Systems and methods for a mobile business application development and deployment platform

• US 8,978,006 B2
• Filed: 03/14/2013
• Issued: 03/10/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 04/06/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Media Direct Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Media Direct Incorporated
• Inventors: Hirsch, Scott, Pereymer, Arsen, Rajpal, Sunny
• Primary Examiner(s): Zhen, Li B
• Assistant Examiner(s): CHEN, SEN THONG
• Application Number:
  US13/831,149
• Publication Number:
  US 20130247005A1
• Time in Patent Office: 726 Days
• Field of Search: 717/107
• US Class Current: 717/107
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 8/30 Creation or generation of source code
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 8/47 Retargetable compilers
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 8/60 Software deployment
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 8/71 Version control security arrangements therefor G06F21/57; Configuration management

Abstract

Systems and methods for developing, customizing, and deploying mobile device business applications are provided through a mobile application development and deployment platform. Preferably, these systems and methods are implemented in an Internet based environment that allows non-technical users to build highly-customizable cross-platform mobile applications. The platform allows users to select, input, create, customize, and combine various content, design characteristics, database structure, and application components, such as modules, some of which allow an end user to store and access data in an end user database for business applications. In certain embodiments, the platform allows users to compile and generate a configuration file for the mobile application that can be distributed to end users for execution on various mobile devices and mobile operating systems. When the mobile application is installed on, or executed by the mobile device, the configuration file may enable the retrieval of data associated with the mobile application.

Claims

1. A system for allowing users to develop mobile business applications or portions thereof that are capable of being compiled to run on a plurality of mobile operating systems, the system comprising:

a computing device having physical memory storing instructions that cause the computing device to;

provide a user access to a mobile application development platform adapted to assist users with the development and customization of mobile applications, wherein the mobile application development platform represents application data associated with a mobile application in accordance with a data model that defines relationships among a hierarchy of tables including;

a head table that is used to represent an instance of the mobile application and that includes an identifier for the mobile application;

an app type table that includes a first set of attributes for one or more templates that can be applied to the mobile application; and

a module table that includes a second set of attributes that are used to represent one or more customizable components included in the mobile application;

receive from a user a request to develop the mobile application through the mobile application development platform;

receive an application type property that identifies a template included in the app type table;

query one or more of the tables in the data model to identify a plurality of customizable components that are available for use with the identified template;

send information associated with the plurality of customizable components to be presented to the user, the plurality of customizable components pertaining to a functionality, design, content, and database structure of a mobile application to be developed the user;

receive from the user a plurality of customizable component selections pertaining to the plurality of presented customizable components;

associate application data with the mobile application based, at least in part, on the plurality of customizable component selections received from the user, the application data representing user-defined functionality, design, content, and database structure for the mobile application;

store the application data associated with the mobile application in accordance with the data model;

generate compiled data for the mobile application based on the application data using build tools associated with at least one mobile operating system, wherein generating compiled data includes querying a database that stores the tables associated with the data model to retrieve information associated with the mobile application and including at least a portion of the retrieved information in a configuration file; and

generate the configuration file comprising the identifier for the mobile application, the configuration file being adapted for transmission to, and execution on, a mobile device running the at least one mobile operating system;

wherein;

the identifier enables the retrieval of at least a portion of the compiled application data by the mobile device in response to the mobile application being installed on or executed by the mobile device;

the application data associated with the mobile application comprises;

a database structure element representing a user-defined database structure to be utilized by the mobile application to create an end user database, and

an application component representing a user-defined functionality to be provided by the mobile application;

the user-defined database structure comprises one or more database fields defined by the user; and

the user-defined functionality comprises application code associated with one or more modules that interfaces with the end user database.

2. The system according to claim 1, wherein the mobile application development platform includes a web based service accessed by the user through the Internet.

3. The system according to claim 1, wherein the mobile application development platform is accessed through a software application installed on a computer associated with the user.

4. The system according to claim 1, the physical memory storing instructions that further cause the computing device to receive from the user one or more identifying properties for the mobile application.

