Method and system for protecting pervasive devices and servers from exchanging viruses

1. A method in a data processing system for preventing exchange of viruses with a device wirelessly coupled to the data processing system, the method comprising:

maintaining preexisting content for the device in a first location in the data processing system, the preexisting content being a duplicate copy of executable code maintained within the device and used by the device for internal operation of the device;

placing new content associated with the device in a second location, wherein the new content is an update to replace at least some of the preexisting content;

combining the preexisting content and the new content in a third location to form merged content;

performing a check for viruses on the merged content prior to performing a transfer of the new content; and

storing the merged content as the preexisting content that is maintained in the data processing system if a virus is absent from the merged content.

2. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

sending the merged content to the device if a virus is absent from the merged content.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the data processing system receives the new content from the device.

4. The method of claim 1 , wherein the device is one of a personal digital assistant and a wireless telephone.

5. The method of claim 1 , wherein the first location is a hard disk drive in the data processing system.

6. The method of claim 1 , wherein the first location is a hard disk drive in a storage system remote to the data processing system.

7. The method of claim 1 , wherein the third location is a random access memory in the data processing system.

8. The method of claim 1 , wherein the steps of placing, maintaining, and performing are initiated in response to a synchronization process between the data processing system and the device.

9. A data processing system for preventing exchange of viruses with a device wirelessly coupled to the data processing system, comprising:

a bus system;

a memory connected to the bus system, wherein the memory includes a set of instructions; and

a processing unit connected to the bus system, wherein the processing unit executes the set of instructions to maintain preexisting content for a device in a first location in the data processing system, place new content associated with the device in a second location, wherein the new content is an update to replace at least some of the preexisting content, combine the preexisting content and the new content in a third location to form merged content, perform a check for viruses on the merged content, and store the merged content as the preexisting content that is maintained on the data processing system if a virus is absent from the merged content, wherein the preexisting content is a duplicate copy of executable code maintained within the device and used by the device for internal operation of the device.

10. The data processing system of claim 9 , wherein the bus system includes a primary bus and a secondary bus.

11. The data processing system of claim 9 , wherein the bus system comprises a single bus.

12. The data processing system of claim 9 , wherein the processing unit includes a plurality of processors.

13. The data processing system of claim 9 , wherein the processing unit includes a single processor.

14. A data processing system for preventing exchange of viruses with a device wirelessly coupled to the data processing system, the data processing system comprising:

maintaining means for maintaining preexisting content for the device in a first location in the data processing system, the preexisting content being a duplicate copy of executable code maintained within the device and used by the device for internal operation of the device;

placing means for placing new content associated with the device in a second location, wherein the new content is an update to replace at least some of the preexisting content;

combining means for combining the preexisting content and the new content in a third location to form merged content;

performing means for performing a check for viruses on the merged content prior to performing a transfer of the new content; and

storing means for storing the merged content as the preexisting content that is maintained in the data processing system if a virus is absent from the merged content.

15. The data processing system of claim 14 further comprising:

sending means for sending the merged content to the device if a virus is absent from the merged content.

16. The data processing system of claim 14 further comprising:

receiving means for receiving the new content from the device.

17. The data processing system of claim 14 , wherein the device is one of a personal digital assistant and a wireless telephone.

18. The data processing system of claim 14 , wherein the first location is a hard disk drive in the data processing system.

19. The data processing system of claim 14 , wherein the first location is a hard disk drive in a storage system remote to the data processing system.

20. The data processing system of claim 14 , wherein the third location is a random access memory in the data processing system.

21. The data processing system of claim 14 , wherein the steps of placing, maintaining, and performing are initiated in response to a synchronization process between the data processing system and the device.

22. A computer program product in a computer readable medium for use in a data processing system for preventing exchange of viruses with a device wirelessly coupled to the data processing system, the computer program product comprising:

first instructions for maintaining preexisting content for the device in a first location in the data processing system, the preexisting content being a duplicate copy of executable code maintained within the device and used by the device for internal operation of the device;

second instructions for placing new content associated with the device in a second location, wherein the new content is an update to replace at least some of the preexisting content;

third instructions for combining the preexisting content and the new content in a third location to form merged content;

fourth instructions for performing a check for viruses on the merged content prior to performing a transfer of the new content; and

fifth instructions for storing the merged content as the preexisting content that is maintained in the data processing system if a virus is absent from the merged content.