Dynamic service enablement of applications in heterogenous mobile environments

Abstract

A system and methodology for dynamically enabling services related to digital content. The services are provided to mobile users on their mobile devices by a mobile service provider. The mobile devices may have different operating systems which may be proprietary operating systems and open operating systems. A mobile user downloads a client on his mobile device. The client implements a policy-based workflow on the digital content. Thereafter, the mobile user downloads digital content. Where a Java enabled mobile device is used, a wrapper is downloaded with the digital content. The mobile user initiates a request to use the digital content. The mobile service provider dynamically generates a set of options for the mobile user. Each option provides a service related to the digital content. The mobile service provider delivers a service according to the option selected by the mobile user.

1 . A method for dynamically enabling services for mobile users, the services being related to digital content, the services being provided by a mobile service provider, the services being received by the mobile users on their mobile devices, the mobile devices being Java enabled, the services being defined in a workflow, the workflow being based on policies, the workflow being implemented on the digital content by a wrapper, the wrapper being applied to the digital content, the method comprising the steps of: 
 a. downloading the digital content by a mobile user, wherein the wrapper is downloaded along with the digital content;    b. initiating a request by the mobile user for using the digital content, wherein the request is sent to the mobile service provider;    c. generating dynamically a set of options for the mobile user, the set of options being generated by applying policies to a context information by the mobile service provider, the context information being related to the mobile user, each option from the set of options providing a service related to the digital content, wherein the mobile user is prompted to select an option from the set of options;    d. informing the mobile service provider about the option selected by the mobile user, through the wrapper; and    e. delivering the service to the mobile user by the mobile service provider according to the option selected by the mobile user.    
   
   
       2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the digital content comprises a Java2 Micro Edition (J2ME) application.  
   
   
       3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the context information comprises information about at least one of: the mobile device used by the mobile user, the profile of the mobile user, the preferences of the mobile user, the network of the mobile user, network geography, time of a day, and events associated with the day.  
   
   
       4 . The method of  claim 3  further comprising the step of facilitating display of one or more advertisements, the advertisements being based on the context information.  
   
   
       5 . The method of  claim 4 , wherein the step of facilitating the display of the one or more advertisements comprises the step of displaying the advertisement with user options for mobile user, the user options prompting the mobile user to perform an action related to a displayed advertisement.  
   
   
       6 . The method of  claim 4;  wherein the step of facilitating the display of the one or more advertisements comprises the step of displaying at least one of: an advertisement for a free digital content, an advertisement for a discounted content, an advertisement for a digital content with a predefined price, an advertisement for a product, and an advertisement for a service.  
   
   
       7 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the step of generating dynamically the set of options for the mobile user comprises the step of providing the services, the services comprising at least one of: using the digital content and referring the digital content to another mobile user.  
   
   
       8 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein the step of using the digital content comprises at least one of: executing the digital content, purchasing a license, viewing related digital content, purchasing the related digital content, and accessing a vault, the vault being a personal online storage space.  
   
   
       9 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein the step of purchasing the license comprises the step of allowing purchase of the license through the wrapper before an existing license expires, the step of purchasing the license being facilitated without a need to download the digital content again.  
   
   
       10 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein the step of purchasing the license comprises the step of making a payment by the mobile user corresponding to the license to be purchased, the payment being made through a charging mechanism.  
   
   
       11 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the charging mechanism comprises at least one of: an operator billing, billing aggregator, WAP billing, SMS billing, a credit-card, debit card, Automatic Clearing House (ACH), and a mobile-wallet (m-wallet).  
   
   
       12 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein the related digital content is selected on the basis of at least one of: the request initiated by the mobile user and the context information.  
   
   
       13 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein the related digital content comprises the digital content, the digital content being compatible with the mobile device is selected from at least one of: J2ME application, a game, a screen saver, a tone, a music, a video clip, a Multimedia Messaging Service (MMS), informational services, and a wall paper.  
   
   
       14 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein the step of referring the digital content to another mobile user comprises at least one of sharing the digital content with another mobile user, challenging another mobile user, and gifting the digital content to another mobile user.  
   
   
       15 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein the step of gifting the digital content to the another mobile user comprises the steps of: 
 a. displaying a phone book to the mobile user to choose mobile number of the another mobile user;    b. prompting the mobile user for confirmation of a charge of the digital content using a charging mechanism;    c. facilitating the communication of the confirmation to the mobile service provider through the wrapper;    d. sending a Wireless Application Protocol (WAP) push with a gift message to the another mobile user by the mobile service provider, the WAP push being sent to determine a mobile device being used by the another mobile user;    e. sending a compatible digital content by the mobile service provider, the compatible digital content being compatible with the determined mobile device, to the other mobile user; and    f. committing the charge to the mobile user by the mobile service provider.    
   
   
       16 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the digital content is downloaded through at least one of: Internet, email, Compact Disc (CD), Infrared, Bluetooth, binary Short Messaging Service (SMS), and WAP.  
   
   
       17 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the method is carried out by one or more computer programs.  
   
