Patent Publication Number: US-8977708-B2

Title: Mobile wireless communications device providing enhanced file transfer management features and related methods

Description:
TECHNICAL FIELD 
     The present disclosure generally relates to the field of wireless communications systems, and, more particularly, to mobile wireless communications devices and related methods. 
     BACKGROUND 
     Mobile wireless communications systems continue to grow in popularity and have become an integral part of both personal and business communications. For example, cellular telephones allow users to place and receive voice calls most anywhere they travel. Moreover, as cellular telephone technology has increased, so too has the functionality of cellular devices and the different types of devices available to users. For example, many cellular devices now incorporate personal digital assistant (PDA) features such as calendars, address books, task lists, etc. Moreover, such multi-function devices may also allow users to wirelessly send and receive electronic mail (email) messages and access the Internet via a cellular network and/or a wireless local area network (WLAN), for example. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is schematic block diagram of a communications system including a mobile wireless communications device in accordance with an exemplary embodiment. 
         FIGS. 2 and 3  are flow diagrams illustrating method aspects associated with the system and mobile wireless communications device of  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 4  is a schematic block diagram of an alternative embodiment of the system of  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 5  is a flow diagram illustrating method aspects associated with the system and mobile wireless communications device of  FIG. 4 . 
         FIG. 6  is a schematic block diagram illustrating additional components that may be included in the exemplary mobile wireless communications devices of  FIGS. 1 and 4 . 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     The present description is made with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which exemplary embodiments are shown. However, many different embodiments may be used, and thus the description should not be construed as limited to the embodiments set forth herein. Rather, these embodiments are provided so that this disclosure will be thorough and complete. Like numbers refer to like elements throughout, and prime notation is used to indicate similar elements in alternative embodiments. 
     Generally speaking, a mobile wireless communications device is provided herein which may include a portable housing, at least one wireless transceiver carried by the portable housing, and a controller carried by the portable housing and coupled to the at least one wireless transceiver. The controller may be configured to operate a plurality of different mobile device applications for processing different electronic file types and generating download electronic file transfer requests and upload electronic file transfer requests, download requested electronic files for the plurality of different device applications via the at least one wireless transceiver using a common file transfer application responsive to the download electronic file transfer requests, and upload requested electronic files for the plurality of different device applications via the at least one wireless transceiver using the common file transfer application responsive to the upload electronic file transfer requests. As such, the common file transfer application may therefore provide a file transfer manager to check the status and history of both downloads and uploads for numerous other applications, as well as providing a standardized approach for different applications to access respective download and upload files. 
     More particularly, the controller may be further configured to receive at least one file transfer filter via the at least one wireless transceiver from at least one wireless communications network, and prohibit at least one of upload and download of requested electronic files based upon the at least one file transfer filter. The controller may be further configured to group downloaded electronic files into different file folders. 
     In addition, the at least one wireless transceiver may comprise a plurality thereof configured to communicate using respective different wireless communication formats over different wireless communications networks having different communication bandwidths associated therewith. As such, the controller may be configured to select a desired wireless communication format for at least one of upload and download of requested electronic files based upon availability of the different wireless communications networks. The mobile wireless communications device may further include a display carried by the portable housing and coupled to the controller. 
     A related method is for using a mobile wireless communications device, such as the one described briefly above. The method may include operating a plurality of different device applications for processing different electronic file types and generating download electronic file transfer requests and upload electronic file transfer requests, downloading requested electronic files for the plurality of different device applications via the at least one wireless transceiver using a common file transfer application responsive to the download electronic file transfer requests, and uploading requested electronic files for the plurality of different device applications via the at least one wireless transceiver using the common file transfer application responsive to the upload electronic file transfer requests. 
     Another related method for using a mobile wireless communications device may include receiving at least one file transfer filter via the at least one wireless transceiver from at least one wireless communications network, and operating a plurality of different device applications for processing different electronic file types and generating download electronic file transfer requests. The method may further include selectively downloading requested electronic files for the plurality of different device applications via the at least one wireless transceiver using a common file transfer application responsive to the download electronic file transfer requests and based upon the at least one file transfer filter. 
