FORM 2
THE PATENTS ACT, 1970
(39 of 1970)
&
THE PATENT RULES, 2003
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION
(See Section 10 and Rule 13)
Title of invention:
A SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR REMOTELY UPDATING AND MANAGING APPLICATIONS INSTALLED ON A COMMUNICATION MEANS
Applicant:
TATA Consultancy Services Lirnited A company Incorporated in India under The Companies Act, 1956
Having address:
Nirmal Building, 9th Floor,
Nariman Point, Mumbai 400051,
Maharashtra, India
The following specification particularly describes the invention and the manner in which it is to be
performed.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION:
The present invention relates to a system and method for remotely updating and managing one or more applications installed on a communication means. More particularly, the present invention relates to a system and method for automatically updating and managing the locally installed applications on a communication means.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION:
With the rapid advancement in the technology, the mode of communication and the means used for communication has improved by leaps and bounds to meet the ever increasing demand of the society.
In recent times handheld computer integrated communication means such as PDAs, palmtops and handheld personal computer (PC), smart phones with powerful processors, advanced operating systems and abundant memory are more frequently being used to meet the ever increasing demand of the society.
Further, these communication means are capable of downloading the software applications over the communication network and thereby provide the user to install and run more advanced applications based on a specific platform; wherein the application comprises of stock price chart viewing applications, banking applications, map software, action games, etc.
The biggest challenge for the user's of the advanced communication means is to maintain the existing application, upgrade or update the existing, pre-installed or installed application by the administrator.
Generally, an application installation on the communication means is a one time task; wherein the application consists of the following files in its application directory:
a. Binary executable files containing actual byte code.
b. Resource files containing images, text, etc.
c. Files specific to communication means.
Along with these files, some application specific files might also exist in application directory.

Though the installation of the application on the communication means is a one time task, the upgradation and maintenance of the same on the communication means is one of the difficult and complex tasks.
According to the current state of arts, the solutions that have been employed to upgrade and maintain the applications pre-existing on the communication means is performed by the following ways:
a. Deploy the application as a new version and further, let the user or customer download the
application from the application store over the communication network.
b. If the users are confined to a particular area or geography and have requested for the newer
version or updated application, then a vendor can send a person to load the new version of
application or update existing application on the communication means.
Though being useful, these existing methods are hectic, not feasible and practically impossible due to the following constraints:
1. In the first approach, the user/customer is required to download the application, which is not economical, since it would amount to the cost of transfer of data. In addition to this, there is a possibility that few customers would still use the older version of mobile application.
2. In the second approach, the cost to the vendor is considerable since the second approach requires the vendor/manufacturer to approach the user/customer and physically change the application. Further more it is not feasible if,
a. Customers are large in number.
b. Customers are mobile and not confined to particular geographical area.
c. Customers are far away from the development team or vendor.
d. Customers are technologically challenged
e. Customers are not inclined to proactively manage their system
Hence there is an urgent need to provide a system and method for enabling automatic upgradation and management of the applications deployed on the communication means.
Some of the inventions which deal with providing a system and method for updating the applications on the communication means are as follows:

US6832230 discloses an apparatus and method to download an application to a mobile terminal from an application database. The application database contains at least one application. Said method comprising: choosing an application from the application database to download to the mobile terminal, wherein the at least one application has a selectable lifetime; selecting a lifetime for the chosen application, during which the chosen application is to remain executable at the mobile terminal; downloading the chosen application from said application database to said mobile terminal; storing indicia of the selected lifetime in an application-license database; subsequently choosing the application previously chosen during said first operation of choosing and previously downloaded during said operation of downloading; determining whether time remains within the lifetime selected during said operation of selecting; again downloading the application from said application database and storing said application in said mobile terminal if a determination is made during said determining step that time remains in the selected lifetime; and incurring a fee for the chosen application, wherein the fee for the chosen application is a function of said selected lifetime. However, this invention fails to disclose the method of automatic update of the downloaded mobile applications.
US7512640 discloses a communication method between an electronic apparatus and synchronization software, comprising: performing data description communication between the electronic apparatus and the synchronization software to negotiate an acceptable data format, comprising: sending out a description request data packet to the electronic apparatus by the synchronization software to request for describing data of a packet type of a software module in the electronic apparatus; and responding a description response data packet to the synchronization software by the electronic apparatus according to the description request data packet to describe the data of the packet type of the software module, wherein the description response data packet comprises a transmission descriptor corresponding to the packet type and a plurality of field descriptors corresponding to a plurality of fields in the packet type; and performing data operation communication between the electronic apparatus and the synchronization software to complete a data processing operation according to the data format. This method discloses a general to a communication method between an electronic apparatus and synchronization software to perform a data operation with their mobile phones. However, this invention fails to disclose automatic updating and management of the software application.

