WO2002087161A1

WO2002087161A1 - Method and system for data transmission comprising a server station

Info

Publication number: WO2002087161A1
Application number: PCT/EP2001/004519
Authority: WO
Inventors: Karl Karpf; Martin Schinwald; Michal Herstus; Ondrej Cada
Original assignee: 2K'systems Handels Gmbh
Priority date: 2001-04-20
Filing date: 2001-04-20
Publication date: 2002-10-31

Abstract

The invention relates to a method and system for transmission of data between two or more stations, whereby particular operating means and data are managed for the other stations by a server station. According to the invention, the server station is embodied in mobile form, whereby conventional mobile devices my be used as server for the data transmission. A communication between mobile and/or stationary users in a non platform-dependent manner is possible, in particular by the use of standard data transmission protocols and programmes.

Description

Method and system for data transmission with a server station

The present invention relates to a method for data transmission between two or more stations, with certain operating resources and data being managed by a server station for the other stations, and a corresponding system. Furthermore, the invention relates to a computer program (product) for implementing the method mentioned.

Such data transmission methods often take the form of networks such as local communication networks (LAN, Local Area Network), which consist of one or more servers, workstations (desktop), a network operating system and a uniform protocol and special cables as communication lines. At the same time, more and more mobile communication and data transmission devices are being used today. It is desirable to use these mobile devices (cell phones, palmtops, notebooks, laptops and the like) to establish a communication link to other stations, such as a desktop or a mobile device.

If a mobile device is connected to a stationary device (PC / desktop), communication software must be installed on the desktop side, as shown in FIG. 1, which is tailored precisely to the mobile device 1. This software is completely different from that of other programs that are available on the desktop 2. Different types of software are required for different operating systems such as Windows 98, Windows 2000 or Macintosh. The connection between The mobile device 1 and the PC of the desktop 2 are built up using a manufacturer-specific protocol. The communication, the conversion and the service functionality such as the synchronization are carried out on the desktop 2.

This approach harbors several disadvantages, as listed below.

The communication interface including all related services are installed on the PC of the desktop. The connection to another PC (e.g. one in the customer's office or at home) requires the software to be installed there. In cases where only one file is to be transferred and converted, however, this is not a preferred solution. Because the communication interface remains installed on the desktop, files cannot be exchanged between other desktops.

As already indicated above, the protocol is proprietary. The use of manufacturer-specific, non-standardized protocols causes great problems if different communication interfaces (serial, infrared, radio (Bluetooth) or LAN) are to be used. In addition, customer care for customers of such products is difficult. Standard protocols can be more easily understood and supported by the relevant customer advisors.

The development of new mobile communication and data devices has so far required a corresponding adjustment of the way of working on the desktop side. This is associated with high manufacturing costs and time delays for customers. Another aspect is the market share of the respective desktop system. So far, for example, there is no support for Macintosh systems with Symbian devices. The problems described make mobile data transmission to PC workstations complex and inflexible. The consequence is a lack of acceptance by the customer.

The communication link between mobile devices is even more difficult. There are currently two options: Addresses or appointments can be exchanged using the mostly supported Vcard or Vcalendar standard. If the same operating system is installed on both systems, files can also be exchanged using infrared transmission (for example in the Psion 5mx series with Psion Revo). If files are to be exchanged between Palm, WindowsCE or Sy bian-based products, this must be done via an e-mail attachment. In order for the recipient of this email to receive the file in the correct format, the email attachment must be converted. This function is currently only available for Symbian products with software developed by the applicant.

The possibility of data transmission between mobile devices (apart from the voice and short message transmission in mobile radio networks) is consequently very limited. This is hardly acceptable to the customer since there is a need to be able to transfer data of any kind and without restriction to any other device.

The object of the present invention is therefore to specify a method and a system for data transmission between a plurality of stations, at least one of these stations being designed as a server and the restrictions on data transmission mentioned above being largely avoided.

This object is achieved by a method according to claim 1. A system according to the invention specifies claim 11. Advantageous configurations result from the respective subclaims and the following description. According to the invention, the server station is designed to be mobile, so that the server-specific resources and data are managed in the mobile device which accesses or is accessed by other stationary or mobile stations. The invention thus exchanges the classic client-server role by relocating the previously stationary server to a mobile station to which other mobile and stationary stations (possibly also with server properties) can access. This opens up a multitude of possibilities with the associated advantages.

