Server-controlled heartbeats

Abstract

A client-side device is capable of wirelessly sending heartbeats to a server-side device. The server-side device is capable of instruction the client-side device when and at what frequency to send a next heartbeat. Additionally, the server-side device is capable of instructing the client-side device how to send a next heartbeat.

1 . A system, comprising:
 a server side component; and   a client side component arranged to send to the server side component a request for an update,   wherein the server side component is arranged to send to the client side component a response indicating a condition for the client side component to send a next request for an update.   
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the condition comprises at least one of a predetermined time interval, a predetermined time, and an event trigger for sending the next request. 
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a store of delay times, wherein the response indicates to the client side component at least one of the stored delay times.   
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 3 , wherein at least one of the stored delay times is configurable. 
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 4 , wherein at least one of the stored delay times is adjustable based on a load condition of the server side component. 
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 3 , wherein the at least one of the stored delay times indicated to the client side component is dependent on at least one of a type of the client side component, a group associated with the client side component, and a carrier of a service provided to the client side component. 
     
     
         7 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the request is sent wirelessly from the client side component. 
     
     
         8 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the response is received wirelessly by the client side component. 
     
     
         9 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the request is in a form of at least one of an HTTP request and an SMS message. 
     
     
         10 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the server side component is further arranged to send to the client side component a response indicating a communication protocol by which the client side component is to send the next request. 
     
     
         11 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the client side component is any one of a mobile phone, a personal digital assistant, a portable e-mail device, a desktop computer, and a notebook computer. 
     
     
         12 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the update is at least one of an operating system update, a security update, a service update, an application update, a data update, a communication protocol update, a library update, and a driver update. 
     
     
         13 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the response is in a form of at least one of an HTTP request and an SMS message. 
     
     
         14 . A method of performing updates, comprising:
 from a client device, sending a request for an update to a server; and   from the server, sending a response to the client device, wherein the response indicates a condition for the client side component to send a next request for an update.   
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein the request is sent wirelessly from the client device, and wherein the response is received wirelessly by the client device. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein the client device is any one of a mobile phone, a personal digital assistant, a portable e-mail device, a desktop computer, and a notebook computer. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein the response comprises a specified delay time. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein at least one of the request and the response is sent in a form of at least one of an HTTP message and an SMS message. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein the update is at least one of an operating system update, a security update, a service update, an application update, a data update, a communication protocol update, a library update, and a driver update. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 14 , further comprising:
 from the server, sending a response to the client device, wherein the response indicates a communication protocol by which the client device is to send the next request.   
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein the condition comprises at least one of a predetermined time interval, a predetermined time, and an event trigger for sending the next request. 
     
     
         22 . A mobile computing device, comprising:
 a first module arranged to wirelessly send a request for an update to a server;   a second module arranged to wirelessly receive a response from the server; and   a third module arranged to wirelessly send a next request for an update at a time indicated in the response.   
     
     
         23 . The mobile computing device of  claim 22 , wherein the request is in a form of at least one of an HTTP message and an SMS message. 
     
     
         24 . The mobile computing device of  claim 22 , wherein the response is in a form of at least one of an HTTP message and an SMS message. 
     
     
         25 . The mobile computing device of  claim 22 , wherein the third module is further arranged to wirelessly send the next request according to a communication protocol specified in the response. 
     
     
         26 . The mobile computing device of  claim 22 , wherein the mobile computing device is any one of a mobile phone, a personal digital assistant, and a portable e-mail device. 
     
     
         25 . The mobile computing device of  claim 22 , wherein the update is at least one of an operating system update, a security update, a service update, an application update, a data update, a communication protocol update, a library update, and a driver update.