The current state of arts provides an insight to the following difficulties and restrictions faced by the user/customer for upgradation and management of the pre-installed applications on the communication means; wherein the user or the administrator is required to perform the following acts:
a. add few features or functionalities in the application;
b. update or modify or change existing features of the application ; and
c. to resolve the bugs existing in the current version of application (which requires the
attention of the administrator).
d. make the following changes in the existing application, implemented on the communication
means
i. modifying the existing file;
ii adding new application specific files in directory; and
iii. removing any existing file.
Hence there is an urgent need to provide a system and method to enable remote upgradation and management of the pre-existing applications in the communication means.
In light of the above mentioned prior arts it is evident that there is a need to have a customizable solution for remotely updating and managing the applications installed on the communication
means.
OBJECTIVES OF THE INVENTION
The principle objective of the present invention is to provide a system and method for remotely updating and managing the applications installed on a communication means.
Another significant objective of the invention is to provide a system and method for automatic updation and management of the software applications installed on the communication means with the help of a remote administration application capable of communicating both ways with the application server over a communication network.

Yet another objective of the invention is to verify the correctness and completeness of the downloaded application file before taking any action and to further notify the administrator regarding the same,
Yet another objective of the invention is to provide a system and a method enabling http or TCP/IP (Transmission Control Protocol (TCP) / Internet Protocol (IP)) resume functionality.
Yet another objective of the present invention is to provide a system, which has a message queuing system to ensure the delivery notification by the subsystem to the designated system.
Yet another objective of the invention is to provide a cost effective, scalable and secure remote system and a method to update and manage one or more applications in the communication means.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION:
Before the present systems and methods are described, it is to be understood that this invention is not limited to the particular systems, and methodologies described, as there can be multiple possible embodiments of the present invention and which are not expressly illustrated in the present disclosures. It is also to be understood that the terminology used in the description is for the purpose of describing the particular versions or embodiments only, and is not intended to limit the scope of the present invention which will be limited only by the appended claims.
The present invention provides a system and method for remotely updating and managing the applications installed on a communication means.
The present invention proposes a method for remotely updating and managing one or more applications using a remote administration application stored In the memory of a communication means; wherein the said method comprises the processor implemented steps of:
a. sending a message or request to the said communication means by an application
server or a messaging gateway to invoke the said remote administration application
over a communication network;

b. verifying the received message or request of step a) by sending a verification message
to the said application server;
c. application server verifies the message sent by said communication means and send
the command information along with the application file name;
d. verifying the received message or request of step c) and subsequently communicating
the system information to the application server by a command executor engine of the
said remote administration application;
e. executing the updated message of step d} and subsequently downloading the
compressed files of the application on the said communication means by the
command executor engine;
f. uncompressing the downloaded file upon verification of the correctness of the
downloaded files of step e) by remote administration application; and
g. updating and managing one or more applications by either replacing or copying or
deleting the existing application with the uncompressed files of step f) by the remote
administration application.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS:
The foregoing summary, as well as the following detailed description of preferred embodiments, is better understood when read in conjunction with the appended drawings. For the purpose of illustrating the invention, there is shown in the drawings, example constructions of the invention; however, the invention is not limited to the specific systems and methods, disclosed in the
drawings:
The remote administration system is described with reference to the drawings accompanying the specification. In the drawings:
Figure 1 illustrates the block diagram for generic remote administration system.
Figure 2 illustrates the detailed block diagram for remote administration system.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION:
Before the present method and system are described, it is to be understood that this invention in not limited to the particular methodologies, hardware and systems described, as these may vary. It is

