Method, system and computer program for interfacing a mobile device to a configurator and/or backend applications

• US 20050233767A1
• Filed: 03/22/2005
• Published: 10/20/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 03/22/2004
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Keste Mobile Enterprise Solutions
• Original Assignee: Keste Mobile Enterprise Solutions
• Inventors: Annam, Sunil, Ayyeppen, Srirama
• Application Number:
  US11/085,981
• Publication Number:
  US 20050233767A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/557
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/0233 Object-oriented techniques, for representation of network management data, e.g. common object request broker architecture [CORBA]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/0266 using meta-data, objects or commands for formatting management information, e.g. using eXtensible markup language [XML]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/08 Configuration management of networks or network elements address allocation H04L61/50
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/082 the condition being updates or upgrades of network functionality
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/0826 for reduction of network costs H04L41/0833 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/0428 wherein the data content is protected, e.g. by encrypting or encapsulating the payload
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/04 specially adapted for terminals or networks with limited capabilities; specially adapted for terminal portability
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/125 involving control of end-device applications over a 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 67/56 Provisioning of proxy services store-and-forward switching systems in data switching networks H04L12/54
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/565 Conversion or adaptation of application format or content adding application control or application functional data H04L67/561

Abstract

What is disclosed is a method, system and computer program adapted to interface a mobile device to a wireless mobile configurator and/or an enterprise'"'"'s network platform or backend. The mobile device, as interfaced, and enables sales, manufacturing and service teams to develop quotes, create system configurations, process orders and check inventory at any time and from any location.

Claims

1. A system comprising at least one wireless mobile configurator adapted to interface at least one mobile device through at least one mobile gateway to at least one back-end.

2. The system of claim 1, in combination with at least one mobile device and at least one mobile gateway.

3. The system of claim 2, wherein the at least one mobile device is a wireless mobile device.

4. The system of claim 2, further comprising the at least one wireless mobile configurator having a configurator engine and a CZQueue component resident in the wireless mobile configurator between the mobile gateway and the configurator engine.

5. The system of claim 4, wherein the CZQueue component further comprises a model loader, asynchronous messaging client and a pool of model contexts.

6. The system of claim 5, wherein the CZQueue component initializes the configurator engine and creates pool of model contexts.

7. The system of claim 6, wherein the mobile gateway is adapted to receive inputs from the at least one mobile device and transmit said inputs to the CZQueue component.

8. The system of claim 7 wherein the at least one mobile device is adapted to send a sync request to configure a product or a service.

9. The system of claim 8, wherein the CZQueue component loads the appropriate model using a model context from the pool.

10. The system of claim 9, wherein the model context is associated with the mobile device for one session.

11. The system of claim 10, wherein, for each user action, the mobile device generates a request to validate user inputs;

the CZQueue component maps each user request against the corresponding model context and;

the CZQueue updates the model inputs.

12. The system of claim 11, further comprising the configurator engine being adapted to validate the change in input;

the configurator engine being adapted to set an error condition or generate outputs as per defined rules;

the CZQueue component being adapted to retrieve the result set; and

the CZQueue component being adapted to send a reply to the mobile device via the mobile gateway.

13. The system of claim 1, in combination with a backend system.

14. The system of claim 13, wherein the backend comprises an enterprise software system.

15. A method of engaging in a business process, comprising using a mobile device to communicate with a backend through a mobile gateway.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein the mobile device is coupled to the mobile gateway using the Internet over a communications channel.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein the communications channel is a wireless communications channel.

18. The method of claim 15, wherein the business process is one from the group consisting of developing a price quotation;

checking inventory availability;

placing an order;

checking work in process;

providing a shipping date;

checking a delivery date; and

generating model configurations and costs.

19. The method of claim 18, wherein the process of generating model configurations and costs is implemented using a configuration engine.

20. A computer program comprising at least one wireless mobile configurator adapted to interface at least one mobile device through at least one mobile gateway to at least one back-end.