Patent Abstract:
A system and method of operating a mobile phone accessory communicable with a mobile phone. The present invention dynamically loads software into a mobile phone from a mobile phone accessory to enable better management of the accessory&#39;s resources and capabilities. After a communication link is established between the mobile phone and mobile phone accessory, both devices exchange information to determine the appropriate software to transfer. A verification process then ensures that the mobile phone and mobile phone accessory are authorized to receive and transfer software, respectively. Subsequently, software is transferred from the mobile phone accessory to be stored in the mobile phone. The mobile phone is capable of executing the downloaded software. Specifically, the mobile phone contains the necessary API(s) and processor hardware needed to run a variety of software.

Full Description:
BACKGROUND OF INVENTION 
   The present invention generally relates to mobile phone accessory management, and more specifically to management of the capabilities and resources of a mobile phone accessory through dynamic software loading. 
   When a mobile phone accessory is connected to a mobile phone, the user interface of the mobile phone typically needs to change to allow the user to exploit the additional capabilities offered by the mobile phone accessory. For example, a digital camera accessory will require additional user interface features for taking, viewing, and storing pictures. Ultimately, the mobile phone software may require modification to allow the user to manage the resources associated with the mobile phone accessory or to manage the mobile phone accessory itself. New or updated mobile phone software could add the functionality a mobile phone needs to take full advantage of the accessory. For example, mobile phone software may not initially enable pictures to be attached to emails; however, connecting a digital camera accessory to a mobile phone would necessitate the addition of such a feature. 
   Mobile phone accessories are often developed subsequent to the production of a mobile phone. Interaction between a mobile phone and a mobile phone accessory, as well as management of the mobile phone accessory itself, is typically restricted to pre-existing fixed menu structures and menu options already loaded into the mobile phone. Thus, support for the mobile phone accessory may be limited since the mobile phone was produced without knowledge of the subsequently developed mobile phone accessory. 
   With today&#39;s advanced mobile phone accessories, it is desirable to use a more flexible means of ensuring interaction between the mobile phone and a mobile phone accessory and to more fully realize the capabilities of the mobile phone accessory. Further, it is desirable to perform actions with the mobile phone accessory that are not conventionally associated with menu functions and to take advantage of the graphical user interface of a mobile phone. A higher level of security may also be exploited to effectively manage the extended capabilities. 
   SUMMARY OF INVENTION 
   The present invention provides a method of operating a mobile phone accessory communicable with a mobile phone. The method dynamically loads software into a mobile phone from a mobile phone accessory such that the software can be independently executed on the mobile phone platform. Dynamic software loading facilitates full resource realization by not limiting the operation and management of the mobile phone accessory to a pre-existing menu structure and mode of operation already residing in the mobile phone. As a result, the mobile phone is essentially converted into a differently operable and more capable device through the dynamic software loading process. 
   After a communication link is established between the mobile phone and mobile phone accessory, both devices exchange identification and configuration data to determine the appropriate software to transfer. Data pertaining to the software residing in the mobile phone accessory and the ability of the mobile phone to execute the software is shared. A verification process ensures that the mobile phone and mobile phone accessory are authorized to receive and transfer software, respectively. A software program or module is transferred or downloaded from the mobile phone accessory to be stored in the mobile phone. The mobile phone can then execute the downloaded program. Specifically, the mobile phone platform contains application program interfaces (APIs) and processor hardware capable of running a variety of different software programs or modules. The above mentioned APIs allow the software to perform functions using the existing hardware and software in the mobile phone, such as the display, speakers, keypad, etc. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS 
       FIG. 1  is a block diagram illustrating functional components of the present invention. 
       FIG. 2  is a flowchart illustrating a process for downloading software from a mobile phone accessory to a mobile phone. 
