U.S. patent application number 10/187694 was filed with the patent office on 2004-10-14 for application catalog on an application server for wireless devices.
Invention is credited to Chmaytelli, Mazen, Kenagy, Jason, Khazaka, Samir K., Ross, David J..
Application Number | 20040203681 10/187694 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 29999392 |
Filed Date | 2004-10-14 |
United States Patent
Application |
20040203681 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Ross, David J. ; et
al. |
October 14, 2004 |
Application catalog on an application server for wireless
devices
Abstract
A system, method, and computer program for providing an
application catalog of served applications and data to wireless
devices on a wireless network seeking to download the applications
and/or data. The application catalog is displayable to a wireless
device across the wireless network, and the application catalog
lists at least a plurality of applications and/or data downloadable
to wireless devices and the application catalog is optimized based
upon predetermined criteria such that the preferred application
and/or data to be downloaded by a wireless device is initially
displayed to a wireless device attempting to access the application
catalog.
Inventors: |
Ross, David J.; (San Diego,
CA) ; Kenagy, Jason; (San Diego, CA) ;
Chmaytelli, Mazen; (San Diego, CA) ; Khazaka, Samir
K.; (San Diego, CA) |
Correspondence
Address: |
Qualcomm Incorporated
Patents Department
5775 Morehouse Drive
San Diego
CA
92121-1714
US
|
Family ID: |
29999392 |
Appl. No.: |
10/187694 |
Filed: |
July 1, 2002 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
455/418 ;
455/412.1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
H04L 29/06 20130101;
H04L 69/329 20130101; H04L 67/34 20130101; G06F 16/24578 20190101;
H04W 4/60 20180201; G06F 8/61 20130101; H04L 67/04 20130101; G06Q
30/02 20130101; H04W 4/50 20180201; G06Q 30/0277 20130101; G06F
3/0482 20130101; G06F 3/04842 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
455/418 ;
455/412.1 |
International
Class: |
H04M 011/10; H04M
003/00 |
Claims
1. A system for providing an application catalog for served
applications on a wireless network, comprising: one or more
wireless devices in selective communication with the wireless
network, each wireless device having an end-user thereof; and one
or more application download servers in selective communication to
the wireless network, and each application download server
selectively in communication with the one or more wireless devices
and selectively downloading applications thereto, each server
including an application catalog displayable to the one or more
wireless device across the wireless network, the application
catalog listing at least a plurality of applications downloadable
to wireless devices, the server, further optimizing the application
catalog based upon predetermined criteria such that the preferred
application to be downloaded by a wireless device is initially
displayed to a wireless device attempting to access the application
catalog.
2. The system of claim 1, wherein the predetermined criteria
include, at least, end-user ratings sent from the wireless
devices.
3. The system of claim 2, wherein the application catalog is
dynamically optimized based upon ongoing end-users ratings.
4. The system of claim 1, wherein the predetermined criteria is, at
least, based upon the specific user of the wireless device
attempting to access the catalog.
5. The system of claim 1, wherein the predetermined criteria is, at
least, based upon the overhead of the server to download the
application.
6. The system of claim 1, wherein the applications are sold to
wireless devices and the predetermined criteria is comprised of, at
least, application sales data.
7. The system of claim 1, wherein the predetermined criteria are
based upon, at least, the most commonly downloaded
applications.
8. The system of claim 7, wherein the application catalog is
dynamically optimized based upon ongoing application downloads.
9. The system of claim 1, wherein the predetermined criteria is
transmitted to the server and the server optimizes the application
catalog based upon received predetermined criteria
10. The system of claim 1, wherein the predetermined criteria is
determined at the server.
11. The system of claim 1, wherein the end-user of the wireless
device can override the optimal display of the application
catalog.
12. A system for managing an application catalog for applications
downloadable across a wireless network, comprising: one or more
wireless communication means for selectively communicating across a
wireless network, each wireless communication means having an
end-user thereof; one or more application download means for
selectively downloading applications to the wireless communication
means across the wireless network; and each application download
means including a listing means for optimally listing, at least, a
plurality of applications downloadable to wireless communication
means.
