Motorola Mobility, Inc. v. Microsoft Corporation

Filing 125

NOTICE by Microsoft Corporation re #124 Defendant's MOTION Claim Construction of Filing Exhibits (Attachments: #1 Appendix (Index to Exhibits), #2 Exhibit 101, #3 Exhibit 102, #4 Exhibit 201, #5 Exhibit 301, #6 Exhibit 302, #7 Exhibit 304, #8 Exhibit 305, #9 Exhibit 501, #10 Exhibit 502, #11 Exhibit 504, #12 Exhibit 601, #13 Exhibit 801 (Part 1), #14 Exhibit 801 (Part 2), #15 Exhibit 901, #16 Exhibit 902, #17 Exhibit 903, #18 Exhibit 904, #19 Exhibit 905, #20 Exhibit 1101, #21 Exhibit 1102, #22 Exhibit 1105, #23 Exhibit 1110, #24 Exhibit 1114, #25 Exhibit 1115, #26 Exhibit 1116, #27 Exhibit 1201, #28 Exhibit 1301, #29 Exhibit 1302, #30 Exhibit 1303, #31 Exhibit 1304, #32 Exhibit 1305, #33 Exhibit 1401, #34 Exhibit 1402, #35 Exhibit 1403, #36 Exhibit 1404, #37 Exhibit 1405, #38 Exhibit 1406, #39 Exhibit 1407, #40 Exhibit 1408, #41 Exhibit 1409)(Miner, Curtis)

Exhibit 1105

111111
1111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111
111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111
US005974085A

United States Patent

[19]

[11]

Smith
[54]

[45]

Primary Examiner---Stephen Chin
Assistant Examiner-Mohammad Ghayour
Attorney, Agent, or Firm-R. Louis Breeden

Dwight Randall Smith, Grapevine,
Tex.

[73]

Assignee: Motorola, Inc., Schaumburg, Ill.
III.

[21]

Appl. No.: 09/061,645

[22]

Filed:

[51]
[52]
[58]

[57]

Apr. 17, 1998

Int. CI. ................................. H04B 1/38; H04L 5/16
U.S. CI. ............................................. 375/222; 375/219
Field of Search ..................................... 375/222, 219,
375/220; 370/237, 392, 399, 363; 709/242
References Cited
u.S. PATENT DOCUMENTS
4,761,646

ABSTRACT

An application registry (226) is programmed (504) into a
wireless modem (124) and includes routing information for
routing data, based upon data type, to an application (244)
or to storage (238, 236). Thereafter, the wireless modem
receives (602) the data and determines (604) the data type.
The wireless modem then routes (614, 628, 624, 618) the
data in accordance with the routing information for the data
type and, when the routing information indicates the application is located in an external device, further in accordance
with an accessibility status of the external device.

6

[56]

Oct. 26, 1999

370(85.1
5,153,867 10/1992 Sin ......................................... 370/85.1
5,202,899 4/1993 Walsh .......................................... 375/8
5,610,941 3/1997 Tanaka et al. .......................... 375/222
375(222

WIRELESS MODEM AND METHOD
THEREFOR FOR ROUTING DATA TO AN
APPLICATION OR TO STORAGE

[75 J Inventor:

5,974,085

Patent Number:
Date of Patent:

18 Claims, 4 Drawing Sheets

8/1988 Choquet et al. ................... 340/825.52

,,- 124

r-------------------------------- 1 - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - ,
. ---------------------r 206
2OB
~208
: PROCESSING SYSTEM

\ ~041
I

I
I
I
I

r-

I

RECEIVER

209

J.. -

I
I

r----L----,
r---- L ----,
TRANSMITTER.

-,

1
I

1
I
1
I
1
I

"j

1
I
1
I

r---~

DEVICE
INTERFACE

- -

I:STORAGE I
I: EXT 1

\.. 126

-

210~
210

--l

j.

,

_' ..
-'1
I
1

DISPLAY
ALERT

1
I
1
I

1
I
1
I
1
I

it
,.,/

8

22o

---.
---..

