Method and computer program for distributing software to a personal palm-type device through a global software distribution package transmittable over the world wide web

• US 6,226,739 B1
• Filed: 12/14/1999
• Issued: 05/01/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 12/14/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Eagle, Brian Lee White
• Primary Examiner(s): BUTLER, DENNIS
• Application Number:
  US09/461,073
• Time in Patent Office: 504 Days
• Field of Search: 713/1, 713/2, 713/100, 707/200, 707/203, 707/204, 707/205
• US Class Current: 713/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 8/65 Updates security arrangements therefor G06F21/57

Abstract

A method and computer program is provided whereby a personal digital assistant or personal palm-type device of very limited RAM capacity can make available sufficient RAM capacity to store a complete global software distribution package so that the appropriate software or software upgrade may be installed into the device from the global package. The method includes the steps of: first deleting from the personal palm-type device RAM all application programs other than application programs required to support the device operating system to receive the global software distribution package and loading the received global software distribution package into the now available device RAM. Then, the software from the global package needed to make the distribution or upgrade of the device is loaded from the global distribution package into the device programmable ROM where all of the device software is permanently stored. Upon the completion of this distribution, the global software distribution package is deleted from said RAM, and all previously deleted application programs are then downloaded from the programmable ROM back into said device RAM. In most operations, the global software distribution package is transmitted to the personal palm-type device over a communication network, particularly the World Wide Web or Internet, either through linked modems or through wireless mobile communications.

Claims

1. A method for distributing software to a personal palm-type device having limited RAM capacity and a persistent programmable ROM using a global software distribution package requiring RAM capacity in excess of available RAM in said device comprising the steps of:

deleting from RAM, all application programs other than application programs required to support the device operating system in receiving said software distribution package;

loading said global software distribution package into said RAM;

loading software from said global distribution package into the device programmable ROM;

deleting said global distribution package from said RAM; and

downloading from said programmable ROM into said device RAM, all deleted application programs.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the global software distribution package is transmitted to said personal palm-type device over a communication network.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein the global software distribution package is transmitted to said personal palm-type device over the World Wide Web.

4. The method of claim 3 wherein said global software distribution package is an enterprise system software distribution package.

5. The method of claim 4 wherein said personal palm-type device is synchronized with a computer controlled receiving station on said World Wide Web, and the software distribution package is received by said palm-type device through said receiving station.

6. The computer program of claim 5 further including:

means for synchronizing said personal palm-type device with a computer controlled receiving station on said World Wide Web; and

means for transmitting the software distribution package to said palm-type device through said receiving station.

7. A computer program having code recorded on a computer readable medium operable on a personal palm-type device having limited RAM capacity and a persistent programmable ROM for receiving software for said device from a global software distribution package requiring RAM capacity in excess of available RAM in said device comprising:

means for deleting from RAM, all application programs other than application programs required to support the device operating system in receiving said software distribution package;

means for loading said global software distribution package into said RAM;

means for loading software from said global distribution package into the device programmable ROM;

means for deleting said global distribution package from said RAM; and

means for downloading from said programmable ROM into said device RAM, all deleted application programs.

8. The computer program of claim 7 further including means for transmitting said global software distribution package to said personal palm-type device over a communication network.

9. The computer program of claim 7 further including means for transmitting the global software distribution package to said personal palm-type device over the World Wide Web.

10. The computer program of claim 9 wherein said global software distribution package is an enterprise system software distribution package.