etc.  
      Other systems, methods, features and advantages of the invention will be or will become apparent to one with skill in the art upon examination of the following figures and detailed description. It is intended that all such additional systems, methods, features and advantages be included within this description, be within the scope of the invention, and be protected by the accompanying claims.  
       FIG. 1  illustrates a cable system  10  including a base cable  12  and a plurality of adapter cables  14 A through  14 F configured to interface data between a personal computer and a plurality of cellular phones. The base cable  12  has a base connector  16  adapted to couple to a first electronic device  17 . The first electronic device  17  may be a variety of electronic devices where information may be stored electronically such as a computer system and PDA. The base cable  12  also has a base interface end  18  adapted to communicably couple with the plurality of adapter cables  14 A through  14 F. The base cable  12  includes a cable  19  between the base connector  16  and the base interface end  18  to transmit data between the two connectors  16  and  18 .  
      Each of the plurality of adapter cables  14 A through  14 F has an adapter interface end  20  and a corresponding adapter connector  22 . A cable  21  is provided between the adapter interface end  20  and the adapter connector  22 . The adapter interface end  20  is configured to communicably couple with the base interface end  18 . Each of the plurality of adapter cables  14  also has a corresponding adapter connector  22  that is configured to communicably couple to a particular cellular phone  23 . For instance, the adapter connector  22 A may be adapted to communicably couple to a LG™ phone; the adapter connector  22 B may be adapted to communicably couple to a Nokia™ phone; the adapter connector  22 C may be adapted to communicably couple to an Ericsson™ phone; the adapter connector  22 D may be adapted to communicably couple to a Samsung™ phone; the adapter connector  22 E may be adapted to communicably couple to a Motorola™ phone; and the adapter connector  22 F may be adapted to communicably couple to a Sony™ phone. As such, with the cable system  10 , one base cable  12  may be provided with a plurality of adapter cables so that a computer system may share data with a variety of different types of cellular phones with different data interface connectors. That is, the user may select a particular adapter cable corresponding to the type of cellular phone the user is using then couple the base interface end  18  to the adapter interface end  20  to exchange data between the first electronic device and the desired cellular phone.  
       FIG. 2  illustrates each of the plurality of adapter cables  14 A through  14 F including a symbol on the adapter interface end  20 , each of the symbols corresponding to a particular cellular phone. The symbol on the adapter interface end may correspond to a particular cellular phone manufacturer.. For instance, a butterfly symbol may correspond to a certain types of Motorola cellular phones; a horse symbol may correspond to LG cellular phones; a rabbit symbol may correspond to Sanyo cellular phones; a dolphin symbol may correspond to Samsung cellular phones; a penguin symbol may correspond to a particular type of Motorola cellular phones; and a scorpion symbol may correspond to Nokia cellular phones.  
      In one embodiment, a chart may be provided with a list of the symbols and different types of cellular phones that may be used corresponding to each of the symbols. This way, a user may review the chart and find a symbol that corresponds to the cellular phone the user is using. Based on the symbol, the user may select the right adapter cable to communicably couple with the base cable  12  to exchange data between the computer system and the user&#39;s cellular phone. In this regard, a cable kit  13  may be provided in a container  15  with a base cable  12 , a plurality of adapter cables  14 A through  14 F, and a table with a list of symbols to indicate to a user the symbol that corresponds to a particular cellular phone the user is using.  
       FIG. 3  illustrates a cable system  30  including a base cable  12 , as discussed above, adapted to communicably couple with an IrDa (infrared) attachment  28 . The base connector  16  of the base cable  12  is adapted to communicably couple to the USB port of the computer system  17 . The IrDa attachment  28  has an interface side  32  and a transceiver  34 . The interface side  32  of the attachment  28  is adapted to communicably couple with the base interface end  18  of the base cable  12 . The transceiver  34  is capable of transmitting the data provided through the base cable  12  wirelessly to a second electronic device such as a cellular phone. That is, the IrDa attachment  28  sends the data from the computer system  17  wirelessly through infrared signals. A second electronic device, such as a cellular phone, with an infrared port may then receive the infrared signals to exchange the data wirelessly with the computer system.  
      Some computer systems are not equipped with a port such as an infrared port and/or Bluetooth port to allow the computer systems to communicate wirelessly with other electronic devices. In such instances, the cable system  30  may be used to wirelessly couple a computer system, without a wireless communication port, with a variety of cellular phones. The base connector  16  of the base cable  12  may be connected to the USB port of the computer system. On the opposite end, the interface side  32  of the attachment  28  is coupled to the base interface end  18  of the base cable  12 . With such communication links, the base cable  12  is able to provide the data from the USB port of the computer system to the attachment  28  to transmit the data wirelessly to a second electronic device such as a cellular phone that has an infrared port or a Bluetooth port to receive the data provided through the USB port of the computer system. Conversely, the attachment  28  may receive data transmitted from the infrared port or Bluetooth port of the cellular phone  17 . This way, a computer system that does not have a port to receive wireless data may exchange data wirelessly with a cellular phone.  
