On-device application catalog updated by management servers

• US 20050154759A1
• Filed: 01/09/2004
• Published: 07/14/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 01/09/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
• Inventors: Amiga, Ori, Hofmeister, Nick, Waite, Ryan
• Granted Patent: US 7,257,583 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 8/61 Installation
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 8/62 Uninstallation
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 9/44505 Configuring for program initiating, e.g. using registry, configuration files
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99931 Database or file accessing
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99945 Object-oriented database structure processing

Abstract

Embodiments of the present invention relate to methods, systems, and computer-readable media for providing software applications to a mobile device. A server receives a request for an application identified in an application catalog stored on the server. A push message is generated based on the request for the application and containing data from the application catalog stored on the catalog server. The push message is sent to a mobile device designated in the request for the application. Responsive to receiving an acceptance of the push message from the mobile device, the application is sent to the mobile device. The mobile device receives and reads the push message. Responsive to acceptance of the push message, the application is requested and received from the catalog server. The application is installed the on-device application catalog is updated to indicate the availability of the application for execution on the mobile device.

Claims

1. A method of providing software applications to a mobile device comprising:

receiving a request for an application identified in an application catalog stored on a catalog server;

generating a push message based on the request for the application and containing data from the application catalog stored on the catalog server;

sending the push message to a mobile device designated in the request for the request; and

responsive to receiving an acceptance of the push message from the mobile device, sending the application to the mobile device.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein receiving a request for an application comprises receiving a request from a user browsing the application catalog.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein generating a push message comprises:

reading request information indicating the application and a destination device for the push message;

reading data from the application catalog related to the application;

generating a push message header indicating the destination device for the push message; and

adding the data from the application catalog to a body of the push message.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising prior to receiving a request for an application:

receiving an indication of a selected application to be downloaded;

receiving an indication of selection of a send-to-a-friend option;

collecting destination information for the selected application to be downloaded; and

generating a request for the application.

10. A computer-readable medium encoding a computer program of instructions for executing a computer process for performing the operations of claim 1.

11. The computer-readable medium of claim 10, wherein receiving a request for an application comprises receiving a request from a user browsing the application catalog.

12. The computer-readable medium of claim 10, wherein generating a push message comprises:

reading request information indicating the application and a destination device for the push message;

reading data from the application catalog related to the application;

generating a push message header indicating the destination device for the push message; and

adding the data from the application catalog to a body of the push message.

13. The computer-readable medium of claim 10, further comprising prior to receiving a request for an application:

receiving an indication of a selected application to be downloaded;

receiving an indication of selection of a send-to-a-friend option;

collecting destination information for the selected application to be downloaded; and

generating a request for the application.

5. A method of updating an on-device application catalog in a mobile device comprising:

receiving a push message indicating availability of an application for download and containing information from an application catalog related to the application;

reading the push message; and

responsive to acceptance of the push message, requesting the application, receiving the application from an application server, installing the application, and updating the on-device application catalog to indicate the availability of the application for execution on the mobile device.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein reading the push message comprises:

reading the information from the application catalog;

presenting the information from the application catalog to a user of the mobile device for acceptance; and

receiving an indication of whether the user of the mobile device accepts the application.

7. The method of claim 5, further comprising:

receiving a selection of an application from the on-device application catalog;

copying permanent information from the selected application to a vault folder;

uninstalling the selected application; and

deleting the selected application.

8. The method of claim 7, further comprising:

receiving a selection of a deleted application from the on-device application catalog;

downloading the application from the catalog server;

installing the application; and

copying the permanent information from the vault folder to the application.

9. The method of claim 5, further comprising:

responsive to receiving a push message from a catalog server, pre-caching application catalog data from the catalog server contained in the push message; and

in response to receiving an indication of a search function, browsing the application catalog data from the catalog server.

14. A computer-readable medium encoding a computer program of instructions for executing a computer process for performing the operations of claim 5.

15. The computer-readable medium of claim 14, wherein reading the push message comprises:

reading the information from the application catalog of the catalog server;

presenting the information from the application catalog of the catalog server to a user of the mobile device for acceptance; and

receiving an indication of whether the user of the mobile device accepts the application.

16. The computer-readable medium of claim 14, further comprising:

receiving a selection of an application from the on-device application catalog;

copying permanent information from the selected application to a vault folder;

uninstalling the selected application; and

deleting the selected application.

17. The computer-readable medium of claim 16, further comprising:

receiving a selection of a deleted application from the on-device application catalog;

downloading the application from the catalog server;

installing the application; and

copying the permanent information from the vault folder to the application.

18. The computer-readable medium of claim 14, further comprising:

responsive to receiving a push message from the catalog server, pre-caching application catalog data from the catalog server contained in the push message; and

in response to receiving an indication of a search function, browsing the application catalog data from the catalog server.

19. A system for providing software applications to a mobile device comprising:

a processor; and

a memory, coupled with and readable by the processor, the memory containing a series of instructions that, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to receive a request for an application identified in an application catalog stored on a catalog server, generate a push message based on the request for the application and containing data from the application catalog stored on the catalog server, send the push message to a mobile device designated in the request for the application, and responsive to receiving an acceptance of the push message from the mobile device, send the application to the mobile device.

20. The system of claim 19, wherein receiving a request for an application comprises receiving a request from a user browsing the application catalog.

21. The system of claim 19, wherein generating a push message comprises:

reading request information indicating the application and a destination device for the push message;

reading data from the application catalog related to the application;

generating a push message header indicating the destination device for the push message; and

adding the data from the application catalog to a body of the push message.

22. The system of claim 19, further comprising prior to receiving a request for an application:

receiving an indication of a selected application to be downloaded;

receiving an indication of selection of a send-to-a-friend option;

collecting destination information for the selected application to be downloaded; and

generating a request for the application.

23. A mobile device for updating an on-device application catalog comprising:

a processor; and

a memory, coupled with and readable by the processor, the memory containing a series of instructions that, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to receive a push message indicating availability of an application for download and containing information from an application catalog related to the application, read the push message, responsive to acceptance of the push message, request the application, receive the application from an application server, install the application, and update the on-device application catalog to indicate the availability of the application for execution on the mobile device.

24. The mobile device of claim 23, wherein reading the push message comprises:

reading the information from the application catalog;

presenting the information from the application catalog to a user of the mobile device for acceptance; and

receiving an indication of whether the user of the mobile device accepts the application.

25. The mobile device of claim 23, further comprising:

receiving a selection of an application from the on-device application catalog;

copying permanent information from the selected application to a vault folder;

uninstalling the selected application; and

deleting the selected application.

26. The mobile device of claim 25, further comprising:

receiving a selection of a deleted application from the on-device application catalog;

downloading the application from the catalog server;

installing the application; and

copying the permanent information from the vault folder to the application.

27. The mobile device of claim 23, further comprising:

responsive to receiving a push message from a catalog server, pre-caching application catalog data from the catalog server contained in the push message; and

in response to receiving an indication of a search function, browsing the application catalog data from the catalog server.