System and method for updating an on-device application catalog in a mobile device receiving a push message from a catalog server indicating availability of an application for download

• US 7,257,583 B2
• Filed: 01/09/2004
• Issued: 08/14/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 01/09/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
• Inventors: Amiga, Ori, Hofmeister, Nick, Waite, Ryan
• Primary Examiner(s): Channavajjala; Srirama
• Application Number:
  US10/754,878
• Publication Number:
  US 20050154759A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,313 Days
• Field of Search: 707 1- 2, 707 6- 7, 707/100, 707/102, 707/104.1, 707/200, 707/10, 709245-246, 709/229, 726/3, 726/26, 455/412.1, 455/412.2, 455418-420, 455407-408, 455/450, 380/270, 463/42
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 8/61 Installation
• 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: Y10S 707/99931 Database or file accessing
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99945 Object-oriented database structure processing

Abstract

Embodiments of the present invention relate to methods, systems, and computer-readable media for providing software applications to a mobile device. A server receives a request for an application identified in an application catalog stored on the server. A push message is generated based on the request for the application and containing data from the application catalog stored on the catalog server. The push message is sent to a mobile device designated in the request for the application. Responsive to receiving an acceptance of the push message from the mobile device, the application is sent to the mobile device. The mobile device receives and reads the push message. Responsive to acceptance of the push message, the application is requested and received from the catalog server. The application is installed the on-device application catalog is updated to indicate the availability of the application for execution on the mobile device.

Claims

1. A method of providing software applications to a mobile device comprising:

storing an application catalog in memory on a catalog server, the application catalog comprising information relating to a plurality of applications available on an application server for download;

providing access to the application catalog stored on the catalog server;

receiving from a browser a request for an application that is one of the plurality of applications identified in the application catalog, wherein the request identifies the mobile device;

reading request information from the request, the request information indicating the application and the mobile device;

reading data from the application catalog related to the application;

generating a push message with a header indicating the mobile device;

adding the data from the application catalog to the body of the push message;

sending the push message to the mobile device identified in the request;

receiving an acceptance of the push message from the mobile device; and

responsive to receiving the acceptance, sending the application from the application server to the mobile device for storing on the mobile device to provide additional functionality to the mobile device.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising prior to receiving a request for an application:

receiving an indication of a selected application to be downloaded;

receiving an indication of selection of a send-to-a-friend option;

collecting destination information for the selected application to be downloaded; and

generating a request for the application.

3. A computer-storage medium encoding a computer program of instructions for executing a computer process for performing the operations of claim 1.

4. The computer-storage medium of claim 3, further comprising prior to receiving a request for an application:

receiving an indication of a selected application to be downloaded;

receiving an indication of selection of a send-to-a-friend option;

collecting destination information for the selected application to be downloaded; and

generating a request for the application.

5. A method of updating an on-device-application catalog in a mobile device comprising:

receiving a first push message from a catalog server including application catalog data from an application catalog, the application catalog comprising information relating to a plurality of applications available on an application server for download;

pre-caching on the mobile device the application catalog data from the catalog server contained in the first push message;

responsive to receiving an indication of a search function, browsing the application catalog data from the catalog server;

accessing the application catalog stored on the catalog server with a browser,

receiving a second push message from the application catalog server indicating availability of an application for download and containing information from the application catalog related to the application;

reading the information from the second push message;

displaying the information from the second push message to a user of the mobile device for acceptance;

receiving an indication that the user of the mobile device accepts the application; and

in response to the receiving the indication;

requesting the application from the application server,

receiving the application from the application server,

installing the application on the mobile device,

updating the on-device application catalog to indicate the availability of the application for execution on the mobile device, and

displaying an indication of the availability of the application for execution on the mobile device.

6. The method of claim 5, further comprising:

receiving a selection of an application from the on-device application catalog;

copying permanent information from the selected application to a vault folder;

uninstalling the selected application; and

deleting the selected application.

7. The method of claim 6, further comprising:

receiving a selection of a deleted application from the on-device application catalog;

downloading the application from the catalog server;

installing the application; and

copying the permanent information from the vault folder to the application.

8. A computer-storage medium encoding a computer program of instructions for executing a computer process for performing the operations of claim 5.

9. The computer-storage medium of claim 8, further comprising:

receiving a selection of an application from the on-device application catalog;

copying permanent information from the selected application to a vault folder;

uninstalling the selected application; and

deleting the selected application.

10. The computer-storage medium of claim 9, further comprising:

receiving a selection of a deleted application from the on-device application catalog;

downloading the application from the catalog server;

installing the application; and

copying the permanent information from the vault folder to the application.

11. A system for providing software applications to a mobile device comprising:

a processor; and

a memory, coupled with and readable by the processor, the memory containing a series of instructions that, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to;

provide access to an application catalog stored on a catalog server, the application catalog comprising information relating to a plurality of applications available on an application server for download,

receive from a browser a request for an application that is one of the plurality of applications identified in the application catalog, wherein the request identifies the mobile device,

read request information from the request, the request information indicating the application and the mobile device;

read data from the application catalog related to the application;

generate a push message with a header indicating the mobile device;

add the data from the application catalog to the body of the push message;

send the push message to the mobile device identified in the request for the application,

receive an acceptance of the push message from the mobile device, and

responsive to the receiving the acceptance, send the application to the mobile device for storing on the mobile device to provide additional functionality to the mobile device.

12. The system of claim 11, further comprising prior to receiving a request for an application:

receiving an indication of a selected application to be downloaded;

receiving an indication of selection of a send-to-a-friend option;

collecting destination information for the selected application to be downloaded; and

generating a request for the application.

13. A mobile device for updating an on-device application catalog comprising:

a processor; and

a memory, coupled with and readable by the processor, the memory containing a series of instructions that, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to;

receive a first push message from a catalog server including application catalog data from an application catalog, the application catalog comprising information relating to a plurality of applications available on an application server for download;

pre-cache on the mobile device the application catalog data from the catalog server contained in the first push message;

responsive to receiving an indication of a search function, browse the application catalog data from the catalog server;

access the application catalog stored on a catalog server with a browser,

receive a second push message from the application catalog server indicating availability of an application for download and containing information from the application catalog related to the application,

read the information from the second push message,

display the information from the second push message to a user of the mobile device for acceptance, and

receive an indication that the user of the mobile device accepts the application,

responsive to receiving the indication;

request the application from the application server,

receive the application from the application server,

install the application on the mobile device,

update the on-device application catalog to indicate the availability of the application for execution on the mobile device, and

display an indication of the availability of the application for execution on the mobile device.

14. The mobile device of claim 13, further comprising:

receiving a selection of an application from the on-device application catalog;

copying permanent information from the selected application to a vault folder;

uninstalling the selected application; and

deleting the selected application.

15. The mobile device of claim 14, further comprising:

receiving a selection of a deleted application from the on-device application catalog;

downloading the application from the catalog server;

installing the application; and

copying the permanent information from the vault folder to the application.