Embedding software updates into content retrieved by applications

• US 9,841,971 B1
• Filed: 03/11/2015
• Issued: 12/12/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 03/11/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Intuit, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Intuit, Inc.
• Inventors: Buzi, Larry Y.
• Primary Examiner(s): Brophy, Matthew
• Application Number:
  US14/644,330
• Time in Patent Office: 1,007 Days
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 8/656 while running

Abstract

The disclosed embodiments provide a system that facilitates execution of an application that is updated after undergoing an approval process with a digital application distribution platform on an electronic device. During operation, the system obtains content for display within the application from a server. Next, the system identifies, within the content, an update to the application. The system then modifies execution of the application during runtime of the application by applying the update without reloading the application on the electronic device and without downloading the update from the digital application distribution platform.

Claims

1. A method for facilitating execution of a native application that is updated after undergoing an approval process with a digital application distribution platform on an electronic device, comprising:

obtaining, by the electronic device, a first set of content for display within the native application from a server;

identifying, within the first set of content, an update to the native application;

modifying, on the electronic device, execution of the native application during a first runtime of the native application by applying the update without reloading the native application on the electronic device and without downloading the update from the digital application distribution platform, wherein the update remains in effect in the native application until the first runtime ends, thereby ceasing to be in effect in the native application after the first runtime ends;

obtaining, by the electronic device after the first runtime of the native application ends, a second set of content for display within the native application from the server;

identifying, within the second set of content, the update to the native application; and

modifying, on the electronic device, execution of the native application during a second runtime of the native application by applying the update.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

displaying the first set of content within a user interface of the native application,

wherein modifying execution of the native application during the first runtime of the native application comprises using the update to change the display of the first set of content within the native application based on input received from a user of the native application.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein identifying the update to the native application comprises:

obtaining, from the first set of content, a function name of a function in the native application and an encoded string representing the function.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein applying the update comprises:

decoding the encoded string to obtain new source code for the function;

replacing existing source code for the function in the native application with the new source code.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein the existing source code is replaced with the new source code using at least one of:

a function constructor; and

a function-evaluation mechanism.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the first set of content is obtained from the server using a web service call to the server.

7. The method of claim 1,

wherein the update is embedded within the content.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the first set of content is obtained independently of a platform of the native application.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the first set of content comprises at least one of:

a set of views;

a navigation flow associated with the views;

a set of data elements in the views; and

a data model for the set of data elements.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein the update is used to perform at least one of:

updating a state of the native application;

validating data inputted into the native application; and

formatting the data.

11. An apparatus, comprising:

one or more processors; and

memory storing instructions that, when executed by the one or more processors, cause the apparatus to;

obtain a first set of content for display within a native application from a server, wherein the native application is updated after undergoing an approval process with a digital application distribution platform;

identify, within the first set of content, an update to the native application;

modify execution of the native application on the one or more processors during a first runtime of the native application by applying the update without reloading the native application in the memory and without downloading the update from the digital application distribution platform, wherein the update remains in effect in the native application until the first runtime ends, thereby ceasing to be in effect in the native application after the first runtime ends;

obtaining, by the electronic device after the first runtime of the native application ends, a second set of content for display within the native application from the server;

identifying, within the second set of content, the update to the native application; and

modifying, on the electronic device, execution of the native application during a second runtime of the native application by applying the update.

12. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein identifying the update to the native application comprises:

obtaining, from the first set of content, a function name of a function in the native application and an encoded string representing the function.

13. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein applying the update comprises:

decoding the encoded string to obtain new source code for the function; and

replacing existing source code for the function in the native application with the new source code.

14. The apparatus of claim 11,

wherein the update is embedded within the content.

15. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the first set of content is obtained independently of a platform of the native application.

16. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the update is used to perform at least one of:

updating a state of the native application;

validating data inputted into the native application; and

formatting the data.

17. A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium storing instructions that when executed by a computer cause the computer to perform a method for facilitating execution of a native application that is updated after undergoing an approval process with a digital application distribution platform on an electronic device, the method comprising:

obtaining a first set of content for display within the native application from a server;

identifying, within the first set of content, an update to the native application;

modifying execution of the native application during a first runtime of the native application by applying the update without reloading the native application on the electronic device and without downloading the update from the digital application distribution platform, wherein the update remains in effect in the native application until the first runtime ends, thereby ceasing to be in effect in the native application after the first runtime ends;

obtaining, by the electronic device after the first runtime of the native application ends, a second set of content for display within the native application from the server;

identifying, within the second set of content, the update to the native application; and

modifying, on the electronic device, execution of the native application during a second runtime of the native application by applying the update.

18. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 17, wherein identifying the update to the native application comprises:

obtaining, from the first set of content, a function name of a function in the native application and an encoded string representing the function.

19. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 18, wherein applying the update comprises:

decoding the encoded string to obtain new source code for the function; and

replacing existing source code for the function in the native application with the new source code.

20. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 17,

wherein the update is embedded within the content.