     A related communications system may include at least one server for storing electronic files, and at least one mobile wireless communications device comprising a portable housing, at least one wireless transceiver carried by the portable housing, and a controller carried by the portable housing and coupled to the at least one wireless transceiver. The controller may be configured to operate a plurality of different mobile device applications for processing different electronic file types and generating download electronic file transfer requests and upload electronic file transfer requests. The controller may also be configured to download requested electronic files for the plurality of different mobile device applications from the at least one server via the at least one wireless transceiver using a common file transfer application responsive to the download electronic file transfer requests, and upload requested electronic files for the plurality of different mobile device applications to the at least one server via the at least one wireless transceiver using the common file transfer application responsive to the upload electronic file transfer requests. 
     Another related communications system may include at least one server for storing electronic files, and at least one mobile wireless communications device comprising a portable housing, at least one wireless transceiver carried by the portable housing, and a controller carried by the portable housing and coupled to the at least one wireless transceiver. The controller may be configured to receive at least one file transfer filter via the at least one wireless transceiver from at least one wireless communications network, and operate a plurality of different mobile device applications for processing different electronic file types and generating download electronic file transfer requests. The controller may be further configured to selectively download requested electronic files for the plurality of different mobile device applications from the at least one server via the at least one wireless transceiver using a common file transfer application responsive to the download electronic file transfer requests and based upon the at least one file transfer filter. 
     A related non-transitory computer-readable medium may have computer-executable instructions for causing a mobile wireless communications device comprising a portable housing and at least one wireless transceiver carried by the portable housing to perform steps comprising operating a plurality of different mobile device applications for processing different electronic file types and generating download electronic file transfer requests and upload electronic file transfer requests, and downloading requested electronic files for the plurality of different mobile device applications via the at least one wireless transceiver using a common file transfer application responsive to the download electronic file transfer requests. The steps may further include uploading requested electronic files for the plurality of different mobile device applications via the at least one wireless transceiver using the common file transfer application responsive to the upload electronic file transfer requests. 
     Still another non-transitory computer-readable medium may have computer-executable instructions for causing a mobile wireless communications device comprising a portable housing and at least one wireless transceiver carried by the portable housing to perform steps comprising receiving at least one file transfer filter via the at least one wireless transceiver from at least one wireless communications network, and operating a plurality of different mobile device applications for processing different electronic file types and generating download electronic file transfer requests. The steps may further include selectively downloading requested electronic files for the plurality of different mobile device applications via the at least one wireless transceiver using a common file transfer application responsive to the download electronic file transfer requests and based upon the at least one file transfer filter. 
     Referring initially to  FIGS. 1 through 3 , a communications system  28  illustratively includes mobile wireless communications device  30  (also referred to as a “mobile device” herein). The mobile device  30  illustratively includes a portable housing  31 , one or more wireless transceivers  32  (e.g., cellular, wireless local area network (WLAN), WiMAX, etc.) carried by the portable housing, and a controller  33  carried by the portable housing and coupled to the wireless transceiver. The controller  33  may be configured to operate a plurality of different mobile device applications for processing different electronic file types, and generating download electronic file transfer requests and upload electronic file transfer requests. At the time of the download request, a suggested/mapped destination for the inbound file may be provided based upon default settings with respect to the file types (e.g., a JPG file may default to a pictures folder), along with an option to change the default file save location if desired. The controller  33  may also restrict or lock the ability to change the file storage location in some embodiments, if desired (e.g., certain files may need to be located in certain folders for different applications to operate properly, etc.). 
     The controller  33  may be implemented using a combination of hardware and software components, such as a microprocessor, computer-readable instructions on a non-transitory computer readable medium (e.g., memory), etc. Example mobile devices may include portable or personal media players (e.g., MP3 players, video players, etc.), portable gaming devices, portable or mobile telephones, smartphones, etc. 
