System and method for management of mutating applications

• US 20050060392A1
• Filed: 02/27/2004
• Published: 03/17/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 09/17/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Google Technology Holdings LLC (Alphabet Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Motorola, Inc. (Motorola Solutions, Inc.)
• Inventors: Shenfield, Michael, Goring, Bryan R., Bibr, Viera
• Granted Patent: US 7,698,701 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 709/220
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 8/65 Updates security arrangements therefor G06F21/57
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 8/656 while running
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 9/451 Execution arrangements for user interfaces

Abstract

Users of a terminal may only require access to a portion of an application, but current applications must typically be downloaded in their entirety. One example is when a user with limited permissions in an accounting application typically installs all modules of the application, including those to which access is restricted. Methods and systems for adapting a provisioned content of an application program on a terminal are provided, the application including a set of addressable logical modules having respective executable methods. One such method comprises the steps of provisioning a first definition of the application on the terminal, the first definition including a corresponding first group of logical modules selected from the set of logical modules. This method also evaluates the provisioned content based on one or more criteria, which may include execution path information of the application corresponding to the initial definition, and then determines a second definition of the application including a corresponding second group of logical modules based on the evaluation of the execution path information. The second group of logical modules is selected from the set of logical modules. The method also includes revising the first group of logical modules to correspond to the second group of logical modules to provide a revised content, and adapts the provisioned content of the application on the terminal to correspond to the revised content.

Claims

1. A method for adapting a provisioned content of an application program on a terminal, the application including a set of addressable logical modules having respective executable methods, the method comprising the steps of:

provisioning a first definition of the application on the terminal, the first definition including a corresponding first group of logical modules selected from the set of logical modules;

evaluating the provisioned content based on execution path information of the application corresponding to the initial definition;

determining a second definition of the application including a corresponding second group of logical modules based on the evaluation of the execution path information, the second group of logical modules selected from the set of logical modules;

revising the first group of logical modules to correspond to the second group of logical modules to provide a revised content; and

adapting the provisioned content of the application on the terminal to correspond to the revised content.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein the groups of logical modules are selected from the group comprising:

individual logical modules; and

modular envelopes containing a plurality of related logical modules for satisfying a common purpose.

3. The method according to claim 2, wherein the modular envelopes are uniquely addressable independently of their contained logical modules.

4. The method according to claim 2, wherein the logical modules include at least one data module for providing data definitions and at least one code module for providing the executable methods.

5. The method according to claim 4, wherein the code module has a collection of instructions to provide a reusable function representing the one of the executable methods.

6. The method according to claim 4, wherein the data module represents an aggregate expressed in a structured definition language.

7. The method according to claim 6, wherein the language is XML.

8. The method according to claim 2 further comprising the step of configuring the terminal as a client of a schema defined service accessible through a network, the service providing to the terminal the modules for adaptation of the application.

9. The method according to claim 8, wherein the service is a web service.

10. The method according to claim 9, wherein the terminal type is selected from the group comprising wireless devices and wired devices.

11. The method according to claim 2 further comprising the step of adapting the application to create the revised content, the revised content having adaptations selected from the group comprising:

deleted ones of the logical modules, new ones of the logical modules, and suspended ones of the logical modules.

12. The method according to claim 11 further comprising the step of selecting an adaptation mode of the application selected from the group comprising:

application settings;

user preferences;

provisioned execution content; and

a set of performance criteria.

13. The method according to claim 12, wherein the performance criteria includes an activity threshold for activity of the modules during execution of the application on the terminal.

14. The method according to claim 11 further comprising the step of using an adaptation mode selected from the group comprising:

on demand;

by reference; and

autonomous.

15. The method according to claim 11, wherein the path execution information is selected from the group comprising:

history of the module activity; and

projection of anticipated module usage.

16. The method according to claim 2 further comprising the step of implementing a service framework by a runtime environment for providing service functionality to the application.

17. The method according to claim 16, wherein the service framework is shared between a plurality of the applications.

18. The method according to claim 17, wherein the service framework includes services selected from the group comprising;

an application manager, a module manager, a provisioning manager, a communications manager, a script interpreter, and a persistence manager.

