Patent ID: 7181606

Claim:
A portable electronic device that is remotely reprogrammable through a communications network, the portable electronic device comprising: a communications port for electronically connecting the portable electronic device to a first electronic device that is separate and distinct from the portable electronic device, wherein communication between the portable electronic device and the first electronic device is accomplished through a first communication path; a data transceiver for transmitting send data to and receiving receive data from a second electronic device over a communications network, wherein the second electronic device is remote from the portable electronic device, wherein communication between the portable electronic device and the second electronic device is accomplished through a second communication path and wherein the first communication path is distinct from the second communication path; a processor in electronic communication with the communications port for communicating through the communications port with the first electronic device, the processor also being in electronic communication with the data transceiver for communications with the remote second electronic device over the communications network; and reprogrammable memory programmed with instructions to cause the portable electronic device to receive new program code from the remote second electronic device over the communications network and to reprogram the reprogrammable memory with the new program code for communicating with the first electronic device through the communications port and through the first communication path and not through the second communication path.