2 14

1
I

Ir (212
'. (212

2 16

KEYBOARD ./

1
I

1______ - - - - - - - . ,

MEMORY

-- ---;23£'- -,

EXTERNAL
DEVICE

1
I

PROCESSOR

1
I

1
I
I
1
I

USER IIF

1
I
1
I

i 'i

'----------_ ...
207,
EXTERNAL
- r---L

1
I
1
I

1
I

SELECTIVE CALL ADDRESS
MESSAGE PROCESSING
APPLICATION REGISTRY
REGISTRY PROGRAMMER
DATA TYPER

222

V 224
.-/224

---,'226
~'226

~22B
~228

~~30
~
---' 232

DATA ROUTER

..-/
__ 238

DATA STORAGE
PROMPTER

__ 240

ACCESSIBILITY STATUS(ES)
APPLICATION(S)

_242
_244

-_-.=: :.-_-.::. -_-.:: :.-.:.::. -_-.:.: :.-_-

L _-.::. -_-..:.: :::...- ':: -_-.=: :.-_-.::.-_-.:: :.-.:.::.-_-.:.: :.-_- .:1_____ I
:::...-'::

ITC Inv. No. 337-TA-

MOT ITC 0002617

u.s. Patent

Oct. 26, 1999

122

PORT
SUBS
UNIT

126

126
EXTERNAL
DEVICE

EXTERNAL
DEVICE

PORT
SUBS
UNIT

122

124

122
WIRELESS
MODEM

WIRELESS
MODEM

r-------- ---------------poo-.........- - - .

5,974,085

Sheet 1 of 4

116

BASE
STATION

-------,
116

116

BASE
STATION

BASE
STATION

CONTROLLER

101

--,----------------------'-102

COMPUTER

110
PUBLIC
SWITCHED
........TELEPHONE

...... TELEPHONE

NETWORK
111

113

.-J

FIG. 1

ITC Inv. No. 337-TA-

MOT ITC 0002618

u.s.

ITC Inv. No. 337-TA-

Patent

Oct. 26, 1999

5,974,085

Sheet 2 of 4

r 124
r--------------------------------~-----------------,
r--------------------------------~-----------------,
206
~--------------------~
~--------------------~
/208
~208
: PROCESSING SYSTEM I
,
I
,
IIF
USER I/F
2 16
,
204 I
I ,
RECEIVER
,
,
I
I
I ,
I
I
,
DISPLAY
8
I
PROCESSOR
I
,
209
,
,
~
V'
I
ALERT
-'' ..
~
I... - - -.
L.
TRANSMITTER. ,
I
22
,
... ,
,
KEYBOARD l/
~
207,
,
,
I
,
,
,
, 210~
I
l~
2 14
,
EXTERNAL
I
r---~
'I (212
"
,
DEVICE
,
,
INTERFACE
MEMORY
222 ,
,

'\ ~

I
I

Vt
~

I
I

r---L----,

I
I

..

'----------_

..
-

L ----

r---

I
1- _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ ,

.
I

-- - -----,
.,-236
,,-236

I

o

I
I
I
I
I

J

SELECTIVE CALL ADDRESS
MESSAGE PROCESSING

EXT
STORAGE

APPLICATION REGISTRY
REGISTRY PROGRAMMER

I-- 238
I--" 240

DATA STORAGE
PROMPTER

,
,
,
,
,
,
,
,
,
,
,
,
I

1-/"226

1--'~30
V 232
V

DATA ROUTER

\.. 126

V 224

I--" 228

DATA TYPER

EXTERNAL
DEVICE

I
I

I

I
I
I
I
I

,
,
,
I
I
I
I

,
,
,
,
,
,
,
I
I

ACCESSIBILITY STATUS(ES)
STATUS(ES)

I-- 242

APPLICATION(S)

I-- 244

I
I

I

:. -_-..: :.-.:
-_-..: :.-_-_-..: :.-_-_-..: :.-.:
L .: .: :.-_-.: .: :.-.: .: :. -_-.: .: :.-_- .: :. -_-.: .: :.-_- .: :. -_-.: .: :.-.: .: '_____ ~

