U.S. patent application number 10/085486 was filed with the patent office on 2002-09-05 for method and system for pushing e-mails to a mobile device.
This patent application is currently assigned to Koninklijke KPN N.V.. Invention is credited to Bastiaansen, Marc-Jan, De Graaf, Wilbert Ludovicus Johanna Maria, Rancuret, Arnoldus Johannes Paulus, Sissing, Jan Johannes, Snip, Jan Gerard, Van De Vlag, Hendrik Antonius Bernard, Van Steenbergen, Ate Sander.
Application Number | 20020123328 10/085486 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 27351237 |
Filed Date | 2002-09-05 |
United States Patent
Application |
20020123328 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Snip, Jan Gerard ; et
al. |
September 5, 2002 |
Method and system for pushing e-mails to a mobile device
Abstract
Method of and system for transferring a message stored in a
computer arrangement (12) to a switched-n mobile device (17(i)),
with the following steps:: transmitting an alert message from said
computer arrangement (12) to said mobile device (17(i)) via a first
mobile network (19); transmitting said message from said computer
arrangement (12) to said mobile device (17(i)) upon request from
said mobile device (17(i)) via a second mobile network (15).
Inventors: |
Snip, Jan Gerard;
(Zoeterwoude-Dorp, NL) ; Rancuret, Arnoldus Johannes
Paulus; (The Hague, NL) ; Van De Vlag, Hendrik
Antonius Bernard; (The Hague, NL) ; Bastiaansen,
Marc-Jan; (Rijswijk, NL) ; De Graaf, Wilbert
Ludovicus Johanna Maria; (Almelo, NL) ; Van
Steenbergen, Ate Sander; (Groningen, NL) ; Sissing,
Jan Johannes; (Leeuwarden, NL) |
Correspondence
Address: |
MICHAELSON AND WALLACE
PARKWAY 109 OFFICE CENTER
328 NEWMAN SPRINGS RD
P O BOX 8489
RED BANK
NJ
07701
|
Assignee: |
Koninklijke KPN N.V.
|
Family ID: |
27351237 |
Appl. No.: |
10/085486 |
Filed: |
February 28, 2002 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
455/413 ;
455/412.2 |
Current CPC
Class: |
H04L 51/224 20220501;
H04L 67/34 20130101; H04L 12/5692 20130101; H04L 69/329 20130101;
H04L 67/14 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
455/413 ;
455/412; 455/426 |
International
Class: |
H04M 011/10 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Aug 30, 2000 |
NL |
1016053 |
Sep 13, 2000 |
NL |
1016167 |
Jan 24, 2001 |
NL |
1017189 |
Claims
1. Method of transferring a message stored in a computer
arrangement (12) to a mobile device (17(i)), comprising:
transmitting an alert message from said computer arrangement (12)
to said mobile device (17(i)) via a first network (19);
transmitting said message stored in said computer arrangement (12)
to said mobile device (17(i)) upon request from said mobile device
(17(i)) via a second network (15); wherein both said first and
second networks being mobile networks (15, 19).
2. Method according to claim 1 comprising the step establishing an
on-line connection between said computer arrangement (12) and said
mobile device (17(i)).
3. Method according to claim 1, wherein said first network (19) is
arranged to utilize a first protocol and wherein said second
network (15) is arranged to utilize a second protocol.
4. Method according to claim 3, comprising sending said message
from said computer arrangement (12) to a protocol translator (14)
using a third protocol, translating said message in said third
protocol to a message in said second protocol before transmission
to said mobile device (17(i)).
5. Method according to claim 1, wherein said computer arrangement
is an e-mail server (12).
6. Method according to claim 5, wherein said message is an e-mail
message.
7. Method according to claim 1, wherein said second protocol is
HTTP.
8. Method according to claim 1, wherein said second wireless
network (15) is either GPRS or UMTS.
9. Method according to claim 1, wherein said first wireless network
is GSM.
10. Method according to claim 1, comprising establishing an on-line
connection between said computer arrangement (12) and said mobile
device (17(i)) either automatically by said mobile device (17(i))
or by said mobile device (17(i)) after being instructed to do so by
a user of the mobile device (17(i)).
