Abstract:
A method for facilitating the downloading of an application from a server computer to a client device, whereby the client device generates to the server computer an initiation request for information describing available applications. In response to receipt of the initiation request, the server computer retrieves, for each available application, information describing the respective application, and a link to an application descriptor for the respective application. The server computer transmits the information and link to the client device, which in turn displays the information and stores the link. When the user selects an application, the link for the selected application is recalled and is reached on the server computer for retrieval of the application descriptor. From the application descriptor, the client device may determine whether the application fits the device profile and, hence, whether to download the application.

Description:
TECHNICAL FIELD  
       [0001]     The invention relates generally to communications between a wide area network and a handheld device and, more particularly, to a system and method for downloading, via a wireless communications interface, an application from a server on a wide area network to a handheld device, such as a cellular mobile phone or a personal digital assistant (PDA), without using a browser.  
       BACKGROUND  
       [0002]     A wide area network (WAN), such as the Internet, typically comprises at least one server, such as a relatively high-capacity computer, configured for serving a number of client devices, such as personal computers or mobile phones, connected to the WAN. It is often desirable to download, from the server to a client device, applications, such as games, or application content, such as wallpaper, ring tones, sound clips, and/or the like. To facilitate the download of an application (used herein to include content as well), a client device is conventionally provided with a browser having a content/application download model (CADM), such as a Java Application Management System (Java-AMS), Open Mobile Alliance-Content Download (OMA-CoD), Binary Runtime Environment for Wireless (BREW), and the like.  
         [0003]     In using a browser to download an application in a conventional manner, a user first selects an application to download, and the browser then downloads from the server an application descriptor for the selected application. The client device then examines the application descriptor to determine whether the application is suitable for downloading to the device. If it is determined that the application is suitable for downloading, then, using the information in the application descriptor, the client device proceeds to download the application from the server for use by the user.  
         [0004]     While browsers are effective mechanisms for downloading applications, they utilize a protocol stack, and the combination of the browser and the protocol stack consume in a client device a substantial portion of available memory and processing power. Even when a browser is not being used, it often continues to run in the background, thereby continuing to consume valuable memory and processing power. While this is not a significant drawback for conventional desktop computers, such as personal computers, which have substantial memory and processing power, it can constitute a problem with handheld devices, such as wireless personal digital assistants (PDAs), mobile cellular phones, and the like, that are configured for downloading applications from WANs, such as the Internet, and have relatively limited memory and processing power.  
         [0005]     It is anticipated that the number of software applications available on WAN&#39;s, such as the Internet, and the like, will increase, such applications including enhanced browsers that will replace existing browsers. However, it can be problematic to download a new browser using an existing browser because, for example, the two browsers must be stored in memory, at least temporarily, at the same time, requiring not only additional memory, but also additional processing power. Furthermore, while a new browser mechanism may be provided with features (e.g., browsing) used often by the user, it may not be compatible with an existing download mechanism (e.g., CADM) residing in the handheld device. In such cases, when the user upgrades to a new browser, the new browser may not be able to download additional applications.  
         [0006]     Accordingly, there is a need for a system and method for enabling handheld devices to download applications in a manner which is economical with respect to memory and processing power of the handheld device, and which is also preferably not dependent on a particular browser.  
       SUMMARY  
       [0007]     The present invention, accordingly, provides a method for facilitating the downloading of an application from at least one server computer to a client device, whereby the client device generates to the server computer an initiation request for information describing available applications. In response to receipt of the initiation request, the server computer retrieves, for each available application, information describing the respective application and a link to an application descriptor for the respective application. The server computer then transmits the information and link to the client device, which in turn displays the information to the user and stores the link. When the user selects an application, the client device recalls the link for the selected application and reaches the link on the server computer for retrieval of the application descriptor. From the application descriptor, the client device determines whether the application fits the device profile and, hence, whether the application is suitable for downloading to the device. If the client device determines that the application is suitable for downloading, then the client device transmits a message to the server computer requesting that the application be downloaded, and downloading proceeds.  
         [0008]     In one aspect of the invention, the at least one server computer comprises at least one of a network server, an application server, and the like, and/or a combination thereof.  
         [0009]     In another aspect of the invention, the client device is at least one of a computer, a handheld device, a wireless personal digital assistant (PDA), a wireless mobile telephone, and the like.  
