System and method for updating dataset versions resident on a wireless device

• US 9,134,989 B2
• Filed: 01/31/2002
• Issued: 09/15/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 01/31/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Inventors: Minear, Brian, Lekven, Eric J., Oliver, Mitchell B., Nguyen, Phil, Gardner, Richard Wayne III, Sprigg, Stephen A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Afshar, Kamran
• Assistant Examiner(s): Irace, Michael
• Application Number:
  US10/061,875
• Publication Number:
  US 20030143991A1
• Time in Patent Office: 4,975 Days
• Field of Search: 455/418, 455/419, 455/420, 707/10, 707/200, 707/203
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 8/65 Updates security arrangements therefor G06F21/57
• 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 69/329 in the application layer [OSI layer 7]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 9/40 Network security protocols
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/60 Subscription-based services using application servers or record carriers, e.g. SIM application toolkits
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/245 from a network towards a terminal

Abstract

A system and method for selectively updating the versions of stored datasets on a wireless device that selectively communicates to a wireless network and downloads datasets, such as software applications and information, from download servers on the wireless network. The wireless device has a resident dataset version summary file that identifies the version of each resident dataset, and upon the wireless device attempting to communicate with the download server, the wireless device compares the version of each specific resident dataset listed in the resident dataset version summary file with the version of downloadable datasets resident on the download server to thereby determine if the version of a wireless device resident dataset is different from the version of a download server resident dataset. If the download server resident dataset is more recent, the wireless device can download it to overwrite the wireless device resident dataset.

Claims

1. A wireless device comprising:

a wireless communications interface, for selectively communicating over a wireless network; and

a computer platform, coupled to said wireless communications interface, for controlling said wireless communications interface, and for supporting a plurality of software objects each respectively having a version, said computer platform comprising;

a memory, said memory storing said plurality of software objects; and

a processor, coupled to said memory, for controlling said wireless communications interface and for supporting said plurality of software objects;

wherein said processor is configured to;

(a) create in said memory, a device version summary file, said device version summary file respectively storing the version associated with each of said plurality of software objects stored in said memory; and

(b) after (a) performing a version update transaction with a server, said version update transaction comprising;

(b)(1) determining whether said server has a server version summary file respectively storing a version associated with each software object stored on said server available for download to said wireless device; and

(b)(2) based on determining that said server has a server version summary file;

transferring said server version summary file to said wireless device;

automatically comparing said device version summary file with said server version summary file to determine which ones of said plurality of software objects stored in said memory are associated with a software object stored on said server having an updated version; and

based on there being at least one software object on said wireless device having an updated version on said server, automatically transferring the updated version of the at least one software object from said server to said wireless device, and installing each transferred and updated software object.

2. The wireless device of claim 1, wherein said plurality of software objects comprise at least one application for executing on said computer platform.

3. The wireless device of claim 2, wherein said at least one application comprises a game.

4. The wireless device of claim 2, wherein said at least one application comprises an application which had been downloaded from said server during a previous user communication session established with said server.

5. The wireless device of claim 2, wherein said at least one application comprises an application which was provided to said wireless device during a manufacture of said wireless device.

6. The wireless device of claim 2, wherein said at least one application comprises an application which was provided to said wireless device during a configuration of said wireless device.

7. The wireless device of claim 1, wherein said plurality of software objects comprise at least one software component of said computer platform.

8. The wireless device of claim 1, wherein said plurality of software objects comprise at least one device driver of said computer platform.

9. The wireless device of claim 1, wherein said at least one software object comprises a content to be rendered by said computer platform.

10. The wireless device of claim 1, wherein said memory stores a file system, and said plurality of software objects are stored on said file system.

11. The wireless device of claim 1, wherein said memory stores a database, and said plurality of software objects are stored on said database.

12. The wireless device of claim 1, wherein said memory comprises a non-volatile memory.

13. A wireless device comprising:

a wireless communications means, for selectively communicating over a wireless network; and

a computer platform means, coupled to said wireless communications means, for controlling said wireless communications means, and for supporting a plurality of software objects each respectively having a version, said computer platform means comprising;

a memory means, said memory means storing said plurality of software objects; and

a processor means, coupled to said memory means, for controlling said wireless communications means and for supporting said plurality of software objects;

wherein said processor means is configured to;

(a) create in said memory means, a device version summary file, said device version summary file respectively storing the version associated with each of said plurality of software objects stored in said memory means; and

(b) after (a) performing a version update transaction with a server, comprising;

(b)(1) determining whether said server has a server version summary file respectively storing a version associated with each software object stored on said server available for download to said wireless device; and

(b)(2) based on determining that said server has a server version summary file;

transferring said server version summary file to said wireless device;

automatically comparing said device version summary file with said server version summary file to determine which ones of said plurality of software objects stored in said memory are associated with a software object stored on said server having an updated version; and

based on there being at least one software object on said wireless device having an updated version on said server, automatically transferring the updated version of the at least one software object from said server to said wireless device, and installing each transferred and updated software object.