FIG. 2
30e DATA TYPE
'2
"http

APPLICATION

APPL LOCATION

NOTIFY

ROUTING

ThinBrowser

APPL
APPL

FORWARD
FORWARD
FORWARD
FORWARD
FORWARD

USER
USER

ire
ire
veal
binlxls
bin/xis
bin/xis

"304

Calendar
Excel
Excel

text/*

30'2

mlRC
PageChat

EXTERNAL DEV
EXTERNAL DEV
INTERNAL
INTERNAL
EXTERNAL DEV
EXTERNAL DEY

MSQ
Msa

INTERNAL

J

APPL
APPL
APPL

IPC hold
/msg
Imsg

304

226

~

FIG. 3

MOT ITC 0002619

u.s.

Patent

C

402

Oct. 26, 1999

C 404

5,974,085

Sheet 3 of 4

C 406

I

......
S_YN_C--'I_D_A_T_A_TY_P_E_I_D-'-_ _
D_A_T_A_ _..... 400

FIG. 4

504
PROGRAM APPLICATION
REGISTRY WITH DATA
TYPE AND DATA ROUTING
INFORMATION

FIG. 5

FIG. 6
606
ACCESS APPLICATION
REGISTRY FOR ROUTING
INFORMATION FOR DATA TYPE

ITC Inv. No. 337-TA-

MOT ITC 0002620

u.s. Patent

Oct. 26, 1999

5,974,085

Sheet 4 of 4

706
'------'-...I

TRANSMIT DATA
TO EXT DEVICE

FIG. 7

(802
,802

I USER REQUESTS ACCESS TO STORED DATA I

r

804

ACCESS DATA THROUGH COMPATIBLE
INTERNAL OR EXTERNAL APPLICATION

FIG. 8
800

ITC Inv. No. 337-TA-

MOT ITC 0002621

5,974,085
1

2

an external device interface coupled to the processing system for interfacing with an external device. The processing
system is arranged to program the application registry with
systcm arrangcd
thc
rcgistry
the routing information, and thereafter, to receive the data
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
5 and determine the data type. The processing system is also
arranged to route the data in accordance with the routing
This invention relates in general to wireless communicainformation for the data type and, when the routing infortion systems, and more specifically to a wireless modem and
mation indicates the application is located in the external
method therefor for routing data to an application or to
10 device, further in accordance with an accessibility status of
storage.
the external device.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
Prior-art selective call receivers have comprised user
FIG. 1 is an electrical block diagram of an exemplary
applications which have provided messaging services 15
directly to the user. These applications have received data 15 wireless messaging system in accordance with the present
invention.
delivered using explicit messaging vectors, such as numeric,

WIRELESS MODEM AND METHOD
THEREFOR FOR ROUTING DATA TO AN
APPLICATION OR TO STORAGE

alphanumeric, and binary vectors. Each of the user applications has utilized the information in the vector of a received
message to format the data for presentation to the user.
Selective call receivers utilized as wireless modems for
external devices also have employed vector-based routing
techniques.
As the industry moves toward new applications that are
not directly linked to the prior-art vector-based schemes, a
need arises for handling and delivering new data formats.
Particularly for wireless modems, it will be inappropriate to
add new vector types of each type of data that is desired.
Proliferation of vectors could quickly consume the available
vcctors, making it difficult to cxtend the basic delivery
cxtcnd thc
delivcry
approach. Furthermore, as new applications become
available, the new vectors would have to be made available
in the encoding portions of the infrastructure, requiring
massive efforts to stay compatible.

20

FIG. 2 is an electrical block diagram of an exemplary
wireless modem in accordance with the present invention
coupled to an external device and an external storage
element.
FIG. 3 is an exemplary detailed view of an application
registry in accordance with the present invention.

25

FIG. 4 is an exemplary protocol diagram in accordance
with the present invention.
FIGS. 5-8 are flow diagrams depicting operation of the
wireless modem in accordance with the present invention.