       FIG. 4  illustrates a cable system including a base cable and an alternative plurality of adapters. Each of the adapters  42  has an interface end  46  that is substantially similar to the adapter interface end  20 , as discussed above, to allow the interface end  46  to communicably couple to the base interface end  18 . Each of the plurality of the adapters  42 A through  42 F has a connecting end  44 A through  44 F, respectively. Each connecting end is configured to communicably couple with a particular cellular phone. Note that the adapters  42 A- 42 F do not have a cable between the connecting end  44  and the interface end  46 . The base cable  12 , however, is provided with the cable  19  to allow the base cable  12  to extend between the computer system  17  and the cellular phone  23 . One of the adapters  42 A through  42 F may be used to communicably couple the base cable  12  with a particular cellular phone. For example, the connecting end  44 A may communicably couple to an LG™ phone; the connecting end  44 B may communicably couple to a Nokia™ phone; the connecting end  44 C may communicably couple to an Ericsson™ phone; the connecting end  44 D may communicably couple to a Samsung™ phone; the connecting end  44 E may communicably couple to a Motorola™ phone; and the connecting end  44 F may communicably couple to a Sony™ phone. To exchange data between the computer system  17  and a Nokia™ phone, for example, a user may communicably couple the connecting end  44 B of the adapter  42 B to the Nokia™ phone. The base connector  16  of the base cable  12  is then communicably coupled to the computer system  12  and the base interface end  18  is communicably coupled to the interface end  46  of the adapter  42 . With the cable system  40  communicably coupling the computer system  17  to the Nokia™ phone, data may be exchanged between the two electronic devices  17  and  23 .  
       FIG. 5  illustrates a cable system  50  including a base  52  and a plurality of adapter cables  14 A through  14 F. The plurality of adapter cables  14 A through  14 F is substantially similar to the adapter cables discussed above in reference to  FIG. 1 . The base  52  has a base connector  54  and a base interface end  56  that are substantially similar to the base connector  16  and the base interface end  18 , respectively. The base  52 , however, may not include a cable between the two connectors  16  and  18 . As discussed above with regard to  FIG. 1 , the base connector  16  is adapted to communicable couple to the computer system  17  and the base interface end  18  is configured to communicably couple to the adapter interface end  20  of the adapter cable. Accordingly, the cable system  50  may be used to communicably couple a computer system with a plurality of cellular phones to allow the computer system to exchange data with any one of the plurality of cellular phones.  
       FIG. 6  illustrates a cable system  60  including an intermediate cable  62  configured to communicably couple in between a base adapter  52  and a plurality of adapters  42 A through  42 F. The plurality of adapters  42 A through  42 F and the base adapter  52  are substantially similar to the ones described in  FIGS. 4 and 5  above, respectively. The intermediate cable  62  has a first interface end  64  and a second interface end  66  configured to communicably couple to the base adapter  52  and the plurality of adapters  42 A through  42 F, respectively. A user may select one adapter from the plurality of adapters  42 A through  42 F that is configured to communicably couple with the user&#39;s cellular phone. The second end  66  of the intermediate cable  62  may be coupled to the interface end  46  of the selected adapter and the first end  64  of the intermediate cable  62  may be coupled to the base interface end  56  of the base adapter  52 . With the cable system  60  assembled, the base connector  54  may be communicably coupled to the computer system  17  to allow the computer system  17  to exchange data with the cellular phone. In addition, the base connector end  54  may be adapted to communicably couple to a variety of first electronic devices other than the computer system  17 , such as PDA and IPod™.  
       FIG. 7A  illustrates a data transfer hub  100  and a converter  26  to interface data between a personal computer and a plurality of cellular phones. In one embodiment, the data transfer hub  100  allows the cellular phones not equipped with Code-Division Multiple Access (CDMA) chips and USB output to communicate with a computer system. Most, if not all, computer systems are provided with a USB port for exchanging data which permits cellular phones with a CDMA chip and a USB port to communicate directly with a computer system. Many cellular phones, however, are not provided with a CDMA chip, so that direct USB serial communication between the cellular phones without a CDMA and a computer system is not possible. To accommodate cellular phones with and without the CDMA chip, the universal cable system  10  may be coupled with the data transfer hub  100  and the converter  26 . If the cellular phone is able to directly receive the USB output from a computer system, the data transfer hub  100  provides a direct interface between the computer system and the cellular phone. On the other hand, if the cellular phone is unable to directly receive the USB output, the data transfer hub  100  sends the signal from the computer system to the serial converter  26 , which sends a serial signal to the cellular phone. In one approach, the circuitry for the data transfer hub  100  and the converter  26  may be provided within the base interface  18  so that the same circuitry can be used with the variety of adapter cables to minimize the cost of the universal cable system  10 . In another approach, the circuitry for the data transfer hub  100  and the converter  26  can be included in a separate housing.  