         [0010]     There are a number of advantages of the invention over the prior art. For example, by using the present invention, applications may be downloaded using a single user interface that is not dependant on a particular CADM, thereby, not only streamlining the process of downloading applications, but also conserving memory and processing power, valuable commodities for handheld devices. The single user interface also allows flexibility for using other CADM&#39;s that may be developed for downloading applications. The invention is also robust as it utilizes proven, standard industry components, such as HTTP to fetch an application descriptor, and it is also extensible to a server-initiated download. The invention also enables service providers to more readily maintain the same end-user experience notwithstanding different download technologies, such as Java, BREW, CoD, and the like. Still further, the process of the invention is transparent to the end user, and requires no special knowledge on the part of the end user to utilize. Because the invention removes the dependency of the download mechanism on the browser, applications may also be downloaded irrespective of the browser, if any, residing in the client device. 
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0011]     For a more complete understanding of the present invention, and the advantages thereof, reference is now made to the following descriptions taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:  
         [0012]      FIG. 1  is a schematic view of a telecommunications system in which features of the present invention may be implemented;  
         [0013]      FIG. 2  is schematic view of the telecommunications system of  FIG. 1  exemplifying a server computer as a network server;  
         [0014]      FIG. 3  is schematic view of the telecommunications system of  FIG. 1  exemplifying a server computer as an application server;  
         [0015]      FIG. 4  is an event sequence diagram showing a sequence of events embodying features of the present invention for downloading applications in a telecommunications system exemplified by  FIGS. 1, 2 , and/or  3 ;  
         [0016]      FIG. 5  is a schematic view of an alternate embodiment of the telecommunications system of  FIG. 1  wherein a server computer is exemplified as an application server in combination with a network server; and  
         [0017]      FIG. 6  is an event sequence diagram showing a sequence of events embodying features of the present invention for downloading applications in the telecommunications system exemplified by  FIG. 5 . 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION  
       [0018]     In the following discussion, numerous specific details are set forth to provide a thorough understanding of the present invention. However, it will be obvious to those skilled in the art that the present invention may be practiced without such specific details. In other instances, well-known elements have been illustrated in schematic or block diagram form in order not to obscure the present invention in unnecessary detail. Additionally, for the most part, details concerning handheld devices, application downloads from a WAN, such as the Internet, and the like, have been omitted because such details are not considered necessary to obtain a complete understanding of the present invention, and are considered to be within the skills of persons of ordinary skill in the relevant art.  
         [0019]     It is noted that, unless indicated otherwise, all functions described herein are performed by a processor such as a microprocessor, a microcontroller, an application-specific integrated circuit (ASIC), an electronic. data processor, a computer, or the like, in accordance with code, such as program code, software, integrated circuits, and/or the like that are coded to perform such functions. Furthermore, it is considered that the design, development, and implementation details of all such code would be apparent to a person having ordinary skill in the art based upon a review of the present description of the invention.  
         [0020]     Referring to  FIG. 1  of the drawings, the reference numeral  100  generally designates a system in which features of the present invention may be implemented. The system  100  includes a wide area network (WAN)  102 , such as the Internet, to which at least one relatively high-capacity server computer  104 , such as a network server computer, an application server computer, a combination thereof, or the like, described further below, having multiple applications available for downloading, is connected in a conventional manner, such as via landlines  106 . At least one handheld device  108 , such as a personal digital assistant (PDA), a cellular mobile telephone, or the like, operable by a user  110 , is connected to the WAN  102 , preferably via a wireless radio communication link  112 , or alternatively via landlines (not shown). The handheld device  108  preferably includes an input device  114  such as a keypad, an output device  116  such as a visual display, an antenna  118  and, while now shown, it is understood that the handheld device  108  further includes a number of other components as well, such as an electronic data processor, a memory, and the like, operably interconnected for effectuating communications with the network server  104  via the WAN  102 . The handheld device  108  may optionally incorporate a browser for downloading applications and application content from the network server  104 , via the WAN  102 , but such a browser is not necessary for the invention. The system  100 , including the server computer  104  and handheld device  108 , are considered to be well-known to those skilled in the art and, therefore, will not be described in further detail herein, except insofar as necessary to describe the present invention.  
         [0021]      FIG. 2  is a schematic drawing showing a system  200  similar to the system  100  of  FIG. 1 , but wherein the server computer  104  is exemplified as a network server  204 . While a single network server  204  is illustrated in  FIG. 2 , multiple network servers may be connected to the WAN  102  for downloading applications to the handheld device  108 .  
