Selective update of core mobile device user interface through application marketplace

• US 10,235,155 B2
• Filed: 07/29/2016
• Issued: 03/19/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 08/18/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Inventors: Cupala, Shiraz J., Ye, Lan, Garg, Neeraj
• Primary Examiner(s): Ngo, Chuong A
• Application Number:
  US15/223,926
• Publication Number:
  US 20160335077A1
• Time in Patent Office: 963 Days
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 8/65 Updates security arrangements therefor G06F21/57
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/34 involving the movement of software or configuration parameters network booting or remote initial program loading [RIPL] G06F9/4416
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72406 by software upgrading or downloading
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72448 with means for adapting the functionality of the device according to specific conditions
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 24/02 Arrangements for optimising operational condition
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/60 Subscription-based services using application servers or record carriers, e.g. SIM application toolkits
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/02 Terminal devices

Abstract

Systems and methods for selectively updating or extending built in functionality on a mobile device are disclosed. The updates may be provided to selective portions of software such that the entire software does not need to be replaced. The update may be provided through an application marketplace that provides third party software applications for mobile devices. The software that the mobile device is shipped with may include a number of “entry points,” which provide functionality that may be extended through the selective updates. When the entry point is triggered by user selection, a determination may be made whether code for the functionality is already available on the mobile device. If not, the mobile device may contact the application marketplace to determine if code is available to provide or extend the requested functionality.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

providing a user interface for selecting a plurality of functionalities associated with a plurality of entry points for launching the plurality of functionalities;

receiving a request for a first functionality of the plurality of functionalities associated with a first entry point;

determining that the first functionality is not available on the computing device;

sending a request for the first functionality;

receiving a response to the request; and

after receiving the response, executing code providing the first functionality, wherein the code also provides a second functionality of the plurality of functionalities associated with a second entry point.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the code is for a discrete piece of core user interface functionality of the computing device.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising performing a failover operation that includes accessing a web page for providing a third functionality of the plurality of functionalities.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein the performing the failover operation further includes a determination to request code for the third functionality from the application marketplace.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising if the code is not available from the application marketplace when the request is sent for the first functionality, determining whether the code is available from the application marketplace at a later point in time.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising automatically determining whether updates are available for the code that provides the first functionality.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein sending the request includes sending the identifier to the application marketplace.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the application marketplace is a service for browsing and downloading software applications.

9. The method of claim 1, further comprising sending information to the application marketplace to purchase the code that provides the first functionality.

10. The method of claim 1, further comprising displaying a message that an update is available for the first functionality, wherein the message is displayed within an application that provides the first functionality.

11. A computing device comprising:

at least one processor; and

at least one memory storing computer-readable instructions that when executed by the processor cause the computing device to perform a method comprising;

providing a user interface for selecting a plurality of functionalities associated with a plurality of entry points for launching the plurality of functionalities;

receiving a request for a first functionality of the plurality of functionalities associated with a first entry point;

determining that the first functionality is not available on the computing device;

sending a request for the first functionality;

receiving a response to the request; and

after receiving the response, executing code providing the first functionality, wherein the code also provides a second functionality of the plurality of functionalities associated with a second entry point.

12. The computing device of claim 11, wherein sending the request includes sending the identifier to the application marketplace.

13. The computing device of claim 12, wherein the application marketplace is a service for browsing and downloading third party software applications.

14. The computing device of claim 11, wherein the method further comprises displaying a message that an update is available for the first functionality, wherein the message is displayed within an application that provides the first functionality.

15. The computing device of claim 11, wherein the method further comprises if the code is not available from the application marketplace when the request is sent for the first functionality, determining whether the code is available from the application marketplace at a later point in time.

16. A computer storage medium having stored thereon computer executable instructions that, when executed by at least one processor, perform a method comprising:

providing a user interface for selecting a plurality of functionalities associated with a plurality of entry points for launching the plurality of functionalities;

receiving a request for a first functionality of the plurality of functionalities associated with a first entry point;

determining that the first functionality is not available on the computing device;

sending a request for the first functionality;

receiving a response to the request; and

after receiving the response, executing code for providing the first functionality, wherein the code also provides a second functionality of the plurality of functionalities associated with a second entry point.

17. The computer storage device of claim 16, wherein the method further comprises if the code is not available from the application marketplace when the request is sent for the first functionality, determining whether the code is available from the application marketplace at a later point in time.

18. The computer storage device of claim 17, wherein the method further comprises displaying a message that an update is available for the first functionality, wherein the message is displayed within an application that provides the first functionality.

19. The computer storage device of claim 16, wherein the code is for a discrete piece of core user interface functionality of the computing device.

20. The computer storage device of claim 16, wherein the method further comprises automatically determining whether updates are available for the code that provides the first functionality.