Modular configuration and distribution of applications customized for a requestor device

• US 6,701,521 B1
• Filed: 05/25/2000
• Issued: 03/02/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 05/25/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Access Company Limited
• Original Assignee: Palmsource Incorporated (Access Company Limited)
• Inventors: Flores, Roger, McLlroy, Guy, Lemke, Steve
• Primary Examiner(s): ZHEN, WEI Y
• Application Number:
  US09/580,271
• Time in Patent Office: 1,377 Days
• Field of Search: 717/168-178, 705/52, 709/200-253, 709/310-319
• US Class Current: 717/173
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 8/61 Installation

Abstract

A system and method for installing an application on a client device (e.g., a palmtop computer system) communicatively coupled to a host device (e.g., a host computer system). Instead of transferring an application to the client device from another client device, the client device receives a description of the application from the other client device. When the client device and the host device are synchronized, the description is automatically communicated by the client device to the host device, which is also in communication with a source (e.g., an application source). Additional information, such as the type of hardware or the type of operating system used by the client device, is also automatically communicated to the host device by the client device. The host device communicates to the source a specification comprising the description of the application as well as the additional information pertaining to the client device. The host device receives from the source a software element (e.g., a component, object or file for the application, or the application itself) characterized by the specification. The host device automatically makes the software element ready for installation on the client device. The software element is then installed on the client device when the host device and the client device are subsequently synchronized. The process of identifying and retrieving an application and making it ready for installation is performed automatically without user intervention, thereby simplifying for users the process of finding and downloading applications onto the client device.

Claims

1. In a host device, a method for installing an application on a client device communicatively coupled to said host device, said method comprising the computer-implemented steps of:

a) receiving at said host device a description of said application from a client device on which said application is to be installed, wherein said description was received by said client device from another client device;

b) communicating to a source a specification comprising said description; and

c) receiving from said source a software element characterized by said specification, wherein said software element is for said application;

wherein said steps a), b) and c) are automatically performed without user intervention.

2. The method as recited in claim 1 further comprising the step of:

d) installing said software element on said client device.

3. The method as recited in claim 1 wherein said client device is a portable computer system.

4. The method as recited in claim 1 wherein said step a) comprises the step of:

transferring said description to said client device from said other client device using a wireless link.

5. The method as recited in claim 1 wherein said step b) comprises the steps of:

identifying a version of said application in said description; and

including in said specification an identification of said version.

6. The method as recited in claim 5 wherein said step c) comprises the steps of:

determining that a more recent version of said application is available from said source; and

receiving from said source a software element corresponding to said more recent version.

7. The method as recited in claim 1 wherein said step b) comprises the steps of:

identifying attributes of said client device; and

including in said specification identification of said attributes.

8. The method as recited in claim 7 wherein said attributes are hardware attributes.

9. The method as recited in claim 7 wherein said attributes are software attributes.

10. The method as recited in claim 1 wherein said step c) comprises the step of:

receiving billing information for said software element.

11. The method as recited in claim 1 further comprising the steps of:

decompressing said software element when said software element is in a compressed format; and

identifying said software element as ready for installation on said client device.

12. A method for installing an application on a client device, said method comprising the steps of:

sending a description of said application from a client device on which said application is to be installed to a host device, said description sufficient for identifying said application but separate from said application, wherein a software manager on said host device communicates to a source a specification comprising said description and wherein said host device receives from said source a software element characterized by said specification;

synchronizing said client device and said host device, wherein said software manager makes said software element ready for installation on said client device; and

receiving and installing said software element at said client device;

wherein said software manager functions automatically without user intervention.

13. The method as recited in claim 12 wherein said client device is a portable computer system.

14. The method as recited in claim 12 further comprising the step of:

receiving said description from another client device using a wireless link.

15. The method as recited in claim 12 wherein said communicating step comprises the step of:

identifying a version of said application in said description; and

including in said specification an identification of said version.

16. The method as recited in claim 12 wherein said communicating step comprises the step of:

identifying an attribute of said client device; and

including in said specification an identification of said attribute.

17. The method as recited in claim 16 wherein said attribute is a hardware attribute of said client device.

18. The method as recited in claim 16 wherein said attribute is a software attribute of said client device.