13. A method for providing an application catalog for served
applications for wireless devices on a wireless network, each
wireless device having an end-user thereof, the method comprising
the steps of: optimizing an application catalog on an application
download server in selective communication to the wireless network,
the application download server selectively in communication with
one or more wireless devices and selectively downloading
applications thereto, the application catalog listing at least a
plurality of applications downloadable to wireless devices and
optimized based upon predetermined criteria such that the preferred
application to be downloaded by a wireless device is initially
displayed to a wireless device requesting access to the application
catalog; contacting the server from a wireless device; requesting
from the wireless device the application catalog; transmitting the
optimal application catalog to the wireless device; and displaying
the optimal application catalog to the end-user of the wireless
device.
14. The method of claim 13, wherein the step of optimizing an
application catalog based upon predetermined criteria is optimizing
the application catalog based upon, at least, end-user ratings sent
from the wireless devices.
15. The method of claim 14, further including the steps of:
generating end-user ratings for one or more applications from one
or more wireless devices; and receiving the end-user ratings at the
server, prior to the step of optimizing the application
catalog.
16. The method of claim 13, wherein the step of optimizing an
application catalog based upon predetermined criteria is optimizing
the application catalog based upon, at least, the specific user of
the wireless device attempting to access the catalog.
17. The method of claim 13, wherein the step of optimizing an
application catalog based upon predetermined criteria is optimizing
the application catalog based upon, at least, the overhead of the
server to download the application.
18. The method of claim 13, further comprising the step of selling
at least one application to the one or more wireless devices, and
wherein the step of optimizing an application catalog based upon
predetermined criteria is optimizing the application catalog based
upon, at least, application sales data.
19. The method of claim 13, wherein the step of optimizing an
application catalog based upon predetermined criteria is optimizing
the application catalog based upon, at least, the most commonly
downloaded applications.
20. The method of claim 19, wherein the step of optimizing an
application catalog based upon predetermined criteria is
dynamically optimizing the application catalog.
21. The method of claim 13, further comprising the steps of:
determining the predetermined criteria for application catalog
optimization at a computer device on the wireless network; and
transmitting the predetermined criteria to a server that optimizes
the application catalog resident on that server.
22. The method of claim 13, further comprising the step of
overriding the display of the optimal application catalog at the
end-user.
23. A method for providing an application catalog for served
applications for wireless devices on a wireless network, each
wireless device having an end-user thereof, the method comprising
the steps of: an optimization step for optimizing an application
catalog on an application download server in selective
communication to the wireless network, the application download
server selectively in communication with one or more wireless
devices and selectively downloading applications thereto, the
application catalog listing at least a plurality of applications
downloadable to wireless devices; an initial contact step from a
wireless device to the server; a catalog request step by the
wireless device; a transmission step of the optimal application
catalog to the wireless device; and a display step of the optimal
application catalog to the end-user of the wireless device.
24. An optimal application catalog resident on an application
download server and listing served applications to one or more
wireless devices on a wireless network, the one or more wireless
devices having an end-user thereof, the application catalog
displayable to the one or more wireless device across the wireless
network and optimized based upon predetermined criteria such that
the preferred application to be downloaded by a wireless device is
initially displayed to a wireless device attempting to access the
application catalog.
25. The application catalog of claim 24, wherein the application
catalog is optimized based upon, at least, end-user ratings sent
from the wireless devices.
26. The application catalog of claim 24, wherein the application
catalog is optimized based upon, at least, the identity of the
specific user of the wireless device attempting to access the
application catalog.
27. The application catalog of claim 24, wherein the application
catalog is optimized based upon, at least, the overhead of the
server to download the application.
28. The application catalog of claim 24, wherein the applications
are sold to wireless devices and the application catalog is
optimized based upon, at least, application sales data.
29. The application catalog of claim 24, wherein the application
catalog is optimized based upon, at least, the most commonly
downloaded applications.
30. The application catalog of claim 24, wherein the application
catalog is optimized based upon, at least, ongoing application
downloads.
31. A server including an application catalog for served
applications to one or more wireless each having an end-user
thereof, the server in selective communication to the wireless
network and downloading at least a plurality of applications to the
one or more wireless devices, the application catalog displayable
to the one or more wireless device across the wireless network and
listing at least the plurality of applications downloadable to
wireless devices, and the server further optimizing the catalog
based upon predetermined criteria such that the preferred
application to be downloaded by a wireless device is initially
displayed to a wireless device attempting to access the application
catalog.
