WO2008023392A2

WO2008023392A2 - A method and system for providing access of documents to one or more mobile devices

Info

Publication number: WO2008023392A2
Application number: PCT/IN2007/000364
Authority: WO
Inventors: Ajay Rajasekhar
Original assignee: Ajay Rajasekhar
Priority date: 2006-08-25
Filing date: 2007-08-23
Publication date: 2008-02-28
Also published as: WO2008023392A3

Abstract

A system and method for providing access of a document to a mobile device is provided. The method includes converting the document into a predetermined data format file. The predetermined data format is supported by one or more mobile devices. The method further includes updating one or more mobile devices at least once regarding the predetermined data format file.

Description

A METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR PROVIDING ACCESS OF DOCUMENTS

TO ONE OR MORE MOBILE DEVICES

FIELD OF INVENTION

[0001] The invention generally relates to electronic documents and mobile devices. More specifically, the invention relates to providing access of documents to one or more mobile devices.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION AND PRIOR ART

[0002] In a communication network, when a computing device requires sending a document to a mobile device, the computing device may need to convert the data format of the document to a predetermined data format file compatible with the mobile device. The predetermined data format file is stored in a server. Thereafter, the predetermined data format file is sent to the mobile device directly.

[0003] However, if the mobile device is switched of, is out of communication range or is in an area which is serviced by an unknown service provider, then the predetermined data format file may not reach the mobile device. In another case, the predetermined data format file may be lost during communication, or partially damaged during transmission or stranded on the server.

[0004] There is therefore a need for a method and a system which prevents partial/complete loss of information in a document transferred to a mobile device from a computing device.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES [0005] The accompanying figures where like reference numerals refer to identical or functionally similar elements throughout the separate views and which together with the detailed description below are incorporated in and form part of the specification, serve to further illustrate various embodiments and to explain various principles and advantages all in accordance with the present invention.

[0006] FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an environment (that is exemplary) in which various embodiments of the invention can function.

[0007] FIG. 2 is a flowchart of a method for providing access of a document to one or more mobile devices, in accordance with an embodiment of the invention.

[0008] FIG. 3 is a flowchart of a method for providing access of a document to one or more mobile devices, in accordance with another embodiment of the invention.

[0009] FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing a system for providing access of a document to a mobile device, in accordance with an embodiment of the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0010] As required, detailed embodiments of the present invention are disclosed herein; however, it is to be understood that the disclosed embodiments are merely exemplary of the present invention, which can be embodied in various forms. Therefore, specific structural and functional details disclosed herein are not to be interpreted as limiting, but merely as a representative basis for teaching one skilled in the art to variously employ the present invention in virtually any appropriately detailed structure. Further, the terms and phrases used herein are not intended to be limiting but rather to provide an understandable description of the present invention. [0011] The terms "a" or "an", as used herein, are defined as one or more than one. The term plurality, as used herein, is defined as two or more than two. The term another, as used herein, is defined as at least a second or more. The terms including and/or having, as used herein, are defined as comprising (Le., open language). The term coupled, as used herein, is defined as connected, although not necessarily directly, and not necessarily mechanically. The terms program, software application, and the like as used herein, are defined as a sequence of instructions designed for execution on a computer system. A program, computer program, or software application may include a subroutine, a function, a procedure, an object method, an object implementation, an executable application, an applet, a servlet, a source code, an object code, a shared library/dynamic load library and/or other sequence of instructions designed for execution on a computer system.

[0012] Various embodiments of the invention provide systems and methods for providing access of a document to one or more mobile devices in a communication network. Examples of the communication network may include, but are not limited to, internet, Local Area Network (LAN), a Wide Area Network (WAN), terrestrial digital TV, radio, short-range radio (for example, Bluetooth and wireless LAN), wireless mobile networks, for example, Global System for Mobile communications (GSM), General Packet Radio Service (GPRS), and Code division multiple access (CDMA). The document is converted into a predetermined data format file. The document may be one of an electronic document and a paper document. The predetermined data format is supported by one or more mobile devices. Thereafter, one or more mobile devices are updated regarding the predetermined data format file at least once.

