Method and apparatus for updating applications on a mobile device via device synchronization

• US 8,635,372 B2
• Filed: 01/24/2011
• Issued: 01/21/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 11/30/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Access Company Limited
• Original Assignee: Access Company Limited
• Inventors: Liu, Chung
• Primary Examiner(s): EL CHANTI, HUSSEIN A
• Application Number:
  US13/012,771
• Publication Number:
  US 20110119663A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,093 Days
• Field of Search: 709/224, 709/248
• US Class Current: 709/248
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1626 with a single-body enclosure integrating a flat display, e.g. Personal Digital Assistants [PDAs]
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1632 External expansion units, e.g. docking stations
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1656 Details related to functional adaptations of the enclosure, e.g. to provide protection against EMI, shock, water, or to host detachable peripherals like a mouse or removable expansions units like PCMCIA cards, or to provide access to internal components for maintenance or to removable storage supports like CDs or DVDs, or to mechanically mount accessories mounting of accessories to a computer display G06F1/1607; display hoods G06F1/1603; cooling arrangements for portable computers G06F1/203
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1698 the I/O peripheral being a sending/receiving arrangement to establish a cordless communication link, e.g. radio or infrared link, integrated cellular phone details of antennas disposed inside a computer H01Q1/2266
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2200/1632 Pen holder integrated in the computer
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 8/65 Updates security arrangements therefor G06F21/57
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/289 Intermediate processing functionally located close to the data consumer application, e.g. in same machine, in same home or in same sub-network
• 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 67/53 using third party service providers
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/568 Storing data temporarily at an intermediate stage, e.g. caching
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/329 in the application layer [OSI layer 7]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 9/40 Network security protocols

Abstract

A method and system for the delivery of updated web platform applications to a mobile electronic device upon synchronization of the mobile device with a computer. Specifically, one embodiment of the present invention discloses a method and system for dynamically creating personalized and up-to-date applications whenever a mobile electronic device is synchronized with a stand-alone computer system that is coupled to remotely located content servers or computers via a communication network, such as the Internet. Conduits act as gateways for synchronization between the mobile electronic device and the plurality of content servers or computers. These conduits coordinate the loading of the personalized and up-to-date applications onto the mobile electronic device. In one example, a user can then access up-to-date information on the applications at a more convenient time and while disconnected from the content servers or computers that provide the information.

Claims

1. A method of updating an application on an electronic device from a content server through a host device, comprising the steps of:

providing a conduit resident on the host device;

comparing, by the conduit, a version of an application stored by the host device with a current version of a corresponding application residing on the content server to determine whether a newer version of the application resides on the content server;

communicating user identification information regarding the electronic device to the content server;

storing the newer version from the content server; and

extracting and installing the newer version from the host device on the electronic device; and

wherein the newer version of the application is personalized for the electronic device based on the user identification information.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the electronic device includes a display.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the electronic device comprises at least one of:

a cellular phone, a Personal Digital Assistant, and a palm top computer.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the updated application is personalized based on stored user information.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the synchronization includes docking the electronic device in a cradle coupled to the host device.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the content server comprises at least one of:

a remote server computer system, a remote computer system, and a computer directly connected to the host device.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the content server dynamically generates the updated application.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the user identification information comprises at least one of a name, an address, and previous content interacted with by the user.

9. A system for providing updating applications on an electronic device, comprising:

a non-transitory memory having instructions stored thereon for a conduit which synchronizes data between a content server and said electronic device; and

a host device, operatively coupled to said memory, configured to execute said instructions of said conduit including;

comparing a version of an application stored by the host device with a current version of a corresponding application residing on said content server to determine whether a newer version of the application resides on the content server;

communicating user identification information regarding the electronic device to the content server;

storing the newer version from the content server; and

extracting and installing the newer version from the host device on the electronic device personalized based on the user identification information.

10. The system of claim 9, wherein the electronic device includes a display.

11. The system of claim 9, wherein the electronic device comprises at least one of:

a cellular phone, a Personal Digital Assistant, and a palm top computer.

12. The system of claim 9, wherein the updated application is personalized based on stored user information.

13. The system of claim 9, wherein the synchronization includes docking the electronic device in a cradle coupled to the host device.

14. The system of claim 9, wherein the content server comprises at least one of:

a remote server computer system, a remote computer system, and a computer directly connected to the host device.

15. The system of claim 9, wherein the content server dynamically generates the updated application.

16. The system of claim 9, wherein the user identification information comprises at least one of a name, an address, and previous content interacted with by the user.

17. A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium storing computer-readable instructions for a conduit, which when executed, cause a host device to perform the following steps:

providing the conduit resident on the host device;

comparing, by the conduit, a version of an application stored by the host device with a current version of a corresponding application residing on a content server to determine whether a newer version of the application resides on the content server;

communicating user identification information regarding an electronic device to the content server;

storing the newer version from the content server; and

extracting and installing the newer version from the host device on the electronic device, wherein the newer version of the application is personalized for the electronic device based on the user identification information.

18. The storage medium of claim 17, wherein the content server comprises at least one of:

a remote server computer system, a remote computer system, and a computer directly connected to the host device.

19. The storage medium of claim 17, wherein the content server dynamically generates the updated application.

20. The storage medium of claim 17, wherein the user identification information comprises at least one of a name, an address, and previous content interacted with the user.