(12) United States Patent ao) Patent No.: Us 7,197,541 Bi
Skinner et al. (45) Date of Patent: Mar. 27,2007
(54) METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR
AUTOMATED PERSONALITY TRANSFER
FOR A WIRELESS ENABLED HANDHELD
DEVICE
(75) Inventors: Craig Stuart Skinner, Snohomish, WA (US); Jeffry Harlow Loucks, Gig
Harbor, WA (US)
(73) Assignee: Palm, Inc., Santa Clara, CA (US)
( * ) Notice: Subject to any disclaimer, the term of this patent is extended or adjusted under 35 U.S.C. 154(b) by 547 days.
(21) Appl. No.: 09/884,806
(22) Filed: Jun. 18, 2001
(51) Int. CI.
G06F15/167 (2006.01)
H04M1/00 (2006.01)
(52) U.S. CI 709/216; 455/556.2
(58) Field of Classification Search 709/216,
709/217, 219, 232; 455/556.1, 556.2, 550.1,
455/412.1
See application file for complete search history.
A method and system for restoring device personality after failure. Specifically, the present invention discloses a method and system for automated personality transfer in a wireless enabled handheld device. In one embodiment, the present invention automatically extracts personality information that is unique and critical to the proper functionality of an electronic device. A personality file containing the personality information is created and stored on the electronic device. The personality file can be then transferred to another electronic device for archival purposes. Thereafter, should the personality information be lost due to device failure, embodiments of the present invention provide for restoring the electronic device back to its original operating state by importing the personality information back into the electronic device.
27 Claims, 14 Drawing Sheets