   

   DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     FIG. 1  illustrates a mobile phone  100  and a mobile phone accessory  105  according to one embodiment of the present invention. For ease of illustration, not all of the components of mobile phone  100  or mobile phone accessory  105  have been shown. Mobile phone  100  and mobile phone accessory  105  both include a physical communication layer  110 . The physical communication layers  110  are capable of establishing a communication link between mobile phone  100  and mobile phone accessory  105 . The communication link can be a wireless radio frequency (RF), cabled, or optical link among others. The communication link facilitates communication between mobile phone  100  and mobile phone accessory  105  providing a means for effecting a software transfer. 
   Mobile phone  100  further includes an accessory interaction handler  115 . The accessory interaction handler  115  communicates data pertaining to mobile phone  100  to mobile phone accessory  105 . Specifically, accessory interaction handler  115  communicates data to mobile phone accessory  105  that is useful in determining the appropriate software to transfer from mobile phone accessory  105  to mobile phone  100 . Such data can include, for instance, the hardware and software capabilities and characteristics of mobile phone  100 . 
   The accessory interaction handler  115  is responsible for verifying that mobile phone accessory  105  is authorized to transfer software to mobile phone  100 . After a transfer of software from mobile phone accessory  105  to the mobile phone  100 , the accessory interaction handler  115  can verify that the software is licensed by the mobile phone manufacturer or its authorized agent for use on mobile phone  100 . This step may be performed by embedding data within the software to identify its origin and credentials or by attaching a certificate to the software containing similar data. Further, the accessory interaction handler  115  can verify that the software has not been modified or corrupted since its initial creation. This step may be performed using data, either embedded in the software or attached as a certificate to the software, that verifies the consistency of the program. Such data may include, but is not limited to, a checksum or size check. 
   Mobile phone accessory  105  includes a corresponding phone interaction handler  120 . The phone interaction handler  120  communicates data pertaining to mobile phone accessory  105  to mobile phone  100 . Specifically, phone interaction handler  120  communicates data regarding the software that mobile phone accessory  105  is capable of transferring to mobile phone  100 . Such information can include an accounting of the different types and versions of software available for transfer to mobile phone  100 . 
   The phone interaction handler  120  is also capable of verifying that mobile phone  100  is authorized to receive software from mobile phone accessory  105 . Specifically, phone interaction handler  120  can ensure that unlicensed software can not be transferred to mobile phone  100  or that otherwise protected software can not be transferred to an unauthorized mobile phone. If any of the previously mentioned verification or authorization steps fail, then a software transfer is aborted. An error message can be shown on the display of mobile phone  100  indicating why the software transfer was aborted. 
   Mobile phone accessory  105  further includes storage for software  122  related to the operation of mobile phone accessory  105 . The software  122  can be in many forms and may include, but is not limited to, Java scripts, HTML pages, XML scripts, BREW scripts, C++ scripts, or native applications specific to a particular mobile phone  100 . Multiple forms can accommodate varying cellular platforms such as Code Division Multiple Access (CDMA) or Global System for Mobile Communications (GSM). Further, mobile phone accessory  105  may store multiple copies of software  122  written in different programming languages and in different versions to ensure compatibility with a variety of mobile phones from a variety of manufacturers. 
   Based on the features and capabilities of the currently connected mobile phone  100 , phone interaction handler  120  can select the software  122  best suited for a particular mobile phone  100 . Features of mobile phone  100  which may affect the software selection process include, but are not limited to, the existence of a keyboard on mobile phone  100 , the software currently loaded in mobile phone  100 , or the display characteristics and type of mobile phone  100 . Display characteristics include the size, resolution, whether or not the display is color or monochrome, and color depth. 
   Mobile phone  100  further includes sufficient storage  125  for receiving transferred software. Mobile phone  100  is also equipped with a processor  130  for executing software and a variety of APIs  135  to ensure usability with a variety of mobile phone accessories. 