11. Communication system comprising a computer arrangement storing
a message in a memory and arranged to transmit said message to a
switched-on mobile device (17(i)), said computer arrangement being
arranged to: transmitting an alert message from said computer
arrangement (12) to said mobile device (17(i)) via a first network
(19); transmitting said message from said computer arrangement (12)
to said mobile device (17(i)) upon request from said mobile device
(17(i)) via a second network (15); wherein said first and second
networks are mobile networks (15, 19).
12. Communication system according to claim 11 arranged to
establish an on-line connection between said computer arrangement
(12) and said mobile device (17(i)).
13. Communication system according to claim 11, wherein said first
network (19) is arranged to utilize a first protocol and wherein
said second network (15) is arranged to utilize a second
protocol.
14. Communication system according to claim 13, comprising a
protocol translator (14), wherein said computer arrangement (12) is
arranged to send said message to said protocol translator (14)
using a third protocol and said protocol translator is arranged to
translate said message in said third protocol to a message in said
second protocol before transmission to said mobile device
(17(i)).
15. Communication system according to claim 14, wherein said
protocol translator (14) is included in the computer arrangement
(12).
16. Communication system according to claim 12, wherein said
computer arrangement is an e-mail server (12).
17. Communication system according to claim 16, wherein said
message is an e-mail stored at the e-mail server (12).
18. Communication system according to claim 12, wherein the system
comprises a gateway (18) between the computer arrangement (12) and
the first and second mobile networks (15, 19).
19. Communication system according to claim 18, wherein, in
operation, the computer arrangement (12), upon receiving said
message, establishes a PAP message and transmits this PAP message
via a PAP protocol to said gateway (18), and the gateway (18), upon
receiving said PAP message, generates an SMS message for said
mobile device (17(i)) including said alert message.
20. Communication system according to claim 12, wherein the system
comprises at least one mobile device (17(i)).
21. Communication system according to claim 20, wherein said mobile
device (17(i)) is arranged to generate an HTTP get message upon
receiving said alert message, either automatically or after having
received an instruction to that effect from a user of the mobile
device (17(i)).
22. Communication system according to claim 21, wherein said
protocol translator (14) is arranged to translate said message to a
HTTP reply message.
23. Mobile device arranged to receive an alert message through a
first mobile network (15), to automatically generate a HTTP get
message, to transmit the HTTP get message to a computer arrangement
(12) storing a message for the mobile device (17(i)) and to receive
the message from said computer arrangement (12) as a HTTP reply
message.
Description
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0001] The invention relates to a method and a system for
activating a local terminal connectable to a first network.
BACKGROUND AND PROBLEM DEFINITION
[0002] It is known that a server of, for example, an "Internet
Service Provider" (ISP) can announce to a user of a mobile device
who is logging in or has already logged in that there is new
e-mail, news, or other items for that user. Another possibility is
that the user, after logging in to the server, asks if any new
items have arrived. This can be done using, e.g., the "Wireless
Application Protocol" (WAP).
[0003] All this is, however, normally only possible if there is an
actual connection with the server. If a user wishes to be notified
as soon as any new mail etc. arrives on the server, this is only
possible if there is a continuous or very frequently established
connection between the mobile device and the server. This means
that the user must regularly establish a connection with the server
in order to check whether any mail, messages, updates, etc. are
present on the server. Since this will often not be the case,
however, this procedure is both inefficient and costly both for the
users and for the service provider. Of course, keeping a connection
open continuously is even more expensive for residential and small
business users. There is a desire in the market for an alerting
system and method for alerting a user of a mobile device, e.g., a
mobile telephone, a laptop, a Personal Digital Agent (PDA), an
organizer, etc., using a wireless communication protocol, that an
e-mail has arrived at an e-mail server. Here, e-mail is to be
understood in a broad sense, i.e., as including any type of
electronically transmittable mail, including e.g. facsimiles.