         [0022]      FIG. 3  is a schematic drawing showing a system  300  similar to the system  100  of  FIG. 1 , but wherein the server computer  104  is exemplified as one of one or more application servers  204  operated by an application provider  302 .  
         [0023]      FIG. 4  is a flow chart, also referred to as an event sequence diagram,  400  of preferred control logic implemented by the server computer  104  and handheld device  108  for executing event sequences therebetween according to principles of the present invention. It should be noted, however, that in alternative embodiments, the sequencing of events may differ. It should be further noted, that the flow chart  400  is exemplified with respect to the server computer  104  as generally representative of the network server  204 , application server  304 , and the like. While not so indicated in  FIG. 2 , it is understood that communications between the server computer  104  and the handheld device  108  are effectuated via the WAN  102 .  
         [0024]     In event  402 , the end user  110  enters, via any conventional input means, such as the keypad  116 , a request to the handheld device  108  for information about applications (or application content) that are available for downloading to the handheld device. The availability of applications may be limited by criteria such as subject matter, the size of the application, and the like. Such applications may include any application, including applets, MIDlets, and/or the like, effective, by way of example, as a game, ring tune, and/or the like, available from the server computer  104  via the WAN  102 . Such applications are preferably designed for execution on handheld devices, such as the handheld device  108 , that have relatively limited memory and processor power.  
         [0025]     In event  404 , the client handheld device  108  receives the request from the user  110  and, in response thereto, generates an initiation message (e.g., HTTP GET, RTSP DESCRIBE, DevMan Package 1, and/or the like) to the server computer  104  to request information about applications available from the server computer.  
         [0026]     In event  406 , the server computer  104  receives the initiation message from the handheld device  108  and, in event  408 , the server computer  104  retrieves descriptive information, such as text and/or a graphic, about each application that is available for downloading to the handheld device  108 . In accordance with principles of the present invention, the server computer  104  also retrieves, for each respective application identified as being available for downloading, a link (e.g., a Uniform Resource Locator (URL), a Uniform Resource Identifier (URI), or the like) to an application descriptor (i.e., a set of attributes describing an application) for such respective application. The retrieved information about each application and its respective link is then transmitted to the client handheld device  108 . The transmission to the handheld device  108  of a link to a respective application descriptor is preferably incorporated as a standard to thereby ensure operability of the invention.  
         [0027]     At event  410 , the handheld device  108  displays the information about applications available for downloading and, while the handheld device  108  does not display the link, it does stores the link in memory for subsequent recall. At the event  412 , the user  108  views, preferably via the display  116 , the applications available for downloading. In event  414 , the user  108  selects, preferably via the keypad  114 , an application to download. At the event  416 , the link for the application selection is recalled from memory and, at the event  418 , the link to the application descriptor is reached on the server computer  104  using a transport protocol such as, by way of example, HTTP, TCP, or the like.  
         [0028]     At the event  420 , the server  104  retrieves the application descriptor for the selected application and, in event  422 , the server  104  transmits the application descriptor to the client handheld device  108 .  
         [0029]     At the event  424 , the application descriptor reaches a content/application download model (CADM), such as a Java Application Management System (Java-AMS), open Mobile Alliance-Content Download (OMA-CoD), Binary Runtime Environment for Wireless (BREW), and the like, residing on the client handheld device  108 . The CADM of the handheld device  108  then examines the application descriptor to determine whether the selected application is suitable for downloading to the handheld device  108 . In making such determination, the CADM, by way of example, ensures that the handheld device  108  has a suitable operating environment (e.g., Java, BREW, or the like) for the application, that there is sufficient memory to store and execute the application, that the resolution of the display  116  is compatible with the application, and the like. If the CADM accordingly determines that the selected application is suitable for downloading, then at the event  426 , the CADM generates to the server computer  104  a request to begin downloading the application.  
         [0030]     At the event  428 , the server computer  104  retrieves the application, preferably in a compressed format, and, at the event  430 , downloads the application to the client handheld device  108 . At the event  432 , the client handheld device  108  receives the application and, if the application is compressed, then it is expanded and stored in the memory of the handheld device. At the event  434 , the application is displayed via the display  116 , and is viewed by the user  110  at the event  436 .  
