Method and system for distributing and updating software in wireless devices

Abstract

A method is disclosed. The method includes receiving an update package from a wireless service provider that includes information indicating that multiple language versions of an update are included in the update package. Based on the information, the method further specifies an update associated with a language from the update package, and transmits the update associated with the language to a wireless device.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A method of updating a wireless device, comprising:
 a wireless device receiving, at a first location, a notification indicating that an update package is available for the wireless device, the update package comprising a plurality of versions of an update; 
 the wireless device transmitting, in response to receipt of said notification, device-specific information to a server system, the device-specific information comprising compatibility information relating to the wireless device; 
 the wireless device receiving data specifying a download location of a version of the update from the server system, the version having been selected, based on the compatibility information; and 
 the wireless device using the received data to access said the selected version of the update; and 
 the wireless device receiving, based on a download restriction, at a predetermined location different from the first location, the selected version of the update from the server system. 
 
     
     
       2. The method of  claim 1 , further comprising: the wireless device requesting meta-data associated with the update. 
     
     
       3. The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 the server system determining whether the compatibility information is included in a compatibility matrix associated with the update; and 
 the server system transmitting the data specifying a the download location of a the version of the update in response to determining that the compatibility information is included in the compatibility matrix. 
 
     
     
       4. A non-transitory, machine-readable storage medium having stored thereon data representing sets of machine-readable instructions which, when executed by a wireless device, configure cause the wireless device to perform a method, the method comprising:
 receivereceiving, at a first location, a notification indicating that an update package is available for the wireless device, the update package comprising a plurality of versions of an update; 
 transmittransmitting, in response to receipt of the notification, device-specific information to a server system, the device-specific information comprising compatibility information relating to the wireless device; 
 receivereceiving data specifying a download location of a version of the update from the server system, the version having been selected, based on the compatibility information; and 
 useusing the received data to access saidthe selected version of the update; and 
 receiving, based on a download restriction, at a predetermined location different from the first location, the selected version of the update from the server system. 
 
     
     
       5. The machine-readable medium of  claim 4 , wherein the sets of instructions, when executed by the wireless device, further cause the wireless device to request the method further comprises: requesting meta-data associated with the update. 
     
     
       6. A The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the received data comprises a universal resource locator. 
     
     
       7. A The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of versions relate to a plurality of languages. 
     
     
       8. A method of providing an update to a wireless device, comprising:
 sending, to a wireless device at a first location, a notification indicating that an update package is available for the wireless device, the update package comprising a plurality of versions of an update; 
 receiving, from the wireless device, device-specific information comprising compatibility information relating to the wireless device; 
 selecting, based on the received compatibility information, a version of the update from the plurality of versions; and 
 sending data for receipt at the wireless device, the data specifying a download location of the selected version; and 
 providing, based on a download restriction, the selected version to the wireless device when the wireless device is in a predetermined location, the predetermined location being different than the first location. 
 
     
     
       9. A The method according to  claim 8 , further comprising:
 determining whether the compatibility information is included in a compatibility matrix associated with the update; and 
 transmitting the data specifying a the download location of a the version of the update in response to determining that the compatibility information is included in the compatibility matrix. 
 
     
     
       10. A The method according to  claim 8 , wherein the data specifying a the download location of the selected version comprises a universal resource locator with which the selected version can be downloaded. 
     
     
       11. A The method according to  claim 8 , wherein the plurality of versions relates to a plurality of languages. 
     
     
       12. A The method according to  claim 8 , further comprising providing updates to a plurality of wireless devices via a network, wherein the method comprises: scheduling the a timing of provision of updates providing the selected version to the wireless devices so that no more than a predefined number of updates are simultaneously provided via the network. 
     
     
       13. A method according to  claim 12 , further comprising scheduling the provision of the selected version so that the selected version is provided to the wireless device when the wireless device is in a predetermined location. 
     
     
       14. A server system for providing an update to a wireless device, the server system comprising a processor and one or more a communications interfaces interface for communicating with one or more wireless devices, the server system being configured to:
 send, to a wireless device at a first location, via said one or more the communications interfaces, a notification indicating that an update package is available for the wireless device, the update package comprising a plurality of versions of an update; 
 receive, from the wireless device via said one or more the communications interfaces, device-specific information comprising compatibility information relating to the wireless device; 
 select, byat the processor, based on the received compatibility information, a version of the update; and 
 send data, via said one or more the communications interfaces, for receipt at the wireless device, data specifying a download location of the selected version; and 
 provide, based on a download restriction, the selected version to the wireless device when the wireless device is in a predetermined location, the predetermined location being different than the first location. 
 
     
     
       15. A The system according to  claim 14 , further comprising: a software server system storing the plurality of versions. 
     
     
       16. A The system according to  claim 14 , further comprising: a management console for configuring rules associated with the update. 
     
