Application Discovery on Mobile Devices

• US 20090318171A1
• Filed: 06/18/2008
• Published: 12/24/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 06/18/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Seven Networks LLC (SoftBank Group Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Seven Networks Inc
• Inventors: Liang, Sheng, Backholm, Ari
• Granted Patent: US 8,787,947 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/466
• 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 67/51 Discovery or management thereof, e.g. service location protocol [SLP] or web services

Abstract

Methods and systems for application discovery on mobile devices are provided. A subscriber identity module (SIM) card associated with a mobile device sends information to a network server, which determines an identifier (e.g., a phone number) associated with the SIM card. Using the identifier, the network server provides application information to the mobile device. The application information, which may include the application itself, is then used to install the application on the mobile device.

Claims

1. A method for application discovery on a mobile device, the method comprising:

receiving information from a subscriber identity module associated with the mobile device;

determining an identifier of the subscriber identity module based on the received information; and

using the determined identifier to provide application information to the mobile device.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the information from the subscriber identity module is received via an SMS message.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the information from the subscriber identity module is received via an Internet browser session.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein providing application information comprises sending a text message to the mobile device.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the application information comprises generating a hyperlink for downloading an application.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the application information comprises an application.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the provided application information is used to install an application on the mobile device.

8. The method of claim 1, further comprising providing updates concerning the application information to the mobile device.

9. A method for application discovery on a mobile device, the system comprising:

storing information concerning a user of the mobile device in a subscriber identity module, the stored information including an identifier;

associating the subscriber identity module with the mobile device such that a communication using the identifier stored on the subscriber identity module is receivable by the mobile device; and

providing the identifier to a network server, wherein the network server uses the identifier to provide application information to the mobile device.

10. The method of claim 9, further comprising providing a display of an indication concerning an application.

11. The method of claim 9, further comprising receiving a user request concerning an application.

12. The method of claim 9, wherein providing the identifier comprises generating and sending an SMS message.

13. The method of claim 9, wherein providing the identifier comprises communicating via an Internet browser session.

14. The method of claim 9, wherein the application information is used to install an application on the mobile device.

15. A system for application discovery on a mobile device, the system comprising

a download server configured to provide application information;

and

a network server configured to;

receive information concerning the mobile device from an associated subscriber identity module,

determine an identifier of the subscriber identity module card based on the received information, and

send a message concerning the provided application information to the mobile device.

16. The system of claim 15, wherein the message is sent via an SMS message.

17. The system of claim 15, wherein the message comprises a hyperlink for downloading the application from the download server.

18. The system of claim 15, wherein the message comprises the application.

19. A computer-readable storage medium having embodied thereon a program, the program being executable by a computer processor to perform a method for application discovery on a mobile device, the method comprising:

receiving information from a subscriber identity module associated with the mobile device;

determining an identifier of the subscriber identity module based on the received information;

using the determined identifier to provide application information to the mobile device.

20. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 19, wherein the provided application is used to install an application on the mobile device.