30

DETAlLbD DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
DETAILED

FIG. 1 is an electrical block diagram of an exemplary
wireless messaging system in accordance with the present
invention, comprising a fixed portion 102 including a con35 troller 112 and a plurality of base stations 116, the messaging
35
system also including a plurality of portable subscriber units
Thus, what is needed is a method and apparatus in a
122. The base stations 116 preferably communicate with the
wireless modem for routing data to an appropriate applicasubscriber units 122 utilizing conventional radio frequency
tion for processing the data without requiring an explicit
(RF) techniques, and are coupled by communication links
messaging vector. Preferably the method and apparatus will 40 114 to the controller 112, which controls the base stations
support applications that reside both inside and outside the
116. In addition to the portable subscriber units 122, the base
wireless modem.
stations 116 communicate with wireless modems 124 in
accordance with the present invention. The wireless
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
45 modems 124 are preferably coupled to at least one external
device 126, such as a conventional personal computer (PC)
An aspect of the present invention is a method in a
or personal digital assistant (PDA).
wireless modem for routing data to an application or to
The hardware of the controller 112 is preferably a comstorage. The method comprises the steps of programming an
bination of the Wireless Messaging Gateway (WMGTM)
application registry in the wireless modem, the application
registry including routing information for routing the data, 50 Administrator! paging terminal, and the RF-Conductor!TM
message distributor manufactured by Motorola, Inc., and
based upon data type, to the application or to storage; and
thereafter, receiving the data and determining the data type.
includes software modified in accordance with the present
invention. The hardware of the base stations 116 is preferThe method further comprises the step of routing the data in
accordance with the routing information for the data type 55 ably the RF-Orchestra! transmitter and can include, in
RF-Audience!TM
two-way messaging systems, the RF-Audience!'lM receiver
and, when the routing information indicates the application
exterual
is located in an external device, further in accordance with
manufactured by Motorola, Inc. The subscriber units 122 are
an accessibility status of the external device.
conventional selective call receivers. The wireless modems
124 preferably are similar to the CreataLink™ wireless
CreataLink™
Another aspect of the present invention is a wireless
60
modem for routing data to an application. 'Ibe wireless 60 modem manufactured by Motorola, Inc., and have software
modified in accordance with the present invention. It will be
modem comprises a receiver for receiving the data, and a
appreciated that other similar hardware can be utilized as
processing system coupled to the receiver for processing the
well for the controller 112, the base stations 116, the wireless
data. The processing system comprises a memory for storing
an application registry including routing information for 65 modems 124, and the portable subscriber units 122.
routing the data, hased upon data type, to the application or
Each of the hase stations 116 transmits RF signals to the
portable subscriber units 122 and wireless modems 124 via
to storage in the memory. The wireless modem also includes

