Disposable mini-applications

• US 7,130,622 B2
• Filed: 06/01/2005
• Issued: 10/31/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 11/01/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Nokia Corporation
• Original Assignee: Nokia Corporation
• Inventors: Vänskä, Marko, Malila, Raimo, Ranta, Sami
• Primary Examiner(s): Gelin, Jean
• Application Number:
  US11/143,314
• Publication Number:
  US 20050222918A1
• Time in Patent Office: 517 Days
• Field of Search: 455/412.1, 455/412.2, 455/414.1, 455/414.2, 455/418, 455/419, 455/422.1, 455/426.1, 455/426.2, 455/432.3, 455/456.1, 455/456.3, 707 1- 10, 707/100, 345737-739, 705 1- 10, 705/26, 705200-208
• US Class Current: 455/419
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 8/62 Uninstallation
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 9/44505 Configuring for program initiating, e.g. using registry, configuration files
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/04 specially adapted for terminals or networks with limited capabilities; specially adapted for terminal portability
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/12 specially adapted for proprietary or special-purpose networking environments, e.g. medical networks, sensor networks, networks in vehicles or remote metering networks
• 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 67/52 specially adapted for the location of the user terminal
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72406 by software upgrading or downloading
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72412 using two-way short-range wireless interfaces
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72448 with means for adapting the functionality of the device according to specific conditions
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72451 according to schedules, e.g. using calendar applications
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72457 according to geographic location
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/02 Services making use of location information
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/50 Service provisioning or reconfiguring
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/80 Services using short range communication, e.g. near-field communication [NFC], radio-frequency identification [RFID] or low energy communication

Abstract

Disposable mini-applications are executable software items whose activation, deactivation and deletion in a mobile terminal are defined by trigger parameters and rules. Trigger parameters may include, but are not intended to be limited to, location, time, stored user data and the like. Rules are one or more trigger parameters needed to effect one of the foregoing actions. In one embodiment, a housekeeping means monitors for data that corresponds to the parameters and satisfies the rules, and performs a variety of housekeeping functions relating to the disposable mini-applications. The deletion of the disposable mini-application clears memory space associated with storing and executing the disposable mini-application, and thus, makes that space available for other purposes.

Claims

1. A method for a mobile terminal, comprising:

downloading over a wireless connection an executable software item including at least one condition for deletion of the executable software item, wherein the executable software item enables access over a short range wireless connection to information concerning at least one of goods or services when the mobile terminal is within a specified location associated with a short range wireless system;

storing the executable software item including the condition for deletion of the executable software item in storage of the mobile terminal; and

if the condition for deletion of the executable software item is satisfied, deleting the executable software item from storage of the mobile terminal.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the mobile terminal is a mobile telephone or a mobile handset.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein the mobile terminal has communications capabilities comprising one or more of cellular, local area wireless, short range wireless and RFID.

4. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

receiving a message concerning an executable software item that is available for downloading.

5. The method of claim 4 wherein the message is associated with a context of the user.

6. The method of claim 4 further comprising:

filtering the message in accordance with a context of the user; and

if the message matches the user'"'"'s context, notifying the user of the message.

7. The method of claim 4 further comprising:

determining requirements for downloading of the executable software item; and

if capabilities of the mobile terminal meet the requirements, downloading the executable software item to the mobile terminal.

8. The method of claim 7 wherein the requirements for downloading of the executable software item comprises requirements for execution of the executable software item.

9. The method of claim 1 wherein the condition for deletion of the executable software item comprises a trigger parameter and a rule.

10. The method of claim 9 wherein a trigger parameter comprises at least partly one or more of a user'"'"'s location, a date, a time and user data and a rule comprises one or more trigger parameters needed to effect deletion of the executable software item.

11. The method of claim 10 wherein the user'"'"'s location is determined by the mobile terminal using an RF-ID system.

12. The method of claim 10 wherein user data comprises at least partly one or more of user profile data, calendar data, intents data and notes data.

13. The method of claim 1 wherein the condition for deletion of the executable software item comprises a timer value and deletion of the executable software item is initiated upon expiration of the timer value.

14. The method of claim 1 wherein the condition for deletion of the executable software item comprises a use counter and deletion of the executable software item is initiated upon the use counter reaching a predetermined number.