14. A method for updating a plurality of software objects stored in a memory of a computer platform of a wireless device, comprising:

(a) creating, on said wireless device, a device version summary file, said device version summary file respectively storing a version associated with each of said plurality of software objects stored in said memory; and

(b) after said creating, performing a version update transaction with a server,

wherein said version update transaction comprises;

(b)(1) determining whether said server has a server version summary file respectively storing a version associated with each software object stored on said server available for download to said wireless device; and

(b)(2) based on determining that said server has a server version summary file;

transferring said server version summary file to said wireless device;

automatically comparing said device version summary file with said server version summary file to determine which ones of said plurality of software objects stored in said memory are associated with a software object stored on said server having an updated version; and

based on there being at least one software object on said wireless device having an updated version on said server, automatically transferring the updated version of the at least one software object from said server to said wireless device, and installing each transferred and updated software object.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein said plurality of software objects comprise at least one application for execution on said computer platform.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein said at least one application comprises a game.

17. The method of claim 15, wherein said at least one application comprises an application which had been downloaded from said server during a previous user communication session established with said server.

18. The method of claim 15, wherein said at least one application comprises an application which was provided to said wireless device during a manufacture of said wireless device.

19. The wireless device of claim 15, wherein said at least one application comprises an application which was provided to said wireless device during a configuration of said wireless device.

20. The wireless device of claim 14, wherein said plurality of software objects comprise at least one software component of said computer platform.

21. The wireless device of claim 14, wherein said plurality of software objects comprise at least one device driver of said computer platform.

22. The wireless device of claim 14, wherein said at least one software object comprises a content to be rendered by said computer platform.

23. The wireless device of claim 14, wherein said memory stores a file system, and said plurality of software objects are stored on said file system.

24. The wireless device of claim 14, wherein said memory stores a database, and said plurality of software objects are stored on said database.

25. The wireless device of claim 14, wherein said memory comprises a non-volatile memory.

26. A method for updating a plurality of software objects on a wireless device comprising:

selectively communicating over a wireless network using a wireless communications interface;

storing said plurality of software objects, each respectively having a version, on a computer platform, said computer platform being coupled to said wireless communications interface, said computer platform configured to control said wireless communications interface;

creating a device version summary file, said device version summary file respectively storing the version associated with each of said plurality of software objects; and

after creating said device version summary file, performing a version update transaction with a server,

wherein said version update transaction comprises;

(a) determining whether said server has a server version summary file respectively storing a second version associated with each software object stored on said server available for download to said wireless device; and

(b) based on determining that said server has a server version summary file;

transferring said server version summary file to said wireless device;

automatically comparing said device version summary file with said server version summary file to determine which of said plurality of software objects on said wireless device are associated with a software object stored on said server having an updated version; and

based on there being at least one software object on said wireless device having an updated version on said server, automatically transferring the updated version of the at least one software object from said server to said wireless device, and installing each transferred and updated software object.

27. A server comprising:

a wireless communications interface, for selectively communicating over a wireless network; and

a computer platform, coupled to said wireless communications interface, for controlling said wireless communications interface, and for supporting a plurality of software objects each respectively having a version, said computer platform comprising;

a memory, said memory storing said plurality of software objects; and

a processor, coupled to said memory, for controlling said wireless communications interface and for supporting said plurality of software objects;

wherein said processor is configured to;

(a) create in said memory, a server version summary file, said server version summary file respectively storing the version associated with each of said plurality of software objects stored in said memory available for download to a wireless device; and

(b) after (a) performing a version update transaction comprising;

(b)(1) determining whether said wireless device has a device version summary file respectively storing a second version associated with each software object stored on said wireless device; and

(b)(2) based on determining that said wireless device has a device version summary file;

transferring said server version summary file to said wireless device;

wherein said wireless device is configured to automatically compare said device version summary file with said server version summary file to determine which software objects stored on said wireless device are associated with a software object stored in said memory having an updated version; and

based on there being at least one software object on said wireless device having an updated version on said server, automatically transferring the updated version of said at least one software object from said server to said wireless device, and installing each transferred and updated software object.

