Configuring a client application

• US 9,009,274 B2
• Filed: 03/29/2013
• Issued: 04/14/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 10/08/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: F-Secure Corporation (F-Secure Oyj)
• Original Assignee: F-Secure Oyj
• Inventors: Paalanen, Jarkko, Pehkonen, Pekka, Salmi, Timo
• Primary Examiner(s): WANG, LIANG CHE A
• Application Number:
  US13/853,623
• Publication Number:
  US 20130318518A1
• Time in Patent Office: 746 Days
• Field of Search: 709/203, 709/219, 709/220, 709/221, 709/222
• US Class Current: 709/220
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 8/656 while running
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/082 the condition being updates or upgrades of network functionality
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/125 involving control of end-device applications over a network
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/303 Terminal profiles
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/50 Service provisioning or reconfiguring
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/60 Subscription-based services using application servers or record carriers, e.g. SIM application toolkits
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/22 Processing or transfer of terminal data, e.g. status or physical capabilities

Abstract

A method of customizing an application on a device, the method comprising: at a server, receiving a request message from the device, while the device is running the application, the request message comprising information identifying the application and further information relating to a network operator associated with the device; using the further information to identify the network operator associated with the device and to obtain network operator specific customization information relating to the application; and sending a response message to the device, the response message comprising the obtained network operator specific customization information, the network operator specific customization information usable by the device to customize any of: the application components, application user interface, and application settings.

Claims

1. A method of customizing an application on a device, the method comprising:

at a server, receiving a request message from the device, while the device is running the application, the request message comprising information identifying the application and further information relating to a network operator associated with the device;

using the further information to identify the network operator associated with the device and to obtain network operator specific customization information relating to the application; and

sending a response message to the device, the response message comprising the obtained network operator specific customization information, the network operator specific customization information usable by the device to customize any of;

the application components, application user interface, and application settings.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein the further information comprises a Mobile Country Code and a Mobile Network Code, and the customization information is usable by the device to customize the application according to network operator requirements.

3. The method according to claim 1, wherein the further information comprises an International Mobile Subscriber Identity, and the customization information is usable by the device to customize the application according to network operator requirements.

4. The method according to claim 1, wherein the further information comprises the IP address being used by the device, and the customization information is usable by the device to customize the application according to network operator requirements.

5. The method according to claim 1, wherein the further information further relates to the device type and comprises an International Mobile Equipment Identity specific to the device, and the customization information comprises information usable by the device to configure the application according to the device type.

6. The method according to claim 1, wherein the information identifying the application and the further information are sent from the device in an activation message to activate the application.

7. The method according to claim 1, wherein either of the request message and the response message are sent using Short Message Service protocols.

8. The method according to claim 1, wherein the request message comprises a Uniform Resource Locator, URL, the URL comprising a segment identifying a domain from which the customization information can be obtained, a segment identifying the application, and a segment identifying the network operator associated with the device, the combined segments describing a path via which the customization information can be obtained.

9. A server for use in a communications network, the server comprising:

a communications device configured to receive a request message from a remote device while the device is running an application, the request message comprising information identifying the application and further information relating to a network operator associated with the device; and

a processor configured to use the further information to identify the network operator associated with the device and to obtain network operator specific customization information relating to the application;

wherein the communications device is further configured to send a response message to the device, the response message comprising the obtained network operator specific customization information, the network operator specific customization information usable by the device to customize any of;

the application components, application user interface, and application settings.

10. The server according to claim 9, further comprising a database, the database comprising information identifying a plurality of network operators and, for each network operator, information identifying the application and network operator specific information relating to the application.

11. The server according to claim 9, further comprising a database, the database comprising information identifying a plurality of device types and, for each device type, information identifying the application and device-specific information relating to the application.

12. The server according to claim 9, wherein the further information comprises a Mobile Country Code and a Mobile Network Code.

13. The server according to claim 9, wherein the further information comprises an IP address being used by the device.

14. The server according to claim 9, wherein the further information further relates to the device type and comprises an International Mobile Equipment Identity specific to the device.

15. The server according claim 9, wherein the request message comprises an activation message to activate the application.

21. A non-transitory computer readable medium storing a computer program which, when run on a server, causes the server to behave as a server according to claim 9.

16. A device for use in a communications network, the device comprising:

a processor configured to generate a request message while the device is running an application, the request message comprising information identifying the application and further information relating to a network operator associated with the device;

a transmitter configured to send the request message to a remote server; and

a receiver configured to receive from the remote server a response message, the response message comprising network operator specific customization information relating to the application;

wherein the processor is further configured to customize any of;

the application components, application user interface, and application settings using the network operator specific customization information received in the response message.

17. The device according to claim 16, wherein the further information comprises a Mobile Country Code and a Mobile Network Code.

18. The device according to claim 16, wherein the further information comprises an IP address being used by the device.

19. The device according to claim 16, wherein the further information further relates to the device type and comprises an International Mobile Equipment Identity specific to the device.

20. The device according to claim 16, wherein the request message comprises an activation message to activate the application.

22. A non-transitory computer readable medium storing a computer program which, when run on a computer device, causes the computer device to behave as a device according to claim 16.