5. The system according to claim 4, wherein the one or more identifying properties are selected from the group consisting of a name, a type, a category, a description, a unique identifier, and a date.

6. The system according to claim 4, wherein the one or more identifying properties includes the application type property comprising an indicator of an application category associated with the mobile application, and the physical memory storing instructions that further cause the computing device to:

determine, in response to receiving the one or more identifying properties from the user, the information associated with a plurality of customizable components based, at least in part, on the application type property.

7. The system according to claim 4, wherein the request to develop a mobile application comprises a request to modify an existing mobile application and the one or more identifying properties includes an application identifier that uniquely identifies an existing mobile application, and the physical memory storing instructions that further cause the computing device to:

determine, in response to receiving the one or more identifying properties from the user, the information associated with a plurality of customizable components based, at least in part, on the application identifier.

8. The system according to claim 1, wherein the application code associated with the one or more modules further adds new items to the end user database.

9. The system according to claim 1, wherein the application code associated with the one or more modules further edits items in the end user database.

10. The system according to claim 1, wherein the application code associated with the one or more modules further deletes existing items from the end user database.

11. The system according to claim 1, wherein the application code associated with the one or more modules further generates reports based on a filtering and sorting of data stored in the end user database.

12. The system according to claim 1, wherein the application code associated with the one or more modules further generates reports based on a counting or totaling of data stored in the end user database.

13. The system according to claim 1, wherein the application code associated with the one or more modules further generates invoices based on a selection of data stored in the end user database.

14. The system according to claim 1, wherein the application code associated with the one or more modules further generates correspondence based on a selection of data stored in the end user database.

15. The system according to claim 1, wherein the application code associated with the one or more modules further generates automated notifications based on data stored in the end user database.

16. The system according to claim 1, wherein the user-defined functionality further comprises device specific functionality associated with at least one set of mobile devices.

17. The system according to claim 16, wherein the device specific functionality is selected from the group consisting of a compass, GPS, a gyroscope, a touch screen, a camera, a speaker, a microphone, short-range radio communication, Wi-Fi, USB connectivity, and a proximity sensor.

18. The system according to claim 1, wherein the application data associated with the mobile application further comprises:

a design element representing a user-defined design characteristic associated with the presentation of the mobile application on mobile devices; and

a content element representing user-defined content to be accessed through the mobile application.

19. The system according to claim 18, wherein the user-defined design characteristic is selected from the group consisting of a layout, a theme, an orientation, a font, and a style.

20. The system according to claim 18, wherein the user-defined content comprises data selected from the group consisting of an image, a video, a sound, a song, a link, an animation, a document, and text.

21. The system according to claim 18, wherein one or more of the user-defined functionality, design characteristic, content, and database structure are associated with data uploaded by the user from a computer associated with the user.

22. The system according to claim 18, wherein the application data further comprises one or more predefined components or elements, each of the one or more predefined components or elements representing a default functionality, design characteristic, content, or database structure associated with the mobile application.

23. The system according to claim 22, wherein the one or more predefined components or elements are determined based, at least in part, on a category of applications associated with the mobile application.

24. The system according to claim 1, wherein the mobile application is an inventory management application.

25. The system according to claim 1, wherein the mobile application is a timesheet application.

26. The system according to claim 1, wherein the mobile application is a workflow management application.

27. The system according to claim 1, wherein the mobile application is a lead management application.

28. The system according to claim 1, wherein the mobile application is a production line management application.

29. A method for developing and customizing mobile business applications or portions thereof that are compiled to run on a plurality of mobile operating systems, the method being implemented through instructions stored in a physical memory associated with a computing device, which causes the computing device to perform the steps of:

receiving at the computing device a request to access a mobile application development platform from a user through a user input device, wherein the mobile development platform is adapted to assist users with the development and customization of mobile applications and the mobile application development platform represents application data associated with a mobile application in accordance with a data model that defines relationships among a hierarchy of tables including;

a head table that is used to represent an instance of the mobile application and that includes an identifier for the mobile application;

an app type table that includes a first set of attributes for one or more templates that can be applied to the mobile application; and