32. The server of claim 31, wherein the predetermined criteria
include, at least, end-user ratings sent from the wireless
devices.
33. The server of claim 32, wherein the application catalog is
dynamically optimized based upon ongoing end-users ratings received
by the server.
34. The server of claim 31, wherein the predetermined criteria is,
at least, based upon the identity of the specific user of the
wireless device attempting to access the application catalog.
35. The server of claim 31, wherein the predetermined criteria is,
at least, based upon the overhead of the server to download the
application.
36. The server of claim 31, wherein the applications are sold to
wireless devices and the predetermined criteria is comprised of, at
least, application sales data.
37. The server of claim 31, wherein the predetermined criteria is
based upon, at least, the most commonly downloaded
applications.
38. The server of claim 37, wherein the application catalog is
dynamically optimized based upon ongoing application downloads.
39. The server of claim 31, wherein the server optimizes the
application catalog based upon received predetermined criteria from
another computer device.
40. In a computer readable medium, a program that directs a
computer to provide an application catalog for served applications
for wireless devices on a wireless network, each wireless device
having an end-user thereof, through performing the steps of:
optimizing an application catalog that lists at least a plurality
of applications downloadable to wireless devices and optimized
based upon predetermined criteria such that the preferred
application to be downloaded by a wireless device is initially
displayed to a wireless device requesting access to the application
catalog; receiving a request from a wireless device the application
catalog; and transmitting the optimal application catalog to the
wireless device.
41. The program of claim 40, wherein the program directs the
computer to perform the step of optimizing the application catalog
based upon, at least, end-user ratings sent from the wireless
devices.
42. The program of claim 40, wherein the program directs the
computer to perform the step of optimizing the application catalog
based upon, at least, the specific user of the wireless device
attempting to access the catalog.
43. The program of claim 40, wherein the program directs the
computer to perform the step of optimizing the application catalog
based upon, at least, the overhead to the computer to download the
application.
44. The program of claim 40, wherein the program directs the
computer to perform the step of optimizing the application catalog
based upon, at least, the most commonly downloaded
applications.
45. The program of claim 40, wherein the program directs the
computer to perform the step of dynamically optimizing the
application catalog.
46. The program of claim 40, wherein the program directs the
computer to perform the step of receiving the predetermined
criteria from another computer on the wireless network prior to
optimizing the application catalog.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0001] I. Field of the Invention
[0002] The present invention generally relates to wireless networks
and computer communications across the wireless networks. More
particularly, the invention relates to the provision of an
application catalog that lists a plurality of applications and data
that are served to wireless devices across a wireless network, and
the application catalog displays available applications and data to
the wireless device in an optimal manner.
[0003] II. Description of the Related Art
[0004] Wireless devices, such as cellular telephones, communicate
packets including voice and data over a wireless network. In
existing wireless networks, if the user of the wireless device
desires to download and use a software application, the user will
typically either call a service provider or contact the service
provider through another electronic means, such as through a
separate Internet access, and the service provider will either
transmit the application to the wireless device across the wireless
network or allow the user access a network site with the wireless
device through the wireless network where the application is
downloadable or accessible.
[0005] The applications and data that are downloadable to the
wireless device can also have overhead implications that the
end-user is unaware of, such as large size, popularity of download,
or cost to the provider in making a copy available. These factors
affecting download are currently accounted for at the service
provider side at the time and manner of download. Accordingly, it
is to the optimization of application and data transfer across a
wireless network that the present invention is primarily
directed.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0006] The invention is a system, method, and computer program for
providing an application catalog of served applications and data on
a wireless network to wireless devices seeking to download the
applications and/or data. The application catalog is displayable to
a wireless device across the wireless network, and the application
catalog lists at least a plurality of applications and/or data
downloadable to wireless devices and the application catalog is
optimized based upon predetermined criteria such that the preferred
application and/or data to be downloaded by a wireless device is
initially displayed to a wireless device attempting to access the
application catalog.