     Beginning at Blocks  50 ,  50 ′, the controller  33  operates different mobile device applications, at Blocks  51 ,  51 ′. In the present example, an electronic mail (email) application (represented by an email icon  34  on a display  35  of the mobile device  30 ), a picture (image) application (as represented by a camera icon  36 ), and a video application (as represented by a video camera icon  37 ) are provided. However, numerous other types of mobile device applications may also be operated or run by the controller  33 . The exemplary applications may generate download or upload electronic file requests to download or upload various types of electronic files via the wireless transceiver  32  over a wireless communications network (e.g., cellular, WiFi, WiMAX, etc.) from or to a server  39 , which is illustratively represented by a broadcast tower  38  in  FIG. 1 . For example, the image and video application may download or upload image files and video files from or to various Internet sites. The email application may download or upload electronic files from an email server, such as electronic document files (e.g., word processing, spreadsheet, PDF, etc.), as well as media files such as images, audio, or videos. Moreover, the controller  33  may also operate an application manager program, which allows other mobile device applications to be downloaded for operation on the mobile device  30 . 
     Typically these various electronic files are grouped and stored in different folders or directories in device memory (see Block  56 ′,  FIG. 3 ). Thus, with numerous download and upload file operations, it may become difficult to determine the status or history of these operations across numerous file storage folders, or to otherwise locate where files have been saved. The controller  33  may advantageously download requested electronic files for the different mobile device applications via the wireless transceiver  32  using a common file transfer application responsive to the download electronic file transfer requests, at Blocks  52 ,  52 ′. That is, the common file transfer application serves as a central or single file transfer manager. This allows different mobile application developers to use a uniform set of procedures or routines to call for downloading (or uploading), without having to develop a respective file transfer application for each mobile application. Moreover, this provides users with a centralized place to check the status and history of file transfers. Thus, for example, users may monitor file download progress so that a failed download attempt may be re-started, or open a downloaded file without having to navigate though a long list of file folders to determine or access the desired file location. 
     Similarly, in some embodiments the controller  33  may also upload requested electronic files for the plurality of different device applications via the wireless transceiver  32  using the common file transfer application responsive to the upload electronic file transfer requests, at Blocks  53 ,  53 ′, which concludes the method illustrated in Blocks  54 ,  54 ′ (although in an actual implementation the foregoing steps may be repeated). For file uploads, user authentication to a server, etc., is sometimes required. In such instances, the common file transfer application may perform the authentication operations based upon stored or user-provided security credentials (e.g., username, password, etc.). In other instances, such authentication operations may be handled by the given mobile device application requesting the file upload, and the common file transfer application may cooperate with this application to perform the requested upload upon completion of authentication. 
     Referring additionally to  FIG. 3 , where a plurality of wireless transceivers are incorporated in the mobile device  32  that are configured to communicate using respective different wireless communication formats over different wireless communications networks (e.g., cellular, WiFi, WiMAX, etc.), it will be understood that different wireless mediums typically have different communication bandwidths associated therewith. For example, WiFi (e.g., 802.11x) generally has a much higher bandwidth than cellular communications. As such, the controller  33  may be configured to select a desired wireless communication format for upload or download of requested electronic files based upon availability of the different wireless communications networks, at Block  55 ′. That is, the controller  33  may select a “best available” format for upload or download, not only to expedite file transfer but also to potentially avoid wireless charges for excessive data transfer. 
     Stated alternatively, the common file transfer application may leverage the appropriate wireless medium (i.e., transport) based upon availability (e.g., USB, WiFi, cellular, etc.). In those cases where a given file type, etc. is prohibited from being transferred over a given medium (e.g., cellular), as will be discussed further below, the request may be parked in a queue. When an appropriate alternative transport medium (e.g., wired or WiFi connection) becomes available, the common file transfer application may then advantageously queue the request and initiate the upload or download automatically. 
