Theme change system, portable communication device, server apparatus, and computer program

• US 10,110,728 B2
• Filed: 03/06/2006
• Issued: 10/23/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 03/10/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: FeliCa Networks, Inc
• Original Assignee: FeliCa Networks, Inc
• Inventors: Wakasa, Shigeki, Ogishima, Jun, Okada, Daisuke
• Primary Examiner(s): Winder, Patrice L
• Application Number:
  US11/367,433
• Publication Number:
  US 20060206590A1
• Time in Patent Office: 4,614 Days
• Field of Search: 709219
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 9/445 Program loading or initiating bootstrapping G06F9/4401; security arrangements for program loading or initiating G06F21/57
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/04 specially adapted for terminals or networks with limited capabilities; specially adapted for terminal portability
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/06 specially adapted for file transfer, e.g. file transfer protocol [FTP]
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72406 by software upgrading or downloading
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72427 for supporting games or graphical animations
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72448 with means for adapting the functionality of the device according to specific conditions

Abstract

A theme change system includes a portable communication device; and a server apparatus, wherein the portable communication device and the server apparatus are connected to each other via a communication network. The portable communication device includes a theme request section making a request for theme data related to an interface between a user and a process execution part for performing processing in accordance with a request from the user to the server apparatus, a theme management section determining permission and non-permission about the reception of the theme data requested by the theme request section and storing, in a storage section, the theme data, and an interface output section outputting the interface on the basis of the theme data when the process execution part is started or while the process execution part is being started. The server apparatus includes a transmission section transmitting theme data to the portable communication device.

Claims

1. A theme change system comprising:

a portable communication device connected to a server apparatus via a communication network,

wherein the server apparatus includes

a transmission section that transmits an application data relating to an application, an application definition data file relating to attributes of the application, a theme data relating to a theme, a theme definition data file relating to attributes of the theme, and a management file relating to the application and the theme, to the portable communication device,

wherein the application is executable to perform a predetermined process,

wherein the portable communication device includes

an application data storage section that stores the application data,

a theme data storage section that stores the theme data,

a management data storage section that stores the management file,

a theme management section that compares a version value of the stored theme data with a version value of the management file obtained from the server apparatus, and

an interface output section that outputs an interface of the portable communication device on the basis of the theme and a result of the comparison,

wherein execution of the predetermined process by the application operates independently from the theme such that the portable communication device is configured to change the theme during the execution of the predetermined process, without changing the application and without changing the application definition data file, and

wherein the application is not integral with the theme.

2. The theme change system according to claim 1, wherein the server apparatus includes an application download server that is configured to store and transmit the application data relating to the application and the theme data relating to the theme to the portable communication device.

3. The theme change system according to claim 2, wherein the server apparatus further includes a Web server that is configured to provide Web page browsing to the portable communication device.

4. The theme change system according to claim 3, wherein if the Web server stores the theme data and the theme data is requested through a browser of the portable communication device, the Web server is configured to perform a theme change in place of the application download server.

5. The theme change system according to claim 1, wherein the portable communication device further includes a theme request section that makes a request for the theme data in accordance with a request from the user to the server apparatus via the communication network.

6. The theme change system according to claim 5, wherein the theme management section determines whether the theme data requested by the theme request section should be received and, if it is determined that the theme data should be received, receives the theme data transmitted from the server apparatus via the communication network, and stores the theme data in the storage section.

7. The theme change system according to claim 5, wherein, when an interface cannot be output on the basis of the theme data stored by the portable communication device, the theme request section makes a request to the server apparatus for new theme data.

8. A portable communication device capable of communicating with a server apparatus via a communication network, the portable communication device comprising:

an application data storage section that stores an application data relating to an application and an application definition data file relating to attributes of the application, the application being executable to perform a predetermined process,

a theme data storage section that stores a theme data relating to a theme and a theme definition data file relating to attributes of the theme,

a management data storage section that stores a management file relating to the application and the theme,

a theme management section that compares a version value of the stored theme data with a version value of the management file obtained from the server apparatus, and

an interface output section that outputs an interface of the portable communication device on the basis of the theme and a result of the comparison,

wherein execution of the predetermined process by the application operates independently from the theme such that the portable communication device is configured to change the theme during the execution of the predetermined process, without changing the application and without changing an application definition data file, the application definition data file including data regarding attributes of the application, and

wherein the application is not integral with the theme.

9. The portable communication device according to claim 8, wherein the portable communication device further includes a theme request section that makes a request for the theme data in accordance with a request from the user to the server apparatus via the communication network.

10. The portable communication device according to claim 9, wherein the theme management section determines whether the theme data requested by the theme request section should be received and, if it is determined that the theme data should be received, receives the theme data transmitted from the server apparatus via the communication network, and stores the theme data in the storage section.

11. The portable communication device according to claim 10, wherein, when an interface cannot be output on the basis of the theme data stored by the portable communication device, the theme request section makes a request to the server apparatus for new theme data.

12. The portable communication device according to claim 10, wherein the theme management section replaces the existing theme data stored by the portable communication device with the theme data transmitted from the server apparatus.

13. The portable communication device according to claim 10, wherein, when a selection of the theme data is accepted from the user on the basis of the identification information for identifying the theme data, the theme request section makes a request for the selected theme data to the server apparatus.

14. The portable communication device according to claim 10, wherein, in an attribute definition file including the application definition data file for at least defining attributes of the application, a version at which an interface output section can output an interface is described, and the interface output section outputs the interface by comparing the version at which output is possible with the version value of the stored theme data.