[0007] The system for providing an application catalog for served
applications on a wireless network particularly includes one or
more wireless devices in selective communication with the wireless
network where each wireless device having and end-user thereof, and
one or more application download servers in selective communication
to the wireless network, with each application download server
selectively in communication with the one or more wireless devices
and selectively downloading applications thereto. The application
download server further optimizes the application catalog based
upon predetermined criteria, such as overhead concerns, financial
criteria, or the like, whereby the preferred application to be
downloaded by a wireless device is initially displayed to a
wireless device attempting to access the application catalog.
[0008] The method for providing an application catalog for served
applications for wireless devices on a wireless network includes
the steps of optimizing an application catalog on an application
download server in selective communication to the wireless network,
the application catalog optimized based upon predetermined criteria
such that the preferred application to be downloaded by a wireless
device is initially displayed to a wireless device requesting
access to the application catalog, then contacting the server from
a wireless device and requesting, from the wireless device, the
application catalog. Then the method includes the steps of
transmitting the optimal application catalog from the application
catalog to the wireless device, and displaying the optimal
application catalog to the end-user of the wireless device. The
application catalog can be optimized based on one or a number of
predetermined criteria, such as end-user ratings, download rates,
application server overhead, marketing, advertising costs,
application download costs to the end-user, and bandwidth
constraints.
[0009] The system and method provide an optimal application catalog
on an application download server that lists downloadable
applications and data to wireless devices that selectively
communicate therewith and request the application catalog for
viewing. The application catalog is optimizable based upon one or a
number of predetermined criteria of the host of the application
download server. Furthermore, the application catalog can be
dynamically optimized in accord with any change in dynamic
predetermined criteria, such as end-user ratings, available
bandwidth, and overhead constraints.
[0010] Other objects, advantages, and features of the present
invention will become apparent after review of the hereinafter set
forth Brief Description of the Drawings, Detailed Description of
the Invention, and the Claims.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0011] FIG. 1 is a representative diagram of a wireless network and
the computer hardware and wireless devices that can be used within
the application catalog system.
[0012] FIG. 2 is a block diagram of the hardware components of the
wireless network providing communication between different wireless
devices, the application download server, and a separate database
of stored applications and data.
[0013] FIG. 3 is a block diagram of the wireless device side
components interacting with the carrier side components, and the
carrier side components provide the optimized application
catalog.
[0014] FIG. 4 is an application catalog displayed on a wireless
device to an end-user.
[0015] FIG. 5 is a flowchart illustrating the process executing on
an application download server receiving a request from a wireless
device for an application catalog, transmitting an appropriate
optimized application catalog to the wireless device, and
selectively further optimizing the application catalog with any
relevant gathered data.
[0016] FIG. 6 is a flowchart illustrating the process executing on
a wireless device in communication with the application download
server of FIG. 5, wherein the wireless device has requested,
received, and displayed the optimized application catalog and
selectively sends end-user data to the application download server
to assist in further optimization of the application catalog.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0017] With reference to the figures in which like numerals
represent like elements throughout, FIG. 1 illustrates one
embodiment of the present inventive system 10 for providing an
optimized application catalog to one or more wireless devices, such
as cellular telephone 12, in communication across a wireless
network 14 with at least one application download server 16 that
selectively downloads software applications or other data to the
wireless devices across a wireless communication portal or other
data access to the wireless network 14. As shown here, the wireless
device can be a cellular telephone 12, with a graphics display 13,
a personal digital assistant 18, a pager 20 with a graphics
display, which is shown here as a two-way text pager, or even a
separate computer platform 22 that has a wireless communication
portal, and may otherwise have a wired connection 24 to a network
or the Internet. The system 10 can thus be performed on any form of
remote computer module including a wireless communication portal,
including without limitation, wireless modems, PCMCIA cards, access
terminals, personal computers, access terminals, telephones without
a display or keypad, or any combination or sub-combination
thereof.
[0018] The system 10 for providing an application catalog, such as
the application catalog 87 shown in FIG. 4, for served applications
and data to the wireless devices 12,18,20,22 on the wireless
network 14. The term "application" as used herein is intended to
encompass executable and nonexecutable software files, raw data,
aggregated data, patches, and other code segments. In the system
10, one or more wireless devices 12,18,20,22 that are in selective
communication with the wireless network 14, each has and end-user
thereof that typical controls the communication connection to the
wireless network 14.