     Referring additionally to  FIGS. 4 and 5 , in accordance with another exemplary embodiment the controller  33 ′ may be configured to receive one or more file transfer filters via the wireless transceiver  32 ′ from a wireless communications network, at Blocks  60 - 61 . For example, in the case of a cellular network, the carrier may restrict the transmission of certain file types or sizes based upon file transfer filters. Thus, as the various mobile applications generate electronic download (or upload) file transfer requests, at Block  62 , the controller  33 ′ may selectively download (or upload) requested electronic files responsive to the requests, but based upon the file transfer filters, at Block  63 , thus concluding the method illustrated in  FIG. 5 . That is, the controller  33 ′ may use the filters provided by the carrier, or other filters which may be set by the user or application developer, for example, to prohibit upload or download of requested electronic files if these files do not comply with the filter rules (e.g., they are of a prohibited file type, they exceed a size threshold, etc.). 
     In accordance with one exemplary implementation, a baseline of transport filters (e.g., rules or restrictions) may be carrier-configurable, with some additional controls optionally given to mobile device applications. The additional controls may be more restrictive than the baseline carrier settings, although it may be desirable that the controls are not less restrictive or able to circumvent the intent of the carrier filter. 
     Exemplary components that may be used in various embodiments of the above-described mobile wireless communications device are now described with reference to an exemplary mobile wireless communications device  1000  shown in  FIG. 6 . The device  1000  illustratively includes a housing  1200 , a keypad or keyboard  1400  and an output device  1600 . The output device shown is a display  1600 , which may comprise a full graphic LCD. In some embodiments, display  1600  may comprise a touch-sensitive input and output device. Other types of output devices may alternatively be utilized. A processing device or microprocessor  1800  is contained within the housing  1200  and is coupled between the keypad  1400  and the display  1600 . The processing device  1800  controls the operation of the display  1600 , as well as the overall operation of the mobile device  1000 , in response to actuation of keys on the keypad  1400  by the user. In some embodiments, keypad  1400  may comprise a physical keypad or a virtual keypad (e.g., using a touch-sensitive interface) or both. 
     The housing  1200  may be elongated vertically, or may take on other sizes and shapes (including clamshell housing structures, for example). The keypad  1400  may include a mode selection key, or other hardware or software for switching between text entry and telephony entry. 
     In addition to the processing device  1800 , other parts of the mobile device  1000  are shown schematically in  FIG. 6 . These include a communications subsystem  1001 ; a short-range communications subsystem  1020 ; the keypad  1400  and the display  1600 , along with other input/output devices  1060 ,  1080 ,  1100  and  1120 ; as well as memory devices  1160 ,  1180  and various other device subsystems  1201 . The mobile device  1000  may comprise a two-way RF communications device having voice and data communications capabilities. In addition, the mobile device  1000  may have the capability to communicate with other computer systems via the Internet. 
     Operating system software executed by the processing device  1800  may be stored in a persistent store, such as the flash memory  1160 , but may be stored in other types of memory devices, such as a read only memory (ROM) or similar storage element. In addition, system software, specific device applications, or parts thereof, may be temporarily loaded into a volatile store, such as the random access memory (RAM)  1180 . Communications signals received by the mobile device may also be stored in the RAM  1180 . 
     The processing device  1800 , in addition to its operating system functions, enables execution of software applications or modules  1300 A- 1300 N on the device  1000 , such as software modules for performing various steps or operations. A predetermined set of applications that control basic device operations, such as voice and data communications  1300 A and  1300 B, may be installed on the device  1000  during manufacture. In addition, a personal information manager (PIM) application may be installed during manufacture. The PIM may be capable of organizing and managing data items, such as e-mail, calendar events, voice mails, appointments, and task items. The PIM application may also be capable of sending and receiving data items via a wireless network  1401 . The PIM data items may be seamlessly integrated, synchronized and updated via the wireless network  1401  with the device user&#39;s corresponding data items stored or associated with a host computer system. 
