System, method and computer program product for creating disconnected mobile applications

• US 20030115378A1
• Filed: 05/14/2002
• Published: 06/19/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 12/14/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: NanoScale Corporation
• Original Assignee: Clickmarks, Inc. (Ealixir, Inc.)
• Inventors: Khan, Umair A., Zondervan, Quinton Y.
• Granted Patent: US 7,574,711 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 719/328
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 8/34 Graphical or visual programming
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 8/38 for implementing user interfaces

Abstract

A system, method and computer program product provide functionality via a non-natively coded application on a client device. Initially, user input is received on a device. A pattern is replayed on the device. Navigation of the pattern is managed. Data is retrieved based on the user input utilizing at least one connector, as specified in the pattern. Finally, the retrieved data is output. A system, method and computer program product are also provided for creating an application for a client device. The functionality of the desired application on a device is provided by selecting functional computer code that processes data. The functional computer code does not include coding to the native API'"'"'s of the device. One or more connectors are selected and programmed to interface with programs on the device for retrieving data for processing. One or more output nodes are generated for outputting the processed data from the device. The functional computer code, connectors, and output nodes are stored in a device-resident pattern for installation on the device. The retrieved data is processed by the functional computer code upon replaying of the pattern for providing the functionality.

Claims

1. A method for providing functionality via a non-natively coded application on a client device, comprising:

receiving user input on a device;

replaying a pattern on the device, the pattern including a collection of states, at least a portion of the states including logic for interacting with a program;

managing navigation of the pattern based on at least one of the user input and application logic of the pattern;

retrieving data from the program utilizing at least one connector as specified in the pattern; and

outputting the retrieved data.

2. The method as recited in claim 1, further comprising replaying a synchronization pattern for synchronizing data between the device and an external data source.

3. The method as recited in claim 2, wherein the data synchronized includes at least one of:

user profile information, electronic mail, and another pattern.

4. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein user interface screens are included in the pattern.

5. The method as recited in claim 4, wherein the user interface screens are stored as templates that are filled in with the retrieved data.

6. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein replaying of the pattern is dependent upon user profile information.

7. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein the connector interfaces with at least one of:

a program resident on the device, a network data site, and a remote application.

8. The method as recited in claim 1, further comprising periodically replaying a pattern for retrieving data for later synchronization to the client device.

9. A computer program product embodied on a computer readable medium for providing functionality via a non-natively coded application on a client device, comprising:

computer code for receiving user input on a device;

computer code for replaying a pattern on the device, the pattern including a collection of states, at least a portion of the states including logic for interacting with a program;

computer code for managing navigation of the pattern based on at least one of the user input and application logic of the pattern;

computer code for retrieving data from the program utilizing at least one connector as specified in the pattern; and

computer code for outputting the retrieved data.

10. A system for providing functionality via a non-natively coded application on a client device, comprising:

logic for receiving user input on a device;

logic for replaying a pattern on the device, the pattern including a collection of states, at least a portion of the states including logic for interacting with a program;

logic for managing navigation of the pattern based on at least one of the user input and application logic of the pattern;

logic for retrieving data from the program utilizing at least one connector as specified in the pattern; and

logic for outputting the retrieved data.

11. A method for creating an application for a client device, comprising:

selecting functional computer code that processes data for providing functionality on a device, the computer code not including coding to native application program interfaces of the device;

programming at least one connector to interface with at least one program on the device for retrieving data for processing;

generating an output node for outputting the processed data from the device; and

storing the functional computer code, connector, and output node in a device-resident pattern for installation on the device;

wherein the retrieved data is processed by the functional computer code upon replaying of the pattern for providing the functionality.

12. The method as recited in claim 11, further comprising storing in the device-resident pattern:

a connector for interfacing with a remote data source.

13. The method as recited in claim 11, further comprising transcoding a user interface screen of the application for output from the device.

14. The method as recited in claim 11, wherein variable references in the output node is resolved during replay of the pattern.

15. The method as recited in claim 11, further comprising generating a synchronization pattern for managing a data communication between the device and an external data source.

16. The method as recited in claim 11, further comprising graphically displaying representations of the functional computer code, connector, and output node on a display, wherein a user is allowed to connect the representations for specifying a flow of the pattern.

17. The method as recited in claim 11, further comprising periodically replaying the pattern for retrieving data for later synchronization to the client device.

18. A computer program product embodied on a computer readable medium for creating an application for a client device, comprising:

computer code that selects functional computer code that processes data for providing functionality on a device, the functional computer code not including coding to native application program interfaces of the device;

computer code for programming connectors to interface with programs on the device for retrieving data for processing;

computer code for generating output nodes for outputting the processed data from the device; and

computer code for storing the functional computer code, connectors, and output nodes in a device-resident pattern for installation on the device;

wherein the retrieved data is processed by the functional computer code upon replaying of the pattern for providing the functionality.

19. A system for creating an application for a client device, comprising:

logic for selecting functional computer code that processes data for providing functionality on a device, the functional computer code not including coding to native application program interfaces of the device;

logic for programming connectors to interface with programs on the device for retrieving data for processing;

logic for generating output nodes for outputting the processed data from the device; and

logic for storing the functional computer code, connectors, and output nodes in a device-resident pattern for installation on the device;

wherein the retrieved data is processed by the functional computer code upon replaying of the pattern for providing the functionality.

20. A method for creating an application for a client device, comprising:

creating a device-resident pattern for installation on a client device;

wherein the device-resident pattern is not coded to native application program interfaces of the client device;

wherein the device-resident pattern utilizes connectors for interfacing with at least one of an existing program and an interface of the device;

wherein the device-resident pattern provides functionality when replayed on the client device; and

transferring the device-resident pattern to the client device.

21. The method as recited in claim 20, further comprising generating a synchronization pattern for managing a data communication between the client device and an external data source, and transferring the synchronization pattern to the client device.

22. A method for creating an application for a client device, comprising:

selecting functional computer code that processes data for providing functionality on a device, the computer code not including coding to native application program interfaces of the device;

programming at least one connector to interface with at least one program on the device for retrieving data for processing;

generating an output node for outputting the processed data from the device;

transcoding a user interface screen of the application for output on the device;

selecting a connector for interfacing with a remote data source;

storing the functional computer code, connectors, and output node in a device-resident pattern for installation on the device;

graphically displaying representations of the functional computer code, connector, and output node on a display, wherein a user is allowed to connect the representations for specifying a flow of the pattern;

wherein variable references in the output nodes are resolved during replay of the pattern;

wherein the retrieved data is processed by the functional computer code upon replaying of the pattern for providing the functionality;

generating a synchronization pattern for managing a data communication between the device and an external data source;

generating a cron pattern for retrieving data for later synchronization to the client device;

replaying the cron pattern for retrieving data for later synchronization to the client device;

receiving user input on the device;

replaying the synchronization pattern for synchronizing data between the device and an external data source;

wherein the data synchronized includes at least one of;

user profile information, electronic mail, and another pattern;

replaying the device-resident pattern on the device;

wherein replaying of the pattern is dependent upon user profile information;

retrieving data based on the user input utilizing at least one connector as specified in the device-resident pattern;

wherein the connector interfaces with at least one of;

a program resident on the device, a network data site, and a remote application;

processing the data based on the user input as specified in the device-resident pattern; and

outputting the processed data.