[0013] FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an environment 100 (that is exemplary) in which various embodiments of the invention can function. Environment 100 includes a computing device 102, a server 104, and a gateway 106. Examples of computing device 102 may include, but are not limited to, cell phone, laptop, computer, scanner, fax machine, e-book, and Personal Digital Assistant (PDA). When computing device 102 is required to send an electronic document to one or more of a mobile device 108 and a mobile device 110 in environment 100, computing device 102 stores the predetermined data format file on server 104. It will be apparent to a person ordinarily skilled in the art that computing device 102 may send the electronic document to more than two mobile devices. Examples of a mobile device may include, but are not limited to, a cell phone and a PDA.

[0014] Thereafter, server 104 directs gateway 106 to update one or more of a mobile device 108 and mobile device 110 regarding the predetermined data format file. Gateway 106 is one of a Short Messaging Service (SMS) gateway, a Multimedia Messaging Service (MMS) gateway, a General Packet Radio Service (GPRS) gateway, an Unstructured Supplementary Service Data (USSD) gateway, a Wireless Application Protocol (WAP) gateway, a GSM control channel gateway, and a CDMA pilot channel gateway, and a Session Initiation Protocol (SIP) gateway. In response to the direction by server 104, gateway 106 updates one or more of a mobile device 108 and mobile device 110 regarding the predetermined data format file. Thereafter, the predetermined data format file is displayed on one or more of mobile device 108 and mobile device 110.

[0015] FIG. 2 is a flowchart of a method for providing access of a document to one or more mobile devices, in accordance with an embodiment of the invention. The document may be one of an electronic document and a paper document. At step 202, the document is converted into a predetermined data format file. The predetermined data format is supported by one or more mobile devices. For example, mobile device 108 supports the file formats that are used to view pictures. Examples of the file formats may include, but are not limited to, Joint Photographic Experts Group (JPEG™) format, Bitmap (BMP™) format, and Tagged Image File Format (TIFF™). Therefore, the document is converted into the file format that is used to view pictures, so that the document can be viewed on mobile device 108. However, if mobile device 108 can read HTML/WML or Microsoft (MS) Word™ file or MS Excel™ or a Portable Document Format (PDF™) file, then the document is converted into one of the HTML/WML, MS Word™ file, MS Excel™ file, and the PDF™ file. In case the document is a paper document, a computing device, for example, a fax machine and a scanner, first converts the document to an electronic document. Thereafter, the electronic document is converted into a predetermined data file format.

[0016] In an embodiment of the invention, a mobile device may be given an option of choosing a file format to view the document on the mobile device. The mobile devices may send a message describing the file format that the mobile device supports. The message may be sent using one or more of SMS and control signals.

[0017] After converting the document into the predetermined data format file, the predetermined data format file is stored. Thereafter, at step 204, one or more mobile devices are updated at least once regarding the predetermined data format file. The predetermined data format file may be updated by sending the predetermined data format file to a mobile device. The predetermined data format file may be sent to a mobile device using one of an MMS, Bluetooth connection, and GPRS connection. Alternatively, the predetermined data format may be updated by sending a notification to a mobile device. The notification includes a link to the predetermined data format file. The link includes address of the predetermined data format file stored in a memory. The notification may be sent using one or more of SMS, MMS, WAP push, USSD, Bluetooth connection, GPRS connection and control/pilot channel notification. For example, the predetermined data format file may be stored on a server and a notification may be sent to mobile device 108. The notification includes a link to the predetermined data format file. The link includes address of the predetermined data format file stored on the server. A person using mobile device 108 accesses the link in the notification to download the predetermined data format file from the server. This is further explained in conjunction with FIG. 3. The predetermined data format file may be directly transmitted to the mobile device. [0018] After one or more mobile devices are updated regarding the predetermined data format file, the predetermined data format file is displayed on one or more mobile devices. In an embodiment of the invention, a mobile device is updated a plurality of times regarding the predetermined data format file, if one or more predetermined conditions are met. One or more predetermined conditions may include expiration of a predetermined time period for receiving a confirmation message from the mobile device in response to updating the mobile device regarding the predetermined data format file and receiving an error message in response to updating one or more mobile devices regarding the predetermined data format file. The method for updating is further explained in conjunction with FIG. 3.

[0019] FIG. 3 is a flowchart of a method for providing access of a document to one or more mobile devices, in accordance with another embodiment of the invention. At step 302, a document is converted into a predetermined data format file. This has been explained in detail in conjunction with FIG. 2. Thereafter, at step 304, the predetermined data format file is stored, hi response to storing the predetermined data format file, at step 306, an update trigger is sent to gateway 106. The update trigger corresponds to one of a notification and the predetermined data format file. The notification includes a link to the predetermined data format file. The notification may be sent using one or more of SMS, MMS, WAP push, USSD, Bluetooth connection, GPRS connection, and control/pilot channel notification.

