Mobile computing system architecture

• US 20020124065A1
• Filed: 02/22/2002
• Published: 09/05/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 08/05/2000
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: John William Glazebrook, Judy Clark, Michael Ewart Barritt, Steven Barritt, Vincent Gregori
• Original Assignee: John William Glazebrook, Judy Clark, Michael Ewart Barritt, Steven Barritt, Vincent Gregori
• Inventors: Barritt, Michael Ewart, Clark, Judy, Barritt, Steven, Glazebrook, John William, Gregori, Vincent
• Application Number:
  US10/069,259
• Publication Number:
  US 20020124065A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 709/221
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/06 Resources, workflows, human or project management; Enterprise or organisation planning; Enterprise or organisation modelling
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/04 specially adapted for terminals or networks with limited capabilities; specially adapted for terminal portability
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/08 specially adapted for terminal emulation, e.g. Telnet
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/34 involving the movement of software or configuration parameters network booting or remote initial program loading [RIPL] G06F9/4416

Abstract

A system for operating plurality of diverse mobile computing devices 200 used by mobile users is described. A subscriber database 150 is provided comprising information about the hardware and/or software capabilities of the mobile units. An application server 100 accesses the subscriber database 150, allowing preparation of an application script from script segments according to the hardware and/or software capabilities of the unit.

A master application 715 in markup language may be used for the preparation of the application script. Applications and data in the form of script can then be downloaded to each mobile computing device and can continue to function offline with periodic synchronization of data and application with information held in an information server database 460.

Claims

1. A system comprising:

a plurality of mobile units for use by mobile users;

an application server;

communications means for enabling said mobile units to communicate with the application server;

a subscriber database comprising information about the software and/or hardware capabilities of individual mobile units;

a script database comprising equivalent script segments for carrying out particular functions on mobile units with different software and/or hardware capabilities;

wherein

the application server is adapted to provide an application script to a mobile unit, said application script being prepared from script segments selected from the script database according to the information about the mobile unit stored in the subscriber database.

2. The system as claimed in claim 1 wherein the system further comprises a master database, said master database having mobile user specific data, and said application script further comprises mobile user specific data specific to the mobile user, acquired from the master database.

3. The system as claimed in claim 2 wherein a mobile unit stores a copy of said mobile user specific data.

4. The system as claimed in claim 3 wherein a mobile unit edits the copy of said mobile user specific data.

5. The system as claimed in claim 3 or claim 4, wherein the copy of said mobile user specific data is synchronised with the mobile user specific data stored in the master database.

6. The system as claimed in claim 5 wherein the application script is synchronised concomitantly with synchronisation of the mobile user specific data.

7. The system as claimed in any of claims 2 to 6 wherein the mobile user specific data relates to tasks carried out by said mobile user.

8. The system as claimed in any of claims 2 to 7 wherein the mobile user specific data relates to tasks which have been or are being carried out by said mobile user.

9. The system as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the system further comprises master application program code means which are interpreted by the application server to prepare the application script.

10. The system as claimed in claim 9 wherein the master application program code means is stored in markup language.

11. The system as claimed in any preceding claim wherein said mobile units communicate with the application server over the internet.

12. The system as claimed in any preceding claim wherein said mobile units comprise a browser, said browser executing the application script.

14. The method as claimed in claim 13 wherein said application script further comprises data specific to a mobile user acquired from a master database of mobile user specific data.

15. The method as claimed in claim 13 or claim 14 wherein a mobile unit stores a copy of said data specific to a mobile user.

16. The method as claimed in claim 15 wherein the copy of the data specific to a mobile user is edited by the mobile user.

17. The method as claimed in any of claims 14 to 16 wherein the method further comprises the step of:

synchronising the copy of the data specific to a mobile user with the data specific to a mobile user stored in the master database.

18. The method as claimed in any of claims 14 to 17 wherein said data specific to a mobile user comprises information concerning tasks to be performed by or which have been performed by said mobile user.

22. A computer program comprising program instructions which, when loaded into a computer, comprise the application server of the system of any of claims 1 to claim 12.

24. A computer program comprising the application script of any of claims 1 to 21.

13. A method comprising the steps of:

acquiring information about the software and/or hardware capabilities of a mobile unit from a subscriber database, the mobile unit being for use by a mobile user; and

preparing an application script customised for the mobile unit from script segments being selected from a script segment database according to the software and/or hardware capabilities of the mobile unit.

19. The method as claimed in any of claims 13 to 18 wherein said application script is prepared with reference to a master application.

20. The method as claimed in any of claims 13 to 19 wherein said master application is stored in the form of a markup language.

21. The method as claimed in any of claims 13 to 18 wherein a mobile unit comprises a browser and the application script is executed by said browser.

23. A computer program comprising program instructions for causing a computer to perform the method as claimed in any of claims 13 to 21.