ITC Inv. No. 337-TA-

MOT ITC 0002622

5,974,085

3

4

an antenna 118. The RF signals transmitted by the base
stations 116 (outbound messages) preferably comprise
selective call addresses identifying the portable subscriber
units 122 and the wireless modems 124, and data messages
originated hy callers and computer systems, as well as
commands originated by the controller 112 for adjusting
operating parameters of the radio communication system.
The controller 112 preferably is coupled by telephone
links 101 to a public switched telephone network (PSTN)
110 for receiving selective call message originations therefrom. Selective call originations comprising voice and data
messages from the PSTN 110 can be generated, for example,
from a conventional telephone 111 or a conventional computer 113 coupled to the PSTN 110. It will be appreciated
that, alternatively, other types of communication networks,
c.g., packct switchcd networks, the Internet, and local area
networks, can be utilized as well for transporting originated
messages to the controller 112.
The over-the-air protocol utilized for outbound and
inbound messages is preferably selected from Motorola's
well-known FLEXTM family of digital selective call signaling protocols. These protocols utilize well-known error
detection and error correction techniques and are therefore
tolerant to bit errors occurring during transmission, provided
that the bit errors are not too numerous. It will be appreciated
that other suitable protocols can be used as welL It will be
further appreciated that, while the depicted embodiment for
practicing the present invention is a one-way messaging
system, the present invention is applicable also to a two-way
messaging system.
FIG. 2 is an electrical block diagram of an exemplary
wireless modem 124 in accordance with the present
invention, coupled to the at least one external device 126 and
to an external storage element 236. The wireless modern 124
comprises an antenna 204 for intercepting an outbound
message and (optionally) for transmitting an inbound message to a base receiver (not shown). The antenna 204 is
coupled to a conventional receiver 208 for receiving the
outbound message and, optionally, is coupled to a conventional transmitter 209 for transmitting the inbound message.
The receiver 208 and the (optional) transmitter 209 are
coupled to a processing system 206 for processing the
modem
outbound messages and for controlling the wireless modern
124 in accordance with the present invention. A user interface 214 preferably is also coupled to the processing system
206 for interfacing with a user. The user interface 214
preferably comprises a conventional display 216 for displaying the messages, a conventional alert element 218 for
alerting the user when a message arrives, and a conventional
keyboard 220 for controlling the wireless modem 124. A
conventional external device interface 207 is also coupled to
the processing system 206 for communicating with at least
one external device 126 through well-known techniques.
The external device interface 207 preferably is also coupled
to the external storage element 236 for augmenting the
storage capacity of the processing system 206. The external
storage element 236 is preferably a conventional removable
memory card, such as a Personal Computer Memory Card
International Association (PCMCIA) memory card. It will
be appreciated that, alternatively, other types of memory
devices, e.g., magnetic disk memory, can he utilized as well
fro the external storage element 236.

The processing system 206 comprises a conventional
processor 210 and a conventional memory 212. The memory
212 stores software elements and other variables for programming the processing system 206 in accordance with the
present invention. The memory 212 preferably includes a
selective call address 222 to which the wireless modern 124
modem
is responsive. In addition, the memory 212 includes a
message processing element 224 [or programming the processing system 206 to process messages through wellknown techniques. The memory 212 further comprises an
application registry 226 including routing information for
routing received data, based upon data type, to an application or to storage, e.g., in the memory 212 or the external
storage element 236, in accordance with the present invention. The memory 212 also includes a registry programmer
228 for programming the processing system to program the
application registry 226. The programming o[ the application registry 226 preferably occurs as a part of the install
process, using well-known techniques, for applications
loaded into the wireless modem 124. Applications on the
external device 126 that require the routing of data from the
wireless modem 124 preferably would register themselves
during a negotiation between the wireless modem 124 and
the external device 126, using well known initialization
techniques. It will be appreciated that, alternatively, the
programming of the application registry 226 can take place
during manufacture of the wireless modem 124, or as a
download from the controller 112 through conventional
over-the-air programming methods.
In addition, the memory 212 includes a data typer 230 for
programming the processing system 206 to determine the
data type, preferably from a data type identifier 404 (FIG. 4)
transmitted with the data and supplied by the messaging
system infrastructure, e.g., the controller 112. It will be
appreciated that, alternatively, the data typer 230 can determine the data type by analyzing the first few bytes of the
data, and looking therein for key code values and delimiters.
The memory 212 also includes a data router 232 for programming the processing system 206 for routing the data in
accordance with the routing information (in the application
registry) for the data type and, when the routing information
indicates the application is located in the external device
126, further in accordance with an accessibility status 242 of
the external device 126. The memory 212 further comprises
data storage 238 for storing the received data when the data
cannot be immediately routed to an application. The
memory also includes a prompter 240 for programming the
processing system 206 to generate prompts and notifications
to the user through the user interface when required. In
addition, the memory 212 includes at least one accessibility
status 242 corresponding to the external device 126 for
indicating whether the external device 126 has been determined to be coupled to the external device interface 207 and
is accessible to the wireless modern 124, e.g., powered up
modem
and operable. The processing system 206 preferably updates
the accessibility status 242 of each external device periodically by, for example, "pinging" the external device 126
through well-known techniques to see whether the external
device 126 responds appropriately. The memory 212 also
preferahly includes at least one application 244 for processing the received data.

