Methods and apparatus to integrate mobile communications device management with web browsing

A system comprising:

• a device and a web server coupled together via a wireless link:
• the web server being configured to send, in response to receiving a certain type of hypertext transfer protocol request message from the device during a first type of session, a certain type of hypertext transfer protocol response message towards the device, the hypertext transfer protocol response message comprising a dedicated multipurpose internet mail extensions type indicating that a second type of session is being initiated, the second type of session being identified by an identifier embedded in the hypertext transfer protocol response message;
• said device comprising a device management client configured to reply in the second type of session to the certain type of hypertext transfer protocol response message with a device management session reply that comprises device details and the identifier, where the device details comprise at least one of a device identifier and a firmware identifier;
• where said device management server is configured to use the device details, in cooperation with a workflow manager, to develop a list comprising at least one download option that is descriptive of downloadable information that is compatible with the device details,
• the web server is configured to send the generated list to the device;
• and
• in response to a user selecting the at least one download option from the list, said device management server is configured to deliver downloadable information described by the selected at least one download option to the device during a second type of session.

A method comprising:

• during a first type of session using a first protocol, receiving an inquiry from a device with regard to downloadable information;
• in response to the inquiry, initiating a secure device management wireless dialogue using a second, different client-server protocol with the device to obtain device-specific parameters descriptive of at least certain capabilities of the device, where the device-specific parameters comprise at least one of a device identifier and a firmware identifier;
• generating a list and sending the list to the device, the list comprising at least one entry that is descriptive of downloadable information that is compatible with the device capabilities;
• and
• during the first type of session, in response to a selection of at least one entry from the list, downloading in the second type of session the downloadable information to the device corresponding to the selected at least one entry,
• where initiating the secure device management wireless dialogue with the device uses a hypertext transfer protocol response message that is transmitted in the first type of session and comprises a predetermined multipurpose internet mail extensions type indicating that a second type of session is being initiated, the second type of session being identified by an identifier embedded in the hypertext transfer protocol response message.

A device comprising a user interface and a controller configured to operate with a program to perform operations:

• during a first type of session using a first protocol to send an inquiry with regard to downloadable information;
• in response to receiving a response to the inquiry through a wireless network, to establish a secure second type of session that is a different type of session from the first type of session, using a second, different client-server protocol to send device-specific parameters descriptive of at least certain capabilities of the device, where the device-specific parameters comprise at least one of a device identifier and a firmware identifier;
• to receive in the first type of session a list having at least one entry that is descriptive of downloadable information that is compatible with the device capabilities;
• to receive in the second type of session downloadable information corresponding to at least one entry from the list,
• where establishment of the second type of session is performed in response to receiving in the first type of session a hypertext transfer protocol response message that comprises a predetermined multipurpose internet mail extensions type indicating that the second type of session is being initiated, the second type of session being identified by an identifier embedded in the hypertext transfer protocol response message.

A computer useable memory tangibly embodying a computer readable program, wherein the computer readable program when executed on a computer causes the computer to perform operations, comprising:

• transmitting a certain type of hypertext transfer protocol request message during a first type of session and in response, receiving a certain type of hypertext transfer protocol response message, the certain type of hypertext transfer protocol response message comprising a dedicated multipurpose internet mail extensions type indicating that a second type of session is being initiated, the second type of session being a different type of session from the first type of session, the second type of session being identified by an identifier embedded in the certain type of hypertext transfer protocol response message;
• in response to receiving the certain type of hypertext transfer protocol response message transmitting in the second type of session a device management session reply that comprises device details and the identifier,
• where the device details comprise at least one of a device identifier and a firmware identifier;
• receiving in the first type of session a list comprising at least one download option that is descriptive of downloadable information that is compatible with the device details;
• transmitting a user selection of the at least one download option from the list;
• and
• receiving the selected at least one download option to the device during a second type of session,
• where the first type of session is used for communication between a web server and a web browser running on the device and the second type of session is used for communication between a device management server and a device management client running on the device.