[0019] One or more application download servers, such as
application download server 16 shown here on a local server-side
network 26 or other computer elements in communication with the
wireless network 14, such as a stored application database 28 that
contains software applications and data that are accessible and
downloadable to be executable on the wireless devices 12,18,20,22.
There is also shown a stand-alone server 32, a second application
download server 30, and in a separate database 28 containing
applications and data for the wireless devices 12,18,20,22. All of
the components can work in tandem to provide the application
catalog 87 and optimization thereof as is further described herein.
However, it should be noted that all server-side functions can be
performed on one server, such as application download server 16.
Further, any computer or server-side computer platform can provide
separate services and processes to the wireless devices 12,18,20,22
across the wireless network 14.
[0020] FIG. 2 is a block diagram that more fully illustrates the
components of the wireless network 14 and interrelation of the
elements of the system 10. The wireless network 14 is merely
exemplary and can include any system whereby remote modules, such
as wireless devices 12,18,20,22, communicate over-the-air between
and among each other and/or between and among components of a
wireless network 14, including, without limitation, wireless
network carriers and/or servers. The application download server 16
and the stored application database 28, and other server-side
components, will be present on the cellular data network with any
other components that are needed to provide cellular
telecommunication services. The application download server 16
communicates with a carrier network 40 through a data link, such as
the Internet, a secure LAN, WAN, or other network. The carrier
network 40 controls messages (generally in the form of data
packets) sent to a messaging service controller ("MSC") 42. The
carrier network 40 communicates with the MSC 42 by a network, the
Internet and/or POTS ("plain ordinary telephone system").
Typically, the network or Internet connection between the carrier
network 40 and the MSC 42 transfers data, and the POTS transfers
voice information. The MSC 42 is connected to multiple base
stations ("BTS") 44. In a similar manner to the carrier network,
the MSC 42 is typically connected to the BTS 44 by both the network
and/or Internet for data transfer and POTS for voice information.
The BTS 44 ultimately broadcasts messages wirelessly to the
wireless devices, such as cellular telephone 12, by short messaging
service ("SMS"), or other over-the-air methods known in the
art.
[0021] The wireless device, such as cellular telephone 12, has a
computer platform 50 that can receive and execute software
applications transmitted from the application download server 16.
The computer platform 50 includes, among other components, an
application-specific integrated circuit ("ASIC") 52, or other
processor, microprocessor, logic circuit, programmable gate array,
or other data processing device. The ASIC 52 is installed at the
time of manufacture of the wireless device and is not normally
upgradeable. The ASIC 52 or other processor executes an application
programming interface ("API") layer 54 that interfaces with any
resident programs in the memory 56 of the wireless device. The
memory can be comprised of read-only or random-access memory (RAM
and ROM), EPROM, EEPROM, flash cards, or any memory common to
computer platforms. The computer platform 50 also includes a local
database 58 that can hold the software applications not actively
used in memory 56, such as the software applications downloaded
from the application download server 16. The local database 58 is
typically comprised of one or more flash memory cells, but can be
any secondary or tertiary storage device as known in the art, such
as magnetic media, EPROM, EEPROM, optical media, tape, or soft or
hard disk.
[0022] Cellular telephones, such as celluar telephone 12,
themselves are being manufactured with increased computing
capabilities and are becoming tantamount to personal computers and
hand-held personal digital assistants ("PDAs"). These "smart"
cellular telephones allow software developers to create software
applications that are downloadable and executable on the processor,
such as ASIC 52, of the cellular device. The wireless device, such
as cellular telephone 12, can download many types of applications,
such as games and stock monitors, or simply data such as news and
sports-related data. The downloaded data or executed applications
can be immediately displayed on the display 13 or stored in the
local database 58 when not in use. The software applications can be
treated as a regular software application resident on the wireless
device 12,18,20,22, and the user can selectively upload stored
resident applications from the local database 58 to memory 56 for
execution on the API 54. The user of the wireless device
12,18,20,22 can also selectively delete a software application from
the local database 58. As a result, end-users of cellular
telephones 12 can customize their telephones with programs, such as
games, printed media, stock updates, news, or any other type of
information or program available for download from application
download servers through the wireless network 14.