15. The method of claim 1 wherein the condition for deletion of the executable software item comprises a passage of a predetermined period of time without receipt of data relating to activation of the executable software item and the executable software item is deleted after expiration of the predetermined period of time.

16. The method of claim 15 wherein the predetermined period of time is specified in the executable software item as a condition for deletion of the executable software item.

17. The method of claim 1 wherein the condition for deletion comprises a determination that the executable software item is obsolete.

18. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

maintaining, in storage, data associated with the executable software item after deletion of the executable software item from storage.

19. The method of claim 18 wherein the storage is in the mobile terminal.

20. The method of claim 18 wherein the storage is in a service provider'"'"'s data base.

21. The method of claim 20 wherein the data associated with the executable software item is data for use by the service provider in personalizing an executable software item when next downloaded by the mobile terminal.

22. The method of claim 18 wherein the data maintained in storage comprises data generated during execution of the executable software item.

23. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

activating execution of the downloaded executable software item at the specified location for accessing the at least one of goods or services over the short range wireless connection.

24. The method of claim 1, wherein the condition for deletion of the executable software item comprises that the mobile terminal has departed or is about to depart from the specified location associated with the short range wireless system.

25. A method for a mobile terminal, comprising:

downloading over a wireless connection an executable software item together with trigger conditions for activation and deletion of the executable software item, wherein the executable software item enables access over a short range wireless connection to information concerning at least one of goods or services when the mobile terminal is within a specified location associated with a short range wireless system;

storing the executable software item together with the trigger conditions for activation and deletion of the executable software item in storage of the mobile terminal;

if a trigger condition for activation of the executable software item is satisfied, activating the executable software item; and

if a trigger condition for deletion of the executable software item is satisfied, deleting the executable software item from storage of the mobile terminal.

26. The method of claim 25 wherein the mobile terminal is a mobile telephone or a mobile handset.

27. The method of claim 25 wherein the executable software item is downloaded to the mobile terminal only if a pre-condition for downloading is satisfied.

28. The method of claim 25 further comprising:

if the trigger condition for activation of the executable software item is not satisfied, then entering a wait state until the trigger condition for activation is satisfied.

29. The method of claim 25 wherein the trigger condition for deletion of the executable software item comprises whether the trigger condition for activation has not been satisfied within a predetermined period of time.

30. The method of claim 29 wherein the predetermined period of time is specified in the application as a trigger condition for activation of the executable software item.

31. The method of claim 25 wherein the trigger condition for activation comprises a trigger parameter and a rule.

32. The method of claim 31 wherein a trigger parameter comprises at least partly one or more of a user'"'"'s location, a date, a time and user data and a rule comprises one or more trigger parameters needed to effect activation of the executable software item.

33. The method of claim 32 wherein the user'"'"'s location is determined by the mobile terminal using an RF-ID system.

34. The method of claim 32 wherein user data comprises at least partly one or more of user profile data, calendar data, intents data and notes data.

35. The method of claim 31 wherein a trigger parameter for activation comprises another executable software item that is present in the mobile terminal.

36. The method of claim 25, wherein the condition for deletion of the executable software item comprises that the mobile terminal has departed or is about to depart from the specified location associated with the short range wireless system.

37. A method for a mobile terminal, comprising:

downloading a first executable software item upon entry of the mobile terminal into a first location together with a trigger condition for deletion of the first executable software item;

downloading a second executable software item upon entry of the mobile terminal into a second location together with a trigger condition for deletion of the second executable software item;

monitoring for trigger data that satisfies the trigger condition for deletion of the second executable software item; and

deleting the second executable software item upon detection of trigger data that satisfies the trigger condition for deletion of the second executable software item.

38. The method of claim 37 wherein the mobile terminal is a mobile telephone or a mobile handset.

39. The method of claim 37 wherein monitoring for trigger data that satisfies the trigger condition for deletion of the second executable software item and deletion of the second executable software item are performed by the first executable software item.

40. The method of claim 37 further comprising:

upon departure of the mobile terminal from the second location, the first executable software item deleting the second executable software item.

41. The method of claim 37 further comprising:

upon deletion of the second executable software item, the first executable software item deleting itself.

