Software, devices and methods facilitating execution of server-side applications at mobile devices

• US 7,546,298 B2
• Filed: 05/02/2001
• Issued: 06/09/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 01/09/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Malikie Innovations Limited (Key Patent Innovations Limited)
• Original Assignee: Nextair Corporation
• Inventors: Neil, Tim, Hulaj, Steven J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Le; Debbie M
• Application Number:
  US09/846,781
• Publication Number:
  US 20020107580A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,960 Days
• Field of Search: 707/10, 707 1- 3, 707/101, 715/513, 715/5.3, 709/203, 709/201, 370/310, 455/556, 455/456
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 9/451 Execution arrangements for user interfaces
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99944 Object-oriented database structure

Abstract

Software, devices and methods allowing varied mobile devices to interact with server side software applications are disclosed. 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 definitions for a user interface format for the application at the wireless device; the format of network messages for exchange of data generated by the application; and a format for storing data related to the application at the wireless device. Using these definitions, the wireless device may receive data from the application in accordance with the definition and present an interface for the application. Preferably, the application definition file is an XML file. Similarly, application specific network messages provided to the device are also formed using XML. Data from the application may be presented at the mobile device by virtual machine software that uses the application definition file.

Claims

1. A wireless mobile device comprising:

a processor;

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

a parser for receiving an XML text file;

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

an event handler for processing events arising in response to interaction with said at least one screen in accordance with event tags within said text file;

object classes corresponding to actions to be taken by said wireless mobile device, in accordance with action tags within said text file, in response to interaction with said at least one screen; and

an object class corresponding to a data table for storing data at said wireless mobile device in accordance with a table definition tag within said text file.

2. The wireless mobile device of claim 1, wherein said memory further stores a representation of said text file.

3. The wireless mobile device of claim 2, wherein said representation of said text file is created by said parser.

4. The wireless mobile device of claim 3, wherein said parser comprises an XML parser.

5. The wireless mobile device of claim 4, wherein said object classes corresponding to action to be taken comprise object classes that present screen elements at said wireless mobile device.

6. The wireless mobile device of claim 5, further comprising object classes enabling exchange of data between said wireless mobile device and a computing device over a network, wherein said data is formatted in accordance with XML definitions within said text file.

7. The wireless mobile device of claim 6 wherein said object classes enabling exchange of data comprise object classes corresponding to network messages to be received or transmitted by said wireless mobile device.

8. A computer readable medium storing virtual machine software for controlling operation of a wireless mobile device, said virtual machine software comprising:

a parser for receiving an XML text file;

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

an event handler for processing events arising in response to interaction with said at least one screen in accordance with event tags within said text file;

object classes corresponding to actions to be taken by said wireless mobile device, in accordance with action tags within said text file, in response to interaction with said at least one screen; and

an object class corresponding to a data table for storing data at said wireless mobile device in accordance with a table definition tag within said text file.

9. The computer readable medium of claim 8, wherein said parser comprises an XML parser.

10. The computer readable medium of claim 8, wherein said object classes corresponding to action to be taken comprise object classes that present screen elements at said computer readable medium.

11. The computer readable medium of claim 8, further comprising object classes enabling exchange of data between said wireless mobile device and a computing device over a network, wherein said data is formatted in accordance with XML definitions within said text file.

12. The computer readable medium of claim 11 wherein said object classes enabling exchange of data comprise object classes corresponding to network messages to be received or transmitted by said wireless mobile device.