     Communication functions, including data and voice communications, are performed through the communications subsystem  1001 , and possibly through the short-range communications subsystem. The communications subsystem  1001  includes a receiver  1500 , a transmitter  1520 , and one or more antennas  1540  and  1560 . In addition, the communications subsystem  1001  also includes a processing module, such as a digital signal processor (DSP)  1580 , and local oscillators (LOs)  1601 . The specific design and implementation of the communications subsystem  1001  is dependent upon the communications network in which the mobile device  1000  is intended to operate. For example, a mobile device  1000  may include a communications subsystem  1001  designed to operate with the Mobitex™, Data TAC™ or General Packet Radio Service (GPRS) mobile data communications networks, and also designed to operate with any of a variety of voice communications networks, such as AMPS, TDMA, CDMA, WCDMA, PCS, GSM, EDGE, etc. Other types of data and voice networks, both separate and integrated, may also be utilized with the mobile device  1000 . The mobile device  1000  may also be compliant with other communications standards such as GSM, 3G, UMTS, 4G, etc. 
     Network access requirements vary depending upon the type of communications system. For example, in the Mobitex and DataTAC networks, mobile devices are registered on the network using a unique personal identification number or PIN associated with each device. In GPRS networks, however, network access is associated with a subscriber or user of a device. A GPRS device therefore utilizes a subscriber identity module, commonly referred to as a SIM card, in order to operate on a GPRS network. 
     When required network registration or activation procedures have been completed, the mobile device  1000  may send and receive communications signals over the communication network  1401 . Signals received from the communications network  1401  by the antenna  1540  are routed to the receiver  1500 , which provides for signal amplification, frequency down conversion, filtering, channel selection, etc., and may also provide analog to digital conversion. Analog-to-digital conversion of the received signal allows the DSP  1580  to perform more complex communications functions, such as demodulation and decoding. In a similar manner, signals to be transmitted to the network  1401  are processed (e.g. modulated and encoded) by the DSP  1580  and are then provided to the transmitter  1520  for digital to analog conversion, frequency up conversion, filtering, amplification and transmission to the communication network  1401  (or networks) via the antenna  1560 . 
     In addition to processing communications signals, the DSP  1580  provides for control of the receiver  1500  and the transmitter  1520 . For example, gains applied to communications signals in the receiver  1500  and transmitter  1520  may be adaptively controlled through automatic gain control algorithms implemented in the DSP  1580 . 
     In a data communications mode, a received signal, such as a text message or web page download, is processed by the communications subsystem  1001  and is input to the processing device  1800 . The received signal is then further processed by the processing device  1800  for an output to the display  1600 , or alternatively to some other auxiliary I/O device  1060 . A device user may also compose data items, such as e-mail messages, using the keypad  1400  and/or some other auxiliary I/O device  1060 , such as a touchpad, a rocker switch, a thumb-wheel, or some other type of input device. The composed data items may then be transmitted over the communications network  1401  via the communications subsystem  1001 . 
     In a voice communications mode, overall operation of the device is substantially similar to the data communications mode, except that received signals are output to the speaker  1100 , and signals for transmission are generated by the microphone  1120 . Alternative voice or audio I/O subsystems, such as a voice message recording subsystem, may also be implemented on the device  1000 . In addition, the display  1600  may also be utilized in voice communications mode, for example to display the identity of a calling party, the duration of a voice call, or other voice call related information. 
     The short-range communications subsystem enables communication between the mobile device  1000  and other proximate systems or devices, which need not necessarily be similar devices. For example, the short-range communications subsystem may include an infrared device and associated circuits and components, or a Bluetooth™ communications module to provide for communication with similarly-enabled systems and devices. 
     As noted above, the systems, devices, and methods described herein may advantageously download requested electronic files for the different mobile device applications via the wireless transceiver  32  using a common file transfer application responsive to the download electronic file transfer requests. That is, the common file transfer application serves as a central or single file transfer manager. This allows different mobile application developers to use a uniform set of procedures or routines to call for downloading (or uploading), without having to develop a respective file transfer application for each mobile application. Moreover, this provides users with a centralized place to check the status and history of file transfers. Thus, for example, users may monitor file download progress so that a failed download attempt may be re-started, or open a downloaded file without having to navigate though a long list of file folders to determine or access the desired file location. 
     Many modifications and other embodiments will come to the mind of one skilled in the art having the benefit of the teachings presented in the foregoing descriptions and the associated drawings. Therefore, it is understood that the disclosure is not to be limited to the specific embodiments disclosed, and that modifications and embodiments are intended to be included.