System for generating application software installed on a mobile terminal

• US 9,047,166 B2
• Filed: 11/04/2011
• Issued: 06/02/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 11/04/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: MEDIASEEK, Inc.
• Original Assignee: MEDIASEEK, Inc.
• Inventors: Nishio, Naoki, Nezu, Yasuhiro, Ohsawa, Eiichi, Tateishi, Akira, Matsuda, Shinya
• Primary Examiner(s): Chen, Qing
• Application Number:
  US14/355,740
• Publication Number:
  US 20140298293A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,306 Days
• Field of Search: 717106-108, 717/120, 717/121
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 8/30 Creation or generation of source code
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 8/71 Version control security arrangements therefor G06F21/57; Configuration management

Abstract

An application generation system configured to automatically generate an application having a desired function is disclosed. The application generation system has a mobile terminal including computation means for performing predetermined computation processing, image capture means for capturing an information code, decoding means for decoding the information code to extract character information, display means for displaying predetermined information, and first communication means for communicating character information. The system includes a server having second communication means for communicating with the first communication means, an assessment database storing assessment rules, a program component database storing program components, and analysis means which analyzes character information received by the second communication means to determine results of the analysis based on the assessment rules stored in the assessment database to determine information related to attributes and configuration of an application to be generated as well as program components configuring the application.

Claims

1. An application generation system for generating a child application software program which is different from a parent application software program, the application generation system comprising:

(i) a mobile terminal including;

computation means for performing a predetermined computation processing;

image-capturing means for image-capturing a dimensional code consisting of one dimensional code or a multi-dimensional code of two or more dimensions;

decoding means for decoding said one dimensional code or said multi-dimensional code which is image-captured by said image-capturing means so as to extract character information corresponding to said one dimensional code or said multi-dimensional code;

display means for displaying a predetermined information; and

a first communication means for communicating said character information; and

(ii) a server including;

a second communication means for communicating with said first communication means;

a determination database configured to store determination rules;

a program component database configured to store program components; and

analysis means for analyzing said character information received by said second communication means, and for determining a result of said analysis based on said determination rules stored in said determination database, so as to determine information related to an attribute and a configuration of said child application software program to be generated as well as program components constituting said child application software program,

wherein said mobile terminal is configured to receive information related to said attribute and said configuration of said child application software program transmitted from said second communication means of said server as well as said program components constituting said child application software program, by said first communication means, and to generate said child application software program having a desirable function which is different from said parent application software program, based on said information related to said attribute and said configuration of said child application software program as well as said program components constituting said child application software program.

2. An application generation system according to claim 1, wherein said mobile terminal is further configured to display an icon symbolizing, said child application software program, on said display means in said mobile terminal, when said child application software program is generated.

3. An application generation system according to claim 1, wherein an image data of an icon symbolizing an application software program to be generated is included, in program components constituting said child application software program.

4. An application generation system according to claim 1, further comprising setting one or more information as additional information among the followings:

(1) a user attribute;

(2) a position information of said mobile terminal;

(3) a time when said one dimensional code or said multi-dimensional code is read by operating said image-capturing means;

(4) a time when said mobile terminal transmits said character information to said server;

(5) a language used by a user;

(6) a nationality of said user;

(7) input information of said user;

(8) a past utilization history of said user;

(9) a type (types) of other icon (icons) to be displayed in said display means on said mobile terminal;

(10) a number of other icon (icons) to be displayed in said display means on said mobile terminal;

(11) information of whether a specific icon is (icons are) displayed in said display means on said mobile terminal or not;

(12) information of whether there exists other mobile terminals in which said parent application software program is installed within a certain geographical range with respect to said mobile terminal or not, at a time when said mobile terminal transmits said character information to said server;

(13) an IP (Internet Protocol) address of said mobile terminal;

(14) a standard time setting of said mobile terminal;

(15) a type of said mobile terminal; and

(16) a type and a version of OS (Operating System) running in said mobile terminal, wherein said analysis means in said server is configured to acquire said determination rules, by searching said determination database, in combination of said additional information and said character information, in order to determine said child application software program to be generated, and program components constituting said child application software program.

5. An application generation system according to claim 1, wherein a specific control code is pre-encoded in said one dimensional code or said multi-dimensional code,

wherein said mobile terminal acquires a character information in which said specific control code is included, when acquiring said character information from said one dimensional code or said multi-dimensional code, and

wherein said server is further configured to determine said attribute and said configuration of said child application software program to be generated as well as said program components constituting said child application software program, by setting said specific control code as a key information, at the time of analyzing said character information by said analysis means and said determination database.

