Software application framework for network-connected devices

Abstract

A facility for provisioning and managing registered applications is described. Registered applications can be downloaded to a mobile device from an application provisioning server. When the download is complete, the mobile device may begin execution of the registered application. However, at least portions of the registered application cannot be executed by the mobile device without first passing control to an application provisioning server via a network connection. Upon receiving temporary control of the registered application, the application provisioning server can perform tasks such as license verification and other tasks before turning control of the application back to the mobile device.

I claim:  
     
         1 . A method for managing a registered application, wherein the registered application is downloaded to a receiving device from an application provisioning server communicating with the receiving device via a network connection, the method comprising: 
 providing a registered application for download to the receiving device, wherein the registered application is configured such that, upon initial execution of the registered application by the receiving device, at least portions of the registered application cannot be executed by the receiving device without first passing temporary control of the registered application to the application provisioning server via the network connection;    gaining temporary control of the registered application after it is downloaded onto the receiving device; and    performing license management for the registered application.    
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising associating an identifier with the receiving device, wherein the identifier is stored on the receiving device, wherein the identifier is configured for authorizing the receiving device to execute the registered application.  
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the registered application includes a registered MIDlet.  
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the registered application includes an underlying game application.  
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the application provisioning server is associated with a wireless service provider.  
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the registered application is further configured to receive updates from the application provisioning server.  
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the registered application is developed using a streamlined application skeleton and is, prior to download onto the receiving device, reconfigured to be compatible with the type of the receiving device.  
     
     
         8 . A method for managing a registered application, wherein the registered application is downloaded to a mobile device from an application provisioning server communicating with the mobile device via a network connection, the method comprising: 
 receiving control of the registered application being initially executed on the mobile device;    verifying that the mobile device is authorized to execute the registered application; and    sending an unlock code to the mobile device, wherein the unlock code is configured for allowing the mobile device to regain control of the application.    
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 8 , further comprising performing a task associated with managing the registered application, wherein performing the task includes implementing a charging scheme associated with the registered application.  
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 8 , further comprising performing a task associated with managing the registered application, wherein performing the task includes receiving, from a user of the registered application, feedback that can be used to rate the registered application.  
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 8 , further comprising performing a task associated with managing the registered application, wherein performing the task includes receiving and posting high score information for a user of the registered application.  
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 8 , further comprising performing a task associated with managing the registered application, wherein performing the task includes upgrading to a newer version of the registered application.  
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein the registered application is implemented in a J2ME environment.  
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein receiving control of the registered application includes receiving a license code from the mobile device.  
     
     
         15 . A method for provisioning registered applications, wherein the registered applications are downloaded to mobile devices from an application provisioning server communicating with the mobile devices via a network connection, the method comprising: 
 providing an application catalogue containing at least one registered application, wherein the at least one registered application is configured such that, upon initial execution of the application by a mobile device, at least portions of the application cannot be executed by the mobile device without first passing temporary control to the application provisioning server via a network connection;    receiving, from a mobile device, a request for downloading a selected registered application, wherein the request includes information about the mobile device;    based on the received information, determining a download scenario appropriate for the mobile device; and    sending the registered application data for download to the mobile device using the determined download scenario.    
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the sending of the selected registered application includes sending a license code for storage on the mobile device.  
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the request for download includes a selection of a charging scheme.  
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the selected registered application is offered on a limited free trial.  
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the selected registered application is offered on a feature charging basis.  
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the application catalogue provides information associated with usage statistics for each of the at least one registered applications.  
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the selected registered application is bound within an application package including licensing information.  
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the determined download scenario is initiated via the Wireless Application Protocol (WAP).  
     
     
         23 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the determined download scenario is initiated via a Java Application Manager.  
     
     
         24 . A system for provisioning applications for download on mobile devices, the system comprising: 
 an application provisioning component configured for providing a registered application for download to a mobile device, the application provisioning component including an application provisioning server;    a network component for communication between the mobile device and the application provisioning server; and    wherein the registered application is configured such that, upon initial execution of the application by the mobile device, at least portions of the registered application cannot be executed by the mobile device without first passing temporary control of the registered application to the application provisioning server via the network component.    
     
     
         25 . The system of  claim 24 , wherein the registered application includes a registered MIDlet.  
     
     
         26 . The system of  claim 24 , wherein the application provisioning server is further configured to provide an application catalogue from which registered applications can be selected for download.  
     
     
         27 . A computer-readable medium whose contents allow for preventing unauthorized execution of an application on a mobile device, the computer-readable medium comprising: 
 a registered application including an underlying application, wherein the registered application is downloaded to the mobile device from an application provisioning server via a communication link, wherein at least portions of the registered application cannot be initially executed by the mobile device without first passing temporary control of the registered application to an application provisioning server via the communication link; and    a license code for verifying with the application provisioning server that the mobile device is authorized to execute the registered application.    
     
     
         28 . The computer-readable medium of  claim 27 , wherein the computer-readable medium is a memory in the system of an application provisioning service provider.  
     
     
         29 . The computer-readable medium of  claim 27 , wherein the computer-readable medium is a memory in the system of the mobile device.  
     
     
         30 . The computer-readable medium of  claim 27 , wherein the computer-readable medium is a data transmission medium carrying a generated data signal containing the contents.