[0020] Thereafter, at step 308, gateway 106 sends one of the notification and the predetermined data format file to one or more mobile devices in response to the update trigger. In case, a notification is sent to a mobile device, a user of the mobile device accesses the link in the notification to download the predetermined data format file. After downloading the predetermined data format file, it is displayed on the mobile device. In case, the predetermined data format file is sent to a mobile device using MMS, then the person using the mobile device may access the MMS to view the predetermined data format file. For example, an MMS that includes one or more pages of the predetermined data format file may be sent to mobile device 108. A user of mobile device 108 may open the MMS on the mobile device to view the predetermined data format file.

[0021] After sending one of the notification and the predetermined data format file to one or more mobile devices, at step 310, a check is performed to determine if one or more predetermined conditions are met. One or more predetermined conditions include expiration of a predetermined time period for receiving a confirmation message from the mobile device in response to updating the mobile device regarding the predetermined data format file. The predetermined time period for receiving a confirmation message from the mobile device in response to updating the mobile device regarding the predetermined data format file may expire if the mobile device is switched off, is out of communication range or is in an area which is not serviced by a service provider. Further, one or more predetermined conditions include receiving an error message in response to updating a mobile device regarding the predetermined data format file. An error message may be received if the predetermined data format file is lost during communication with the mobile device, or includes erroneous data.

[0022] Referring back to the step 310, if one or more predetermined conditions are met, then the step 306 and the step 308 are repeated. Therefore, a mobile device is updated periodically after a predetermined time period regarding the predetermined data format file until a confirmation message or a delivery report corresponding to the predetermined data format file is received from the mobile device.

[0023] FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing a system 400 for providing access of a document to one or more of mobile devices, in accordance with an embodiment of the invention. System 400 includes a processor 402, a memory 404 operatively coupled to processor 402, and an updating module 406 operatively coupled to memory 404.

[0024] Processor 402 converts the document into a predetermined data format file. The predetermined data format is supported by one or more mobile devices. This has been explained in detail in conjunction with FIG. 2. Thereafter, processor 402 stores the predetermined data format file is stored in memory 404. In response to storing the predetermined data format file in memory 404, updating module 406 updates one or more mobile devices at least once regarding the predetermined data format file. In an embodiment of the invention, updating module 406 updates a mobile device plurality of times regarding the predetermined data format file, if one or more predetermined conditions are met. One or more predetermined conditions may include expiration of a predetermined time period for receiving a confirmation message from the mobile device in response to updating the mobile device regarding the predetermined data format file and receiving an error message in response to updating one or more mobile devices regarding the predetermined data format file.

[0025] For updating one or more mobile device regarding the predetermined data format file, updating module 406 sends an update trigger command to gateway 106.Gateway 106 updates one or more mobile devices regarding the predetermined data format file in response to the update trigger command. This has been explained in detail in conjunction with FIG. 2 and FIG. 3. Gateway 106 may update regarding the predetermined data format file, by sending a notification that includes a link to the address of the predetermined data format file stored in memory 404. For example, gateway 106 sends a notification that includes a link to the address of the predetermined data format file stored in memory 404 to mobile device 108.

Thereafter, a user of mobile device 108 may access the link in the notification to download the predetermined data format file from memory 404. After downloading the predetermined data format file, it is displayed on mobile device 108. Alternatively, gateway 106 may update regarding the predetermined data format file by sending the predetermined data format file to a mobile device. This has been explained in conjunction with FIG. 3.

[0026] In an embodiment of the invention, a computing device includes processor 402 and a server includes memory 404 and updating module 406. The computing device, for example, may be a cell phone, laptop, computer, scanner, fax machine, e- book, and Personal Digital Assistant (PDA). In case the computing device is a scanner, the scanner initially converts a paper document to an electronic document of a predetermined data format. For example, the scanner converts a paper document into a picture file of a predetermined data format. The predetermined data format may be one of JPEG, TIFF, and BMP and PDF. The scanner further includes a mechanism of receiving a cell phone number of an intended recipient of the paper document. In response to a cell phone number being entered, the scanner stores the predetermined data format file in memory 404 in the server. Thereafter, updating module 406 uses the cell phone number entered by a user to update the paper document to the intended recipient in the predetermined data format. In another embodiment of the invention, a server one or more of processor 402, memory 404 and updating module 406.