[0004] U.S. Pat. No. 6,205,330 B1 discloses a system and a method
for alerting a mobile device that an e-mail has arrived at a mail
server. The server is connected to a mobile network, such as the
GSM (Global System for Mobile Communication) network and to a
network, e.g. the Internet, arranged to transmit e-mail messages.
The server stores e-mails addressed to the mobile device
subscriber. Upon receiving an e-mail, the server establishes an SMS
message including an agent having a reference to the e-mail and to
the server. The server transmits this SMS message through an SMS
gateway via the mobile network to the mobile device. In a main
embodiment, the mobile device prompted by the received SMS message
displays a message to the subscriber to connect the mobile device
to a Personal Computer (PC), e.g., via a PCMCIA (Personal Computer
Memory Card International Association) connection. After having
established this connection, the SMS message is sent to the PC
which runs a special program to process the SMS message. The
program replies by establishing a request sent to the e-mail server
via the mobile device. Upon receiving the request, the e-mail
server sends the stored e-mail to the PC via both the SMS gateway
and the mobile device using an SMS protocol. In an embodiment, the
functionality of the PC may be included in a computer included in
the mobile device. A disadvantage of this known technique is that
the e-mail message is sent to the PC via the SMS gateway using the
SMS protocol, preventing e-mail messages to be sent to the mobile
device with a high rate.
[0005] PCT/EP01/09988 of the present applicant, not published prior
to the priority date of the present application, discloses a method
and system for activation of a local terminal. The local terminal
is, for instance, a PC that is, normally, not connected to an
e-mail server (or any other kind of remote server). An additional
unit is provided, that may be a separate unit or a unit included in
the terminal and that is always accessible for the server and
arranged to communicate with the terminal. Upon receiving a
message, e.g. an e-mail, addressed to the terminal the server
establishes an alerting message including an activation code. The
alerting message is sent to the additional unit via a predetermined
network and, then, upon receipt thereof, the additional unit
activates the terminal. The activated terminal establishes a
connection with the server via another network for receiving the
stored message. The terminal can be a mobile device and the message
stored by the server can be an e-mail. However, this document does
not refer to situations in which the mobile is connected to two
mobile networks. Moreover, it does not refer to situations in which
messages stored by the server cannot be transmitted to the terminal
via the other network directly when the e-mail client of the
terminal does not support a transmission protocol related to that
server, e.g., POP3. Moreover, this document (PCT/EP01/09988) does
not refer to situations, where one of the wireless networks
supports transport of the stored message but does not support push
functionality, and the other wireless network supports push
functionality.
SUMMARY
[0006] The present invention provides, in a first embodiment, an
extension of the general idea of PCT/EP01/09988 to situations in
which there are two mobile networks. In embodiments, the other
problems referred to are solved.
[0007] To that end, the invention provides a method of transferring
a message stored in a computer arrangement to a switched-on mobile
device, comprising:
[0008] transmitting an alert message from said computer arrangement
to said mobile device via a first network;
[0009] transmitting said message from said computer arrangement to
said mobile device upon request from said mobile device via a
second network;
[0010] both said first and second networks being mobile
networks.
[0011] An intermediate step may be establishing an on-line
connection between said computer arrangement and said mobile
device;
[0012] The first network may be arranged to utilise a first
protocol, the second network may be arranged to use a second
protocol.
[0013] In an embodiment, the method may comprise sending said
message from said computer arrangement to a protocol translator
using a third protocol, translating said message in said third
protocol to a message in said second protocol before transmission
to said mobile device.
[0014] The method is especially applicable in case the computer
arrangement is an email server and the message is an e-mail
message.
[0015] In an embodiment, the second protocol is HTTP.
[0016] Examples of the second wireless network are either GPRS or
UMTS, whereas the first wireless network may be GMS.
[0017] The invention also relates to a communication system
comprising a computer arrangement storing a message in a memory and
arranged to transmit said message to a switched-on mobile device,
said computer arrangement being arranged to:
[0018] transmitting an alert message from said computer arrangement
to said mobile device via a first network using a first
protocol;
[0019] waiting for an on-line connection to be established between
said computer arrangement and said mobile device;
[0020] transmitting said message from said computer arrangement to
said mobile device upon request from said mobile device via a
second network using a second protocol;
[0021] both said first and second networks being mobile
networks.