The invention advantageously uses data transmission protocols of the IT industry standard, such as TCP / IP (Transmission Control Protocol / Internet Protocol), FTP (File Transfer Protocol), HTTP (Hyper Text Transfer Protocol) and / or Telnet.

The TCP / IP is the standard internet protocol. The transmitted data packets contain the destination address of the station or device that requested the data. At the same time, it can be ensured that the data sent was received correctly. The protocols FTP, HTTP and SMTP (Simple Mail Transfer Protocol) are based on this Internet protocol. With the File Transfer Protocol (FTP) you can download text, image, program, sound and video files from a server or upload them to it. Users can access data on different types of computers, regardless of the type of computer and the operating system they are using. Finally, access to a server can be regulated with Telnet and server control can be carried out. This protocol with the program using this protocol enables online access to other computers, in particular to servers. For example, a user can set up databases or add data to the server using Telnet. For this purpose, an extended FTP server and HTTP Application server implemented so that files, operating systems and application programs can be made accessible on the mobile device.

The application services offered in the method / system according to the invention include: conversion of file formats

(general file conversion and character encoding); Access to the file system (copy, delete, set file attributes, create / remove folders, etc.); Access to PIM (Personal Information Manager) data

(such as calendars, contacts, emails); Backing up and restoring data; Install and remove applications.

The method / system according to the invention advantageously offers an application programming interface (API, Application Programming Interface), which enables third software developers to develop further new applications for the mobile server and to make them accessible to other users via HTTP and FTP protocols.

Another application program interface is advantageously provided in order to develop new conversion filters for converting file formats.

The method / system according to the invention allows the use of standard ebbrowsers, so that every HTTP-compatible client can contact the mobile server station and work with the data available there. Any FTP client can also be used to exchange files between a computer and the mobile server station. Applications that use the FTP protocols to communicate with the mobile server station according to the invention can use extended instruction sets to access the application services.

The method / system according to the invention supports all connection forms on which a TCP / IP protocol for interactive tion between different systems and devices. A data transmission can take place, for example, via a serial cable, via a serial data bus (for example USB, Universal Serial Bus), via an infrared interface or via a radio interface, such as "Bluetooth". With "Bluetooth", data transmission takes place via short-wave radio (2.45 GHz) with ranges between 10 and 100 meters. The transmission speed reaches IMbps. This standard protocol will enable wireless local area networks and data transmission between mobile and stationary devices. An example of this is the data synchronization between a PDA (Personal Digital Assistant) and the PC. The "Bluetooth" standard is license-free and open. This prevents the restrictions created by proprietary systems.

The individual stations can be combined with the mobile server station to form a local network; in particular, a wireless local communication network can be implemented. The Internet network protocol is suitable for the connection in the local network.

The mobile radio standards for the method / system according to the invention can be considered as further connection types: GSM (Global System for Mobile Communication) enables not only the transmission of voice and short message service (SMS) data but also other forms of data transmission and has become the norm in Europe almost enforced for digital, cellular mobile networks. GPRS (General Packet Radio Service), which is a data transmission technology based on the Internet Protocol (IP) for GSM mobile networks, achieves a higher transmission rate. This can make it easier, in particular, to connect mobile phones to the Internet (WAP). In the future, UMTS (Universal Mobile Telecommunications System), which will allow broadband data transmission rates of up to 2Mbps, will prevail. UMTS is largely associated with the International IMT-2000 standard compatible and can be used in different networks. The frequency range here is between 1885 and 2025MHz. Another possible data transmission method is CDMA (Code Division Multiple Access). Here, narrowband signals are spread into broadband signals, with each bit to be transmitted being encoded in a transmitter-dependent pattern. This method is more interference-free than other multiplex methods such as TDMA (Time Division Multiple Access) or FDMA (Frequency Division Multiple Access) and the data transmission is also secure against misuse, since a receiver can only decode the transmitted data if it does so for the Sender knows characteristic patterns of bit coding.

