Configuring a client application

• US 8,443,059 B2
• Filed: 10/08/2009
• Issued: 05/14/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 10/08/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: F-Secure Corporation (F-Secure Oyj)
• Original Assignee: F-Secure Oyj
• Inventors: Paalanen, Jarkko, Pehkonen, Pekka, Salmi, Timo
• Primary Examiner(s): WANG, LIANG CHE A
• Application Number:
  US12/587,592
• Publication Number:
  US 20110087757A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,314 Days
• Field of Search: 709/203, 709/219, 709/220, 709/221, 709/222
• US Class Current: 709/220
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 8/656 while running
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/082 the condition being updates or upgrades of network functionality
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/125 involving control of end-device applications over a network
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/303 Terminal profiles
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/50 Service provisioning or reconfiguring
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/60 Subscription-based services using application servers or record carriers, e.g. SIM application toolkits
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/22 Processing or transfer of terminal data, e.g. status or physical capabilities

Abstract

A method and apparatus for configuring an application at a device in a communications network. A server receives a request message from the device. The request message includes information that identifies the application, and further information relating to either or both of the device type or a network operator associated with the device. The further information is sued by the server to obtain specific configuration information relating to the application. A response is sent to the device, the response including the obtained specific configuration. The specific configuration information is subsequently be used by the device to configure the application.

Claims

1. A method of configuring an application at a device in a communications network, the method comprising:

at a server, receiving a request message from the device while the device is running the application, the request message comprising information identifying the application and further information relating to any of a device type and a network operator associated with the device;

using the further information to obtain specific configuration information relating to the application; and

sending a response to the device, the response comprising the obtained specific configuration information, the specific configuration information usable by the device to configure the application, wherein the request message comprises a segment identifying a domain from which the specific configuration information can be obtained, a segment identifying the application and a segment, identifying the network operator associated with the device, the combined segments describing a path via which the specific configuration information can be obtained.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein the further information relates to the network operator, and comprises a Mobile Country Code and a Mobile Network Code, and the configuration information comprises operator-specific information usable by the device to configure the application according to network operator requirements.

3. The method according to claim 1, wherein the further information relates to the network operator and comprises an International Mobile Subscriber Identity, and the configuration information comprises operator-specific information usable by the device to configure the application according to network operator requirements.

4. The method according to claim 1, wherein the further information relates to the network operator and comprises the IP address being used by the device, and the configuration information comprises operator-specific information usable by the device to configure the application according to network operator requirements.

5. The method according to claim 1, wherein the further information relates to the device type and comprises an International Mobile Equipment Identity specific to the device, and the configuration information comprises information usable by the device to configure the application according to the device type.

6. The method according to claim 1, wherein the information identifying the application and the further information are sent from the device in an activation message to activate the application.

7. The method according to claim 1, wherein either of the request message and the response message are sent using Short Message Service protocols.

8. A server for use in a communications network, the server comprising:

a communications device configured to receive a request message from a remote device while the device is running an application, the request message identifying the application at the device and further information relating to any of a network operator associated with the device and a device type; and

a processor configured to use the further information to obtain configuration information relating to the application;

wherein the communications device is further configured to send a response message to the device, the response message comprising the obtained configuration information, the configuration information usable by the device to configure the application, wherein the request message comprises a segment identifying a domain from which the specific configuration information can be obtained, a segment identifying the application and a segment, identifying the network operator associated with the device, the combined segments describing a path via which the specific configuration information can be obtained.

9. The server according to claim 8, further comprising a database, the database comprising information identifying a plurality of network operators and, for each network operator, information identifying the application and operator-specific information relating to the application.

10. The server according to claim 8, further comprising a database, the database comprising information identifying a plurality of device types and, for each device type, information identifying the application and device-specific information relating to the application.

11. The server according to claim 8, wherein the further information relates to the network operator associated with the device, and comprises a Mobile Country Code and a Mobile Network Code.

12. The server according to claim 8, wherein the further information relates to the network operator associated with the device, and comprises an IP address being used by the device.

13. The server according to claim 8, wherein the further information relates to the device type and comprises an International Mobile Equipment Identity specific to the device.

14. The server according claim 8, wherein the request message comprises an activation message to activate the application.

20. A non-transitory computer readable medium storing a computer program which, when run on a server, causes the server to behave as a server according to claim 8.

15. A device for use in a communications network, the device comprising:

a processor configured to generate a request message while the device is running an application, the request message including information identifying the application at the device and further information relating to any of a network operator associated with the device and a device type;

a transmitter configured to send the request message to a remote server; and

a receiver configured to receive from the remote server a response message, the response message comprising configuration information relating to the application;

wherein the processor is further configured to configure the application using the configuration information received in the response message, wherein the request message comprises a segment identifying a domain from which the specific configuration information can be obtained, a segment identifying the application and a segment, identifying the network operator associated with the device, the combined segments describing a path via which the specific configuration information can be obtained.

16. The device according to claim 15, wherein the further information relates to the network operator associated with the device and comprises a Mobile Country Code and a Mobile Network Code.

17. The device according to claim 15, wherein the further information relates to the network operator associated with the device and comprises an IP address being used by the device.

18. The device according to claim 15, wherein the further information relates to the device type and comprises an International Mobile Equipment Identity specific to the device.

19. The device according to claim 15, wherein the request message comprises an activation message to activate the application.

21. A non-transitory computer readable medium storing a computer program which, when run on a computer device, causes the computer device to behave as a device according to claim 15.