19. The method according to claim 18 further comprising the step of the provisioning manager providing application program interfaces for enabling dynamic adaptation of the provisioned content.

20. The method according to claim 12 further comprising the step of initiating adaptation of the application selected from the group comprising a processing framework of the terminal and a network server.

21. A terminal for adapting a provisioned content of an application program on a runtime environment, the application including a set of addressable logical modules having respective executable methods, the terminal comprising;

a provisioning module for provisioning a first definition of the application on the terminal, the first definition configured for a corresponding first group of logical modules selected from the set of logical modules;

an evaluation module for evaluating the provisioned content based on execution path information of the application corresponding to the initial definition, and determining a second definition of the application including a corresponding second group of logical modules based on the evaluation of the execution path information, the second group of logical modules selected from the set of logical modules; and

a revision module for revising the first group of logical modules to correspond to the second group of logical modules to provide a revised content, and configured to adapt the provisioned content of the application on the terminal to correspond to the revised content.

22. The terminal according to claim 21, wherein the groups of logical modules are selected from the group comprising:

individual logical modules; and

modular envelopes containing a plurality of related logical modules for satisfying a common purpose.

23. The terminal according to claim 22, wherein the modular envelopes are uniquely addressable independently of their contained logical modules.

24. The terminal according to claim 22, wherein the logical modules include at least one data module for providing data definitions and at least one code module for providing the executable methods.

25. The terminal according to claim 24, wherein the code module has a collection of instructions to provide a reusable function representing the one of the executable methods.

26. The terminal according to claim 24, wherein the data module represents an aggregate expressed in a structured definition language.

27. The terminal according to claim 26, wherein the language is XML.

28. The terminal according to claim 22 further comprising the runtime enviroment operating as a client of a schema defined service accessible through a network, the service providing the logical modules for adaptation of the application.

29. The terminal according to claim 28, wherein the service is a web service.

30. The terminal according to claim 29, wherein the terminal type is selected from the group comprising wireless devices and wired devices.

31. The terminal according to claim 22, wherein the revised content is configured for having adaptations selected from the group comprising:

deleted ones of the logical modules, new ones of the logical modules, and suspended ones of the logical modules.

32. The terminal according to claim 31 further comprising an adaptation mode of the application selected from the group comprising:

application settings;

user preferences;

provisioned execution content; and

a set of performance criteria.

33. The terminal according to claim 32, wherein the performance criteria include an activity threshold for activity of the logical modules during execution of the application on the terminal.

34. The terminal according to claim 31 further comprising an adaptation mode selected from the group comprising:

on demand;

by reference; and

autonomous.

35. The terminal according to claim 31, wherein the path execution information is selected from the group comprising:

history of the logical module activity; and

projection of anticipated logical module usage.

36. The terminal according to claim 22 further comprising a service framework configured for providing service functionality to the application.

37. The terminal according to claim 36, wherein the service framework is shared between a plurality of the applications.

38. The terminal according to claim 37, wherein the service framework includes services selected from the group comprising;

an application manager, a module manager, a provisioning manager, a communications manager, a script interpreter, and a persistence manager.

39. The terminal according to claim 38 further comprising the provisioning manager configured for providing application program to enable dynamic adaptation of the provisioned content.

40. The terminal according to claim 32, wherein initiation of adaptation of the application is selected from the group comprising a processing framework of the terminal and a network server.

41. A computer program product for adapting a provisioned content of an application program on a runtime environment, the application including a set of addressable logical modules having respective executable methods, the computer program product comprising:

a computer readable medium;

a provisioning module stored on the computer readable medium for provisioning a first definition of the application on the terminal, the first definition configured for a corresponding first group of logical modules selected from the set of logical modules;

an evaluation module stored on the computer readable medium for evaluating the provisioned content based on execution path information of the application corresponding to the initial definition, and determining a second definition of the application including a corresponding second group of logical modules based on the evaluation of the execution path information, the second group of logical modules selected from the set of logical modules; and

a revision module coupled to the evaluation module for revising the first group of logical modules to correspond to the second group of logical modules to provide a revised content, and configured to adapt the provisioned content of the application on the terminal to correspond to the revised content.