System and method for dynamic content processing with extendable provisioning

Abstract

Data can be stored in a wide variety of formats, and it is recognized that not all terminals have the resources for storing the appropriate Application Program for processing and/or viewing the data as defined in a particular format. Systems and methods are described for dynamically processing a generic content expressed in a structured definition language. The systems and methods use an associated content handler having a set of instructions suitable for processing the content, such as XML content. The method comprises receiving a content envelope including the content and a reference to the associated content handler. The associated content handler is requested using the reference, the reference including a reference location for the content handler. Once obtained, the content is processed using the set of instructions of the content handler. The instructions can be expressed in script and/or code.

1 . A method for dynamically processing of generic content expressed in an extensible markup language (XML) on a wireless computing device, the method comprising the steps of:
 preparing a content envelope to comprise XML content;   inserting a reference to an associated content handler in the context envelope, the content handler being specific to the content and the wireless computing device and comprising a set of instructions for processing the XML content and the reference including a reference location for the content handler; and   making available the content handler for being accessed by the reference;   wherein once obtained, processing the content using the set of instructions of the content handler to process the XML content.   
     
     
         2 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the content handler is retrieved from a remote storage location. 
     
     
         3 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the content handler is retrieved from a local storage location. 
     
     
         4 . The method according to  claim 3 , wherein the content handler is pushed to the local storage location from a remote server. 
     
     
         5 . The method according to  claim 1  further comprising the step of implementing a service framework for providing service functionality to interact with the content handler. 
     
     
         6 . The method according to  claim 5 , wherein the service framework is shared between a plurality of the content handlers and their corresponding application programs. 
     
     
         7 . The method according to  claim 6 , wherein the service framework comprises services selected from the group comprising; an application manager, a handler validator, a provisioning manager, a communications manager, a script interpreter, and a persistence manager. 
     
     
         8 . The method according to  claim 7  further comprising the step of the provisioning manager providing application program interfaces for enabling dynamic processing using the content handlers. 
     
     
         9 . The method according to  claim 5 , wherein the service framework provides at least one of a content handler look-up, content handler downloading, content handler deleting, and content handler suspending service. 
     
     
         10 . A wireless terminal for dynamically processing a generic content expressed in an extensible markup language (XML), the terminal comprising:
 a processing framework for receiving a content envelope including XML content and a reference to an associated content handler, the content handler being specific to the content and the wireless computing device and comprising a set of instructions for processing the XML content and;   a requesting module operating in the framework for requesting the associated content handler using the reference, the reference configured to include a reference location for the content handler;   a provisioning module operating in the framework for obtaining the content handler; and   a processing module for processing the content using the set of instructions of the content handler.   
     
     
         11 . The terminal according to  claim 10 , wherein the content handler is made available on a remote storage location. 
     
     
         12 . The terminal according to  claim 10 , wherein the content handler is made available on a local storage location. 
     
     
         13 . The method according to  claim 12 , wherein the content handler is pushed to the local storage location from a remote server. 
     
     
         14 . The terminal according to  claim 10  further configured to interact with a service framework for providing service functionality to the available content handler. 
     
     
         15 . The terminal according to  claim 14 , wherein the service framework is shared between a plurality of the content handlers and their corresponding application programs. 
     
     
         16 . The terminal according to  claim 15 , wherein the service framework comprises services selected from the group comprising; an application manager, a handler validator, a provisioning manager, a communications manager, a script interpreter, and a persistence manager. 
     
     
         17 . The terminal according to  claim 16  wherein the provisioning manager provides application program interfaces for enabling dynamic processing using the content handlers. 
     
     
         18 . The terminal according to  claim 10  wherein the content handler selected by either a processing framework of the terminal or a network server. 
     
     
         19 . The terminal according to  claim 15 , wherein the service framework provides at least one of a content handler look-up, content handler downloading, content handler deleting, or content handler suspending service. 
     
     
         20 . A computer readably medium comprising instructions which, when executed on a computing device, cause the computing device to implement the steps of:
 preparing a content envelope to comprise XML content;   inserting a reference to an associated content handler in the context envelope, the content handler being specific to the content and the wireless computing device and comprising a set of instructions for processing the XML content and the reference including a reference location for the content handler; and   making available the content handler for being accessed by the reference;   wherein once obtained, processing the content using the set of instructions of the content handler to process the XML content.