Dynamic Update Frequency Control for Mobile Application Synchronization

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Solution Overview

Problem

Mobile device application provisioning faces challenges in loading applications not available at factory build time and synchronizing application lists efficiently, as well as dynamically controlling update frequencies, which existing systems fail to address effectively.

Innovation Solution

A mobile wireless communications system that includes an application catalog server and an application storage server, enabling carriers to dynamically manage and update mobile device applications, with features like auto-loading of applications at initial boot and push-based notification for updates, reducing resource consumption and allowing flexible update frequencies.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If mobile devices check for application updates frequently, then the application list is kept up-to-date, but device resources and network bandwidth are consumed

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveapplication list synchronizationVSAvoiddevice resource consumption
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The system implements periodic update checking where mobile devices poll the application catalog server at predetermined intervals rather than continuously. This periodic action maintains synchronization reliability while significantly reducing device resource consumption and network bandwidth usage compared to frequent or continuous checking mechanisms.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #19Periodic action

2Speed

If mobile devices check for application updates continuously, then the latest applications are available immediately, but network bandwidth and server resources are consumed

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveapplication update availabilityVSAvoidnetwork bandwidth consumption
Core Design Contradiction:
SpeedVSLoss of energy

Solution Approach 1:

The system employs periodic polling at predetermined intervals instead of continuous checking, which reduces network bandwidth consumption and server resource usage while still ensuring that application updates are available in a timely manner. This balanced approach optimizes both speed of update availability and resource efficiency.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #19Periodic action

3Speed

If application updates are pushed immediately to devices, then users get latest applications quickly, but network resources and device power are consumed

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveupdate delivery speedVSAvoidnetwork and device resource consumption
Core Design Contradiction:
SpeedVSLoss of energy

Solution Approach 1:

The system uses periodic polling where devices check for updates at predetermined intervals rather than implementing continuous push notifications. This approach delivers updates efficiently when they occur while minimizing unnecessary network transmissions and device power consumption that would result from continuous active pushing mechanisms.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #19Periodic action

4Adaptability or versatility

If carriers can dynamically control update frequency, then resource consumption is optimized, but system complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveupdate frequency controlVSAvoidsystem configuration complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The system implements dynamic update frequency control through a configuration file stored on the application catalog server that contains carrier-specific and device-type-specific polling intervals. This dynamic configuration allows carriers to optimize resource consumption for different scenarios without requiring complex real-time control mechanisms, achieving adaptability through pre-configured parameters rather than complex runtime decision-making.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Data Source

PatentEP2175614B1System and methods for configuring an updating frequency for mobile wireless communications device application updates and related methods
Publication Date: 2013.04.10 BLACKBERRY LTD
  • EP2175614B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP2175614B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP2175614B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

A mobile wireless communications system may include an application server for providing a plurality of mobile device applications and updates thereto, and a plurality of mobile wireless communications devices communicating with the application server via a wireless communications network for selectively downloading and installing available mobile device applications and updates. The application server may have a selectable update frequency for different mobile wireless communications devices based upon respective account parameters associated therewith.