Distributing mobile-device applications
First Claim
1. A method for providing an application update from a remote device management server to a mobile wireless device via an update forwarder, the method comprising:
- receiving, by the update forwarder, the application update from the remote device management server, and wherein receiving the update comprises emulating the mobile wireless device to the device management server, the emulating comprising authenticating the update forwarder to the device management server as if the update forwarder were the mobile wireless device;
delivering, by the update forwarder, the application update to the mobile wireless device by emulating the remote device management server to the mobile wireless device, wherein during the delivering of the application update the update forwarder uses a device update protocol used by the remote device management server to provide application updates to mobile wireless devices, thereby enabling the mobile wireless device to receive the application update from the update forwarder in a same manner as receiving the application update directly from the remote device management server.
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Accused Products
Abstract
The present invention provides an “update forwarder” function to facilitate downloading applications to mobile devices. The update forwarder receives updates on its “network side” from one or more device management servers, stores the updates, and then delivers them from its “device side” to one or more mobile devices. By using wired or short-haul wireless links on both its network and device sides, the update forwarder can reduce demand for the precious bandwidth of a widespread wireless network. The update forwarder can receive downloads during off-peak times for the device management servers and at times when the mobile device is turned off or otherwise unavailable. Downloads can be scheduled to be delivered only when the mobile device is not otherwise in use. The update forwarder can be implemented with little cost as one function running on a device, such as a home PC or local server, that already serves other functions.
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Citations
23 Claims
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1. A method for providing an application update from a remote device management server to a mobile wireless device via an update forwarder, the method comprising:
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receiving, by the update forwarder, the application update from the remote device management server, and wherein receiving the update comprises emulating the mobile wireless device to the device management server, the emulating comprising authenticating the update forwarder to the device management server as if the update forwarder were the mobile wireless device; delivering, by the update forwarder, the application update to the mobile wireless device by emulating the remote device management server to the mobile wireless device, wherein during the delivering of the application update the update forwarder uses a device update protocol used by the remote device management server to provide application updates to mobile wireless devices, thereby enabling the mobile wireless device to receive the application update from the update forwarder in a same manner as receiving the application update directly from the remote device management server. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. A non-transitory computer-readable medium containing computer-executable instructions for providing an application update from a remote device management server to a mobile wireless device via an update forwarder, the computer-executable instructions facilitating performing the steps of:
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receiving, by the update forwarder, the application update from the remote device management server, and wherein receiving the update comprises emulating the mobile wireless device to the device management server, the emulating comprising authenticating the update forwarder to the device management server as if the update forwarder were the mobile wireless device; delivering, by the update forwarder, the application update to the mobile wireless device by emulating the remote device management server to the mobile wireless device, wherein during the delivering of the application update the updated forwarder uses a device update protocol used by the remote device management server to provide application updates to mobile wireless devices, thereby enabling the mobile wireless device to receive the application update from the update forwarder in a same manner as receiving the application update directly from the remote device management server.
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11. A system for providing an application update to a mobile wireless device, the system comprising:
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a remote device management server; and an update forwarder comprising; a network interface for receiving the application update transmitted from the remote device management server, and wherein the update forwarder is further configured for emulating the mobile wireless device to the device management server, and wherein during the emulating the update forwarder authenticates to the remote device management server as if the update forwarder were the mobile wireless device, and a short-range communications interface for transmitting the application update to the mobile wireless device, and wherein the update forwarder is configured to deliver the application update to the mobile wireless device by emulating the remote device management server to the mobile wireless device, wherein during the delivering of the application update the update forwarder uses a device update protocol used by the remote device management server to provide application updates to mobile wireless devices, thereby enabling the mobile wireless device to receive the application update from the update forwarder in a same manner as receiving the application update directly from the remote device management server. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23)
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Specification