[0023] In developing wireless networks 14, if the end-user of the
wireless device desires to download and use a software application,
the end-user will attempt to connect to the application download
server 16 through bridging a communication connection to the
wireless network 14, and attempt to download the desired software
application. Once the wireless device contacts the application
download server 16, an initial contact is made and the application
download server 16 can determines what applications and data are
available to that wireless device 12,18,20,22 and send the
appropriate information, such as a menu or catalog, for display on
the wireless device 12,18,20,22 so the end-user can learn of the
available applications.
[0024] The conveyance of the menu or catalog however has an
associated overhead to the application download server 16, in both
size of the application to provide the menu and in the applications
that can be downloaded therefrom. Consequently, a poorly arranged
menu at the end-user can necessitate further menu downloads by the
user, which increases usage of the expensive bandwidth of the
wireless network 14 and cost to the end-user. The system 10
therefore provides an optimized application catalog (menu) to the
end-user to facilitate application and data download across the
wireless network 14.
[0025] Another embodiment of the system is illustrated in the block
diagram of FIG. 3, wherein the component interaction of the
wireless device side 60 and the carrier side 62 (such as a cellular
telecommunications carrier) is shown. On the wireless device side
60, the application provisioning client 64 is activated by the
end-user to access the application download server 16 resident on
the carrier side. The user administrator 66 allows the user to
control the view of the application catalog, once received at the
wireless device side 60, and ultimate user applications 72
interacted with at the carrier side 62. In one embodiment of the
user administrator 66, the end-user of the wireless device can
override the optimal display of the application catalog 87 (FIG. 4)
if so desired. The user administrator 66 can be integrated with the
application provisioning client 64 or be a separate object on the
wireless device platform 50.
[0026] On the carrier side 62, the carrier applications view
manager 68 is on the carrier network and interfaces with the
carrier's application download server 76 (such as application
download server 16), the user applications 72 stored and in
execution, and other server-side components, such as databases
78,80,82 in the data collection and storage 74. The carrier
applications view manager 68 provides a dynamic view of the
application catalog 87 (FIG. 4) to the wireless devices 12,18,20,22
based upon the input and interaction with the wireless device, and
local control exercised by the carrier. The carrier administrator
70 allows the carrier to control the carrier applications view
manager 68 and thus ultimately control the interaction with the
wireless device contacting the carrier side 62. The data collection
and storage 74 is shown as embodied with a database for application
user ratings 78, application revenue 80, and application
advertisements 82, all of which can form singly in or in tandem the
predetermined criteria to optimize the applications catalog 87.
[0027] FIG. 4 is a partial view 86 of the display 13 having an
application catalog 87 shown thereon. The application catalog 87
lists at least a plurality of applications 88 downloadable to
wireless devices 12,18,20,22, and the displayed applications are
optimizable based upon predetermined criteria such that the
preferred application to be downloaded by a wireless device is
initially displayed to a wireless device attempting to access the
application catalog 87. The optimization of the application catalog
87 can occur based upon performance enhancing criteria, such as
optimal bandwidth utilization, or economic reasons to the carrier
or host of the application download server 16, or some combination
of predetermined criteria. The predetermined criteria can include
end-user ratings sent from the wireless devices, such as the
ratings stored in database 78, and the application catalog 87 can
be dynamically optimized based upon ongoing end-users ratings as
received. The predetermined criteria can also be based upon the
identity of the specific user of the wireless device 12,18,20, 22
attempting to access the application catalog 87, in conjunction
with some marketing or preference profile of that end-user.
[0028] In regard to performance aspects, the predetermined criteria
can be based upon the overhead of the server to download the
application, or the most commonly downloaded applications (wherein
the most commonly download applications appear first to the
end-user). And other marketing and advertising concerns can be
accounted for at the carrier side to determine application catalog
87 presentation, such as if the applications are sold to wireless
devices and the predetermined criteria can application sales data,
wherein the greatest profit making applications for the carrier can
be first listed on the application catalog 87. Other fiscal
predetermined criteria can be advertising time sales, simple slot
(list placement) purchase, or other criteria that inure a benefit
to the carrier in arranging the application catalog 87.