   
       18 . A method for dynamically enabling services for mobile users, the services being related to a digital content, the services being provided by a mobile service provider, the services being received by the mobile users on their mobile devices, the mobile devices using open operating systems, the services being defined in a workflow, the workflow being based on policies, the workflow being implemented on the digital content by a client, the method comprising the steps of: 
 a. downloading the digital content by a mobile user, wherein the client is downloaded before the digital content;    b. initiating a request by the mobile user for using the digital content, wherein the request is sent to the mobile service provider;    c. generating dynamically a set of options for the mobile user, the set of options being generated by application of policies on the context information by the mobile service provider, a context information being related to the mobile user, each option from the set of options providing a service, wherein the mobile user is prompted to select an option from the set of options;    d. informing the mobile service provider about the option selected by the mobile user through the client; and    e. delivering the service to the mobile user by the mobile service provider, according to the option selected by the mobile user.    
   
   
       19 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein an open operating system installed on a mobile device is at least one of Microsoft Pocket PC™, WinCE™, and Symbian™.  
   
   
       20 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein the digital content comprises a digital application, the digital application being at least one of a J2ME application, a Symbian application, and a native application.  
   
   
       21 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein the workflow based on Digital Rights Management (DRM) policies is implemented on the digital content by the client.  
   
   
       22 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein the digital content and the client are downloaded through at least one of: Internet, email, Compact Disc (CD), Infrared, Bluetooth, binary SMS, and WAP.  
   
   
       23 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein the method is carried out by one or more computer programs.  
   
   
       24 . A system for dynamically enabling services for mobile users, the services being related to a digital content, the services being defined in a workflow, the workflow being based on policies, the workflow being implemented on the digital content by a wrapper, the wrapper being applied to the digital content, the system comprising: 
 a. at least one mobile service provider, the mobile service provider facilitating dynamic enablement of the services, the mobile service provider comprising a mobile application server, the mobile application server enabling implementation of the workflow on the digital content and delivery of the services, the mobile application server further comprising: 
 i. a User Interaction Workflow Engine (UIWE), the UIWE interacting with the wrapper and facilitating application of policies on a context information, to generate a set of options, the context information being related to a mobile user, each option from the set of options providing a service;  
 ii. a context server, the context server providing the context information to the UIWE, the context server comprising a database of the context information, the context information comprising information about at least one of: a mobile device used by the mobile user, profile of the mobile user, preferences of the mobile user, a network of the mobile user, and, a network geography; and  
 iii. a Service Control and Execution Unit (SCEU), the SCEU defining a control workflow, the mobile application server working on the basis of the control workflow including instructions between the UIWE, the context server, and service delivery functions of the mobile application server, and between the UIWE and the wrapper; and  
   b. at least one mobile device, the mobile device downloading the digital content along with the wrapper, the wrapper implementing the workflow on the digital content for enabling the services on the mobile device.    
   
   
       25 . The system of  claim 24 , wherein the mobile service provider includes an advertisement server, the advertisement server comprising: 
 a. an advertisement database, the advertisement database further comprising means for interacting with the context server for determining the one or more advertisement on the basis of the context information; and    b. means for delivering the one or more advertisements to the mobile user.    
   
   
       26 . The system of  claim 24 , wherein the service delivery functions comprise a messaging unit, a licensing server, and a charging unit.  
   
   
       27 . The system of  claim 24 , wherein the services are present in at least one of a network operator, an enterprise, and one or more mobile service providers.  
   
   
       28 . A system for dynamically enabling services for mobile users, the services being related to a digital content, the services being defined in a workflow, the workflow being based on policies, the workflow being implemented on the digital content by a client, the system comprising: 
 a. at least one mobile service provider, the mobile service provider facilitating dynamic enablement of the services, the mobile service provider comprising a mobile application server, the mobile application server enabling implementation of the workflow on the digital content and delivery of the services, the mobile application server further comprising: 
 i. a User Interaction Workflow Engine (UIWE), the UIWE interacting with the client and facilitating application of policies on the context information, to generate a set of options, a context information being related to a mobile user, each option from the set of options providing a service;  
 ii. a context server, the context server providing the context information to the UIWE, the context server comprising a database of the context information, the context information comprising information about at least one of a mobile device used by the mobile user, profile of the mobile user, preferences of the mobile user, a network of the mobile user, a network geography, time of a day, events associated with the day, and the digital content; and  
 iii. a Service Control and Execution Unit (SCEU), the SCEU defining a control workflow, the mobile application server working on the basis of the control workflow, the control workflow including instructions between the UIWE, the context server, and service delivery functions of the mobile application server, and, between the UIWE and the client; and  
   b. at least one mobile device, the mobile device having downloaded the digital content and the client, the client implementing the workflow on the digital content, for enabling the services on the mobile device.    
   
   
       29 . The system of  claim 28 , wherein the mobile service provider includes an advertisement server, the advertisement server comprising: 
 a. an advertisement database, the advertisement database further comprising means for interacting with a context server for determining the advertisement on the basis of the context information; and    b. means for delivering the advertisements to the mobile user.    
   
   
       30 . The method of  claim 28 , wherein the service delivery functions comprise a messaging unit, a licensing server, and a charging unit.  
   
   
       31 . The system of  claim 28 , wherein the services are present in at least one of a network operator, an enterprise, and one or more mobile service providers.