6. An application generation system according to claim 1, wherein said server further comprises:

a generation unit configured to generate said child application software program; and

a child application software program storage database configured to store said generated child application software program,

wherein said child application software program is generated in said generation unit so as to store in said child application software program storage database, using information related to said determined attribute and said determined configuration of said child application software program as well as said determined program components constituting said child application software program,

wherein an icon information of said child application software program generated and an address information indicating a location of where said generated child application software program is stored on said child application software program storage database is transmitted to said mobile terminal, instead of transmitting information related to said determined attribute and said determined configuration of said child application software program as well as said determined program components constituting said child application software program, and

wherein said mobile terminal is further configured to display only an icon of said child application software program on said display means in said mobile terminal, based on the icon information of said child application software program, as well as provide access to said child application software program storage database, by said first communication means, when a user touches the icon of said child application software program displayed on said display means in said mobile terminal, and to download and activate said child application software program based on said address information.

7. An application generation system according to claim 1, wherein said mobile terminal further comprises video analysis means, and

wherein said mobile terminal is further configured to extract said character information, from a motion picture or a still picture image-captured by said image-capturing means using said video analysis means, instead of extracting said character information from said one dimensional code or said multi-dimensional code using said image-capturing means and said decoding means.

8. An application generation system according to claim 1, wherein said mobile terminal further comprises recording means and voice analysis means, and

wherein said mobile terminal is further configured to extract said character information, from a voice recorded by said recording means using said voice analysis means, instead of extracting said character information from said one dimensional code or said multi-dimensional code using said image-capturing means and said decoding means.

9. An application generation system according to claim 1, wherein said mobile terminal further comprises recording means, wherein said server further comprises video analysis means and voice analysis means, and

wherein said mobile terminal is further configured to extract said character information, from a motion picture or a still picture image-captured by said mobile terminal, or from a voice recorded by said mobile terminal using said recording means, using said video analysis means or voice analysis means.

10. An application generation system according to claim 1, wherein said server further comprises a function of sending a notification of only information respectively related to said attribute and said configuration of said child application software program as well as said program components constituting said child application software program to said mobile terminal, after having defined an attribute and a configuration of said child application software program to be generated as well as program components constituting said child application software program,

wherein said mobile terminal further comprises program component storage means for storing program components which are required for generating said child application software program, and

wherein said mobile terminal is further configured to generate said child application software program using said program components stored in said program component storage means, based on said notification from said server.

11. An application generation system according to claim 1, wherein said server further comprises a function of sending a notification of only information respectively related to said attribute and said configuration of said child application software program as well as said program components constituting said child application software program to said mobile terminal, after having defined an attribute and a configuration of said child application software program to be generated as well as program components constituting said child application software program,

wherein said mobile terminal further comprises storage means for pre-storing a model of said child application software program having all functions which (such model) is to be used as a matrix for generating said child application software program, and

wherein said mobile terminal is further configured to turn on only the necessary function(s), among all functions of which said model has, based on said notification from said server, as well as to turn off other functions, so as to display an icon received by said notification from said server in said display means.

12. An application generation system according to claim 1, wherein said server further comprises, instead of said determination database, an application software program listing database into which all child application software programs which are possible to be generated, and information respectively related to said attribute and said configuration of said child application software program as well as said program components constituting said child application software program are pre-stored, and

wherein said server is further configured to search said application software program listing database, based on a combination of said character information and additional information, and if there would exist an applicable child application software program, then to acquire information respectively related to an attribute and a configuration which is required for generating said applicable child application software program as well as program components from said application software program listing database.

13. An application generation system according to claim 12, wherein said server further comprises a non-applicable information storing database,

wherein said server is further configured to search an applicable child application software program among child application software programs stored in said application software program listing database using analysis result of said character information and said additional information, and if there would exist no applicable child application software program, then to send a notification of an effect to said mobile terminal, as well as to store said character information and said additional information on which generating said applicable child application software program cannot be carried out in said non-applicable information storing database, and

wherein said server is further configured to repeat at a constant frequency of searching again an applicable child application software program among the child application software programs stored in said application software program listing database, in the combination of said character information and said additional information, and if an applicable child application software program would be searched, then to continue generating said applicable child application software program, as well as to delete said character information related to said searched applicable child application software program from said non-applicable information storing database.

14. An application generation system according to claim 12, wherein said server is further configured to send a notification of an effect to said mobile terminal, if there would exist no applicable child application software program, at the time of searching an applicable child application software program among child application software programs stored in said application software program listing database, in the combination of said character information and said additional information,

wherein said mobile terminal further comprises a non-applicable information storing database,

wherein said mobile terminal is further configured to, if said notification of said effect would be received from said server, store said character information and said additional information on which said applicable child application software program cannot be generated into said non-applicable information storing database, and to send a notification of contents of said non-applicable information storing database to said server whenever a communication with said server is performed,

wherein said server is further configured to, after receiving said notification, repeat of searching again an applicable child application software program among the child application software programs stored in said application software program listing database, in the combination of said character information and said additional information, and if said applicable child application software program would be searched, then to continue generating said applicable child application software program, as well as to send a notification of said character information and said addition information related to said searched applicable child application software program to said mobile terminal, and

wherein said mobile terminal is further configured to delete said character information and said additional information related to said searched applicable child application software program from said non-applicable information storing database.

