SMS Message Driven Data Updates for Offline Devices
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing methods for updating applications on user devices fail to provide efficient data updates when the device is in a 'data not available' (DNA) zone, as they rely on data network connectivity, which is not always available.
Innovation Solution
Implementing message-driven data updates using short message service (SMS) messaging, where a server generates SMS messages containing data updates and sends them to user devices, which can receive and process these updates even without data network availability, utilizing a message data framework to decrypt, authenticate, and compile the updates for application use.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If data network connectivity is used for application updates, then update efficiency and speed are improved, but availability and reliability deteriorate in DNA zones
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces an SMS message as an intermediary carrier to transmit update information. Instead of directly using data network connectivity, the system embeds update metadata ( URLs, version information) within SMS messages that can be delivered via the cellular signaling network, which operates independently of data network availability. This intermediary approach allows update information to reach devices in DNA zones while maintaining update efficiency through centralized distribution.
2Reliability
If SMS messaging is used for data updates, then availability in DNA zones is improved, but data transmission capacity and speed worsen
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the update information into two parts: (1) essential metadata (update URLs, version info, device identifiers) transmitted via SMS within character limits, and (2) actual update payloads downloaded separately via data network after connectivity is restored. This segmentation allows critical update information to be delivered reliably via SMS in DNA zones while avoiding SMS character limitations by offloading bulk data transfer to the data network.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent transitions from a single-dimension data transmission approach (relying solely on data network) to a multi-dimensional approach combining SMS signaling channel and data network channel. By utilizing the vertical dimension of SMS messaging (independent network layer), the system ensures update availability while maintaining horizontal data transmission capacity for actual payload delivery.
3Speed
If traditional data network updates are used, then data transmission speed is improved, but cost for users with limited data plans worsens
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies partial action by transmitting only essential update metadata via SMS rather than complete update payloads. This minimal数据传输 approach consumes negligible user data allowance while still enabling timely update initiation. The actual bulk data transfer occurs efficiently over data network when connectivity is available, optimizing the balance between speed and data consumption.
Data Source
AI summary
Novel tools and techniques might be provide for implementing message-driven data updates. In some embodiments, a server might generate linear (e.g., short message service (“SMS”)) message(s) containing data updates, and might send the linear message(s) to a user device over a linear messaging communications network. The user device might receive the linear message containing data updates, and might divert, based on the format of the linear message, the linear message, from a queue of regular (i.e., message only) linear messages that are displayed to a user, to a translator device or application programming interface (“API”). The translator or API might parse the data updates in the linear message (in some cases, combining data updates in multiple linear messages, decrypting data updates, and/or the like) to generate data updates in data format, which are then relayed to one or more identified applications running on the user device for updating these applications.