US 8,204,519 B2Granted

Methods and apparatus for updating a communications device using SMS messages

AssigneeDyna LLC

InventorsBrian Thomas Richardson, Arlene Joy Harris, Virginia Ellen Beneke, Mary Cozza, Michael S. Dawes, Susan M. Duthie

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Abstract

Method and apparatus for using text messages, e.g., SMS messages, to trigger a device update and/or to update a communications device, e.g., cell phone, are described. The cell phone can be updated/programmed from a remote device. The updating can use SMS messages to accomplish the update. An SMS message may include a command and, optionally, other update information in the message body. Received SMS messages are checked to determine if they include an update command. If an update command is present the command is performed after a security check is satisfied. In some but not necessarily all embodiments, a simplified user interface is supported in addition to SMS update features.

Claims12

Dependent claims

A method of operating a portable communications device to perform an update operation, the method comprising:

receiving an SMS message including a header portion and a message body portion;
determining if the SMS message is a text message intended to be displayed to a user of the device or is a device update message, said determining if the SMS message is a text message or is a device update message including checking the body portion of the SMS message for a service control message indicator included at a predetermined location in the body portion of said SMS message;
if the SMS message is determined to be a device update message:
omitting the SMS message from an inbox of said user;
and
performing an update operation as a function of the content of the body portion of said received SMS message without displaying the full content of the body portion of said SMS message, said SMS message including in said body portion an update command and information to be used when implementing said update command, said performing an update operation including performing the commanded update operation using said information;
wherein said update command is a command to update a phonebook application;
and
wherein said performing an update operation includes storing information included in the body portion of the SMS message in memory as part of a new entry in said phone book;
and
if said SMS message is not determined to be a device update message:
displaying a text message included in said received SMS message to said user of said device.

9 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Facts

Application: 11/452,099Filed 13 Jun 2006 · us provisional application
Priority: 13 Jun 2005
Published: US 2007/0087765 A119 Apr 2007
Granted: 19 Jun 2012
Term ends: Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification5 codes

H04L 41/082
Characterised by the conditions triggering a change of settings: the condition being updates or upgrades of network functionality
H04W 4/14
Messaging; Mailboxes; Announcements: short messaging services, e.g. short message services [SMS] or unstructured supplementary service data [USSD]
H04W 8/245
Transfer of terminal data: from a network towards a terminal
H04L
Digital communication

Family

Application60/690,556Us provisional application · filed 13 Jun 2005
Application60/690,357Us provisional application · filed 13 Jun 2005
Application60/690,356Us provisional application · filed 13 Jun 2005
US 2007/0087765 A1Pre-grant publication · published 19 Apr 2007
US 8,204,519 B2This patent

From the US filing history. Foreign family members aren’t listed.