Method and apparatus for updating applications on a mobile device via device synchronization

• US 20020065939A1
• Filed: 11/30/2000
• Published: 05/30/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 11/30/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Access Company Limited
• Original Assignee: Access Company Limited
• Inventors: Liu, Chung
• Granted Patent: US 7,877,518 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 709/248
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1626 with a single-body enclosure integrating a flat display, e.g. Personal Digital Assistants [PDAs]
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1632 External expansion units, e.g. docking stations
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1656 Details related to functional adaptations of the enclosure, e.g. to provide protection against EMI, shock, water, or to host detachable peripherals like a mouse or removable expansions units like PCMCIA cards, or to provide access to internal components for maintenance or to removable storage supports like CDs or DVDs, or to mechanically mount accessories mounting of accessories to a computer display G06F1/1607; display hoods G06F1/1603; cooling arrangements for portable computers G06F1/203
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1698 the I/O peripheral being a sending/receiving arrangement to establish a cordless communication link, e.g. radio or infrared link, integrated cellular phone details of antennas disposed inside a computer H01Q1/2266
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2200/1632 Pen holder integrated in the computer
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 8/65 Updates security arrangements therefor G06F21/57
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/289 Intermediate processing functionally located close to the data consumer application, e.g. in same machine, in same home or in same sub-network
• 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: H04L 67/53 using third party service providers
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/568 Storing data temporarily at an intermediate stage, e.g. caching
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/329 in the application layer [OSI layer 7]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 9/40 Network security protocols

Abstract

A method and system for the delivery of updated web platform applications to a mobile electronic device upon synchronization of the mobile device with a computer. Specifically, one embodiment of the present invention discloses a method and system for dynamically creating personalized and up-to-date applications whenever a mobile electronic device is synchronized with a stand-alone computer system that is coupled to remotely located content servers or computers via a communication network, such as the Internet. Conduits act as gateways for synchronization between the mobile electronic device and the plurality of content servers or computers. These conduits coordinate the loading of the personalized and up-to-date applications onto the mobile electronic device. In one example, a user can then access up-to-date information on the applications at a more convenient time and while disconnected from the content servers or computers that provide the information.

Claims

1. A method of updating a plurality of applications located on a first electronic device over a communication network including a second electronic device and third electronic device, comprising the steps of:

a) automatically establishing communication between said second and third electronic devices, said third electronic device supporting a first application from said plurality of applications;

b) automatically determining if said third electronic device has a newer version of said first application than the version of said first application located on said first electronic device;

c) automatically sending to said second electronic device said newer version of said first application if said third electronic device has said newer version; and

d) automatically storing said newer version of said first application on said first electronic device when synchronizing said first electronic device with said second electronic device, wherein first electronic device is coupled to said second electronic device for synchronization.

2. A method as described in claim 1, wherein said first electronic device comprises a palm sized computer system.

3. A method as described in claim 1, wherein said second electronic device comprises a host computer system.

4. A method as described in claim 1, wherein step d) comprises the further step of docking said first electronic device to a cradle, said cradle coupled to said second electronic device.

5. A method as described in claim 1, wherein said third electronic device dynamically creates said newer version of said first application.

6. A method as described in claim 1, wherein said third electronic device comprises at least one of the following devices:

a remote server computer system,

a remote computer system,

said second electronic device, and

a computer directly coupled to said second device.

7. A method as described in claim 1, wherein said first application comprises a web clipping application.

8. A method as described in claim 1, wherein said newer version is personalized to a user of said first electronic device.

9. A method as described in claim 1, wherein a conduit program associated with said first application, directs steps a), b), c), and d).

10. A method as described in claim 9, wherein said conduit program is activated by synchronizing said first electronic device with said second electronic device, wherein steps a), b), c), and d) occur during the synchronization of said first and second electronic devices.

11. A method as described in claim 1, wherein steps a), b), and c) occur before synchronizing said first electronic device with said second electronic device.

13. A method as described in claim 12, wherein said third electronic device creates said personalized and up-to-date web clipping application, said third electronic device comprising at least one of the following:

a server computer system;

a computer directly coupled to said second electronic device; and

said second electronic device.

14. A method as described in claim 12, wherein said first electronic device comprises a palm-sized computer system.

15. A method as described in claim 12, wherein said second electronic device comprises a host computer system.

16. A method as described in claim 12, wherein a conduit program associated with said web clipping application that is activated when synchronizing said first electronic device with said second electronic device comprises the following steps of:

determining if said third electronic device has said newer version;

sending said request to said third electronic device;

sending user identification information to said third electronic device, said user associated with said first electronic device; and

storing said personalized and up-to-date web clipping application on said first electronic device.

18. A system as described in claim 17, wherein said first electronic device comprises a palm sized computer system.

19. A system as described in claim 17, wherein said second electronic device comprises a host computer system.

20. A system as described in claim 17, wherein the step of coupling comprises the further step of docking said first electronic device to a cradle, said cradle coupled to said second electronic device.

21. A system as described in claim 17, wherein said third electronic device dynamically creates said newer version of said first application.

22. A system as described in claim 17, wherein said third electronic device comprises at least one of the following devices:

a remote server computer system,

a remote computer system,

said second electronic device, and

a computer directly coupled to said second device.

23. A system as described in claim 17, wherein said first application comprises a web clipping application.

24. A system as described in claim 17, wherein said newer version is personalized to a user of said first electronic device.

25. A system as described in claim 17, wherein a conduit program associated with said first application, controls steps a), b), c), and d).

26. A method as described in claim 25, wherein said conduit program is activated by synchronizing said first electronic device with said second electronic device, wherein steps a), b), c), and d) occur during the synchronization of said first and second electronic devices.

27. A system as described in claim 17, wherein steps a), b), and c) occur before synchronizing said first electronic device with said second electronic device.

12. A method of creating a personalized and up-to-date application over a communication network comprising the steps of:

a) receiving at a third electronic device from a second electronic device over said communication network a request for a newer version of a web clipping application, said request resulting from synchronizing said second electronic device with a first electronic device and determining that said third electronic device has said newer version than the version of said web clipping application located on said first electronic device, said first electronic device coupled to said second electronic device;

b) identifying a user associated with said first electronic device;

c) accessing information particular to said user;

d) dynamically creating an up-to-date web clipping application that is personalized to said user using said information; and

e) sending said personalized and up-to-date web clipping application to said second electronic device.

17. A system comprising a first electronic device containing a plurality of applications, a second electronic device coupled to a communication network, said second electronic device including a processor, a memory unit, and a display screen wherein said memory contains instructions that when executed implement of method of updating said plurality of applications, said method comprising the steps of:

a) automatically establishing communication with a third electronic device coupled to said communication network that supports a first application from said plurality of applications;

b) automatically determining if said third electronic device has a newer version of said first application than the version of said first application located on said first electronic device;

c) automatically sending to said second electronic device said newer version of said first application if said third electronic device has said newer version; and

d) automatically storing said newer version of said first application on said first electronic device when synchronizing said first electronic device with said second electronic device, wherein first electronic device is coupled to said second electronic device for synchronization.