[0022] The invention also relates to, a mobile device arranged to
receive an alert message through a first mobile network, to
automatically generate a HTTP get message, to transmit the HTTP get
message to a computer arrangement storing a message for the mobile
device and to receive the message from said computer arrangement as
a HTTP reply message.
[0023] The invention will now be described in more detail with
reference to a working example of a system architecture that is
suitable for performing the method according to the invention.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0024] FIG. 1 shows a schematic example of a system architecture
according to PCT/EP01/09988.
[0025] FIG. 2 shows a schematic example of the system architecture
according to an embodiment of the invention.
[0026] FIG. 3 shows a flow diagram explaining the operation of the
invention;
[0027] FIG. 4 shows an embodiment of a computer arrangement that
can be used in the invention.
DESCRIPTION
[0028] For the purpose of teaching the invention, preferred
embodiments of the method and devices of the invention are
described in the sequel. It will be apparent to the person skilled
in the art that other alternative and equivalent embodiments of the
invention can be conceived and reduced to practice without
departing from the true spirit of the invention, the scope of the
invention being only limited by the claims as finally granted.
[0029] Now, the invention will be explained in detail, starting
with a description of FIG. 1 that is also explained in
PCT/EP01/09988 and not part of the present invention.
[0030] FIG. 1 shows a system for activating a local
"Non-permanently Accessible" terminal 7 connectable to a first
network 1, e.g. the Internet. The terminal 7 is called
"Non-permanently Accessible" since most terminals like PC's do not
have a permanent on-line connection with networks like the
Internet. A local "Permanently Accessible" activation module 6 is
connected to a second network 5 (e.g. PSTN or ISDN) on the one hand
and to the local terminal 7 on the other hand. This activation
module 6 is called "Permanently Accessible" since it has an on-line
connection with the second network 5. The activation module 6,
after receiving an activation code (a) via second network 5,
activates the terminal 7 via an activation signal (b). This
activation can refer to a variety of things, for example control
via the terminal 7 of (household) equipment, etc. In particular,
however, the activation module 6 (subsequently) activates a
connection between the local terminal 7 and a server 2 (c) via the
first network 1, which server 2 further activates or controls or
communicates with the terminal 7. The second network 5 passes on to
the activation module 6 an identifier ("Calling Line
Identifier"--CLI) of a node 8 via which the server 2 connects to
the second network 5. The activation module 6 records this
identifier (CLI) and activates the terminal 7 in accordance with
the value of the CLI.
[0031] The server 2 comprises means, represented by selection means
4, for - via various network nodes, each with different identifiers
(CLIs)--connecting to the second network 5, with the aim of
activating the activation module 6 and indirectly the terminal 7 in
various ways, in accordance with the value of the CLI recorded by
the activation module 6.
[0032] The first network 1 and the second network 5 can in
principle be completely separate networks. The first network 1 and
the second network 5 can, however, also belong (in part) to the
same physical network. In general, this latter possibility is
usually the case: for residential use, the internet 1 is usually
accessed via a PSTN or ISDN connection, via a PSTN or ISDN modem 3
and an ISP (not shown).
[0033] In an embodiment of FIG. 1, the terminal 7 could be a mobile
device such as a mobile telephone.
[0034] The activation code (a) transmitted to the activation module
6 could comprise a further message, e.g., an SMS (Short Message
Service) message that can be read by terminal 7 after being
activated, whereas the first network 1 may be used to transmit
email messages stored in the server 2 to terminal 7 after the
terminal is activated and has send a request to that effect to the
server 2.
[0035] However, the mechanism as explained with reference to FIG. 1
cannot be used under all circumstances. E.g., when terminal 7 is a
mobile device supporting an Internet protocol, like WAP or I-mode,
and the system is arranged to support wireless communications
between the server and the mobile device using GPRS, e-mail
messages stored in server 2 cannot simply be pushed to the mobile
device since GPRS does not, e.g., support I-mode. The invention
solves this problem, as will be explained with reference to FIG.
2.
