Verification of software application attributes for optimal compatibility with a software system

• US 7,191,439 B2
• Filed: 02/28/2001
• Issued: 03/13/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 02/28/2001
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Access Company Limited
• Original Assignee: Palmsource Incorporated (Access Company Limited)
• Inventors: Donaldson, Jesse, Lemke, Steven C., Flores, Roger, Ebert, Robert
• Primary Examiner(s): Chaki; Kakali
• Assistant Examiner(s): Shrader; Lawrence
• Application Number:
  US09/796,031
• Publication Number:
  US 20020199180A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,204 Days
• Field of Search: 717168-178, 717112-122
• US Class Current: 717/178
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 9/45537 Provision of facilities of other operating environments, e.g. WINE I/O emulation G06F13/105

Abstract

A method and system of providing compatibility between a software application and an electronic device are disclosed. An exemplary method includes providing an electronic device having a processor and a memory, the processor running an operating system. The method also includes providing access to a software application configured to run on the process of the electronic device. Further, the method includes checking operating system compatibility information. The operating system compatibility information is included in the software application.

Claims

1. A method of providing compatibility between a software module and an electronic device, comprising:

providing an electronic device having a processor and a memory, the processor running an operating system;

installing the software module on the electronic device;

providing access to the software module configured to run on the processor of the electronic device; and

checking operating system compatibility information after the software module has been installed on the electronic device and the software module is being executed on the electronic device, the operating system compatibility information being included in the software module.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the electronic device is a handheld computer.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

performing adjustments based on the operating system compatibility information.

4. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising:

starting a background application based on the operating system compatibility information.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

checking other software module attribute information the software module attribute information being included in the software module.

6. The method of claim 5, further comprising:

starting a background application based on the software module attribute information.

7. A method of developing a software module for an electronic device, comprising:

accessing a software development tool kit;

developing the primary functionality of the software module using the software development tool kit;

configuring compatibility information to be included in the software module, the compatibility information indicative of compatibility between the software module and the host device; and

compiling the software module into a format executable by the electronic device.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein the electronic device is a handheld computer.

9. The method of claim 7, wherein the compatibility information includes operating system information.

10. The method of claim 7, wherein the compatibility information includes wireless access information.

11. The method of claim 7, wherein the compatibility information includes display type information.

12. The method of claim 7, wherein the compatibility information includes sound system type information.

13. The method of claim 7, wherein the compatibility information includes processor information.

14. A method of providing compatibility between a software module and an electronic device, comprising:

providing an electronic device having a processor and a memory, the processor running an operating system;

installing a software module configured to run on the processor of the electronic device; and

checking development tools version information by the software module when the software module is being executed on the electronic device, the development tool information being incorporated into the software module, the development tools version information based on the version of development tools used to develop the software module.

15. The method of claim 14, further comprising:

determining the compatibility of the software module with the operating system based on the development tools version information.

16. The method of claim 15, further comprising:

enforcing constraints based on the development tools version information.

17. A method of using an electronic device, comprising:

providing an electronic device having a processor and a memory, the processor running an operating system;

providing access to the software module configured to run on the processor of the electronic device, the software module including compatability information, the software module having been installed on the electronic device and being executed on the electronic device;

checking operating system compatibility information by the software module running on the electronic device; and

selectively enabling an operating system backward compatibility mode based on the operating system compatibility information.