a module table that includes a second set of attributes that are used to represent one or more customizable components included in the mobile application;

granting the user access to the mobile application development platform;

receive an application type property that identifies a template included in the app type table;

query one or more of the tables in the data model to identify a plurality of customizable components that are available for use with the identified template;

transmitting from the computing device information causing the plurality of customizable components to be presented to the user on a display associated with the user input device, the plurality of customizable components pertaining to a functionality, design, content, and database structure of a mobile application to be customized by the user;

receiving from the user at the computing device a plurality of customizable component selections pertaining to the plurality of presented customizable elements;

associating application data with the mobile application based, at least in part, on the plurality of customizable component selections, the application data being stored in the physical memory associated with the computing device in accordance with the data model;

generating at the computing device compiled data for the mobile application based on the application data using build tools associated with at least one mobile operating system, wherein generating compiled data includes querying a database that stores the tables associated with the data model to retrieve information associated with the mobile application and including at least a portion of the retrieved information in a configuration file; and

generating at the computing device the configuration file comprising the identifier for the mobile application, the configuration file being adapted for transmission to, and execution on, a mobile device running the at least one mobile operating system;

wherein;

the identifier enables the retrieval of at least a portion of the compiled application data by the mobile device in response to the mobile application being installed on or executed by the mobile device;

the application data associated with the mobile application comprises;

a database structure element representing a user-defined database structure to be utilized by the mobile application to create an end user database, and

an application component representing a user-defined functionality to be provided by the mobile application;

the user-defined database structure comprises one or more database fields defined by the user; and

the user-defined functionality comprises application code associated with one or more modules that interfaces with the end user database.

30. A system for allowing users to develop mobile business applications or portions thereof that are capable of being compiled to run on a plurality of mobile operating systems, the system comprising:

a first computer comprising a first processor, the first computer being configured to provide a mobile application development platform adapted to assist users with the development and customization of mobile applications, wherein the mobile application development platform represents application data associated with a mobile application in accordance with a data model that defines relationships among a hierarchy of tables including;

a head table that is used to represent an instance of the mobile application and that includes an identifier for the mobile application;

an app type table that includes a first set of attributes for one or more templates that can be applied to the mobile application; and

a module table that includes a second set of attributes that are used to represent one or more customizable components included in the mobile application; and

a second computer comprising a second processor and physical memory coupled to the second processor, the second computer being configured to communicate with the first computer;

wherein the first processor is adapted to;

grant a user access to the mobile application development platform through a user input device that includes display circuitry;

receive an application type property that identifies a template included in the app type table;

query one or more of the tables in the data model to identify a plurality of customizable components that are available for use with the identified template;

transmit to the user input device information associated with the plurality of customizable components for display on the user input device, the plurality of customizable components pertaining to a functionality, design, content, and database structure of a mobile application to be customized by the user;

receive from the user input device a plurality of customizable component selections pertaining to the plurality of transmitted customizable components;

transfer application data associated with the mobile application to the second computer, the application data based, at least in part, on the plurality of customizable component selections;

generate compiled data for the mobile application based on the application data using build tools associated with at least one mobile operating system, wherein generating compiled data includes querying a database that stores the tables associated with the data model to retrieve information associated with the mobile application and including at least a portion of the retrieved information in a configuration file; and

generate the configuration file comprising the identifier for the mobile application, the configuration file being adapted for transmission to, and execution on, a mobile device running the at least one mobile operating system;

wherein;

the second processor is adapted to store the application data in accordance with the data model, in response to receiving the application data from the first computer, on the physical memory of the second computer;

the identifier enables the retrieval of at least a portion of the compiled data by the mobile device in response to the mobile application being installed on or executed by the mobile device;

the application data associated with the mobile application comprises;

a database structure element representing a user-defined database structure to be utilized by the mobile application to create an end user database, and

an application component representing a user-defined functionality to be provided by the mobile application;

the user-defined database structure comprises one or more database fields defined by the user; and

the user-defined functionality comprises application code associated with one or more modules that interfaces with the end user database.