Method and system for updating capabilities of a device

Abstract

A method and system for transmitting data to a device is described. The method includes steps of comparing, in a server, a list of capabilities of the server against a list of capabilities of a mobile terminal and creating a list of capabilities in the server and not in the mobile terminal. The method and system wirelessly transmit, to the mobile terminal, a request to confirm the capabilities of the mobile terminal. The mobile terminal receives the request and the list of capabilities and compares the list of capabilities to current capabilities of the mobile terminal and then wirelessly transmits data identifying its capabilities to the server, the data including information of new capabilities of the mobile terminal. The server then updates the list of capabilities of the mobile terminal based on the information of new capabilities.

1 . A method for updating capabilities of a device comprising steps of:
 receiving a capability;   receiving a request to confirm a capability of the device, said request including a list of capabilities;   comparing the list of capabilities to current capabilities of the device; and   identifying to a server the capability of the device.   
   
   
       2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the step of identifying includes steps of:
 updating the list of capabilities to include the capability; and   transmitting the updated list of capabilities.   
   
   
       3 . The method of  claim 2 , further comprising a step of receiving a service based upon information provided in the updated list of capabilities. 
   
   
       4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the step of receiving a capability is performed in a mobile terminal. 
   
   
       5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the capability includes at least one of: a new application, a new driver, and a new feature. 
   
   
       6 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising a step of updating a second list of capabilities of the device to include the capability. 
   
   
       7 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising a step of receiving a service based upon the identified capability. 
   
   
       8 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising steps of:
 receiving a second request to confirm a second capability of a second device, said second request including the list of capabilities;   comparing the list of capabilities to current capabilities of the second device;   updating the list of capabilities to include whether the second capability of the second device matches any capability listed in the list of capabilities; and   transmitting the updated list of capabilities, including whether the second capability of the second devices matches any capability in the list of capabilities.   
   
   
       9 . The method of  claim 8 , further comprising a step of receiving a service based upon information provided in the updated list of capabilities, including whether the second capability of the second devices matches any capability in the list of capabilities. 
   
   
       10 . The method of  claim 9 , further comprising a step of determining whether a threshold number of devices includes the capability. 
   
   
       11 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising a step of transmitting location information, the location information identifying where the capability is available for usage. 
   
   
       12 . A server for transmitting data to a device, the server comprising:
 a subscriber information database, the subscriber information database comprising a first listing of capabilities of the device associated with the server;   a server information database, the server information database comprising a second listing of the capabilities of the server;   a first application for updating the subscriber information database;   a second application for updating the server information database; and   a third application for comparing information between the subscriber information database and the server information database,   wherein the server is configured to create a list of capabilities in the server and not in the device,   wherein the server is configured to transmit, to the device, a request to confirm a capability of the device, the request including the list of capabilities,   wherein the server is configured to receive data identifying a current capability of the device from the list of capabilities,   wherein the server is configured to transmit a service to the device based upon the identified current capability.   
   
   
       13 . The server of  claim 12 , wherein the server further includes:
 a network node information database, the network node information database comprising a third listing of capabilities of network nodes associated with the server; and   a fourth application for updating the network node information database,   wherein the third application for comparing information between the subscriber information database and the server information database further is configured to compare information between the network node information database and the server information database.   
   
   
       14 . The server of  claim 13 , wherein the server is configured to select a network node from the network node information database. 
   
   
       15 . The server of  claim 14 , wherein the server is configured to determine whether the selected network node is configured to transmit the service to the device. 
   
   
       16 . The server of  claim 15 , wherein the server is configured to select a second network node from the network node information database when the selected network node is unable to transmit the service to the device. 
   
   
       17 . The server of  claim 12 , wherein the device is a wireless mobile terminal. 
   
   
       18 . An apparatus for receiving data from a device, the apparatus comprising:
 an apparatus information database, the apparatus information database comprising a listing of capabilities of the apparatus; and   a client proxy component configured to receive a request to confirm the capabilities of the apparatus, said request including a list of capabilities associated with a device, to compare the list of capabilities to current capabilities of the apparatus, to update the list of capabilities to include information of a new capability of the apparatus, and to transmit the updated list of capabilities in order to receive a service based upon the updated list of capabilities.   
   
   
       19 . The apparatus of  claim 18 , wherein the apparatus is a mobile terminal. 
   
   
       20 . The apparatus of  claim 19 , wherein the apparatus is a network node.