Communications Client Provisioning via Virtual Machine Abstraction
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing methods for adding a communications client to a host wireless device require certification and software downloads, limiting flexibility and compatibility with native applications, and do not allow for seamless provisioning of service types without altering the device or its software.
Innovation Solution
A divided architecture that uses a virtual machine to run client applications, interacting with host-dependent features through abstraction layers, allowing client applications to communicate with host applications without direct hardware interaction, and enabling provisioning of client services without software downloads by utilizing existing device configurations.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If a client is integrated after-market onto a wireless device, then functionality is extended, but certification requirements are not met
Solution Approach 1:
The system is divided into a certified host device and an uncertified client application. The host device maintains its certification while the client runs as a separate software component, eliminating the need to re-certify the entire device when adding new functionality.
Solution Approach 2:
An abstraction layer is introduced between the client application and the host device hardware/software. This intermediary layer allows the client to access host resources without direct hardware interaction, maintaining certification compliance while enabling functionality extension.
2Adaptability or versatility
If software is downloaded to provision a client, then service types can be added, but device complexity and provisioning time increase
Solution Approach 1:
Multiple service type configurations are pre-stored in the device's data stores during manufacturing. When provisioning is needed, the system simply selects and activates the appropriate pre-configured service type without requiring software downloads, reducing complexity and provisioning time.
3Speed
If client applications directly interact with host hardware, then communication efficiency is improved, but certification is compromised
Solution Approach 1:
An abstraction layer serves as an intermediary between client applications and host hardware/software. This layer enables efficient communication by providing standardized access methods while preventing direct hardware interaction that would compromise certification.
4Adaptability or versatility
If device settings are manually configured for each client, then customization is achieved, but provisioning time and complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The host device settings are designed to be universally applicable to multiple client service types. When a service type is selected, the system automatically propagates the existing host settings to the client, eliminating manual configuration steps and reducing provisioning time.
Data Source
AI summary
An apparatus for provisioning a data communications client on a host communications device, the host communications device adapted to operate on a communications network, the apparatus comprising: a first data store adapted to store variant configuration information; a second data store adapted to store provisioning information; a provisioning module adapted to select the provisioning information stored in said second data store as a function of the variant configuration information stored in said first data store and apply the selected provisioning information to provision the data communications client; and a user interface interacting with said provisioning module to enable a user of the host communications device to provision the data communications client.