Compression of Data Transmitted Between Server and Mobile Device

• US 20080075062A1
• Filed: 07/21/2006
• Published: 03/27/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 07/21/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Malikie Innovations Limited (Key Patent Innovations Limited)
• Original Assignee: Research In Motion Limited (Blackberry Limited)
• Inventors: Chalmers, Paul, Neil, Tim, Grenier, Steve, Neil, Scott
• Granted Patent: US 7,920,852 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 370/351
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 8/61 Installation
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 9/451 Execution arrangements for user interfaces

Abstract

A remote wireless device receives a compressed message including an application definition file. The application definition file is associated with an application executing at a computing device and contains definitions for: a user interface format; a format for network messages; and a format for storing data. Using these definitions, the wireless device may receive data generated by the application and formatted in accordance with the definitions. The wireless device may then present a user interface for the application. Preferably, the application definition file is an XML file. Similarly, application-specific network messages provided to the device are also formed using XML. Data generated by the application may be presented at the mobile device under control of a virtual machine that uses the application definition file. For efficiency, the network messages received at, and transmitted by, the wireless device may be compressed.

Claims

1. A method of presenting data, at a remote wireless device, from an application executing at a computing device, comprising:

receiving, at said wireless device, a first compressed package including a text file, where said text file defines;

a format of a user interface for said application at said wireless device;

a format of network messages for receipt of data generated by said application; and

a format for storing data related to said application at said wireless device;

decompressing said first compressed package;

receiving a second compressed package including data from said application in accordance with said format of network transactions;

decompressing said second compressed package; and

presenting said data at said wireless device using said user interface.

4. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

parsing said text file; and

storing a binary representation of said text file at said wireless device.

5. The method of claim 1 further comprising storing said data from said application at said wireless device using said format for storing data.

6. The method of claim 1 wherein said text file further defines screens, events arising in response to interaction with said screens and actions for processing said events.

2. The method of claim I wherein said text file is an Extensible Markup Language (XML) file.

3. The method of claim 2 wherein said format of network messages comprises XML definitions for said network messages and said method further comprises:

formatting data for said application using said XML definitions to form an XML package;

compressing said XML package to form a compressed XML package; and

transmitting said compressed XML package.

7. A wireless mobile device comprising:

a processor; and

a memory in communication with said processor, said storing virtual machine software that controls operation of said wireless mobile device, said virtual machine software including;

a parser for receiving a compressed package including a text file;

a compression engine for decompressing said compressed package;

a screen generation engine, for presenting at least one screen at said wireless mobile device in accordance with definitions in said text file;

an event handler for processing, in accordance with said text file, events arising in response to user interaction with said at least one screen; and

an instance of an object class including a method allowing an action to be taken by said virtual machine in response to said interaction with said at least one screen.

8. The wireless mobile device of claim 7 wherein said memory further stores a binary representation of said text file.

9. The wireless mobile device of claim 7 wherein said object class further includes a method allowing said virtual machine to present screen elements at said wireless mobile device.

10. The wireless mobile device of claim 7 wherein said virtual machine further includes an instance of an object class including a method allowing exchange of data over a network between said wireless mobile device and a computing device, wherein said data is formatted in accordance with definitions within said text file.

11. A wireless mobile device comprising:

a processor;

a memory in communication with said processor, said memory storing software that adapts said wireless mobile device to;

receive a first compressed package including a text file, said text file defining;

a format of a user interface to an application executing at a remote computing device;

a format of network messages for receipt of data generated by said application; and

a format for storing, at said wireless device, data related to said application;

decompress said first compressed package;

receive a second compressed package including data from said application, said data formatted in accordance with said format of network messages;

decompress said second compressed package;

generate a screen according to said format of said user interface; and

present, on said screen, said data.