System, and associated method, for downloading an application

• US 20050022182A1
• Filed: 07/23/2003
• Published: 01/27/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 07/23/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: RPX Corporation
• Original Assignee: Nokia Corporation
• Inventors: Mittal, Gaurav
• Granted Patent: US 7,676,802 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 717/178
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 9/445 Program loading or initiating bootstrapping G06F9/4401; security arrangements for program loading or initiating G06F21/57

Abstract

A method for facilitating the downloading of an application from a server computer to a client device, whereby the client device generates to the server computer an initiation request for information describing available applications. In response to receipt of the initiation request, the server computer retrieves, for each available application, information describing the respective application, and a link to an application descriptor for the respective application. The server computer transmits the information and link to the client device, which in turn displays the information and stores the link. When the user selects an application, the link for the selected application is recalled and is reached on the server computer for retrieval of the application descriptor. From the application descriptor, the client device may determine whether the application fits the device profile and, hence, whether to download the application.

Claims

1. A method for facilitating the downloading of an application from at least one server computer to a client device, the method comprising steps of:

receiving from said client device an initiation request for information describing available applications;

responsive to said initiation request, retrieving for each available application information describing said respective application and a link to an application descriptor for said respective application; and

transmitting said application information and said link to said client device.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising steps of:

receiving from said client device a request for an application descriptor, said request comprising a link to said application descriptor; and

transmitting said application descriptor to said client device.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising steps of:

receiving from said client device a request for an application descriptor;

transmitting said application descriptor to said client device;

receiving from said client device a request to download a selected application;

retrieving said selected application; and

transmitting said selected application to said client device.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein said client device is one of a computer, a handheld device, a personal digital assistant (PDA), Wand a wireless mobile telephone.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein said at least one server computer comprises at least one of a network server and an application server.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein said at least one server computer comprises at least one application server coupled to said client device via at least one network server.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein said link is one of a URL and a URI.

8. A method for facilitating the downloading of an application from at least one server computer to a client device, the method comprising steps of:

receiving from a user a request for information describing available applications; and

generating to said at least one server computer an initiation request for information describing available applications and for a link to an application descriptor corresponding to each respective available application.

9. The method of claim 8, further comprising steps of:

receiving from said at least one server computer said application choices and corresponding links;

storing said links in a memory;

displaying said application choices;

receiving from said user a selection from said application choices for an application;

recalling the link for the selected application;

reaching said link on said at least one server computer;

receiving an application descriptor for the selected application;

generating to said at least one server computer, via a content/application download model (CADM), a request to download said selected application; and

receiving and displaying said selected application.

10. The method of claim 8, further comprising the step of:

determining from said application descriptor whether said selected application is suitable for downloading to said client device; and

upon a determination that said selected application is suitable for downloading to said client device, for performing said step of performing.

11. The method of claim 8, wherein said client device is one of a computer, a handheld device, a personal digital assistant (PDA), and a wireless mobile telephone.

12. The method of claim 8, wherein said link is one of a URL and a URI.

13. The method of claim 8, wherein said at least one server computer comprises at least one of a network server and an application server.

14. The method of claim 8, wherein said at least one server computer comprises at least one application server coupled to said client device via at least one network server.

15. The method of claim 8, wherein said CADM is one of Java-AMS, BREW, and CoD.

16. A system for facilitating the downloading of an application from at least one server computer to a client device, the system comprising:

at least one server computer having a processor adapted for executing program code;

a client device having a processor adapted for executing program code;

a wide area network interconnecting said at least one server computer and said client device;

program code executable by said client device for receiving from a user a request for information describing available applications; and

program code executable by said client device for generating to said at least one server computer an initiation request for information describing available applications and for a link to an application descriptor corresponding to each respective available application;

program code executable by said at least one server computer for receiving said initiation request for information describing available applications; and

program code executable by said at least one server computer, in response to receipt of said initiation request, for retrieving for each available application information describing the respective application and a link to an application descriptor for each respective application.

17. The system of claim 16, further comprising:

program code executable by said client device for receiving from said at least one server computer said application choices and corresponding links;

program code executable by said client device for storing said links in a memory;

program code executable by said at least one server computer for receiving a request for an application descriptor, said request comprising a link for said application descriptor; and

program code executable by said at least one server computer for transmitting said application descriptor to said client device.

18. The system of claim 16, wherein said client device is one of a computer, a handheld device, a personal digital assistant (PDA), and a wireless mobile telephone.

19. The method of claim 16, wherein said at least one server computer comprises at least one of a network server and an application server.

20. The method of claim 16, wherein said at least one server computer comprises at least one application server coupled to said client device via at least one network server.

21. The system of claim 16, wherein said link is one of a URL and a URI.