Mobile download system

• US 7,275,243 B2
• Filed: 03/21/2003
• Issued: 09/25/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 03/22/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Oracle America, Inc. (Oracle Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Sun Microsystems Incorporated (Oracle Corporation)
• Inventors: Musil, Alexander Quincey, Gibbons, Bill, Herrera, Carlos Jose, Dixit, Manish, Jin, Dale D., Shah, Manish Ramesh, Webster, Roger Robert, Xu, Denise Dandong
• Primary Examiner(s): Dam; Tuan
• Assistant Examiner(s): Romano; John J
• Application Number:
  US10/393,561
• Publication Number:
  US 20040034853A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,649 Days
• Field of Search: 717/159, 717/178
• US Class Current: 717/159
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/958 Organisation or management of web site content, e.g. publishing, maintaining pages or automatic linking
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/04 specially adapted for terminals or networks with limited capabilities; specially adapted for terminal portability
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/34 involving the movement of software or configuration parameters network booting or remote initial program loading [RIPL] G06F9/4416
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/329 in the application layer [OSI layer 7]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 9/40 Network security protocols

Abstract

Methods and systems are provided for adapting software applications for download and execution on a variety of different mobile devices which employ different Application Execution Environments. An Application Download Protocol for transferring applications to mobile devices is also provided. Mobile devices can be matched with compatible applications according to functionality required by the applications and functionality provided by the mobile devices. Applications submitted by developers can be automatically matched to application categories, thus facilitating user selection of applications. Data used by applications running on mobile devices can be remotely managed by application developers, allowing developers to remotely control the type and presentation of data on mobile devices without the need for data management servlets to be provided by the developers.

Claims

1. A computer implemented method for producing an application to be executed on one or more types of target mobile devices, respective application parameters being defined for each type of target mobile device, the method comprising:

(a) scanning an application file to identify script code;

(b) generating a stripped file by,

(i) extracting each identified script code from the application file, and

(ii) inserting a unique sequence number in the application file in place of each extracted script code for locating referenced code fragment during the execution of the application; and

(c) compiling the extracted script code to produce compiled code in the form of bytecodes,

for each type of target mobile device, processing the stripped file using the respective application parameters to generate a respective processed file containing only elements for that type of target mobile device, and for each type of target mobile device, combining the compiled code and the respective processed file;

wherein the compiled code forms a first data group and the processed file forms a second data group, the first and second data groups being separate groups that are combined into a single file that is configured to be downloaded to and executed on the target mobile device.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the application file includes user interface elements.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein an application manager is provided on the target mobile device;

the method comprising;

receiving download instructions for the application to be downloaded to the target mobile device; and

transmitting the application to the target mobile device.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein receiving download instructions includes:

receiving a download instruction for one or more operations to be performed on the application.

5. The method of claim 3, wherein the download instructions include at least one operation to be performed.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein the download instructions include metadata information regarding the application.

7. The method of claim 6, further comprising:

verifying application compatibility with the target mobile device before downloading.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein verifying application compatibility includes:

determining that sufficient storage space for storing the application exists on the target mobile device.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein verifying application compatibility includes:

determining that sufficient resources for application operation exist on the target mobile device.

10. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

selecting the application and associated operation for download to the target mobile device;

receiving an application description, the application description including operations to perform for the application;

executing the operations for the application; and

transmitting the application and operation for download to the target mobile device.

11. In a system for producing an application to be executed on one or more types of target mobile devices, respective application parameters being defined for each type of target mobile device, a method for producing the application comprising:

extracting script code from an application file and inserting a unique sequence number in place of each extracted script code for locating referenced script code fragment during the execution of the application;

compiling the extracted script code to produce compiled code in the form of bytecodes;

processing a stripped file using the respective application parameters for each type of target mobile device to generate a respective processed file containing only elements for that type of target mobile device, and for each type of target mobile device, combining the compiled code and the respective processed file wherein the stripped file is created by extracting each identified script code from the application file and the compiled code forms a first data group and the processed file forms a second data group, the first and second data groups being separate groups that are combined into a single file that is configured to be downloaded to and executed on the target mobile device;

sending download instructions including metadata information for the application to be downloaded to a target mobile device; and

transmitting the application to the target mobile device.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein the transmitting further comprising:

verifying application compatibility with the target mobile device before downloading.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein verifying application compatibility includes:

determining that sufficient storage space for storing the application exists on the target mobile device.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein verifying application compatibility includes:

determining that sufficient resources for application operation exist on the target mobile device.