Mobile device having extensible software for presenting server-side applications, software and methods

• US 7,533,114 B2
• Filed: 02/22/2005
• Issued: 05/12/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 02/22/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Malikie Innovations Limited (Key Patent Innovations Limited)
• Original Assignee: Nextair Corporation
• Inventors: Allen, Andrew, Neil, Tim, Neil, Scott
• Primary Examiner(s): Le; Debbie M
• Application Number:
  US10/537,428
• Publication Number:
  US 20060190813A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,540 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 9/445 Program loading or initiating bootstrapping G06F9/4401; security arrangements for program loading or initiating G06F21/57
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 9/4843 by program, e.g. task dispatcher, supervisor, operating system
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 9/547 Remote procedure calls [RPC]; Web services
• 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 67/75 Indicating network or usage conditions on the user display
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99933 Query processing, i.e. searching
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99943 Generating database or data structure, e.g. via user interface
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99945 Object-oriented database structure processing

Abstract

Data from an application executing at a computing device is presented at a remote wireless device, by providing the device an application definition file, containing a definition of a user interface for the application at the mobile device. Based on the definition file, the wireless device may receive data from the application and present an interface for the application. Virtual machine software at the mobile device interprets the application definition file. This virtual machine software is extensible to take advantage of other software and/or hardware at the device.

Claims

1. A method of presenting data from an application executing at a computing device at a wireless mobile device remote from said computing device, said method comprising:

receiving at said mobile device, a representation of a text file defining a user interface and actions to be taken in response to user interaction with said user interface or received data from said application;

receiving data from said application;

executing virtual machine software at said mobile device to present said user interface and said received data, in accordance with said text file;

wherein at least one of said actions in said text file specifies execution of a software component separate from said virtual machine software identified in said text file, said software component being in the form of an object class;

querying operating system software executing at said wireless mobile device as to whether said software component identified in said text file is available at said device; and

if said querying indicates that said software component is available at said wireless mobile device, executing said software component at said device comprising creating an instance of said object class.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising querying said software component as to whether said software component includes a pre-determined interface, and wherein said executing is conditional upon determining that said software component includes said pre-determined interface.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising receiving data from said software component to be used by said virtual machine software.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein said text file identifies said object class by name and wherein said querying comprises querying said operating system software whether an object class having said name exists at said mobile device.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein said text file is received at said wireless mobile device and wherein said text file is an Extensible Markup Language (XML) file.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein said text file is parsed, and a representation of said text file is stored at said wireless mobile device for use by said virtual machine software.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising storing data generated by said software component at said wireless mobile device in accordance with said text file.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein said format of network messages comprises XML definitions for said network messages, and wherein data for said application are dispatched from said wireless device using said XML definitions.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein said software component facilitates the capture of a signature of a user.

10. The method claim 1, wherein said software component interfaces with peripheral hardware at said device.

23. Computer readable medium storing software to be executed at a mobile device, adapting said mobile device to perform the method of claim 1.

11. A wireless mobile device comprising:

a processor;

computer readable memory in communication with said processor, storing operating system software and virtual machine software controlling operation of said wireless mobile device,

said virtual machine software comprising;

a parser for receiving a text file;

a screen generation engine, for presenting at least one screen at said wireless mobile device in accordance with said text file;

instructions for querying said operating system software as to whether a software component, which is identified in said text file and is separate from said virtual machine software, is available at said wireless mobile device, said software component being in the form of an object class; and

an event handler for processing events arising in response to user interaction with said at least one screen in accordance with said text file, said event handler operable to execute said software component if, upon executing said instructions, it is determined that said software component is available at said wireless mobile device

wherein executing said software component comprises creating an instance of said object class.

12. The wireless mobile device of claim 11, wherein said memory further stores a representation of said text file.

13. The wireless mobile device of claim 11, wherein said representation of said text file is created by said parser.

14. The wireless mobile device of claim 11, wherein said parser comprises an Extensible Markup Language (XML) parser.

15. The wireless mobile device of claim 11, wherein said virtual machine software further adapts said processor to parse said text file.

16. The wireless mobile device of claim 15, wherein said virtual machine software further adapts said parser comprises to parse said text file as an XML file.

17. The wireless mobile device of claim 11, wherein said virtual machine software further comprises object classes corresponding to actions to be taken by said device in response to interaction with said at least one screen.

18. The wireless mobile device of claim 11, wherein said memory further stores said software component separate from said virtual machine software.

19. The wireless mobile device of claim 11, wherein said software component separate from said virtual machine software interacts with hardware at said mobile device.

20. The wireless mobile device of claim 11, wherein said software component separate from said virtual machine software receives parameters contained in said text file from said virtual machine software.

21. The wireless mobile device of claim 11, wherein said software component separate from said virtual machine software returns data to said virtual machine software.

22. The wireless mobile device of claim 11, wherein said software component separate from said virtual machine software returns data to said virtual machine software in XML format.

24. The wireless mobile device of claim 11, wherein said virtual machine software further comprises instructions for querying said at least one object class as to whether said at least one object class provides a pre-determined interface and instructions for instantiating said at least one object class if said querying indicates that said at least one object class does provide said pre-determined interface.

25. A wireless mobile device comprising:

a processor;

computer readable memory in communication with said processor, storing operating system software and virtual machine software controlling operation of said wireless mobile device, said virtual machine software comprising;

a parser for receiving a text file defining a user interface and actions to be taken in response to user interaction with said user interface, one action of said actions specifying execution of a software component separate from said virtual machine software at said wireless mobile device, said text file identifying said software component, said software component being in the form of an object class;

instructions for querying said operating system software as to whether said software component is available at said wireless mobile device;

an instance of said object class instantiated based upon, and corresponding to, said action;

a screen generation engine, for presenting at least one screen at said wireless mobile device in accordance with said text file; and

an event handler for processing events arising in response to user interaction with said at least one screen in accordance with said text file, said event handler operable to execute said software component by way of said instance.