Configuring Software Stacks

• US 20090064108A1
• Filed: 07/16/2008
• Published: 03/05/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 09/04/2007
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Original Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Inventors: Platzer, Andrew, De Atley, Dallas, Herz, Scott
• Application Number:
  US12/173,957
• Publication Number:
  US 20090064108A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 717/121
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 9/44505 Configuring for program initiating, e.g. using registry, configuration files

Abstract

The present disclosure is directed to a system and method for configuring software stacks. In some implementations, a method for configuring devices includes automatically identifying one or more applications in the software stack based, at least in part, on at least one of a plurality of identifiable device models or types. The software stack is stored in a device. The one or more applications is automatically configured for execution in the device in accordance with the identified device model. Each of the plurality of identifiable device models is associated with a different configuration of the software stack.

Claims

1. A software stack comprising computer readable instructions embodied on media and operable to:

automatically identify one or more applications in the software stack based, at least in part, on at least one of a plurality of identifiable device models or types, wherein the software stack is stored in a device; and

automatically configure the one or more applications for execution in the device in accordance with the identified device model, wherein each of the plurality of identifiable device models is associated with a different configuration of the software stack.

2. The software stack of claim 1, wherein the one or more applications are identified based, at least in part, on hardware components included in the device.

3. The software stack of claim 1, further operable to automatically determine a device model of the device in response to at least in an event.

4. The software stack of claim 3, wherein the event is at least one of initialization or activation of the device.

5. The software stack of claim 1, wherein the software operable to automatically identify the one or more applications comprises the software operable to automatically map the identified device model to a subset of applications in the software stack, wherein the subset of applications in less than all applications in the software stack.

6. The software stack of claim 1, further comprising:

automatically identify one or more properties of the identified applications based, at least in part, on the identified device model; and

automatically configure the one or more properties in accordance with the identified device model.

7. The software stack of claim 6, wherein the one or more properties are configured based, at least in part, on hardware components included in the device.

8. The software stack of claim 1, wherein the device is at least one of a personal digital assistant, a cellular telephone, a smart phone, an EGPRS mobile phone, or a media player.

9. The software stack of claim 1, further comprising:

receive information modifying a configuration associated with the identified device model; and

automatically re-configure at least one application based, at least in part, on the updated configuration.

10. The software stack of claim 1, wherein the software operable to automatically configure the one or more applications comprises the software operable to publish configuration instructions for the one or more identified applications such that the one or more identified applications self-configure based, at least in part, on the published instructions.

11. The software stack of claim 1, further operable:

automatically determine a device is one of a plurality of identifiable of identifiable device types; and

in response to at least identifying the device type, automatically identify a plurality of capabilities in accordance with the device type, wherein the one or more applications in the software stack are identified based on the identified plurality of capabilities.

12. The software stack of claim 11, wherein the identified plurality of capabilities is based, at least in part, on a generation of the device type.

13. The software stack of claim 11, wherein the identified plurality of capabilities is based, at least in part, on a geographic location associated with use of the device.

14. The software stack of claim 11, wherein the plurality of capabilities include at least one of a camera, telephone, or a 30-pin-device connector.

15. The software stack of claim 11, wherein the software operable to automatically identify a plurality of capabilities comprises the software operable to determine one of a plurality of a plurality of identifiable lists, wherein each list is associated with a different device type.

16. The software stack of claim 15, wherein the one of the plurality of identifiable lists identifies a different list associated with a different device type such that the one of the plurality of identifiable list inherits properties of the different list.

17. The software stack of claim 15, wherein the plurality of identifiable list comprises a plurality of identifiable property lists.

18. The software stack of claim 1, further operable to:

automatically determine a device is one of a plurality of identifiable of identifiable device types;

change the one of a plurality of identifiable of identifiable device types to a different device type; and

automatically identify a plurality of capabilities in accordance with the different device type for the one of a plurality of identifiable of identifiable device types.

19. The software stack of claim 18, wherein the one of a plurality of identifiable of identifiable device types is changed to the different device type in accordance with an identified preference.

20. A method, comprising:

receiving a plurality of mobile devices with each device associated with a different device model;

loading a same software stack in each of the plurality of mobile devices independent of the different device models, wherein the plurality of mobile devices execute at least one application included in the same software stack with different properties; and

shipping the plurality of mobile devices to retailers without manually configuring the same software stack.

21. The method of claim 20, wherein the same software stack includes a plurality of applications and is operable to automatically configure one or more of the applications based, at least in part, on a device model.

22. A method for configuring devices, comprising:

automatically identifying one or more applications in the software stack based, at least in part, on at least one of a plurality of identifiable device models or types, wherein the software stack is stored in a device; and

automatically configuring the one or more applications for execution in the device in accordance with the identified device model, wherein each of the plurality of identifiable device models is associated with a different configuration of the software stack.

23. The method of claim 22, wherein the one or more applications are identified based, at least in part, on hardware components included in the device.

24. The method of claim 22, further automatically determining a device model of the device in response to at least in an event.

25. The method of claim 24, wherein the event is at least one of initialization or activation of the device.

26. The method of claim 22, wherein automatically identifying the one or more applications comprises automatically mapping the identified device model to a subset of applications in the software stack, wherein the subset of applications in less than all applications in the software stack.

27. The method of claim 22, further comprising:

automatically identifying one or more properties of the identified applications based, at least in part, on the identified device model; and

automatically configuring the one or more properties in accordance with the identified device model.

28. The method of claim 27, wherein the one or more properties are configured based, at least in part, on hardware components included in the device.

29. The method of claim 22, wherein the device is at least one of a personal digital assistant, a cellular telephone, a smart phone, an EGPRS mobile phone, or a media player.

30. The method of claim 22, further comprising:

receiving information modifying a configuration associated with the identified device model; and

automatically re-configuring at least one application based, at least in part, on the updated configuration.

31. The method of claim 22, wherein automatically configuring the one or more applications comprises publishing configuration instructions for the one or more identified applications such that the one or more identified applications self-configure based, at least in part, on the published instructions.

32. A system for configuring devices, comprising:

a means for automatically identifying one or more applications in the software stack based, at least in part, on at least one of a plurality of identifiable device models or types, wherein the software stack is stored in a device; and

a means for automatically configuring the one or more applications for execution in the device in accordance with the identified device model, wherein each of the plurality of identifiable device models is associated with a different configuration of the software stack.