Sync-time read only memory image binding for limited resource devices

• US 6,959,330 B1
• Filed: 05/16/2000
• Issued: 10/25/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 05/16/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Access Company Limited
• Original Assignee: Palmsource Incorporated (Access Company Limited)
• Inventors: McIlroy, Guy
• Primary Examiner(s): Follansbee, John
• Assistant Examiner(s): Chang, Jungwon
• Application Number:
  US09/572,563
• Time in Patent Office: 1,988 Days
• Field of Search: 717/140, 717/147, 717/174, 717/175, 717/107, 709/248, 709/203, 709/106, 709/249, 709/235, 709/221, 707/201, 707/200, 713/2, 370/395.6
• US Class Current: 709/221
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 8/61 Installation
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 8/654 using techniques specially adapted for alterable solid state memories, e.g. for EEPROM or flash memories

Abstract

A method and system for installing an application or a set of applications on a client device, such as a portable (or palmtop) computer system. The application(s) to be installed are identified. The host device has stored therein an operating system comprising a plurality of software routines. A subset of the operating system is generated. In one embodiment, the subset comprises those software routines needed to support the applications installed on the client device. In another embodiment, the subset comprises those software routines that, in combination with software routines used by the operating system on the client device, supports the applications installed on the client device. The application(s) and the subset are installed on the client computer system. Thus, the operating system of the client computer system contains only those software routines needed to support the installed applications, thereby efficiently using memory resources in the client computer system.

Claims

1. A method for installing an application on a client device, said method comprising:

identifying said application on a host device, said host device having a first operating system stored therein, said first operating system comprising a plurality of software routines;

determining at said host device whether modification of a second operating system residing on said client device is required to support use of said application at said client device, said second operating system is a first subset of said first operating system;

generating a second subset of said first operating system, said second subset comprising software routines for modifying said second operating system to allow said application to be used on said client device;

downloading to said client device said application and only said second subset; and

installing on said client device said application and said second subset of said first operating system, said second subset combined with said first subset to modify said second operating system on said client device.

2. The method as recited in claim 1 wherein said client device is a portable computer system and said host device is a desktop computer system.

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

4. The method as recited in claim 1 wherein said identifying comprises:

receiving a software component at said host device; and

building said application on said host device from said software component in combination with other software components.

5. The method as recited in claim 1 wherein said identifying comprises:

receiving via a graphical user interface an indication of said application to be installed.

6. A computer system comprising:

a bus;

a processor coupled to said bus; and

a computer-readable memory unit coupled to said bus;

said processor for implementing a first operating system comprising a plurality of software routines;

said processor also for performing a computer-implemented method for installing an application on a client device, said method comprising;

identifying said application;

determining whether a modification of a second operating system residing on said client device is required to support use of said application at said client device, wherein said second operating system is comprised of only those software routines necessary for executing applications installed on said client device;

generating a subset of said first operating system, said subset comprising specific software routines associated with said application and for modifying said second operating system to allow said application to be used on said client device; and

installing on said client device said application and just said subset of said first operating system to modify said second operating system, wherein only changes required to support said use of said application are included in said subset and wherein said second operating system is incrementally modified on said client device using said subset so that subsequent to said installing said second operating system continues to comprise only those software routines necessary for executing applications installed on said client device.

7. The computer system as recited in claim 6 wherein said client device is a portable computer system.

8. The computer system as recited in claim 6 wherein said computer system is a server computer system in a computer system network.

9. The computer system as recited in claim 6 wherein said identifying of said method comprises:

receiving a software component; and

building said application from said software component in combination with other software components.

10. The computer system as recited in claim 6 wherein said identifying of said method comprises:

receiving via a graphical user interface an indication of said application to be installed.

11. A method for installing an application onto a client device from a host device, said method comprising:

identifying said application on said host device, said host device having a first operating system stored therein, said first operating system comprising a plurality of software routines;

determining at said host device whether a modification of a second operating system residing on said client device is required to support use of said application at said client device;

generating a subset of said first operating system, said subset comprising software routines minimally required for using said application on said client device;

downloading to said client device said application and only said subset of said first operating system, said subset used to modify said second operating system on said client device, said subset downloaded instead of downloading said first operating system in entirety;

removing a second application from said client device; and

removing from said second operating system those software routines used only by said second application.

12. The method as recited in claim 11 wherein said client device is a portable computer system and said host device is a desktop computer system.

13. The method as recited in claim 11 wherein said client device is a portable computer system and said host device is a server computer system in a computer system network.

14. The method as recited in claim 11 wherein said identifying comprises:

receiving a software component at said host device; and

building said application on said host device from said software component in combination with other software components.

15. The method as recited in claim 11 wherein said identifying comprises:

receiving via a graphical user interface an indication of said application to be installed.