ITC Inv. No. 337-TA-

5

10
10

15
15

20
20

25
25

30

35

40

45

50

55

60

65

MOT ITC 0002623

5,974,085
5

6

fies 626 the user, e.g., with an alert from the alert element
FIG. 3 is a detailed view of an exemplary application
218, that the data is in storage, so that the user can then
registry 226 in accordance with the present invention. The
control the wireless modem 124 or the external device 126
extemal
application registry 226 includes a row 302 of information
for each entry corresponding to a data type. The columns of
to access the data through a compatible application. Flow
the registry 226 list the data type, the application name, the 5 then returns to step 602 to await new data.
application location, who to notify when data is present, and
al slt:p
syslt:m
tht: olht:r
tht:
If, on lht: otht:r hand, at stt:p 612 lht: proct:ssing systt:m
the routing for the entry. Note that some data types, e.g., the
206 determines that the processing of the data type is not
"irc" data type, have more than one entry. When a data type
user controlled, i.e., the data is to be routed automatically to
has more than one entry, the top entry is preferred, but a 10 the application, then the processing system 206 routes 614
the data to the external application, and the flow returns to
lower level entry may be used when the top entry cannot be
step 602 to await new data. Also, if at step 610 the processused for the routing. For example, the "irc" data type is
ing system 206 determines that the external device is not
preferahly forwarded to the application "mIRe" in the
accessible, then flow moves to step 616, where the processexternal device 126 when the external device is accessible.
15
However, when the external device 126 is not accessible, the 15 ing system 206 again accesses the application registry 226 to
determine whether a compatible internal application is avail"irc" data type is forwarded to the "PageChat" application in
able for the data type. If so, the processing system 206
the wireless modem 124. In addition, certain data types, e.g.,
checks 622 whether the processing of the data type is user
the "textj*" data type, have "user controlled" processing.
"text/*"
controlled. If so, the processing system 206 stores 624 the
That is, the data is stored in the data storage 238, e.g., in a
dala,
20 data, prdt:rably in lht: data storagt: 238 of lht: proct:ssing
tht: dala sloragt:
tht:
file called "/msg", and the user is notified that the data has
"jmsg",
system 206, or, alternatively, in the external storage element
arrived, but the data is not sent to the application until the
236. The processing system 206 then notifies 626 the user,
user accesses the data through either the wireless modem
e.g., with an alert from the alert element 218, that the data
124 or lht: t:xtt:rnal dt:vict: 126.
tht: t:xlt:rnal
is in storage, so that the user can then control the wireless
25
FIG. 4 is a simplified exemplary protocol diagram 400 for 25 modem 124 or the external device 126 to access the data
communication between the base stations 116 and the wirethrough a compatible application. Flow then returns to step
less modems 124 in accordance with the present invention.
602 to await new data.
The diagram 400 includes a sync portion 402 for synchroIf, on the other hand, at step 622 the processing system
nizing the receiver 208 with transmissions of the base 30 206 determines that the processing of the data type is not
30
stations 116, through well-known techniques. The diagram
user controlled, then the processing system 206 routes 628
400 also includes the data type identifier 404 for identifying
the data to the internal application, and the flow returns to
the data type. In addition, the diagram 400 includes the data
step 602 to await new data. Also, if at step 616 the processing system 206 determines that the internal application is not
to be processed.
FIGS. 5-8 are flow diagrams depicting operation of the 35 available, then the processing system 206 stores 618 the
data, and prompts 620 the user of the wireless modem 124
wireless modem 124 in accordance with the present invento couple the wireless modem 124 to the external device
tion. Referring to the flow diagram 500 of FIG. 5, periodiapprt:cialt:d
126, so lhal lht: data can bt: proct:sst:d. It will bt: apprt:ciatt:d
that tht: dala
cally the processing system checks 502 whether an applithat some data has little or no meaning unless processed
cation is being added to the wireless modem 124. If so, the
registry programmer 228 cooperates with the application 40 immediately, e.g., data type "http" for displaying an object
on an existing view of a web page. For such data, instead of
during installation to program 504 the application registry
storing the data when no application is available, the pro226 with the data type and data routing information as
cessing system 206 can, alternatively, ignore the data and
depicted in the exemplary application registry 226 of FIG. 3.
Referring to the flow diagram 600 of FIG. 6, operation of 45 take no further action.
If, on the other hand, at step 608 the processing system
the wireless modem 124 in response to receiving data is
206 determines that no external application is available, then
depicted. Plow begins with the processing system 206
the flow moves to step 616, where the processing system 206
waiting 602 to receive the data. When the data is received,
checks whether an internal application is available, as
the processing system 206 accesses the data typer 230 to
50
described herein above. Whenever the data has been stored
determine 604 the data type through well-known techniques.
in either step 624 or step 618, the routines described in
The processing system 206 then accesses 606 the application
FIGS. 7 or 8 can be used to further process the data.
registry 226 to obtain the routing information for the data
type. The processing system 206 then checks 608 whether
Referring to the flow diagram 700 of FIG. 7, the processthe routing information indicates that an external application 55 ing system 206 periodically checks 702 the accessibility
is available in the external device 126, e.g., a Pc. If so, the
status 242 of each external device 126 to determine whether
a previously inaccessible external device 126 has become
processing system 206 checks 610 the accessibility status
accessible to the wireless modem 124. If so, the processing
242 corresponding to the external device 126 to determine
whether the external device 126 is accessible, i.e., coupled
system 206 also checks 704 the data storage 238 and (if
and operable. If so, the processing system 206 checks 612 60 available) the external storage element 236 to determine
whether any data is stored for an application in the external
whether the processing of the data type is user controlled,
i.e., normally sent to storage before processing in response
device. If so, the processing system 206 transmits 706 the
stored data to the appropriate application in the external
to a user command. If so, the processing system 206 stores
624 the data, preferably in the data storage 238 of the 65 device, as determined from the routing information of the
processing system 206, or, alternatively, in the external
application registry 226, and the process ends. If not, the
process ends.
storage element 236. The processing system 206 then noti-