15. An application generation system according to claim 12, wherein said server is further configured to store, into said application software program listing database, said character information and said additional information on which generating said child application software program cannot be carried out, as information of a new child application software program, which is the child application software program still having a defect and is not suitable for generation, if there would be no applicable child application software program, at the time of searching an applicable child application software program among the child application software programs stored in said application software program listing database, in the combination of said character information and said additional information.

16. An application generation system according to claim 12, wherein said mobile terminal further comprises a version information storing database configured to store ID and version information of a first generated child application software program,

wherein said mobile terminal is further configured to store said ID and said version information of said first generated child application software program into said version information storing database, at a time of generating said first child application software program, and to transmit said character information together with content of said version information storing database, at a time of transmitting said character information to said server for separately generating a second child application software program,

wherein said server is further configured to receive the content of said version information storing database transmitted from said mobile terminal, and to check whether there is a difference between received version information of each child application software program stored in said version information storing database and version information of said child application software program having the same ID stored in said application software program listing database,

wherein said server is further configured to, as a result of said check, if there would be a difference, transmit altogether to said mobile terminal, information related to an attribute and a configuration of said child application software program of a new version on said application software program listing database as well as program components constituting said child application software program, at a time of transmitting information related to an attribute and a configuration of said second child application software program as well as program components constituting said second child application software program for separately generating said second child application software program, and

wherein said mobile terminal is further configured to, after receiving information related to an attribute and a configuration of said child application software program of a new version as well as program components constituting said child application software program, generate a child application software program of a new version based on information related to an attribute and a configuration of said child application software program as well as program components constituting said child application software program, and to replace a child application software program of a conventional version having the same ID by said child application software program of a new version.

17. An application generation system according to claim 12, wherein said server further comprises a version information storing database configured to store an ID and version information of a first generated child application software program in every individual mobile terminal,

wherein said mobile terminal is further configured to send a notification of said ID and said version information of said first generated child application software program, at a time of generating said first child application software program to said server,

wherein said server is further configured to store said ID and said version information of said first generated child application software program into said version information storing database, if said notification would be received,

wherein said server is further configured to regularly check whether there is a difference between version information of each child application software program stored in said version information storing database and version information of said child application software program having the same ID stored in said application software program listing database,

wherein said server is further configured to, as a result of said regularly check, if there would be a difference, transmit altogether to said mobile terminal, information related to an attribute and a configuration of said child application software program of a new version on said application software program listing database as well as program components constituting said child application software program, at a time of transmitting information related to an attribute and a configuration of a second child application software program as well as program components constituting said second child application software program for separately generating said second child application software program, and

wherein said mobile terminal is further configured to, after receiving information related to an attribute and a configuration of said child application software program of a new version as well as program components constituting said child application software program, generate a child application software program of a new version based on information related to an attribute and a configuration of said child application software program as well as program components constituting said child application software program, and to replace a child application software program of a conventional version having the same ID by said child application software program of a new version.

18. An application generation system according to claim 12, wherein said mobile terminal further comprises a use history storing database for storing a history pertaining to an ID of a first child application software program generated and an activation and a use of said first child application software program,

wherein said server is further configured to refer to use history information including a total activation number of times, a total activation time, and an event argument of said first child application software program being used, by referring to said use history storing database, at a time of said first child application software program being activated, and to validate whether or not said referred use history information satisfies setting conditions related to use history information of an applicable first child application software program stored in said application software program listing database,

wherein said server is further configured to, as a result of said validation, if said setting conditions would be satisfied, specify an ID of a second child application software program to be generated when said setting conditions are satisfied, which is different from an ID of said first child application software program,

wherein an effect that said first child application software program is updated to said second child application software program, together with an ID of said first child application software program and an ID of said second child application software program is transmitted to said mobile terminal,

wherein information related to an attribute and a configuration of said second child application software program as well as program components constituting said second child application software program is determined from the ID of said second child application software program,

wherein said determined information related to an attribute and a configuration of said second child application software program as well as program components constituting said second child application software program is transmitted to said mobile terminal,

wherein said mobile terminal is further configured to receive said determined information related to an attribute and a configuration of said second child application software program as well as program components constituting said second child application software program from said server,

wherein said mobile terminal is further configured to newly generate a second child application software program using said computation means, based on said received determined information related to an attribute and a configuration of said second child application software program as well as program components constituting said second child application software program, and

wherein said mobile terminal is further configured to replace said first child application software program by said newly generated second child application software program.