System and method for adaptive theming of a mobile device

Abstract

In the field of mobile devices, it is desirable to allow parties extraneous to a mobile device's manufacturer the ability to theme the mobile device. It is also desirable to allow changes to the theme of the mobile device in order to reflect changes in the corporate identity or services offered by a vendor or carrier associated with the mobile device. Herein provided are methods for the just in time theming of a mobile device. The methods allow for a mobile device to transmit identification information upon activation, receive user interface customization information in response to the transmitted identification information and to subsequently set the mobile device's user interface to correspond with the received user interface customization information. Also provided are methods for a server to receive identification information, provide the appropriate user interface customization information based on the received identification information and supply the user interface customization information by transmitting the information.

1 . A method for customizing a user interface ‘UI’ of a mobile device comprising:
 detecting an activation of the mobile device;   transmitting identification information from the mobile device subsequent to the detecting;   receiving UI customization information at the mobile device in response to the transmitted identification information; and   customizing the UI of the mobile device based on the received UI customization information.   
   
   
       2 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the identification information comprises a vendor identification. 
   
   
       3 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the identification information comprises a device identification. 
   
   
       4 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the identification information comprises subscriber identity information. 
   
   
       5 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the identification information comprises class of service information. 
   
   
       6 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the activation is an initial activation of the mobile device. 
   
   
       7 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the received UI customization information is a UI theme file. 
   
   
       8 . The method of  claim 1  further comprising the step of customizing the UI of the mobile device based on default customizing information prior to the step of detecting the activation. 
   
   
       9 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the step of receiving the UI customization information comprises receiving the UI customization information over the air. 
   
   
       10 . A mobile computing device, comprising:
 a display for rendering a user interface ‘UI’, the UI having visual elements displayed in accordance with a UI customization;   a communication subsystem for effectuating communications;   a memory storing identification information; and   a UI customization manager for detecting activation of the mobile computing device, transmitting the identification information, receiving UI customization information in response to the transmitted identification information, and customizing the UI of the mobile device based upon the received UI customization information.   
   
   
       11 . A method for supplying user interface ‘UI’ customization information comprising:
 receiving identification information;   providing UI customization information based on the received identification information; and   transmitting the provided UI customization information as a response to receiving the identification information.   
   
   
       12 . The method of  claim 11  wherein the identification information comprises a vendor identification. 
   
   
       13 . The method of  claim 11  wherein the identification information comprises a device identification. 
   
   
       14 . The method of  claim 11  wherein the step of providing includes retrieving the UI customization information from a store. 
   
   
       15 . The method of  claim 14  wherein the store is on a remote server. 
   
   
       16 . The method of  claim 11  wherein the UI customization information is a UI customization file. 
   
   
       17 . The method of  claim 11  further comprising a step of receiving the UI customization information prior to the step of receiving the identification information. 
   
   
       18 . The method of  claim 11  wherein the step of receiving the identification information comprises receiving the identification information over the air. 
   
   
       19 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein prior to the step of providing UI customization information, the method further comprises the steps of:
 storing the identification information; and   detecting an update to associated UI customization information for the received identification information.   
   
   
       20 . A user interface data provider system for customizing a user interface ‘UI’ of a mobile device, comprising:
 a server adapted to receive identification information from the mobile device, provide UI customization information based on the received identification information, and transmit the provided UI customization information to the mobile device in response to receiving the identification information.