     
       17. A non-transitory, computer-readable storage medium storing computer readable instructions thereon for execution on a computing system to implement a method of providing an update to a wireless device, the method comprising:
 sending, to a wireless device at a first location, a notification indicating that an update package is available for the wireless device, the update package comprising a plurality of versions of the update; 
 receiving, from the wireless device, device-specific information comprising compatibility information relating to the wireless device; 
 selecting, based on the received compatibility information, a version of the update; and 
 sending data for receipt at the wireless device, a data specifying a download location of the selected version; and 
 providing, based on a download restriction, the selected version to the wireless device when the wireless device is in a predetermined location, the predetermined location being different than the first location. 
 
     
     
       18. A wireless device configured to, comprising:
 a memory comprising computer-executable software; 
 a communication interface; 
 a processor in data communication with the memory and the communication interface, the processor being configured to execute the software and cause the wireless device to: 
 receive, at a first location, a notification indicating that an update package is available for the wireless device, the update package comprising a plurality of versions of an update; 
 transmit, in response to receiving a said the notification, device-specific information comprising compatibility information relating to the wireless device to a server system; 
 receive data specifying a download location of a version of the update from the server system, the version having been selected, based on the compatibility information; and 
 use the received data to access said selected version of the update; and
 receive, based on a download restriction, at a predetermined location different from the first location, the selected version of the update from the server system. 
 
 
     
     
       19. A method of updating a wireless device, comprising:
 a wireless device receiving, at a first location, a notification indicating that an update package is available for the wireless device, the update package comprising a plurality of versions of an update; 
 the wireless device transmitting, in response to receipt of said notification, device-specific information to a server system, the device-specific information comprising compatibility information relating to the wireless device; 
 the wireless device receiving data specifying a download location of a version of the update from the server system, the version being associated with the compatibility information; and 
 the wireless device using the received data to access said the selected version of the update; and 
 the wireless device receiving, based on a download restriction, at a predetermined location different from the first location, the selected version of the update from the server system. 
 
     
     
       20. A method of distributing software, comprising, at a server system comprising memory and one or more processors:
 receiving a software package for distribution, the software package having rules associated therewith;   identifying a wireless device to which to provide the software package, based on the rules and device-specific information stored in the memory; and   providing the software package via a wireless network to the identified wireless device when the identified wireless device is at a first location; and   restricting provision of the software package to the identified wireless device, so that the software package is provided to the identified wireless device at a predetermined location, the predetermined location being different than the first location.   
     
     
       21. The method of claim 20, further comprising, at the server system:
 providing the software package to each of a plurality of identified wireless devices via a respective connection; and   configuring two or more of the connections so as to restrict simultaneous provision of the software package.   
     
     
       22. The method of claim 21, further comprising, at the server system:
 scheduling a time for the provision of the software package to the plurality of identified wireless devices.   
     
     
       23. The method of claim 21, further comprising, at the server system: setting a random time to provide the software package to the plurality of identified wireless devices. 
     
     
       24. The method of claim 20, wherein the software package comprises an update package. 
     
     
       25. A server system for distributing software, the server system comprising:
 memory comprising executable software and device specific information for each of a plurality of wireless devices; and one or more processors configured to execute the executable software and cause the server system to:
 receive a software package for distribution, the software package having rules associated therewith; 
 identify, at the processor, based on the device specific information and the rules, a wireless device to which to provide the software package; 
 provide the software package, via a wireless network, to the identified wireless device when the identified wireless device is at a first location; and 
 restrict provision of the software package to the identified wireless device, so that the software package is provided to the identified wireless device at a predetermined location, the predetermined location being different than the first location. 
   
     
     
       26. The server system of claim 25, further configured to:
 provide the software package to each of a plurality of identified wireless devices via a respective connection; and   configure two or more of the connections so as to restrict simultaneous provision of the software package.   
     
     
       27. The server system of claim 26, further configured to: schedule a time for the provision of the software package to the plurality of identified wireless devices. 
     
     
       28. The server system of claim 26, further configured to: set a random time to provide the software package to the plurality of identified wireless devices. 
     
     
       29. The server system of claim 25, wherein the software package comprises an update package. 
     
     
       30. A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium storing computer readable instructions thereon for execution on a computing system to implement a method of distributing software, the method comprising:
 receiving a software package for distribution, the software package having rules associated therewith;   identifying a wireless device to which to provide the software package, based on the rules and device-specific information stored in a memory of the computing system;   providing the software package via a wireless network to the identified wireless device when the identified wireless device is at a first location; and   restricting provision of the software package to the identified wireless device, so that the software package is provided to the identified wireless device at a predetermined location, the predetermined location being different than the first location.   
     
     
       31. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 30, wherein the method further comprises:
 providing the software package to each of a plurality of identified wireless devices via a respective connection; and   configuring two or more of the connections so as to restrict simultaneous provision of the software package.   
     
     
       32. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 31, wherein the method further comprising:
 scheduling a time for the provision of the software package to the identified plurality of wireless devices.   
     
     
       33. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 31, wherein the method further comprises: setting a random time to provide the software package to the plurality of identified wireless devices. 
     
     
       34. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 30, wherein the software package comprises an update package.