As devices in which a mobile server station according to the invention can be used, smartphones, com unicators, wireless information devices (WID), palmtops, personal digital assistants (PDAs) are particularly suitable with 32-bit operating systems, such as Symbian ER5, ERβ.x or higher, Microsoft Windows CE, Pocket PCs or Stinger, as well as mobile telephones, notebooks, laptops, etc. The software for implementing the method according to the invention runs particularly preferably in a 32-bit environment with multi-program processing (multitasking). But the software also runs on Palm OS, albeit with limited possibilities due to the limitations of the Palm OS (16-bit, no multitasking).

In a preferred embodiment, the system components include the following:

Mobile application server (Mobile Application Server), which provides the user with several standard communication interfaces, such as FTP interface, HTTP interface and Telnet interface. Conversion interface ("Xeonversion API", conversion filter API) for the implementation of new file conversion filters.

Service interface ("Xservices API", application services API) for implementing new applications such as calendar synchronization from device to device.

Set of conversion filters for common file formats (basic Epoc application formats, HTML, RTF, dBase, Excel ...).

Standard services (file system, file conversion, appointment and address data, calendar, e-mail, backup / restore, installation / removal of applications / services, including remote control).

The data transmission according to the invention described, including the interfaces described, the conversion filter and the standard services, is expediently carried out by means of a computer program which is executed on a suitable computer unit. This computing unit is expediently housed on the mobile server station. The devices that access the mobile server station only require a standard transmission protocol and program, as explained in detail above. The computer program can already be stored in advance on the mobile device that contains the server station, but can also be loaded onto this device from another computer. The computer programs can be stored on suitable data carriers, such as EE-PROMs, flash memories, but also CD-ROMs, floppy disks or hard disk drives.

Of course, what has been said above also applies to computer programs which may be required on the other stations and which may be necessary in order to use special applications when communicating with the mobile server station according to the invention. In the following, exemplary embodiments are intended to explain the method and system according to the invention with reference to the accompanying drawings.

FIG. 1 shows the connection of a mobile device to a desktop in the state of the art,

Figure 2 shows the connection of a mobile device with a desktop according to the present invention and

Figure 3 shows the connection of a mobile device with another mobile device according to the invention.

FIG. 2 shows a mobile device 1 on which the mobile server according to the invention, hereinafter referred to as the mobile micro-server (MMS), is installed. With this, the mobile device 1 can be connected to any type of desktop 2 via an installed TCP / IP protocol, which runs on one of the mentioned data transmission types. These types of data transmission are, for example: serial cable, USB, infrared interface, Bluetooth or even cellular standards such as GSM, GPRS, UMTS or CDMA. Of course, the mobile device 1 must support the selected connection type. If, for example, Bluetooth is present on the mobile device 1 and on the desktop 2, there can be an automatic connection between the mobile device 1 and the desktop 2 without additional software having to be installed on the mobile device.

The user can now exchange data between the desktop 2 and the mobile device 1 using a web browser installed on the desktop. This data exchange includes the following options: Exchange, conversion, synchronization, storage, restoration of files ("Exchange / Convert / Synchronize / Backup / Restore Files). The user can also use personal data (agenda, contacts). and print out his calendar, for example, or add new contact addresses. The invention enables access to any information stored on the mobile device 1. In contrast to the known prior art, this does not require any proprietary protocols that are precisely tailored to the mobile device 1 and the desktop 2. A standard web browser is sufficient to make the information accessible.

FIG. 3 schematically shows a "peer-to-peer" communication according to the invention with the mobile micro-server according to the invention.

The market for mobile phones shows the enormous importance of mobile communication in the private as well as in the business area. However, this communication is mainly limited to voice transmission and the transmission of so-called "short messages" via mobile telephones. Another possibility of data exchange is access to the Internet via a mobile device. However, this also does not make it possible, for example, to compare calendars with one another, in particular if the respective users work on different systems.

With the invention it is already possible with a simple Internet browser and a standard data transmission method (such as infrared, Bluetooth, GSM, GPRS, UMTS) to establish a connection between two mobile devices 1 and 2 and to exchange data. In the arrangement shown in Figure 3, both mobile devices 1 and 2 each have a mobile server station (MMS). Conventional standard protocols are used for the interaction of the devices.