42. The method of claim 37 further comprising:

upon departure of the mobile terminal from the first location, the first executable software item deleting itself.

43. The method of claim 37 wherein the second location is different than the first location.

44. The method of claim 37 further comprising:

the first executable software item downloading the second executable software item based on a context of the user.

45. The method of claim 44 wherein the user'"'"'s context comprises user data.

46. The method of claim 45 wherein the user data comprises one or more of user profile data, calendar data, intentions data and notes data.

47. The method of claim 37 further comprising:

the first executable software item downloading the second executable software item based on capabilities of the mobile terminal.

48. The method of claim 37 further comprising:

the first executable software item advising the user that the second executable software item is available for downloading to the mobile terminal.

49. A mobile terminal, comprising:

a memory device for storing a program; and

a processor in communication with the memory device, the processor operative with the program to;

download over a wireless connection an executable software item comprising a condition for deletion of the executable software item, wherein the executable software item enables access over a short range wireless connection to information concerning at least one of goods or services when the mobile terminal is within a specified location associated with a short range wireless system;

store the executable software item comprising the condition for deletion of the executable software item in storage of the mobile terminal; and

if the condition for deletion of the executable software item is satisfied, delete the executable software item from storage of the mobile terminal.

50. The apparatus of claim 49, wherein the processor is further operative with the program to:

activate execution of the downloaded executable software item at the specified location for accessing the at least one of goods or services.

51. The method of claim 49, wherein the condition for deletion of the executable software item comprises that the mobile terminal has departed or is about to depart from the specified location associated with the short range wireless system.

52. A mobile terminal, comprising:

a memory device for storing a program; and

a processor in communication with the memory device, the processor operative with the program to;

download over a wireless connection an executable software item together with trigger conditions for activation and deletion of the executable software item, wherein the executable software item enables access over a short range wireless connection to information concerning at least one of goods or services when the mobile terminal is within a specified location associated with a short range wireless system;

store the executable software item together with the trigger conditions for activation and deletion of the executable software item in storage of the mobile terminal;

if a trigger condition for activation of the executable software item is satisfied, activate the executable software item; and

if a trigger condition for deletion of the executable software item is satisfied, delete the executable software item from storage of the mobile terminal.

53. The method of claim 52, wherein the trigger condition for deletion of the executable software item comprises that the mobile terminal has departed or is about to depart from the specified location associated with the short range wireless system.

54. A mobile terminal, comprising:

a memory device for storing a program; and

a processor in communication with the memory device, the processor operative with the program to;

download a first executable software item upon entry of the mobile terminal into a first location together with a trigger condition for deletion of the first executable software item;

download a second executable software item upon entry of the mobile terminal into a second location together with a trigger condition for deletion of the second executable software item;

monitor for trigger data that satisfies the trigger condition for deletion of the second executable software item; and

delete the second executable software item upon detection of trigger data that satisfies the trigger condition for deletion of the second executable software item.

55. A mobile terminal, comprising:

a memory device for storing a program; and

a processor in communication with the memory device, the processor operative with the program to;

download an executable software item upon entry of the mobile terminal into a location associated with a short range wireless system;

store the executable software item in memory;

detect that the mobile terminal has departed or is about to depart from the location associated with the short range wireless system; and

in response to detecting that the mobile terminal has departed or is about to depart from the location associated with the short range wireless system, delete the executable software item from memory.

56. A method for a mobile terminal, comprising:

downloading an executable software item upon entry of the mobile terminal into a location associated with a short range wireless system;

storing the executable software item in memory;

detecting that the mobile terminal has departed or is about to depart from the location associated with the short range wireless system; and

in response to detecting that the mobile terminal has departed or is about to depart from the location associated with the short range wireless system, deleting the executable software item from memory.

57. A computer readable medium having computer executable program code recorded thereon, which, when executed, causes a computer to:

download an executable software item upon entry of the mobile terminal into a location associated with a short range wireless system;

store the executable software item in memory;

detect that the mobile terminal has departed or is about to depart from the location associated with the short range wireless system; and

in response to detecting that the mobile terminal has departed or is about to depart from the location associated with the short range wireless system, delete the executable software item from memory.