Selective update of core mobile device user interface through application marketplace

• US 9,405,527 B2
• Filed: 06/26/2014
• Issued: 08/02/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 08/18/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Inventors: Cupala, Shiraz J., Ye, Lan, Garg, Neeraj
• Primary Examiner(s): Ngo, Chuong A
• Application Number:
  US14/316,647
• Publication Number:
  US 20140310700A1
• Time in Patent Office: 768 Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 8/65 Updates security arrangements therefor G06F21/57
• 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: H04M 1/72406 by software upgrading or downloading
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72448 with means for adapting the functionality of the device according to specific conditions
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 24/02 Arrangements for optimising operational condition
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/60 Subscription-based services using application servers or record carriers, e.g. SIM application toolkits
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/02 Terminal devices

Abstract

Systems and methods for selectively updating or extending built in functionality on a mobile device are disclosed. The updates may be provided to selective portions of software such that the entire software does not need to be replaced. The update may be provided through an application marketplace that provides third party software applications for mobile devices. The software that the mobile device is shipped with may include a number of “entry points,” which provide functionality that may be extended through the selective updates. When the entry point is triggered by user selection, a determination may be made whether code for the functionality is already available on the mobile device. If not, the mobile device may contact the application marketplace to determine if code is available to provide or extend the requested functionality.

Claims

1. A computing device comprising:

at least one processor; and

at least one memory storing computer-readable instructions that when executed by the processor cause the computing device to perform a method comprising;

providing a user interface for selecting a plurality of functionalities associated with a plurality of entry points for launching the plurality of functionalities, wherein each entry point includes an identifier that is associated with code that provides functionality for the entry point;

receiving a request for a first functionality of the plurality of functionalities associated with a first entry point;

determining that code for providing the first functionality is not available on the computing device;

sending a request for the first functionality to an application marketplace;

executing the code for providing the first functionality, wherein the code also provides a second functionality of the plurality of functionalities associated with a second entry point; and

sending a parameter to the code indicating that the first entry point was selected.

2. The computing device of claim 1, wherein the code is for a discrete piece of core user interface functionality of the computing device.

3. The computing device of claim 1, further comprising performing a failover operation that includes accessing a web page for providing a third functionality of the plurality of functionalities.

4. The computing device of claim 3, wherein the performing the failover operation further includes a determination to request code for the third functionality from the application marketplace.

5. The computing device of claim 1, further comprising:

if the code is not available from the application marketplace when the request is sent for the first functionality, determining whether the code is available from the application marketplace at a later point in time.

6. The computing device of claim 1, further comprising automatically determining whether updates are available for the code that provides the first functionality.

7. The computing device of claim 1, wherein sending the request includes sending the identifier to the application marketplace.

8. The computing device of claim 1, wherein the application marketplace is a service for browsing and downloading third party software applications.

9. The computing device of claim 1, further comprising sending information to the application marketplace to purchase the code that provides the first functionality.

10. The computing device of claim 1, further comprising displaying a message that an update is available for the first functionality, wherein the message is displayed within an application that provides the first functionality.

11. A mobile device, comprising:

one or more processors;

a network interface for exchanging information over one or more networks; and

one or more storage devices in communication with the network interface and the one or more processors, wherein the one or more storage devices store instructions that when executed by the one or more processors cause the mobile device to;

provide a user interface for selecting a plurality of functionalities associated with a plurality of entry points for launching the plurality of functionalities, wherein each entry point includes an identifier;

receive a selection of a first functionality of the plurality of functionalities associated with a first entry point;

determine that software code for providing the first functionality is not available on the mobile device;

send a request for the first functionality to an application marketplace, wherein the request includes the identifier included in the first entry point;

execute the software code for providing the first functionality on the mobile device, wherein the software code also provides a second functionality of the plurality of functionalities associated with a second entry point; and

send a parameter to the software code indicating that the first entry point was selected.

12. The mobile device of claim 11, further comprising instructions to perform a failover operation for accessing a web page that provides a third functionality of the plurality of functionalities.

13. The mobile device of claim 11, wherein the instructions further cause the mobile device to:

if the software code is not available from the application marketplace when the request is sent for the first functionality, determine whether the software code is available at the application marketplace at a later point in time.

14. The mobile device of claim 11, wherein the instructions further cause the mobile device to automatically determine whether updates are available for the software code for the first functionality.

15. The mobile device of claim 14, wherein the instructions that cause the mobile device to provide a user interface further include instructions that cause the mobile device to display a message that an update is available for the first functionality, wherein the message is displayed within an application that provides the first functionality.

16. A computer readable storage device having stored thereon computer-readable code that when executed by a processor causes the processor to:

provide a user interface in a mobile device for selecting a plurality of functionalities associated with a plurality of entry points for launching the plurality of functionalities, wherein each entry point includes an identifier that is associated with code that provides functionality for the entry point;

receive a request for a first functionality of the plurality of functionalities associated with a first entry point;

determine that code for providing the first functionality is unavailable on the mobile device;

send a request for the first functionality to an application marketplace;

execute the code on the mobile device, wherein the code also provides a second functionality of the plurality of functionalities associated with a second entry point; and

send a parameter to the code indicating that the first entry point was selected.

17. The computer readable storage device of claim 16, wherein the computer-readable code that causes the processor to send the request further causes the processor to send the identifier.

18. The computer readable storage device of claim 16, wherein the computer-readable code further causes the processor to automatically determine whether updates are available for the code for the first functionality.

19. The computer readable storage device of claim 16, wherein the computer-readable code that causes the processor to provide a user interface further causes the processor to display a message that an update is available for the first functionality, wherein the message is displayed within an application that provides the first functionality.

20. The computer readable storage device of claim 16, wherein the computer-readable code further causes the processor to perform a failover operation that includes accessing a web page for providing a third functionality of the plurality of functionalities.