also to be understood that the terminology used in the description is for the purpose of describing the particular versions or embodiments only, and is not intended to limit the scope of the present invention which will be limited only by the appended claims. The words "comprising," "having," "containing," and "including," and other forms thereof, are intended to be equivalent in meaning and be open ended in that an item or items following any one of these words is not meant to be an exhaustive listing of such item or items, or meant to be limited to only the listed item or items. Some embodiments of this invention, illustrating all its features, will now be discussed in detail. The disclosed embodiments are merely exemplary methods of the invention, which may be embodied in various forms.
In one of the significant embodiments of the present invention, a system for remotely updating and managing one or more applications stored in the memory of a communication means; wherein the said system comprises:
a. an application server; wherein the said communication means is connected to the
application server over a communication network; and
b. a remote administration application installed on the said communication means for
remotely updating and managing one or more applications stored in the memory of
the said communication means; wherein the said remote administration application
further comprises of command executor engine.
According to one of the embodiments of the present invention, figure 1 illustrates the block diagram for generic remote administration system.
Figure 1 illustrates the generic diagram for Remote Administration System (1) for communication means (2).
In a preferred embodiment, the system of the present invention updates and manages one or more applications installed on the communication means; wherein the said communication means (2) comprises of mobile phone, a Personal Digital Assistant (PDA), palm-top, mobile digital assistant, computer, laptop, notebook, personal computer or any portable communication device.
According to one of the exemplary embodiment of the invention, the said communication means (2) is a mobile phone.

According to another embodiment of the present invention, the above mentioned applications installed on the said communication means (2) comprises of stock price chart viewing applications, banking application, map software, and action games, etc. However it is to be understood that the system and method as proposed in this patent application is not restricted to any particular application(s) and other applications known in the art that can be managed or updated using the present invention.
Further, the said one or more applications are downloaded and pre-installed by the administrator, manufacturer or the vendor of the communication means (2); or the said applications are downloaded and installed on the said communication means via the application server or messaging gateway (4) over the communication network (3) by the user of the said communication means (2).
According to another embodiment of the present invention, the said communication means (2) is wirelessly connected to the application server or messaging gateway (4) over the communication network (3).
The communication means (2) is connected to application server via communication network (3). In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the data of the application server or messaging gateway (4) is stored in a database (5).
Further, the said application server or messaging gateway {4} is of the service provider, which is a telecom service provider and a third party service provider, etc.
In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the communication network (3) includes but is not restricted to the access of the communication network by ways of GPRS, GPS, CDMA, RF, 3G, http and other known methods and technologies in the art.
Further, the said one or more applications are stored in the memory of the said communication means (2); wherein the memory may be an internal memory of the communication means or an external memory device of the communication means (2).

According to another embodiment of the present invention, the external memory device comprises of SIM memory, USB mass storage, and external memory card, etc.
In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the system (1) of the present invention further comprises of a remote administration application installed on the said communication means (2) for remotely updating and managing one or more applications installed on the said communication means; wherein the said remote administration application further comprises of a command executor engine.
According to one of the embodiments of the present invention the command executor engine is capable of executing commands, which are obtained from the application server or messaging gateway (4).
Further, the command executor engine of the remote administration application resides in the communication means (2) invokes the system of the present invention, which gets remotely activated and sends the requests for upgradation of one or more applications to the application server of the telecom service provider or the server of the third party service provider.
The system (1) of the present invention is invoked, either by sending an updated message from the other communication means (2) or by sending a request from the application server or messaging gateway (4).
Further, these requests or messages have an application identification number and commands, which are performed on the specific application of the communication means (2).
The command executor engine of the remote administration application, communicates information about the one or more installed applications to the application server or messaging gateway (4) via communication network (3) wherein the information comprises of:
a. system name;
b. system version number; and
c. any other custom information designed

Further, the system (1) of the present invention downloads the file, which is preferably in the compressed format, from the application server or messaging gateway (4) over the communication network (3).
Further, it checks the accuracy of the downloaded file by various file verification methods including but not limited to cryptographic hash algorithms such as MD5, SHA-0, SHA-1, SHA-2, SHA-3, GOST or HAVAL.
Further, if downloaded file is found to be correct, the remote administration application uncompresses it and performs the desired operation on one or more applications based upon the commands.
After executing the commands, the command executor engine sends the notification to the administrator or manufacturer or the vendor of the applications installed on the communication means (4).
According to another embodiment of the present invention, system (1) of the present invention updates and manages the one or more applications by updating only the required files of the existing version of the application with the available newer version.
Further, the system (1) manages the bugs in the existing one or more applications installed on the communication means (2), by communicating the software patches or codes, which addresses the errors or introduces the additional features.
In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the application server or messaging gateway (4) of the system {1} communicates with the remote administration application and performs the transfer of data upon authentication of identification number.
According to another embodiment of the present invention, the application identification number is unique for an application. Further the application identification number may be either numeric or alphabetic or alphanumeric.

