Method and System for Establishing a User-Friendly Data Transfer Service Application Executing Within a Heterogeneous Distributed Service Application Execution Environment

Abstract

Various embodiments of the present invention are directed to methods and systems for data transfer between electronic, hand-held devices, including cell phones, and computer systems, including servers and PCs, as well as component methods and systems of these data-transfer methods and systems. Component methods and systems of the present invention include secure links between various devices, enhancements to electronic hand-held devices that enable service applications to run continuously or intermittently on the devices, deployment of dynamically created service applications to electronic, hand-held devices, and various additional component methods and systems that facilitate the above-mentioned component methods and systems. One embodiment of the present invention is a robust, efficient, secure, and user-friendly method and system for transferring data between cell phones and personal computers.

1 . A method for deploying a device-side service application to an electronic, hand-held device, the method comprising:
 receiving a deployment request from a user; authenticating the user;   using information supplied by the user to locate and identify the electronic, hand-held device;   creating a version of the device-side service application specifically tailored for the electronic, hand-held device;   delivering the specifically tailored device-side service application to the electronic, hand-held device; and   installing the specifically tailored device-side service application for execution within the electronic, hand-held device.   
   
   
       2 . The method of  claim 1  wherein authenticating the user further comprises one or more of:
 requesting identifying information from the user and comparing identifying information received in response with previously stored information; and   matching information extracted from the deployment request with previously stored information.   
   
   
       3 . The method of  claim 1  wherein using information supplied by the user to locate and identify the electronic, hand-held device further comprises:
 sending an installation message to the electronic, hand-held device and extracting information from a response returned by the electronic, hand-held device to identify a type of the electronic, hand-held device.   
   
   
       4 . The method of  claim 3  further comprising:
 when the type of the electronic, hand-held device cannot be determined from information extracted from the response returned by the electronic, hand-held device, transmitting a probe application to the electronic, hand-held device and installing the probe application on the electronic, hand-held device to determine the type of the electronic, hand-held device.   
   
   
       5 . The method of  claim 1  wherein creating a version of the device-side service application specifically tailored for the electronic, hand-held device further includes one or more of:
 compiling source code; assembling assembly code; modifying existing executables;   activating functions provided by client already installed on the electronic, hand-held device;   installing a minimal set of additional clients on the electronic, hand-held device; selecting data to transfer to the electronic, hand-held device; and   securely transferring executables and data to the electronic, hand-held device.   
   
   
       6 . The method of  claim 1  wherein said creating a version of the device-side service application specifically tailored for the electronic, hand held device includes configuring credentials for said electronic device to facilitate communication with an intermediary server. 
   
   
       7 . An apparatus for deploying a device-side service application to an electronic, hand-held device, the apparatus comprising:
 means for receiving a deployment request from a user; authenticating the user;   means for using information supplied by the user to locate and identify the electronic, hand-held device;   means for creating a version of the device-side service application specifically tailored for the electronic, hand-held device;   means for delivering the specifically tailored device-side service application to the electronic, hand-held device; and   means for installing the specifically tailored device-side service application for execution within the electronic, hand-held device.   
   
   
       8 . The apparatus of  claim 7  wherein the means for authenticating the user further comprises one or more of:
 means for requesting identifying information from the user and comparing identifying information received in response with previously stored information; and   means for matching information extracted from the deployment request with previously stored information.   
   
   
       9 . The apparatus of  claim 7  wherein using information supplied by the user to locate and identify the electronic, hand-held device further comprises:
 sending an installation message to the electronic, hand-held device and extracting information from a response returned by the electronic, hand-held device to identify a type of the electronic, hand-held device.   
   
   
       10 . The apparatus of  claim 9  further comprising:
 means for transmitting a probe application to the electronic, hand-held device and installing the probe application on the electronic, hand-held device to determine the type of the electronic, hand-held device.   
   
   
       11 . The apparatus of  claim 7  wherein the means for creating a version of the device-side service application specifically tailored for the electronic, hand-held device further includes one or more of:
 means for compiling source code; assembling assembly code; modifying existing executables;   means for activating functions provided by client already installed on the electronic, hand-held device;   means for installing a minimal set of additional clients on the electronic, hand-held device; selecting data to transfer to the electronic, hand-held device; and   means for securely transferring executables and data to the electronic, hand-held device.   
   
   
       12 . The apparatus of  claim 7  wherein said means for creating a version of the device-side service application specifically tailored for the electronic, hand held device includes a means for configuring credentials for said electronic device to facilitate communication with an intermediary server. 
   
   
       13 . A device for deploying a device-side service application to an electronic, hand-held device, the device comprising:
 processor for receiving a deployment request from a user; authenticating the user;   processor for using information supplied by the user to locate and identify the electronic, hand-held device;   processor for creating a version of the device-side service application specifically tailored for the electronic, hand-held device;   processor for delivering the specifically tailored device-side service application to the electronic, hand-held device; and   processor for installing the specifically tailored device-side service application for execution within the electronic, hand-held device.   
   
   
       14 . The device of  claim 13  wherein said processor for creating a version of the device-side service application specifically tailored for the electronic, hand held device is configured to provide credentials for said electronic device to facilitate communication with an intermediary server.