Software Application Framework for Network-Connected Devices

• US 20100122351A1
• Filed: 12/01/2009
• Published: 05/13/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 08/08/2003
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Shoreline Innovations, LLC
• Original Assignee: Hands-On Mobile Incorporated (Rockyou Incorporated)
• Inventors: Bilange, Eric, Lloyd, David B.
• Application Number:
  US12/628,471
• Publication Number:
  US 20100122351A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 726/29
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/121 Restricting unauthorised execution of programs
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 8/61 Installation
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/1235 with control of digital rights management [DRM]
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/04 Billing or invoicing
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0601 Electronic shopping [e-shopping]
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0645 Rental transactions; Leasing transactions
• 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: H04W 4/50 Service provisioning or reconfiguring

Abstract

A facility for provisioning and managing registered applications is described. Registered applications can be downloaded to a mobile device from an application provisioning server. When the download is complete, the mobile device may begin execution of the registered application. However, at least portions of the registered application cannot be executed by the mobile device without first passing control to an application provisioning server via a network connection. Upon receiving temporary control of the registered application, the application provisioning server can perform tasks such as license verification and other tasks before turning control of the application back to the mobile device.

Claims

1-7. -7. (canceled)

8. A method for managing a registered application, wherein the registered application is downloaded to a mobile device from an application provisioning server communicating with the mobile device via a network connection, the method comprising:

receiving control of the registered application being initially executed on the mobile device;

verifying that the mobile device is authorized to execute the registered application; and

sending an unlock code to the mobile device, wherein the unlock code is configured for allowing the mobile device to regain control of the application.

9. The method of claim 8, further comprising performing a task associated with managing the registered application, wherein performing the task includes implementing a charging scheme associated with the registered application.

10. The method of claim 8, further comprising performing a task associated with managing the registered application, wherein performing the task includes receiving, from a user of the registered application, feedback that can be used to rate the registered application.

11. The method of claim 8, further comprising performing a task associated with managing the registered application, wherein performing the task includes receiving and posting high score information for a user of the registered application.

12. The method of claim 8, further comprising performing a task associated with managing the registered application, wherein performing the task includes upgrading to a newer version of the registered application.

13. The method of claim 8, wherein the registered application is implemented in a J2ME environment.

14. The method of claim 8, wherein receiving control of the registered application includes receiving a license code from the mobile device.

15-23. -23. (canceled)

24. A system for provisioning applications for download on mobile devices, the system comprising:

an application provisioning component configured for providing a registered application for download to a mobile device, the application provisioning component including an application provisioning server;

a network component for communication between the mobile device and the application provisioning server; and

wherein the registered application is configured such that, upon initial execution of the application by the mobile device, at least portions of the registered application cannot be executed by the mobile device without first passing temporary control of the registered application to the application provisioning server via the network component.

25. The system of claim 24, wherein the registered application includes a registered MIDlet.

26. The system of claim 24, wherein the application provisioning server is further configured to provide an application catalogue from which registered applications can be selected for download.

27. A computer-readable medium whose contents allow for preventing unauthorized execution of an application on a mobile device, the computer-readable medium comprising:

a registered application including an underlying application, wherein the registered application is downloaded to the mobile device from an application provisioning server via a communication link, wherein at least portions of the registered application cannot be initially executed by the mobile device without first passing temporary control of the registered application to an application provisioning server via the communication link; and

a license code for verifying with the application provisioning server that the mobile device is authorized to execute the registered application.

28. The computer-readable medium of claim 27, wherein the computer-readable medium is a memory in the system of an application provisioning service provider.

29. The computer-readable medium of claim 27, wherein the computer-readable medium is a memory in the system of the mobile device.

30. The computer-readable medium of claim 27, wherein the computer-readable medium is a data transmission medium carrying a generated data signal containing the contents.