Application discovery on mobile devices

• US 8,787,947 B2
• Filed: 06/18/2008
• Issued: 07/22/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 06/18/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Seven Networks LLC (SoftBank Group Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Seven Networks Inc
• Inventors: Backholm, Ari, Liang, Sheng
• Primary Examiner(s): Doan, Phuoc H
• Assistant Examiner(s): HERRERA, DIEGO D
• Application Number:
  US12/141,871
• Publication Number:
  US 20090318171A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,225 Days
• Field of Search: 455/466
• US Class Current: 455/466
• 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 67/51 Discovery or management thereof, e.g. service location protocol [SLP] or web services

Abstract

Methods and systems for application discovery on mobile devices are provided. A subscriber identity module (SIM) card associated with a mobile device sends information to a network server, which determines an identifier (e.g., a phone number) associated with the SIM card. Using the identifier, the network server provides application information to the mobile device. The application information, which may include the application itself, is then used to install the application on the mobile device.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

receiving, at a network server, a text message automatically generated by a subscriber identity module (SIM) card of a mobile device in response to association of the SIM card with the mobile device,

wherein the text message includes information from the SIM card associated with the mobile device;

determining, by the network server, an identifier of the SIM card based on the information;

using the identifier to provide application information to the mobile device, the application information being stored on a download server;

wherein the information from the SIM card includes the identifier of the SIM card associated with the mobile device and an indication of an application, the download server in communication with the network server and the mobile device and configured to;

send a message concerning the application to the mobile device;

wherein the message comprises a hyperlink for downloading the application from the download server.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the information from the SIM card is received via an SMS message.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the information from the SIM card is received via an Internet browser session.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein providing the application information comprises sending a text message to the mobile device.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein providing the application information comprises generating the hyperlink for downloading an application;

wherein, the hyperlink is sent to the mobile device in an SMS message.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the application information comprises an application.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the provided application information is used to install an application on the mobile device.

8. The method of claim 1, further comprising providing updates concerning the application information to the mobile device.

9. A method comprising:

storing information concerning a user of a mobile device in a subscriber identity module (SIM) card, the stored information including an identifier;

associating the information stored on the SIM card with the mobile device such that a communication using the identifier stored on the SIM card is receivable by the mobile device;

displaying, on the mobile device, a user-selectable indication associated with an application, wherein the indication is stored in the SIM card and automatically displayed to the user for viewing;

transmitting, to a network server, a text message automatically generated by the SIM card in response to association of the SIM card with the mobile device, wherein the text message includes the identifier,

wherein the network server uses the identifier to provide application information from a download server to the mobile device; and

wherein the download server is in communication with the network server and the mobile device and is configured to;

send a message concerning the application to the mobile device;

wherein the message comprises a hyperlink for downloading the application from the download server.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein the network server provides the application information from the download server to the mobile device without receiving a user request for the application.

11. The method of claim 9, further comprising receiving a user selection of the indication, the user selection representing a user request for a particular application;

wherein, the user request for the particular application is included in the stored information.

12. The method of claim 9, wherein transmitting the text message comprises generating and sending an SMS message or communicating via an Internet browser session.

13. The method of claim 9, wherein the application information comprises generating a hyperlink for downloading an application;

wherein, the hyperlink is sent to the mobile device in an email message.

14. The method of claim 9, wherein the application information is used to install an application on the mobile device.

15. A system comprising:

a network server configured to;

receive a text message automatically generated by a subscriber identity module (SIM) card of a mobile device in response to association of the SIM card with the mobile device;

determine an identifier of the SIM card based on information in the automatically generated text message received at the network server,

wherein the information includes an identifier of the SIM card associated with the mobile device, and an indication of an application, and

a download server in communication with the network server and the mobile device, the download server configured to;

send a message concerning the application to the mobile device, wherein the message comprises a hyperlink for downloading the application from the download server.

16. The system of claim 15, wherein the message is sent via an SMS message.

17. The system of claim 15, wherein the message comprises the application.

18. A method, comprises:

a memory embodied thereon a program, the program being executable by a computer processor to perform a method for application discovery on a mobile device;

receiving information from the mobile device via an internet browser session;

medium is used on the network to receive the mobile'"'"'s devices data or information;

determining an application requested by a user based on the information;

generating a hyperlink for downloading the application to be sent to the mobile device by storing the application at a location and associating the hyperlink to the location;

sending an email including the hyperlink to the mobile device, wherein, the hyperlink is selected to initiate download of the application from the location; and

a download server in communication with the network server and the mobile device and configured to;

send a message concerning the application to the mobile device;

wherein the message comprises a hyperlink for downloading the application from the download server.

19. The method of claim 18, wherein the hyperlink is generated at a first server and the application is stored at the location on a second server;

wherein, the hyperlink allows the application to be downloaded from the location on the second server.