     FIG. 2  illustrates the process of dynamic software loading from mobile phone accessory to mobile phone. First, the mobile phone and mobile phone accessory enter into a stage of device discovery. Device discovery begins with the establishment of any suitable communication link  205  between the two devices. This can be achieved using a wireless RF link such as Bluetooth™, and optical link such as infrared, or a cabled link. Device discovery encompasses both devices identifying themselves  210 ,  215  to one another. Device discovery may include manual steps initiated by the user or may be automatic. 
   Identification of the mobile phone to the mobile phone accessory  210  entails communicating to the mobile phone accessory that the mobile phone is capable of receiving stored software from the mobile phone accessory. Further, the mobile phone shares information regarding its hardware and software capabilities and characteristics useful for determining the appropriate software for transfer. For example, the mobile phone communicates information concerning its functional capabilities (such as display feature information and what software it is capable of executing), identity (such as software version information), and type (such as manufacturer and model information). 
   Likewise, identification of the mobile phone accessory to the mobile phone  215  entails communicating to the mobile phone that the mobile phone accessory is capable of transferring stored software to the mobile phone. Further, the mobile phone accessory shares information regarding its identity and type along with an accounting of the software it contains. 
   Device discovery is completed when the mobile phone and mobile phone accessory determine: (a) what software will be downloaded from the mobile phone accessory to the mobile phone; (b) which method of authentication, if any, will be used to verify that the mobile phone and mobile phone accessory are authorized to receive and transfer software, respectively; and (c) which method of encryption, if any, will be used to transfer the software. 
   After device discovery, the mobile phone ensures that the mobile phone accessory is authorized to transfer software to the mobile phone  220 . Likewise, the mobile phone accessory must ensure that the mobile phone is authorized to receive software from the mobile phone accessory  225 . This is termed device authentication. Authentication may be performed using one of a number of publicly available methods such as, for instance, Public Key Infrastructure (PKI), using a proprietary method developed as part of the dynamic software loading feature, or using a proprietary method developed by a mobile phone (or mobile phone accessory) manufacturer and made available to a mobile phone accessory (or mobile phone) manufacturer. 
   After mutual device authentication  220 ,  225  occurs, transfer of the software  230  from the mobile phone accessory to the mobile phone can take place. The software may be encrypted prior to transfer to provide further security. Encryption may be performed using one of a number of publicly available methods such as, for instance, Data Encryption Standard (DES), using a proprietary method developed as part of the dynamic software loading feature, or using a proprietary method developed by a mobile phone (or mobile phone accessory) manufacturer and made available to a mobile phone accessory (or mobile phone) manufacturer. 
   After receiving and storing the software from the mobile phone accessory, the mobile phone then verifies the authenticity of the software  235 . Specifically, the mobile phone verifies that the mobile phone manufacturer has licensed the software to be used on the mobile phone. This step can be performed by examining data embedded within the software itself or contained within a certificate attached to the software. Such data can identify the origin and credentials of the software. The mobile phone can then compare this data against acceptable values or certificates stored within the mobile phone itself or can perform additional steps to complete PKI verification. The mobile phone can also implement a security check to ensure the software has not been modified or tampered with since its original creation. This step may be performed using data, either embedded in the software or attached as a certificate to the software, that verifies the consistency of the program. Such data may include, but is not limited to, a checksum or size check. The mobile phone can re-create the verification data based on the software it has received. The re-created verification data can then be compared to the transferred verification data delivered via secure means to determine the authenticity and integrity of the transferred software. 
   Specific embodiments of an invention are disclosed herein. One of ordinary skill in the art will readily recognize that the invention may have other applications in other environments. In fact, many embodiments and implementations are possible. The following claims are in no way intended to limit the scope of the present invention to the specific embodiments described above. In addition, any recitation of means for is intended to evoke a means-plus-function reading of an element and a claim, whereas, any elements that do not specifically use the recitation means for, are not intended to be read as means-plus-function elements, even if the claim otherwise includes the word means.

Technology Classification (CPC): 7