For example, the users of the mobile devices 1 and 2 can compare their calendars with one another in order to coordinate appointments and appointments. You can edit the same document with a communicator. You can point to the same Access contact addresses. The file conversion from a manufacturer-specific file format on the mobile device to a standard office document is carried out directly on the device. This means that mobile users can communicate with each other and / or with desktops in different offices in real time.

It offers z. B. the possibility of mobile publication:

So far, it has been very difficult to make information accessible to a defined user group, for example colleagues in the office or on a business trip. It can e.g. For example, the case may arise that photographs and comments on products exhibited there should be sent to a certain group of colleagues when visiting a trade fair. With the mobile server station (MMS) according to the invention, a standard HTTP server can be simulated, which can be made accessible online by any web browser. The said group of colleagues can then access the information in the mobile device with the mobile server from any other mobile device or PC on the desktop (in real time).

On the other hand, as a user of the mobile server station, it is possible to have documents loaded onto the mobile device in order to obtain the important information required during a trip.

With the mobile server (MMS) according to the invention, administration can be carried out as to which user receives which access rights in order to access, upload or download information or to synchronize data. It is also possible to define different areas on the "mobile website", such as private, public or business, in order to be able to offer different types of information to a different audience. The mobile server enables a mobile workstation:

Many companies today have mobile employees who are involved in the workflow and must be able to communicate with the company in real time. This requires the use of optimally equipped mobile devices. Here the invention of the mobile micro-server enables exactly the required functionality. Real-time data transfer, remote installation of applications, automatic remote synchronization of data, synchronization of calendar / contacts / e-mail in real time is possible. In particular, the user interface of the respective application can be transferred individually to the mobile workstation. Group work is possible between users of mobile devices and desktops.

The big advantage is the flexibility of mobile micro server technology, which offers open application programming interfaces (API), which enables various business applications, such as B. Comparison and synchronization of collected data with ElS systems such as SAP, Oracle or IBM.

Claims

claims

1. A method for data transmission between two or more stations (1, 2), wherein certain resources and data are managed by a server station for the other stations, so that the server station (1) is designed to be mobile.

2. The method according to claim 1, characterized in that a portable device, in particular in pocket or palm format is used as the mobile server station (1), such as a mobile phone, a smartphone, a communicator, a palm top, a personal digital Assistant (PDA), a pocket PC, a notebook or a laptop.

3. The method according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that standard transmission protocols, such as the Transmission Control Protocol / Internet Protocol (TCP / IP), the File Transfer Protocol (FTP), the Hyper Text Transfer Protocol (HTTP) and / or the Telnet, are used for communication between the mobile server station (1) and the other stations (2).

4. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the data transmission between the mobile server station (1) and the other stations (2) via a serial cable, via a serial data bus, via an infrared interface and / or there is a radio interface.

5. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the mobile server station (1) and the remaining stations (2) form a local area network.

6. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that for wireless data transmission the mobile radio standard GSM (Global System for Mobile Communication) or GPRS (General Packet Radio Service) or UMTS (Universal Mobile Telecommunications System) or a Multiplex method such as CDMA (Code Division Multiplex Access) is used.

7. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that an application programming interface (API, Application Programming Interface) is used to implement file conversions or new applications.

8. Computer program with program code means to carry out all steps of claims 1 to 7 when the computer program is executed on a computer or on a corresponding computer unit, in particular on the mobile server station (1).

9. Computer program product with program code means which are stored on a computer-readable data carrier in order to carry out the method according to one of claims 1 to 7 if the computer program is on a computer or on a corresponding computer unit, in particular the mobile server station (1), is performed.

10. Use of a mobile device, which is designed for data transmission and data storage, as a mobile server station (1).

11. System for data transmission with several stations (1, 2) including a server station for the management of certain resources and data for the other stations, characterized in that the server station (1) is designed to be mobile.

12. System according to claim 11, characterized in that the mobile server station (1) is housed in a portable device, in particular in a device in pocket or palm format, such as a mobile phone, a smartphone, a communicator, a palmtop, a personal digital Assistant (PDA), a pocket PC, a notebook or a laptop.

13. System according to claim 11 or 12, characterized in that the mobile server station forms a local network with the other stations.

14. System according to one of claims 11 to 13, characterized in that the stations connected to the data transmission system have station-dependent access authorizations to the mobile server station.