[0027] Various embodiments of the invention provide systems and methods for providing access of a document to a mobile device. The document is converted in to a predetermined data format file supported by the mobile device. The predetermined data format file is stored on a server. Thereafter, the mobile device is updated regarding the predetermined data format file at least once by sending a notification or by directly transmitting the predetermined data format file to the mobile device. The predetermined data format file is updated a plurality of times to the mobile device if the user does not receive the predetermined data format file or if the predetermined data format file is lost during transmission. Therefore, the user of the mobile device never misses an update sent from a computing device.

Claims

What is claimed is:

10 LA method for providing access of a document to at least one mobile device, the method comprising: converting the document into a predetermined data format file, wherein the predetermined data format is supported by the at least one mobile device; and updating the at least one mobile device at least once regarding the predetermined 15 data format file.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the document is one of an electronic document and a paper document.

203. The method of claim 1, wherein the mobile device is one of a cell phone and a Personal Digital Assistant (PDA).

4. The method of claim 1 further comprising storing the predetermined data format file.

255. The method of claim 1, wherein updating comprises sending a notification to a mobile device.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein the notification comprises a link to the predetermined data format file.

30

7. The method of claim 5, wherein a notification is sent using at least one of Short Messaging Service (SMS), Multimedia Messaging Service (MMS), Wireless Application Protocol (WAP) push, Unstructured Supplementary Service Data (USSD), Bluetooth connection, General Packet Radio Service (GPRS) connection, 5 CDMA pilot channel notification, GSM control channel notification, and Session Initiation Protocol (SIP) notification.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein updating comprises sending the predetermined data format file to a mobile device.

10

9. The method of claim 1, wherein a mobile device is updated a plurality of times regarding the predetermined data format file, if at least one predetermined condition

. is met.

1510. The method of claim 1, wherein the at least one predetermined condition comprises expiration of a predetermined time period for receiving a confirmation message from a mobile device in response to updating the mobile device regarding the predetermined data format file and receiving an error message in response to updating a mobile device regarding the predetermined data format file.

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11. The method of claim 4, wherein an update trigger is sent to a gateway in response to storing the predetermined data format file, the update trigger corresponds to one of the notification and the predetermined data format file.

2512. The method of claim 11, wherein the gateway sends at least one of the notification and the predetermined data format file to the at least one mobile device in response to the update trigger.

13. A system for providing access of a document to at least one mobile device, the system 30 comprising: a processor configured to convert the document into a predetermined data format file, wherein the predetermined data format is supported by the at least one mobile device; a memory operatively coupled to the processor, wherein the predetermined data 35 format file is stored in the memory; and 5 an updating module operatively coupled to the memory, wherein the updating module is configured to update the at least one mobile device at least once regarding the predetermined data format file.

14. The system of claim 13, wherein a computing device comprises the processor, the 10 computing is one of a cell phone, a laptop, a computer, an e-book, a scanner, a fax machine, and a Personal Digital Assistant (PDA).

15. The system of claim 13, wherein a server comprises at least one of the processor, the memory, and the updating module.

15

16. The system of claim 13, wherein the updating module updates a mobile device a plurality of times regarding the predetermined data format, if at least one predetermined condition is met.

2017. The system of claim 16, wherein the at least one predetermined condition comprises expiration of a predetermined time period for receiving a confirmation message from the mobile device in response to updating the mobile device regarding the predetermined data format file and receiving an error message in response to updating the at least one mobile device regarding the predetermined data format file.

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18. The system of claim 13, wherein the updating module updates the at least one mobile device regarding the predetermined data format file by sending an update trigger to a gateway in response to storing the predetermined data format file, the update trigger corresponds to one of the notification and the predetermined data format file.

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19. The system of claim 18, wherein the gateway sends at least one of the notification and the predetermined data format file to the at least one mobile device in response to the update trigger.

520. The system of claim 18, wherein the gateway is. at least one of a Short Messaging

Service (SMS) gateway, a Multimedia Messaging Service (MMS) gateway, a General Packet Radio Service (GPRS) gateway, a CDMA pilot channel gateway, a GSM control channel gateway, a Session Initiation Protocol (SIP) gateway, an Unstructured Supplementary Service Data (USSD) gateway, and a Wireless Application Protocol0 (WAP) gateway.