[0036] FIG. 2 shows an embodiment of architecture for performing
the present invention. FIG. 2 shows an e-mail server 12. The e-mail
server 12 is connected to the Internet 11. Through this connection,
the e-mail server 12 is able to receive e-mails in an SMTP protocol
through the Internet 11. The connection between the e-mail server
12 and the Internet 11 is drawn as a fixed connection. However, the
connection may alternatively be wireless. The same applies to all
other connections that are drawn as fixed connections in FIG.
2.
[0037] The Internet 11 is connected to other terminals 13(1),
13(2), . . . . These other terminals 13(1), 13(2), . . . may be
servers, personal computers, etc. able to send e-mails to the
e-mail server 12 through the Internet 11.
[0038] Such e-mails may also be transmitted to the e-mail server 12
from mobile devices 17(3), 17(4). Such mobile devices will use a
mobile network to transmit the e-mails through the Internet 11 to
the e-mail server 12. For the sake of simplicity, such a mobile
network is not drawn at the upper part of FIG. 2. The mobile
devices 17(3), 17(4), are shown to be a mobile telephone. However,
instead of being a mobile telephone, the mobile devices 17(3),
17(4) can be any other known (or yet to be developed) mobile
device, such as a pager, a personal digital agent (PDA), a laptop
with mobile communication facilities, etc.
[0039] The e-mail server 12 is connected to a gateway 18 which in
turn is connected to 2 mobile networks 15 and 19 and to the
Internet 11. One of the networks can be a data network like e.g.
GPRS or UMTS,, while the other wireless network can be of another
type, like e.g. circuit switched network like GSM. The mobile
networks 15 and 19 comprise all kinds of telecommunication hardware
and software for performing mobile telecommunication, as is known
to a person skilled in the art. Since the present invention is not
directed to this part of the architecture of FIG. 2, no further
details will be given. However, the invention is in no way
restricted to some specific kind of hardware software for building
such mobile networks 15, 19.
[0040] FIG. 2 also shows mobile devices 17(1), 17(2). Again, these
mobile devices 17(1), 17(2) are shown be mobile telephones.
However, they can be any other type of mobile devices as already
explained above with reference to mobile devices 17(3), 17(4).
Since there may be any number of mobile devices, below they will be
indicated with "17(i), i=1, 2, . . . , I".
[0041] FIG. 2 also shows a box termed "protocol translator" 14. The
protocol translator 14 is connected to both the e-mail server 12
and the gateway 18. It's operation will be explained hereinafter
with reference to FIG. 3.
[0042] FIG. 3 shows a flowchart of the operation of the system
shown in FIG. 2, in accordance with an example. The example relates
to an e-mail being stored on the email server 12. The e-mail server
12 is to transmit this e-mail to an addressed mobile device 17(i).
However, during operation, it may well be that the mobile device
17(i) is switched on but does not have an on-line connection with
the e-mail server 12. Moreover, in accordance with the invention,
the wireless communication protocol used by mobile network 15,
e.g., GPRS, does not support direct transmission (i.e., pushing) of
the e-mail to the mobile device 17(i). Still, the e-mail must be
sent to the mobile device 17(i). The operation of the system in
accordance with the flowchart of FIG. 3 solves this problem.
[0043] The e-mail server 12 receives an e-mail via the SMTP
protocol via network 11.
[0044] The e-mail server 13 stores this e-mail in it's memory.
[0045] Then, the e-mail server 12 generates a PAP (Password
Authentication Protocol) message. The e-mail server 12 sends this
PAP message to the gateway 18.
[0046] Upon receiving the PAP message, the gateway 18 generates an
SMS message for the addressed mobile device 17(i). Then, the
gateway 18 sends this SMS message to the addressed mobile device
17(i) via the mobile network 19, that may be of the type GSM.
[0047] Upon receiving the SMS message, the addressed mobile device
17(i) generates a HTTP get message. Such a HTTP get message is a
message known as such by persons skilled in the art and is used to
get, e.g., a web page. The mobile device 17(i) may be programmed to
generate that HTTP get message, either automatically upon receiving
the SMS message or may be programmed to display a message to the
user of the mobile device 17(i) upon receiving the SMS message.