ITC Inv. No. 337-TA-

MOT ITC 0002624

5,974,085
7

8

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of
Referring to the flow diagram 800 of FIG. 8, operation of
the wireless modem 124 in response to a user request is
prompting a user of the wireless modem to couple the
depicted. At step 802 the user requests access to stored data.
wireless modem to the external device, when the routFor example, the user can request the display of a message
ing information indicates the application is located in
received and stored earlier. Tn response, the processing 5
the external device and that no compatible application
is available internal to the wireless modem, and the
system 206 accesses the requested data through a compatible
accessibility status indicates that the external device is
internal or external application, as determined from the
not accessible to the wireless modem.
routing information of the application registry 226.
7. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of
Thus, it should be clear from the preceding disclosure that 10
transmitting the data to the external device in response to
the present invention provides a method and apparatus in a
the accessibility status indicating that a previously
wireless modem for routing data to an appropriate applicainaccessible external device for which the data has been
tion for processing the data without requiring an explicit
stored has become accessible to the wireless modem.
messaging vector, thereby beneficially preventing a burden8. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of
some and expensive proliferation of vectors as new data 15
storing the data in one of the wireless modem and an
types emerge. Also advantageously, the method and appaexternal storage element, when the routing information
ratus supports applications that reside both inside and outindicates user control is required for accessing the data
side the wireless modem. Many modifications and variations
by the application.
of the present invention are possible in light of the above
9. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of
teachings. Thus, it is to be understood that, within the scope 20
notifying a user of the wireless modem when the data has
of the appended claims, the invention can be practiced other
been routed to storage, so that the user can then control
than as described herein above.
at least one of the wireless modem and the external
Whal
What is claimed is:
device to access the data through a compatible appli1. A method in a wireless modem for routing data to an 25
cation.
application or to storage, the method comprising the steps
10. A wireless modem for routing data to an application,
of:
comprising:
programming an application registry in the wireless
a receiver for receiving the data;
modem, the application registry including routing
a processing system coupled to the receiver for processing
information for routing the data, based upon data type, 30
the data, the processing system comprising
to the application or to storage;
a memory for storing an application registry including
thereafter, receiving the data and determining the data
routing information for routing the data, based upon
type; and
data type, to the application or to storage in the
routing the data in accordance with the routing informamemory; and
tion for the data type and, when the routing information 35
an external device interface coupled to the processing
indicates the application is located in an external
system for interfacing with an external device,
device, further in accordance with an accessibility
wherein the processing system is arranged to:
status of the external device.
program the application registry with the routing
2. The method of claim 1, wherein the routing step
information;
thereafter, receive the data and determine the data
comprises the step of routing the data to the application in 40
type; and
the external device, when the routing information indicates
route the data in accordance with the routing inforthe application is located in the external device, and the
mation for the data type and, when the routing
accessibility status indicates that the external device is
information indicates the application is located in
accessible to the wireless modem.
45
the external device, further in accordance with an
3. The method of claim 1, wherein the routing step
