Multi-path gateway communications device
Patent No. US7263102 (titled "Multi-path gateway communications device") on Nov 27, 2002. The application was issued on Aug 28, 2007.
What is this patent about?
’102 is related to the field of distributed computing and personal area networking. It specifically addresses the technical challenges of synchronizing and managing personalized data across a fragmented ecosystem of user devices, such as mobile phones, PCs, and PDAs, each having distinct hardware capabilities, software requirements, and security protocols.
The underlying idea behind ’102 is the creation of a centralized, portable hardware intermediary that acts as a universal data broker for a user’s various devices. Instead of requiring each device to independently sync with every other device, this gateway maintains a master set of rule-based profiles that dictate how data should be formatted, secured, and routed based on the specific technical constraints and proximity of the target hardware.
The claims of ’102 focus on a personal digital gateway equipped with a database of rule-based profiles and a processor that categorizes data into functional agents. These agents specifically handle access, configuration, security, and management tasks to ensure that data exchanged with a selected device—ranging from satellite phones to interactive televisions—is compatible with that device’s unique operating parameters.
In practice, the system utilizes an edge side assembler to dynamically reconfigure information before it reaches the endpoint. This mechanism allows the gateway to detect a device in its vicinity, identify its display or processing limitations, and then fetch and transform remote data into a compatible format. This ensures that a user sees a consistent, up-to-date version of their files or contact lists regardless of whether they are using a high-powered workstation or a limited-functionality pager.
This approach differs from prior solutions by moving the intelligence away from the individual endpoints and the cloud into a dedicated, user-controlled rule-based engine. By utilizing a removable memory device and specialized agents for security and configuration, the invention eliminates the need for manual data entry across multiple platforms. It effectively creates a virtual personalized network that automates the complex handshake and data translation processes required for seamless cross-device interoperability.
How does this patent fit in bigger picture?
Technical Landscape
In the early 2000s when ’102 was filed, personal data management was typically implemented using localized storage on discrete devices, where systems commonly relied on manual synchronization or redundant data entry rather than centralized, cross-platform orchestration. At a time when hardware and software constraints made the seamless exchange of rich media and complex application data non-trivial, mobile devices often possessed limited processing power and disparate operating environments that prevented the execution of full-scale desktop applications. Consequently, maintaining consistent user profiles, security credentials, and updated contact information across a heterogeneous mix of cellular phones, personal digital assistants, and home computers required significant user intervention to overcome inherent architectural silos.
Prosecution Position
The disclosed invention addresses the technical problem of data fragmentation and format incompatibility across diverse communication devices by introducing a personal digital gateway that functions as a centralized, rule-based intermediary. The architectural shift involves the use of a rule-based application dataserver and an edge side assembler to dynamically configure and convert data into formats compatible with the specific hardware and software constraints of a target device. This integration enables the technical effect of universal data management, where security agents, configuration profiles, and management rules are automatically applied to facilitate seamless synchronization. By leveraging a virtualized network setting to bridge disparate communication protocols and device functionalities, the system overcomes the constraint of localized data silos, allowing for the automated, customized presentation of information across a variety of mobile and fixed platforms.
Claims
This patent contains a total of 20 claims, with claims 1 and 14 serving as the independent claims. The independent claims focus on a personal digital gateway system that utilizes rule-based profiles and engines to categorize data into specific functional agents—such as access, configuration, security, and management—for communication with a variety of selected devices including mobile phones, computers, and digital assistants. The dependent claims serve to add specific hardware and functional details, including server selection mechanisms, input/output port varieties, power sources, telecommunications network switching, biometric sensors, and data formatting applications.
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US7263102
- Application Number
- US10306848A
- Filing Date
- Nov 27, 2002
- Publication Date
- Aug 28, 2007
- External Links
- Slate, USPTO , Google Patents