In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, each of these components synergistically work together to enable a system (1) that provides an automatic updation and management of the software applications installed on the communication means (2) with the help of remote administration application capable of communicating both ways with application server (4) over a communication network (3).
In another significant embodiment of the present invention, a method for remotely updating and managing one or more applications using a remote administration application stored in the memory of a communication means; wherein the said method comprises the processor implemented steps of:
a. sending a message or request to the said communication means by an application
server or a messaging gateway to invoke the said remote administration application
over a communication network;
b. verifying the received message or request of step a) by sending a verification message
to the application server;
c. application server verifies the message sent by said communication means and send
the command information along with the application file name;
d. verifying the received message or request of step c) and subsequently communicating
the system information to the application server by a command executor engine of the
said remote administration application;
e. executing the updated message of step d) and subsequently downloading the
compressed files of the application on the said communication means by the
command executor engine;
f. uncompressing the downloaded file upon verification of the correctness of the
downloaded files of step e) by remote administration application; and
g. updating and managing one or more applications by either replacing or copying or
deleting the existing application with the uncompressed files of step f) by the remote
administration application.
Figure 2 illustrates the block diagram of the Remote Administration system for communication means; wherein, the said system comprises of the Remote Administration application (12), and one or more applications (14,15) embedded in the memory of the communication means (10).

In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the system of the present invention further comprises of a remote administration application (12) installed on the said communication means (10) for remotely updating and managing one or more applications installed on the said communication means; wherein the said remote administration application (12) further comprises of a command executor engine.
The said one or more applications (14, 15) comprises of stock price chart viewing applications, banking applications, map software, and action games, etc. However it is to be understood that the system and method as proposed in this patent application is not restricted to any particular application(s) and other applications known in the art that can be managed or updated using the present invention.
The communication means (10) is connected to the application server over the communication network (18) for downloading and installing the required files of the existing version of the application with the available newer version; wherein only the software patches or codes, which addresses the errors or introduces the additional features, are modified or added or changed in the existing applications.
At the beginning of the process, the Remote Admin application (12) is invoked either by sending message from the communication means (10) or by request (11) from the server unit (18). In an exemplary embodiment the command executor engine resides in the communication means (10) gets remotely activated and sends a message to the server unit (18). This message or request has an application identification number (18) will in turn send response containing the command type, file name on which operation to be performed. The remote administration application (12) will then check command type and based on that, start the command executor engine. After performing the commands, engine will send the notification to the user of this system.
Based on the command if it is required then system will download the file, which is in compressed format, from server unit or messaging gateway (18) over the communication network (17). It will then check the accuracy of the downloaded file by cryptographic hash algorithm such as MD5, SHA-0, SHA-1, SHA-2, SHA-3, GOST or HAVAL. If the downloaded file is correct then it will uncompress it and perform the operation on application (14) based upon command.

Further, according to another embodiment of the present invention, the system of the present invention remotely updates and manages the applications residing on a communication means (2). in a cost effective, scalable and secure manner.
According to another embodiment of the present invention a system further comprises a message queuing system to ensure the delivery notification by the subsystem to the designated system.
Further notification system reports the user of the system, whether the command has been performed or not. The notification comprises of sending a message to the user or the application server or by calling the user. Further, the notification message also sends the name of the file with the application name and the time of operation to the user.
Further, it is obvious to a person skilled in art that the invention is not limited to the type of application used to describe and illustrate the particular methodologies, and hardware described, as these may vary. Further, the use of particular methodologies, and hardware(s) described is not intended to limit the scope of the present invention. The disclosed embodiments are merely exemplary methods of the invention, which may be embodied in various forms for various methodologies and hardware described, as these may vary.
ADVANTAGES OF THE INVENTION:
The system as proposed in the present invention has following advantages:
1. Remote administration system of the present invention automatically updates and manages software applications installed on the communication means.
2. Remote administration system of the present invention uncompresses and installs the updated software application upon verification of the downloaded compressed file.
3. Remote administration system provides a cost effective, scalable and secure remote upgradation and management of software applications.