         [0031]      FIG. 5  exemplifies a telecommunications system  500  of an alternative embodiment of the invention, wherein the network server  204 , with links  502  (e.g., conventional wireline links and/or, alternatively, the WAN  102 ), serves as a communication link between the handheld device  108  and one or more of the application servers  304 . Accordingly, as exemplified in  FIG. 6 , the events  406 ,  408 ,  420 ,  422 ,  428 , and  430  are executed by the application server  304  via the respective communication links  605 ,  609 ,  619 ,  623 ,  627 , and  631  effectuated by the network server  204 . Operation of the system  500  is otherwise similar to the operation of the system  100  ( FIG. 1 ), as exemplified with particular reference by the event sequence diagram  400  of  FIG. 4 .  
         [0032]     With general reference to steps  426 ,  428 ,  430 ,. and  432 , of  FIG. 4  and/or  FIG. 6 , it is noted that once the handheld device  108  receives the link to application descriptors in step  424 , the relationship and operation between the handheld device  108  and the server computer  104  (e.g., the network server  104  and/or the application servers  120 ) for downloading applications is considered to be well-known in the art and, therefore, will not be discussed in further detail herein, except by way of the following selected examples, which are not to be construed as limitations.  
         [0033]     In a first example, at event  426 , along with the application download request, the client handheld device  108  may also request application level security credentials. Then, in event  428 , the server computer  104  sends the security credentials, and then awaits client approval before transmitting the application in event  430 .  
         [0034]     In another example of how the events  426 ,  428 ,  430 , and  432  may be performed, at event  426 , along with the application download request, the client handheld device  108  may request additional clarification in connection with the application descriptor. For example, the handheld device  108  may request clarification whether color is high color, true color, or 256 color, or whether images should be displayed in center screen, or left aligned, or right aligned.  
         [0035]     In yet another example of how the events  426 ,  428 ,  430 , and  432  may be performed, when the client handheld device  108  sends in event  426  an application download request for a particular version of, for example, a game, the server computer  104  may first respond with a notification message indicating that a higher version of the game is available, and a query requesting which version of the game the client would prefer. Alternatively, if a requested game requires an additional application to properly execute, then the server  104  may query whether the client  108  would prefer to proceed with or without downloading the additional application with the game.  
         [0036]     Upon completion of the process of downloading the application, the application is preferably installed and executed in a conventional manner well known to those skilled in the art, and therefore will not be discussed in further detail herein.  
         [0037]     By the use of the present invention, applications may be downloaded using a single user interface that is not dependent on a particular CADM, thereby, not only streamlining the process of downloading applications, but also conserving memory and processing power, valuable commodities for handheld devices. The single user interface also allows flexibility for using other CADM&#39;s that may be developed for downloading applications. The invention is also robust as it utilizes proven, standard industry components, such as HTTP to fetch an application descriptor, and it is also extensible to a server-initiated download. The invention also enables service providers to more readily maintain the same end-user experience notwithstanding the different download technologies, such as Java, BREW, CoD and the like. Still further, the process of the invention is transparent to the end user, and requires no special knowledge on the part of the end user to utilize. Because the invention removes the dependency of the download mechanism on the browser, applications may also be downloaded irrespective of the browser, if any, residing in the client device.  
         [0038]     It is understood that the present invention may take many forms and embodiments. Accordingly, several variations may be made in the foregoing without departing from the spirit or the scope of the invention. For example, the present invention may be implemented in computers and devices other than handheld devices, such as conventional desktop computers, laptop computers, and the like. In another example, instead of generating an initiation request from the end user  110  and handheld device  108  at events  402  and  404 , the user  110  may go to a web site, select an application, provide to the web site a mobile phone number of another user, and suggest to the other user that he/she try the application, so that, in event  406 , the network server  104  receives the initiation request from the WAN (e.g., the Internet) rather than the other user&#39;s handheld device (e.g., mobile phone).  
         [0039]     Having thus described the present invention by reference to certain of its preferred embodiments, it is noted that the embodiments disclosed are illustrative rather than limiting in nature and that a wide range of variations, modifications, changes, and substitutions are contemplated in the foregoing disclosure and, in some instances, some features of the present invention may be employed without a corresponding use of the other features. Many such variations and modifications may be considered obvious and desirable by those skilled in the art based upon a review of the foregoing description of preferred embodiments. Accordingly, it is appropriate that the appended claims be construed broadly and in a manner consistent with the scope of the invention.