       FIG. 7B  illustrates a data transfer hub  100  and two converters that allow two cell phones to interface with a personal computer  17 . The data transfer hub  100  can accommodate more than one converter, so that multiple cell phones can be coupled. For example, an additional converter  24  can be provided so that a second cell phone  123  can communicate with computer system  17  if the second cell phone  123  does not have a CDMA chip. Again, if the cellular phone  123  is able to directly receive the USB output from a computer system, the data transfer hub  100  provides a direct interface between the computer system  17  and the cellular phone  123 . Such direct interface, as explained above, can be an adapter cable that couples to the cell phone  23 . On the other hand, if the cellular phone  123  is unable to directly receive the USB output, the data transfer hub  100  sends the signal from the computer system  17  to the serial converter  24 , which sends a serial signal to the cellular phone  123 . In one embodiment, the converters  26  and  24  connect to the data transfer hub  100  through a USB connection.  
       FIG. 8  illustrates a cable system adaptable to a data transfer hub to transfer data from a first cellular phone to a second cellular phone. Each of the plurality of adapter cables  14 A through  14 F has an adapter interface end  20  and a corresponding adapter connector  22 . A cable  21  is provided to communicatively join the adapter interface end  20  and the adapter connector  22 . The adapter interface end  20  of each cable is configured to communicably couple with the universal port  806  and  808 . Each of the plurality of adapter cables  14  also has a corresponding adapter connector  22  that is configured to communicably couple to a particular cellular phone  23 . As described above, each adapter connector  22  may be adapted to communicably couple to a cell phone model of a particular manufacturer.  
      In the cable system  10 , the data transfer hub  100  can be provided instead of the base cable  12 . As described above, the adapter cables  14  connect to a computer system through a base cable  12 . Because the data transfer hub  100  includes the functionality of the base cable  12 , a cellular phone  23  can communicate with a computer system  17  using the base cable  12 . The data transfer hub  100  includes an input for a USB connector  804  that couples with a computer system. The data transfer hub  100  is connected to a power source  802 . Even though the data transfer hub  100  can receive power through the USB connector  804 , the power source  802  allows for an independent and direct source of power.  
      In one embodiment, the data transfer hub  100  can be provided with two universal connectors  806  and  808 . Thus, through the universal connectors  806  and  808 , the data transfer hub  100  can connect with at least two adapter cables  14 . Thus, a data transfer hub  100  may transfer data back and forth with a variety of different types of cellular phones with different data interface connectors. When the user selects the adapter cable that corresponds to the type of cellular phone that the user uses, the user can plug in the adapter cable to the phone, and then one of the universal connectors  806  or  808  of the data transfer hub  100 .  
       FIG. 9A  illustrates an external view of the data transfer hub  100 . In one embodiment, the data transfer hub  100  includes the universal port  806  on one side having a connection socket that mates with a corresponding plug in the adapter interface end  20  of the adapter cable utilized. As mentioned before, any of the adapter cables  14  can be connected to the data transfer hub  100  through the universal port  806  or the universal port  808 . The hardware configuration of the plug in the adapter interface  20  of each of the adapter cables  14  can be the same such that any adapter cable  14 , and consequently, any cellular phone, can be connected to the data transfer hub  100 .  
      In another embodiment, a USB port  904  can be included so that cell phones having USB connectivity can directly connect to the data transfer hub  100  without the need to utilize an adapter cable  14 . A USB port  914  can be included in the data transfer hub  100  for communicating with computer system  17 . Other communication protocols can be used to communicate with computer system  17 .  
       FIG. 9B  illustrates a component diagram of a data transfer hub  100 . A central processing unit  910  can be included in the data transfer hub  100  to communicate with devices connected to any of the ports provided. Universal port  806 , universal port  808 , USB port  908 , and USB port  904  are configured to be either a source or a target ports.  
      In one embodiment, universal port  808  and universal port  806  are configured to be a source and a target respectively, such that data received at universal port  808  is ultimately transmitted to universal port  806  and to the device connected thereto.  
      A memory module  912  can be operably connected to the central processing unit  910  in order to provide stored configuration data, data types used by cellular phones manufacturers, security data, etc. As such, when data from a device connected to universal port  808  is received by the central processing unit  910 , the memory module  921  can be accessed to retrieve interpretation keys or data in order to convert the data received to a standard data type.  