WE CLAIM:
1. A method for remotely updating and managing one or more applications using a remote administration application stored in the memory of a communication means; wherein the said method comprises the processor implemented steps of:
a. sending a message or request to the said communication means by an application
server or a messaging gateway to invoke the said remote administration application
over a communication network;
b. verifying the received message or request of step a) by sending a verification message
to the application server;
c. application server verifies the message sent by said communication means and send
the command information along with the application file name;
d. verifying the received message or request of step c) and subsequently communicating
the system information to the application server by a command executor engine of the
said remote administration application;
e. executing the updated message of step d) and subsequently downloading the
compressed files of the application on the said communication means by the
command executor engine;
f. uncompressing the downloaded file upon verification of the correctness of the
downloaded files of step e) by remote administration application; and
g. updating and managing one or more applications by either replacing or copying or
deleting the existing application with the uncompressed files of step f) by the remote
administration application.
2. A method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the said communication means comprises of mobile phone, a Personal Digital Assistant (PDA), palm-top, mobile digital assistant, computer, laptop, notebook or personal computer.
3. A method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the said request or message sent by the application server comprises of an application identification number; wherein the said application identification number can be in either numeric, alphabetic or alphanumeric form.

4. A method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the said system information comprises of system name or system version number.
5. A method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the said updated message sent by the application server comprises of command type or file name.
6. A method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the downloaded file comprises of either
i. the new version of the application; or
ii. software patches or codes of the application that addresses the errors or introduces the additional features to the stored application.
7. A method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the said correctness of the downloaded file is verified using cryptographic hash algorithms.
8. A method as claimed in claim 7, wherein the said cryptographic hash algorithms comprises of MD5, SHA-0, SHA-1, SHA-2, SHA-3, GOST or HAVAL.
9. A method as claimed in claim 1, further comprising processor implemented step of sending an updation notification of one or more existing applications on a communication means to the user of the said communication means or the server, using a message queuing system.
10. A method as claimed in claim 9, wherein the said notification is made by sending a message to the user or the application server or by calling the user.
11. A method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the said memory of the communication means can be internal memory of the communication means or external memory of the said communication means.
12. A method as claimed in claim 11, wherein the said external memory comprises of SIM memory, USB mass storage, or memory card.

13. A system for remotely updating and managing one or more applications stored in the
memory of a communication means; wherein the said system comprises:
a. an application server; wherein the said communication means is connected to the
application server over a communication network; and
b. a remote administration application installed on the said communication means for
remotely updating and managing one or more applications stored in the memory of
the said communication means; wherein the said remote administration application
further comprises of command executor engine.
14. A system as claimed in claim 13, wherein the said communication means comprises of mobile phone, a Personal Digital Assistant (PDA), palm-top, mobile digital assistant, computer, laptop, notebook or personal computer.
15. A system as claimed in claim 13, wherein the memory of the communication means can be internal memory of the communication means or external memory devices of the said communication means.
16. A system as claimed in claim 15, wherein the said external memory comprises of SIM memory, USB mass storage, or memory card
17. A system as claimed in claim 13, wherein the said application server invokes the remote administration application over the communication network by sending a message or request.
18. A system as claimed in claim 17, wherein the said request or message sent by the application server comprises of an application identification number; wherein the said application identification number can be in either numeric, alphabetic or alphanumeric form.
19. A system as claimed in claim 13, wherein the said command executor engine verifies the received message or request, communicates the system information to the application server, executes the updated message received from the application server and downloads the uncompressed files for one or more applications stored in the memory of the said communication means.

20. A system as claimed in claim 19, wherein the said system information comprises of system name or system version number.
21. A system as claimed in claim 19, wherein the said updated message sent by the application server comprises of command type or file name.
22. A method as claimed in claim 19, wherein the said file comprises of either
i. the new version of the application; or
ii software patches or codes of the application that addresses the errors or introduces the additional features of the stored applications.
23. A system as claimed In claim 13, wherein the said remote administration application verifies the correctness of the downloaded file using cryptographic hash algorithms such as but not limited to MD5, SHA-0, SHA-1, SHA-2, SHA-3, GOST or HAVAL.
24. A system as claimed in claim 13 further comprises of a message queuing system for sending an updation notification of one or more stored applications on a communication means to the user of the said communication means or the server.
25. A system as claimed in claim 24, wherein the said notification is made by sending a message to the user or the application server or by calling the user.
26. A system and method substantially as herein described with reference to and as illustrated by the accompanying drawings.