[0029] The predetermined criteria can be stored on the same server
that serves the applications transmitted to the server, such as
application download server 16, and that server optimizes the
application catalog 87. Alternately, the predetermined data and
application catalog 87 can be stored on other server-side or
networked components, such as database 28 and server 32 (FIG. 1),
and the server receives predetermined criteria from another source
and then optimizes the application catalog 87, or the server can
simply receive an optimized application catalog 87 to provide with
the server's particular served applications and data. Any of the
functionality as described herein can be shared among several
computer devices, as would be known in the art.
[0030] As is further shown in the application catalog 87 of FIG. 4,
the end-user can be allowed to override the optimal list
appearance, such as with a next screen button 89. Other controls
can be provided at the wireless device 12,18,20,22 whereby the
end-user can customize the wireless device to limit the manner of
display of the application catalog 87.
[0031] FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing one embodiment of the process
executed on the application download server 16 to provide the
optimized application catalog 87 is shown in the flowchart of FIG.
5. In the process, the application download server 16 first
optimizes the application catalog 87 based upon one or more desired
predetermined criteria, as shown at step 90. This step occurs here
before any subsequent display of an application catalog 87 such
that most optimal application catalog 87 is displayed to the
wireless device 12,18,20,22, but can occur at any time on the
server 16. Once the application download server 16 receives the
request from the wireless device to display the application catalog
87, as shown at step 92, it is determined which application catalog
87 (if so embodied) to display for the particular wireless device
12,18,20,22 requests the application catalog 87. The type of
application catalog 87 sent can be varied as a function of
optimization or simply due to the specific capabilities of the
wireless device.
[0032] Once the specific application catalog 87 to send to the
wireless device has been determined at step 94, the chosen optimal
application catalog 87 is transmitted across the wireless network
14 to the wireless device 12,18,20, 22 for display thereon, as
shown at step 96. After transmission of the application catalog 87,
and a determination is made as to whether an application or data is
requested, as shown at decision 98. Decision 98 is a generic
determination and if some application and data is requested, a
predefined transmission of the application or data is sent, as
shown by predefined process 100. After the predefined process 100,
or if there was not a request for applications or data at decision
98, a determination is made as to whether there is any data present
to update the predetermined criteria, as shown at decision 102.
Examples of the data would be either ratings data sent from the
wireless device 12,18,20,22, recordation of the specific number of
the applications downloaded, or recordation of the technical
aspects of the download. If there is no data for application
catalog 87 optimization at decision 102, then the process returns
to wait and receive a request from a wireless device to send an
application catalog at step 92. Otherwise, if there is data present
to optimize the application catalog 87 at decision 102, then the
process returns to step 90 and optimizes the application catalog 87
with the new data.
[0033] The flowchart of FIG. 6 illustrates the parallel process on
the wireless device 12,18,20,22 in communication with the
application download server 16 executing the process shown in FIG.
5. The wireless device 12,18,20,22 sends a request to the
application download server 16 to receive an application catalog
87, as shown at step 104, and then a determination is made as to
whether the requested application catalog 87 was received, as shown
at decision 108. If the application catalog 87 was not received at
decision 108, then an error is output to the end-user of the
wireless device, as shown at step 106, and the process terminates.
Otherwise, once the application catalog 87 is received at decision
108, the application catalog 87 (preferably sent in optimized form
from the application download server 16) displays the application
catalog 87 on the display of the wireless device, such as display
13 on cellular telephone 12, to the end-user, as shown at step
110.
[0034] After display of the application catalog 87 in step 110, a
determination is made as to whether the end-user has requested the
application and/or data from the application download server 16, as
shown at decision 112. If not, decision 112 is reiterated as the
process enters a wait-state until an action is taken by the
end-user, such as the request of an application or data, or
specific end-user termination of the process. If the end-user has
requested the download of applications and/or data at decision 112,
then the wireless device 12,18,20,22 downloads and displays the
requested application and/or data on the wireless device
12,18,20,22, as shown at step 114. Once the application and/or data
has been downloaded and displayed, a determination is made as to
whether the end-user data is present to send to the application
download server 16 (or other networked device) for optimization of
the application catalog 87, as shown at decision 116. An example of
such data would be an end-user rating of the downloaded application
and/or data. If there is no data present at decision 116 to send to
the application download server 16 or other computer device for
application catalog 87 optimization, then the process terminates.