      In one embodiment, the central processing unit  910  relays the information to the computer system  17  in a standard format. Thus, for the computer system  17  it is transparent the manufacturer or type of the cellular phone connected to the data transfer hub  100 . For example, as soon as a cellular phone is connected to the universal port  806 , the central processing unit  910  computes the make and model of the cellular phone connected by looking up pre-stored data on the memory module  912 . Once the central processing unit  910  establishes the type of cell phone connected, it is assumed that any data received on universal port  806  has the data type characteristic of the make and module of the phone. In another approach, every time the data is received at port  806  the data is checked for the type of make and module and then translated.  
      Likewise, the computer system  17  can send data signals to the data transfer hub  100  such that when the central processing unit  910  receives the data, the central processing unit  910  can encode the data received into the format required by the target cellular phone.  
      In another embodiment, the data is not converted to a uniform format, but the computer system  17  upon receiving data, and before transmitting data, converts to the correct format.  
      In another embodiment, the central processing unit  910  upon receiving a signal that the target device is connected, the central processing unit  910  identifies the type of device (e.g. cell phone manufacturer) by querying memory module  912 , and sets the encoding and decoding to the data format of the target device.  
       FIG. 10  illustrates the data transfer hub  100  connectivity to a computer system and to at least two cellular phones. In one example, the universal port  806  can be configured to be the source port and marked to that effect. Likewise, the universal port  808  can be configured to be the target port. A user wishing to make a data transfer from one cell phone to another can simply connect cell phone  23  to universal port  806 , the source port, utilizing an appropriate adapter cable  114 . The adapter cable  114  is connected to the data transfer hub  100  at the universal port  806 . Next, the target phone  123  can be connected to universal port  808  utilizing adapter cable  116 . The adapter cable  116  being of course compatible with the cell phone  123 . Once both cell phones  23  and  123  are connected to he data transfer hub  100 , the data transfer hub  100  can be connected to the computer system  117  by utilizing USB connector  1002  and to universal port  808 . The user of the data transfer hub  100  can then either upload and download data to either cell phone by using a computer application configured to communicate with the USB port at the computer (not shown) and with the devices connected to he USB port.  
       FIG. 11  illustrates a screenshot of a computer application showing a data transfer operation. In one embodiment, an application installed in the computer system  17  can be provided for the user to transfer data from one cellular phone to another. The application is configured to communicate data to the data communication hub  100  through a USB port in the computer system  17 .  
      In one embodiment, the user application can display an interface window with two panes: a source phone pane  1102  and a target phone pane  1104 . The source phone pane  1102  includes a mechanism to select the type of the source phone. In one approach, the pane  1102  can include a make drop down menu  1110  and a model drop down menu  1112 . The make drop down menu  1110  includes options for different device manufacturers such as Nokia™, Ericsson™, Samsung™, Motorola™, Sony™, etc. Once the make drop down menu  1110  selection is made, the model drop down menu  1112  updates automatically to display the different models available for the selected manufacturer. In another approach, the make drop down menu  1110  is defaulted to “Auto” which indicates that the program will automatically detect which kind of cell phone or wireless device it is. In the target pane, a make drop down menu  1106  and a model drop down menu  1108  can also be included and can function in similar fashion as the make drop down menu  1110  and the model drop down menu  1112 . The make drop down menu  1106  can also be defaulted to “Auto” for auto detection of the target cell phone type. Finally, when the user clicks on a transfer button  1114  the data from the source phone is transferred to the target phone.  
      In one embodiment, the data transferred from the source phone to the target phone is an address book. For example, a user that buys a new cell phone can keep the contact information by transferring from the old phone to the new phone. The application software is able to request particular data from the source phone because the application software includes a database of communication and data protocols used by the particular make and model of the source phone. As such, the application software can request contact information using for example, a name-address-number format. The application software parses the contact information received according to the known parameters of the communication and data protocols of the source phone.  
      Next, the application software determines the communication and data protocols used for the target phone. If, for example, the target phone has a name-number-address format for storing contact information, then the application software will translate the source phone format of name-address-number to the target phone format of name-address-number.  
      Although certain illustrative embodiments and methods have been disclosed herein, it will be apparent form the foregoing disclosure to those skilled in the art that variations and modifications of such embodiments and methods may be made without departing from the true spirit and scope of the art disclosed. Many other examples of the art disclosed exist, each differing from others in matters of detail only. For instance, various combinations of wireless devices such as PDAs, Balckberry, iPods, can also be connected to the data transfer hub. Accordingly, it is intended that the art disclosed shall be limited only to the extent required by the appended claims and the rules and principles of applicable law.