Then, the user is able to manually instruct the mobile device 17(i)
to generate the HTTP get message.
[0048] After the HTTP get message is generated, it is send to the
gateway 18 via the mobile network 15. Then the gateway 18 sends
this message to the protocol translator 14. Then the protocol
translator 14 translates this HTTP get message into a POP request
to the e-mail server 12. POP is the Post Office Protocol which is
supported by the email server 12.
[0049] In the example of FIG. 2, the gateway 18 communicates with
the mobile devices 17(i) using the GPRS network 15. Nowadays the
GPRS network is unable to push emails directly to mobile device
17(i).
[0050] Therefore, the e-mail server 12 after having received the
POP request from the protocol translator 14 sends the stored e-mail
to the protocol translator 14 via the POP protocol.
[0051] The protocol translator 14, after having received thee-mail
via the POP protocol, translates the received e-mail into a HTTP
reply message. Such a HTTP reply message is known to persons
skilled in the art and is used to transmit web pages from a web
server to a client. The HTTP reply message is transmitted to the
gateway 18 that forwards the HTTP reply message to the mobile
device 17(i).
[0052] Finally, the mobile device 17(i) receives the e-mail HTTP
reply message and shows the content of the e-mail to the user of
the mobile device 17(i).
[0053] In FIG. 4, an overview is given of a computer arrangement
that can be used to embody the email server 12. However, also the
terminals 13(1), 13(2), the gateway 18 and the protocol translator
14 can be embodied in essentially the same way.
[0054] The arrangement comprises a processor 29 for carrying out
arithmetic operations.
[0055] The processor 29 is connected to a plurality of memory
components, including a hard disk 42, Read Only Memory (ROM) 43,
Electrically Erasable Programmable Read Only Memory (EEPROM) 45,
and Random Access Memory (RAM) 47. Not all of these memory types
need necessarily be provided. Moreover, these memory components
need not be located physically close to the processor 1 but may be
located remote from the processor 29.
[0056] The processor 29 is also connected to means for inputting
instructions, data etc. by a user, like a keyboard 49, and a mouse
51. Other input means, such as a touch screen, a track ball and/or
a voice converter, known to persons skilled in the art may be
provided too.
[0057] A reading unit 35 connected to the processor 29 is provided.
The reading unit 35 is arranged to read data from and possibly
write data on a data carrier like a floppy disk 37 or a CDROM 39.
Other data carriers may be tapes, DVD, etc,. as is known to persons
skilled in the art.
[0058] The processor 29 is also connected to a printer 33 for
printing output data on paper, as well as to a display 31, for
instance, a monitor or LCD (Liquid Crystal Display) screen, or any
other type of display known to persons skilled in the art.
[0059] The processor 29 is connected to at least the Internet 11
(cf. FIG. 2) but may also be connected to a further communication
network 53, for instance, the Public Switched Telephone Network
(PSTN), a Local Area Network (LAN), a Wide Area Network (WAN), etc.
by means of I/O means 41. The processor 1 is arranged to
communicate with other communication arrangements through the
network 53.
[0060] The processor 29 may be implemented as stand alone system,
or as a plurality of parallel operating processors each arranged to
carry out subtasks of a larger computer program, or as one or more
main processors with several subprocessors. Parts of the
functionality of the invention may even be carried out by remote
processors communicating with processor 29 through the network
53.
[0061] Above, the invention has been explained with reference to an
e-mail being stored by an e-mail server 12 that needs to be
transmitted to a mobile device 17(i) using the HTTP protocol over a
GPRS network 15 between gateway 18 and the mobile device 17(i).
However, it is to be understood that this is an embodiment
only.
[0062] Although the protocol translator 14 is shown to be a
separate unit outside the email server 12, the protocol translator
14 may, instead, be part of the functionality of the e-mail server
12. Alternatively, the protocol translator 14 may be part of the
gateway 18.
[0063] It is observed that the embodiments given above are only
examples and that the scope of protection of the present invention
is defined by the annexed claims only.
* * * * *