Otherwise, the end-user data is sent from the wireless device
12,18,20,22 to the application download server 16 or computer
device across the wireless network 14 for application catalog 87
optimization as shown at step 118, and the process on the wireless
device then terminates.
[0035] The system 10 thus includes a method for providing an
application catalog 87 for served applications for wireless devices
12,18,20,22 on a wireless network 14 including the steps of
optimizing an application catalog 87, preferably on an application
download server 16 in selective communication to the wireless
network 14, based upon predetermined criteria such that the
preferred application to be downloaded by a wireless device
12,18,20,22 is initially displayed to a wireless device requesting
access to the application catalog 87, as shown in FIG. 4. The
method further includes the step of contacting the server from a
wireless device 12,18,20,22, as shown at step 92, requesting from
the wireless device the application catalog 87, as shown at step
104, transmitting the optimal application catalog 87 to the
wireless device, as shown at step 96, and displaying the optimal
application catalog 87 to the end-user of the wireless device, such
as shown at step 114 and in FIG. 4. The method can additionally
include the step of overriding the display of the optimal
application catalog at the end-user, such as shown through the
change view button 89 in FIG. 4.
[0036] The step of optimizing an application catalog 87 based upon
predetermined criteria can be optimizing the application catalog
based upon one or many criteria, including end-user ratings sent
from the wireless devices 12,18,20,22. Thus, the method would then
further include the steps of generating end-user ratings for one or
more applications from one or more wireless devices 12,18,20,22 and
receiving the end-user ratings at the application download server
16 or other computer device, prior to the step of optimizing the
application catalog 87. The step of optimizing the application
catalog can also include optimization based upon, at least, the
specific user of the wireless device 12,18,20,22 attempting to
access the application catalog 87, the overhead of the application
download server 16 or other computer device to download the
application, or the most commonly downloaded applications from the
application download server 16 or other computer device.
[0037] The method can include the step of selling at least one
application to the wireless devices 12,18,20,22, and the step of
optimizing an application catalog 87 can include optimizing the
application catalog 87 based upon, at least, application sales
data. The step of optimizing an application catalog 87 can occur
dynamically as the predetermined criteria changes. Moreover, the
method can further include the steps of determining the
predetermined criteria for application catalog 87 optimization at
one computer device on the wireless network 14, such as second
application download server 30, or stand-alone server 32, and
transmitting the predetermined criteria to a server optimizing the
application catalog 87 resident to the server, such as application
download server 16.
[0038] In view of the method being executable on the computer
platform of a wireless device 12,18,20,22, the present invention
includes a program resident in a computer readable medium, where
the program directs a server or other computer device having a
computer platform to perform the steps of the method. The computer
readable medium can be the memory of the application download
server 16, or can be in a connective database, such as database 28.
Further, the computer readable medium can be in a secondary storage
media that is loadable onto a wireless device computer platform,
such as a magnetic disk or tape, optical disk, hard disk, flash
memory, or other storage media as is known in the art.
[0039] In the context of FIGS. 5 and 6, the method may be
implemented, for example, by operating portion(s) of the wireless
network 14 to execute a sequence of machine-readable instructions,
such as wireless platform 50, the application download server 16,
and stand-alone server 32. The instructions can reside in various
types of signal-bearing or data storage primary, secondary, or
tertiary media. The media may comprise, for example, RAM (not
shown) accessible by, or residing within, the components of the
wireless network 14. Whether contained in RAM, a diskette, or other
secondary storage media, the instructions may be stored on a
variety of machine-readable data storage media, such as DASD
storage (e.g., a conventional "hard drive" or a RAID array),
magnetic tape, electronic read-only memory (e.g., ROM, EPROM, or
EEPROM), flash memory cards, an optical storage device (e.g.
CD-ROM, WORM, DVD, digital optical tape), paper "punch" cards, or
other suitable data storage media including digital and analog
transmission media.
[0040] While the foregoing disclosure shows illustrative
embodiments of the invention, it should be noted that various
changes and modifications could be made herein without departing
from the scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims.
Furthermore, although elements of the invention may be described or
claimed in the singular, the plural is contemplated unless
limitation to the singular is explicitly stated.
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