28. A server comprising:

a wireless communications means, for selectively communicating over a wireless network; and

a computer platform means, coupled to said wireless communications means, for controlling said wireless communications means, and for supporting a plurality of software objects each respectively having a version, said computer platform comprising;

a memory means, said memory means storing said plurality of software objects; and

a processor means, coupled to said memory means, for controlling said wireless communications means and for supporting said plurality of software objects;

wherein said processor means is configured to;

(a) create, in said memory means, a server version summary file, said server version summary file respectively storing the version associated with each of said software objects stored in said memory means available for download to a wireless device; and

(b) after (a) performing a version update transaction with said wireless device, said version update transaction comprising;

(b)(1) determining whether said wireless device has a device version summary file respectively storing a second version associated with each software object stored on said wireless device; and

(b)(2) based on determining that said wireless device has a device version summary file;

transferring said server version summary file to said wireless device;

wherein said wireless device is configured to automatically compare said device version summary file with said server version summary file to determine which software objects stored on said wireless device are associated with a software object stored in said memory means having an updated version; and

based on there being at least one software object on said wireless device having an updated version on said server, automatically transferring the updated version of said at least one software object from said server to said wireless device, and installing each transferred and updated software object.

29. A method for a server to transmit an updated version of a plurality of software objects comprising:

selectively communicating with a wireless device over a wireless network;

storing said plurality of software objects each respectively having a version on a computer platform, said computer platform being coupled to a wireless communications interface, said computer platform configured to control said wireless communications interface;

creating a server version summary file, said server version summary file respectively storing said version associated with each of said plurality of software objects available for download to a wireless device; and

after creating said server version summary file, performing a version update transaction with said wireless device,

wherein said version update transaction comprises;

(a) determining whether said wireless device has at least one device version summary file respectively storing a second version associated with each software object stored on said wireless device available for download to said wireless device; and

(b) based on determining that said wireless device has a device version summary file;

transferring said server version summary file to said wireless device;

wherein said wireless device is configured to automatically compare said device version summary file with said server version summary file to determine which software objects stored on said wireless device are associated with a software object stored on said server having an updated version; and

based on there being at least one software object on said wireless device having an updated version on said server, automatically transferring the updated version of said at least one software object from said server to said wireless device, and installing each transferred and updated software object.

30. A non-transitory computer-readable medium comprising instructions, which, when executed by a computer, cause the computer to perform operations, the instructions comprising:

at least one instruction for selectively communicating with a wireless device over a wireless network;

at least one instruction for storing a plurality of software objects each respectively having a version on a computer platform, said computer platform being coupled to a wireless communications interface, said computer platform configured to control said wireless communications interface;

at least one instruction for creating a server version summary file, said server version summary file respectively storing said version associated with each of said plurality of software objects; and

at least one instruction for, after creating said server version summary file, performing a version update transaction with a wireless device,

wherein said at least one instruction for performing said version update transaction comprises;

(a) at least one instruction for determining whether said wireless device has at least one device version summary file respectively storing a second version associated with each software object stored on said wireless device available for download to said wireless device; and

(b) at least one instruction for, based on determining that said wireless device has a device version summary file;

transferring said server version summary file to said wireless device;

wherein said wireless device is configured to automatically compare said device version summary file with said server version summary file to determine which software objects stored on said wireless device are associated with a software object stored on said server having an updated version; and

based on there being at least one software object on said wireless device having an updated version on said server, automatically transferring the updated version of said at least one software object from said server to said wireless device, and at least one instruction for installing each transferred and updated software object.

31. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 30, further comprising at least one instruction for defining at least one application, in said plurality of software objects, for execution on said wireless device.

32. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 31, further comprising at least one instruction for defining the at least one application to have been downloaded from said server during a previous user communication session established with said server.

33. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 31, further comprising at least one instruction for providing the at least one application to said wireless device during a manufacture of said wireless device.

34. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 30, further comprising at least one instruction for defining said plurality of software objects to comprise at least one software component of a computer platform on said wireless device.

35. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 30, wherein said plurality of software objects comprise at least one device driver of said wireless device.

36. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 30, further comprising at least one instruction for defining at least one software component to be a content to be rendered by said wireless device.

37. A non-transitory computer-readable medium for updating a plurality of software objects stored in a memory of a computer platform of a wireless device, comprising:

at least one instruction for creating, on said wireless device, a device version summary file, said device version summary file respectively storing a version associated with each of said plurality of software objects stored in said memory; and

at least one instruction for, after said creating, performing a version update transaction with a server,

wherein said at least one instruction for performing said version update transaction comprises;

(a) at least one instruction for determining whether said server has a server version summary file respectively storing a version associated with each software object stored on said server available for download to said wireless device; and

(b) at least one instruction for, based on determining that the server has a server version summary file;

transferring said server version summary file to said wireless device;

automatically comparing said device version summary file with said server version summary file to determine which ones of said plurality of software objects stored in said memory are associated with a software object stored on said server having an updated version; and

based on there being at least one software object on said wireless device having an updated version on said server, automatically transferring the updated version of the at least one software object from said server to said wireless device, and installing each transferred and updated software object.