Systems and methods for creating or updating an application using website content

Abstract

The disclosure herein relates to systems and methods for creating or updating applications using website content. An input may be received that identifies website content to be utilized in creating or updating an application. One or more application modules may be derived from the website content. The website content may be analyzed in accordance with a rule set to detect website features associated with the website. The website features may be incorporated into the one or more application modules. The application modules may then be compiled into an application such as a mobile application or HTML 5 application.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method for creating or updating a mobile application using website content, comprising:
 receiving an input that identifies a site map file that includes uniform resource locators and metadata associated with website content for a website;   examining the site map file to identify one or more web pages to be utilized in creating or updating a web application that can be converted to the mobile application;   analyzing, with a processor, the web pages identified using the site map file in accordance with a rule set to detect website features within the website content;   utilizing a first conversion template to create the web application, the first conversion template including functions for selecting one or more application modules that correspond to the web pages identified using the site map file and incorporating the detected website features into the one or more application modules associated with the web application;   transmitting data for displaying a list of application types;   receiving a selection that identifies an application type for the mobile application;   selecting a second conversion template based on the identified application type specified by the selection, the second conversion template including functions for converting the web application into the mobile application having the identified application type; and   applying, with a processor, the second conversion template to incorporate application features associated with the web application into the mobile application being created or updated.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the method further comprises:
 crawling hyperlinks specified in the website content in accordance with a set of crawling rules to identify at least one additional web page, wherein the crawling rules determine a scope of a crawling operation carried out on hyperlinks specified in the website content, the crawling operation being applied to identify the web pages that are to be used in creating or updating the web application.   
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the crawling rules limit the scope of the crawling operation to include web pages that are identified by hyperlinks pointing to a particular domain name. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the crawling rules limit the scope of the crawling operation to include web pages identified by hyperlinks included on an index page of a website. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 analyzing the website content with the rule set to detect a website feature selected from the group consisting of:
 multimedia data; 
 an input form; 
 a photo gallery; 
 a video gallery; 
 a blog; 
 a social media link; 
 a RSS feed; 
 an Atom feed; 
 an event calendar; and 
 a shopping cart. 
   
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 populating a preassembled module with multimedia data to incorporate at least one website feature into the one or more application modules.   
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 providing a set of build tools to permit a user to modify the one or more application modules and website features.   
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein analyzing the website content includes analyzing HTML source code, scripting code or CSS style sheet data to detect the website features associated with the website content. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 transmitting data for rendering a manager interface that provides a list of the one or more application modules; and   receiving a selection via the manager interface to modify an interface associated with the one or more application modules.   
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 transmitting data for rendering a simulation window that simulates how the detected website features are to be displayed on interfaces associated with the one or more application modules when the mobile application is executed on a target device.   
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the second conversion template includes instructions for utilizing an application development framework associated with a particular type of mobile application or particular target device. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 receiving an input that identifies supplementary website content to be utilized in updating the mobile application;   analyzing the supplementary website content with the rule set to detect additional website features;   updating the one or more of the selected application modules with the additional website features; and   generating updated compiled data for the mobile application.   
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the one or more application modules are each configured to provide a separate interface for the mobile application that corresponds to one of the identified web pages. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the first conversion template includes functions for adding pre-assembled modules to the web application based on detected web page types. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein each of the application modules are pre-assembled application modules that are configured to implement an interface corresponding to a particular web page type and the method further comprises at least one of:
 selecting a pre-assembled application module associated with implementing an contact page interface in response to identifying a web page that provides contact information;   selecting a pre-assembled application module associated with implementing a photo gallery interface in response to identifying a web page that provides a photo gallery;   selecting a pre-assembled application module associated with implementing a product listing interface in response to identifying a web page that provides a listing of products or services; or   selecting a pre-assembled application module associated with implementing a shopping cart interface in response to identifying a web page that provides a shopping cart.   
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 15 , further comprising:
 populating variables associated with the selected pre-assembled application module to customize a corresponding interface in a manner that incorporates the website features detected on the web page.   
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the first conversion template includes rules for adding pre-assembled modules to the web application and the method further comprises:
 applying the first conversion template for selecting at least one pre-assembled application module to be added to the web application;   adding the at least one selected pre-assembled application module to the web application being created or updated in response to detecting a particular web page type or functional feature; and   populating variables of the at least one selected pre-assembled application module to customize one or more interfaces associated with the at least one selected pre-assembled application module.   
     