accessibility status of the external device.
comprises the step of routing the data to an available
11. The wireless modem of claim 10, wherein the procompatible application in the wireless modem, when the
cessing system is further arranged to route the data to the
routing information indicates the application is located in the 50 application in the external device, when the routing inforexternal device, and the accessibility status indicates that the
mation indicates the application is located in the external
external device is not accessible to the wireless modem.
device, and the accessibility status indicates that the external
4. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of
device is accessible to the wireless modem.
storing the data in the wireless modem, when the routing
12. The wireless modem of elaim 10, wherein the proinformation indicates the application is located in the ss cessing system is further arranged to route the data to an
external device and that no compatible application is
available compatible application in the wireless modem,
available internal to the wireless modem, and the
when the routing information indicates the application is
accessibility status indicates that the external device is
located in the external device, and the accessibility status
not accessible to the wireless modem.
indicates that the external device is not accessible to the
5. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of 60
60 wireless modem.
storing the data in an external storage element coupled to
13. The wireless modem of claim 10, wherein the prothe wireless modem, when the routing information
cessing system is further arranged to
indicates the application is located in the external
device and thal no compatible application is available
store the data in lhe memory, when the routing informathe
that
internal to the wireless modem, and the accessibility 65
tion indicates the application is located in the external
status indicates that the external device is not accessible
device and that no compatible application is available
to the wireless modem.
internal to the wireless modem, and the accessibility

ITC Inv. No. 337-TA-

MOT ITC 0002625

5,974,085
9

10

status indicates that the external device is not accessible
transmit the data to the external device in response to the
to the wireless modem.
accessibility status indicating that a previously inac14. The wireless modem of claim 10, wherein the proccssible external device for which the data has been
cessible cxternal
cessing system is further coupled to an external storage
stored has become accessible to the wireless modem.
element, and wherein the processing system is further 5
17. The wireless modem of claim 10, wherein the proarranged to
cessing system is further arranged to
store the data in the external storage element, when the
store the data in one of the memory and an external
rouling informalion imlicalt:s lht: applicalion is localt:d
storage element, when the routing information indiin the external device and that no compatible applica- 10
applica cates user control is required for accessing the data by
tion is available internal to the wireless modem, and the
the application.
accessibility status indicates that the external device is
not accessible to the wireless modem.
18. The wireless modem of claim 10, further comprising
15. The wireless modem of claim 10, wherein the proa user interface coupled to the processing system for
ct:ssing syslt:m is furlht:r arrangt:d 10
lo
15
interfacing with a user of the wireless modem, and
prompt a user of the wireless modem to couple the
wherein the processing system is further arranged to
wireless modem to the external device, when the routnotify the user through the user interface when the data
ing information indicates the application is located in
has been routed to storage, so that the user can then
the external device and that no compatible application
control at least one of the wireless modem and the
is availabk inlt:mal 10 lht: wirdt:ss modt:m, and lht: 20
inlt:rnal lo
external device to access the data through a compatible
accessibility status indicates that the external device is
not accessible to the wireless modem.
application.
16. The wireless modem of claim 10, wherein the processing system is further arranged to
* * * * *

ITC Inv. No. 337-TA-

MOT ITC 0002626