Remote synchronization with intelligent power management
AssigneeSiemens Information and Communication Networks, Inc.
InventorsWilliam Joseph Beyda, Shmuel Shaffer
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Synchronization techniques that improve the ease with which synchronization operations can be performed are disclosed. Synchronization is performed between resources on a portable computing device and resources stored on a remote server. The synchronization can be centralized across different types so that user interaction to achieve the different types of synchronization is minimal. Battery power can also be conserved during synchronization. A user can also be informed as to when the portable computing device should be shut-down or placed in a low-power state to have sufficient battery power remaining to perform the synchronization. The synchronization operations can be easily activated without much user interaction.
Claims36
A method for synchronizing resources between a portable computing device and a remote synchronization server, said method comprising:
- centrally tracking synchronization events on the portable computing device, the synchronization events pertaining to multiple applications;
- determining whether synchronization is to be performed;
- and
- a telephone line detection circuit within said portable computing device, said telephone line detection circuit detects with a telephone line is coupled to said portable computing device, and the synchronization request is automatically caused by said telephone line detection circuit,
- when said determining indicates that synchronization is to be performed, then respectively sending synchronization information pertaining to the synchronization events tracked to the remote synchronization server, and thereafter distributing the synchronization information to appropriate destination application servers where synchronization operations are separately performed, the destination application servers being associated with the multiple applications.
A system for synchronization of a portable computing device with remotely located resources, said system comprising:
- local resources stored on the portable computing device;
- a synchronization client on the portable computing device that logs changes to said local resources;
- a remote destination server that stores remote resources, at least a portion of said local resources being copies of said remote resources;
- a synchronization server that communicates with said synchronization client to synchronize those of said remote resources that correspond to said local resources that have been logged as being changed by said synchronization client, wherein the synchronization is initiated by said synchronization client when a synchronization request is received;
- a plurality of remote destination servers that each store remote resources, at least a portion of the local resources on each of said remote destination servers are copies of said remote resources;
- and
- a telephone line detection circuit within said portable computing device, said telephone line detection circuit detects with a telephone line is coupled to said portable computing device,
- wherein the synchronization request is automatically caused by said telephone line detection circuit.
A method for notifying a user of a portable computing device that shut-down should occur to permit synchronization of the portable computing device with remote resources, the portable computing device including a battery, said method comprises:
- determining an estimated battery life for the battery when continuing to power the portable computing device from the battery;
- determining an estimated synchronization time for synchronization of the portable computing device with the remote resources;
- determining an available usage time based on the estimated synchronization time and the estimated battery life;
- and
- displaying an indication of the available usage time.
A portable computing device, comprising:
- a display device;
- a memory device, said memory device stores a computer program to provide synchronization processing;
- a processor for executing the computer program to provide the synchronization processing;
- a modem, said modem operates to provide communications over a telephone line when activated;
- and
- a telephone line detection circuit operatively connected to said modem and said processor, said telephone line detection circuit operates to detect the existence of the connection of said modem to the telephone line,
- wherein when said telephone line detection circuit detects the existence of the connection of said modem to the telephone line, said telephone line detection circuit informs said processor and in response said processor activates the synchronization processing.
A method for synchronizing resources between a portable computing device and a remote synchronization server, the remote synchronization server having at least a first application server and a second application server coupled thereto, wherein the portable computing device including a battery to provide battery-power to the portable computing device, said method comprising:
- centrally tracking synchronization events on the portable computing device, the synchronization events pertaining to multiple applications;
- determining whether synchronization is to be performed;
- estimating synchronization time needed to perform at least said sending of the first and second synchronization information;
- monitoring available battery-power of the battery;
- and
- providing a warning to the user of the portable computing device before the available battery-power is less than an amount of power needed to power the remote computing device for the estimated synchronization time,
- when said determining indicates that synchronization is to be performed, then producing first and second synchronization information pertaining to the synchronization events tracked and sending the first and second synchronization information to the remote synchronization server, and thereafter distributing the first synchronization information to the first application server where synchronization operations are performed therefor and distributing the second synchronization information to the second application server where synchronization operations are performed therefor.
A system for synchronization of a portable computing device with remotely located resources, said system comprising:
- local resources stored on the portable computing device;
- a synchronization client on the portable computing device that logs changes to said local resources;
- a remote destination server that stores remote resources, at least a portion of said local resources being copies of said remote resources;
- a synchronization server that communicates with said synchronization client to synchronize those of said remote resources that correspond to said local resources that have been logged as being changed by said synchronization client;
- a plurality of remote destination servers that each store remote resources, at least a portion of the local resources on each of said remote destination servers are copies of said remote resources;
- a power monitoring unit within said portable computing device, said portable computing device monitors available battery power from a battery used to power said portable computing device;
- and
- a warning message unit within said portable computing device, said warning message unit operates to display a warning message on a display device of said portable computing device to inform a user that continued use of the portable computing device beyond a predetermined amount of time will impair the ability for the synchronization to occur under battery power.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.