     
         18 . A system for creating or updating a mobile application using website content, comprising:
 a processor configured to:
 receive an input that identifies a site map file that includes uniform resource locators and metadata associated with website content for a website; 
 examine the site map file to identify one or more web pages to be utilized in creating or updating a web application that can be converted to the mobile application; 
 analyze the web pages identified using the site map file in accordance with a rule set to detect website features within the website; 
 utilize a first conversion template to create the web application, the first conversion template including functions for selecting one or more application modules that correspond to the web pages identified using the site map file and incorporating the detected website features into one or more application modules associated with the web application; 
 transmit data for displaying a list of application types; 
 receive a selection that identifies an application type for the mobile application; 
 select a second conversion template based on the identified application type specified by the selection, the second conversion template including functions for converting the web application into the mobile application having the identified application type; and 
 apply the second conversion template to incorporate application features associated with the web application into the mobile application being created or updated. 
   
     
     
         19 . The system of  claim 18 , wherein the processor is further configured to crawl hyperlinks specified in the website content in accordance with a set of crawling rules to identify at least one additional web page, wherein the crawling rules determine a scope of a crawling operation carried out on hyperlinks specified in the website content, the crawling operation being applied to identify the web pages that are to be used in creating or updating the web application. 
     
     
         20 . The system of  claim 19 , wherein the crawling rules limit the scope of the crawling operation to include web pages that are identified by hyperlinks pointing to a particular domain name. 
     
     
         21 . The system of  claim 19 , wherein the crawling rules limit the scope of the crawling operation to include web pages identified by hyperlinks included on an index page of a website. 
     
     
         22 . The system of  claim 18 , the website content is analyzed with the rule set to detect a website feature selected from the group consisting of:
 multimedia data;   an input form;   a photo gallery;   a video gallery;   a blog;   a social media link;   a RSS feed;   an Atom feed;   an event calendar; and   a shopping cart.   
     
     
         23 . The system of  claim 18 , wherein a preassembled module is populated with multimedia data to incorporate at least one website feature into the one or more application modules. 
     
     
         24 . The system of  claim 18 , wherein a set of build tools are provided to permit a user to modify the one or more application modules and website features. 
     
     
         25 . The system of  claim 18 , wherein analyzing the website content includes analyzing HTML source code, scripting code, or CSS style sheet data to detect the website features associated with the website content. 
     
     
         26 . A non-transitory computer storage medium comprising program instructions for creating or updating a mobile application using website content, wherein the program instructions, when executed on a computer, cause the computer to:
 receive an input that identifies a site map file that includes uniform resource locators and metadata associated with website content for a website;   examine the site map file to identify one or more web pages to be utilized in creating or updating a web application that can be converted to the mobile application;   analyze the web pages identified using the site map file in accordance with a rule set to detect website features within the website content;   utilize a first conversion template to create the web application, the first conversion template including functions for selecting one or more application modules that correspond to the web pages identified using the site map file and incorporating the detected website features into one or more application modules associated with the web application;   transmit data for displaying a list of application types;   receive a selection that identifies an application type for the mobile application;   select a second conversion template based on the identified application type specified by the selection, the second conversion template including functions for converting the web application into the mobile application having the identified application type; and   apply the second conversion template to incorporate application features associated with the web application into the mobile application being created or updated.   
     
     
         27 . The computer storage medium of  claim 26 , wherein the program instructions further cause the computer to crawl hyperlinks specified in the website content in accordance with a set of crawling rules to identify at least one additional web page, wherein the crawling rules determine a scope of a crawling operation carried out on hyperlinks specified in the website content, the crawling operation being applied to identify the web pages that are to be used in creating or updating the web application. 
     
     
         28 . The computer storage medium of  claim 27 , wherein the crawling rules limit the scope of the crawling operation to include web pages that are identified by hyperlinks pointing to a particular domain name. 
     
     
         29 . The computer storage medium of  claim 27 , wherein the crawling rules limit the scope of the crawling operation to include web pages identified by hyperlinks included on an index page of a website.