Verification of software application attributes for optimal compatibility with a software system

Abstract

A method and system of providing compatibility between a software application and an electronic device are disclosed. An exemplary method includes providing an electronic device having a processor and a memory, the processor running an operating system. The method also includes providing access to a software application configured to run on the process of the electronic device. Further, the method includes checking operating system compatibility information. The operating system compatibility information is included in the software application.

1 . A method of providing compatibility between a software module and an electronic device, comprising: 
 providing an electronic device having a processor and a memory, the processor running an operating system;    providing access to the software module configured to run on the processor of the electronic device; and    checking operating system compatibility information, the operating system compatibility information being included in the software module.    
   
   
       2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the electronic device is a handheld computer.  
   
   
       3 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising: 
 installing the software module on the electronic device.    
   
   
       4 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising: 
 performing adjustments based on the operating system compatibility information.    
   
   
       5 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising: 
 starting a background application based on the operating system compatibility information.    
   
   
       6 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising: 
 checking other software module attribute information the software module attribute information being included in the software module.    
   
   
       7 . The method of  claim 6 , further comprising: 
 starting a background application based on the software module attribute information.    
   
   
       8 . A method of developing a software module for an electronic device, comprising: 
 accessing a software development tool kit;    developing the primary functionality of the software module using the software development tool kit;    configuring compatibility information to be included in the software module; and    compiling the software module into a format executable by the electronic device.    
   
   
       9 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein the electronic device is a handheld computer.  
   
   
       10 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein the compatibility information includes operating system information.  
   
   
       11 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein the compatibility information includes wireless access information.  
   
   
       12 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein the compatibility information includes display type information.  
   
   
       13 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein the compatibility information includes sound system type information.  
   
   
       14 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein the compatibility information includes processor information.  
   
   
       15 . An information source configured to be used in a software module for an electronic device, comprising: 
 a data structure specifying a plurality of fields configured to contain compatibility information, the compatibility information including at least one of minimum operating system version information, maximum operating system version information, required features information, and supported features information.    
   
   
       16 . The information source of  claim 15 , wherein the electronic device is a handheld computer.  
   
   
       17 . The information source of  claim 15 , wherein the required features information includes a flag relating to the processor type.  
   
   
       18 . The information source of  claim 15 , wherein the required features information includes a flag relating to the display type.  
   
   
       19 . The information source of  claim 15 , wherein the required features information includes wireless access information.  
   
   
       20 . The information source of  claim 15 , wherein the required features information includes screen depth information.  
   
   
       21 . The information source of  claim 15 , wherein the supported features information includes a flag relating to the processor type.  
   
   
       22 . The information source of  claim 15 , wherein the supported features information includes a flag relating to the display type.  
   
   
       23 . The information source of  claim 15 , wherein the supported features information includes wireless access information.  
   
   
       24 . The information source of  claim 15 , wherein the supported features information includes screen depth information.  
   
   
       25 . The information source of  claim 15 , wherein the compatibility information further includes misbehavior information.  
   
   
       26 . A method of providing compatibility between a software module and an electronic device, comprising: 
 providing an electronic device having a processor and a memory, the processor running an operating system;    configured to run on the processor of the electronic device; and    checking development tools version information, the development tools version information based on the version of development tools used to develop the software module.    
   
   
       27 . The method of  claim 26 , further comprising: 
 determining the compatibility of the software module with the operating system based on the development tools version information.    
   
   
       28 . The method of  claim 27 , further comprising: 
 enforcing constraints based on the development tools version information.    
   
   
       29 . A method of using an electronic device, comprising: 
 providing an electronic device having a processor and a memory, the processor running an operating system;    providing access to the software module configured to run on the processor of the electronic device;    checking operating system compatibility information; and selectively enabling an operating system backward compatibility mode based on the operating system compatibility information.