Abstract: A method for performing differencing and updating between electronic files is provided. A byte-level file differencing algorithm receives two byte streams corresponding to an original file and a new file. The new file includes updated and revised versions of the original file. The file differencing algorithm determines a longest common sub-string (LCS) between the two byte streams and divides each of the two byte streams into sub-streams. The sub-streams include the LCS along with prefix and suffix sub-streams to the LCS. The file differencing algorithm then recursively determines an LCS and divides each sub-stream until a size of the sub-streams is less than a pre-specified size. Byte-level differences are then identified between each of the corresponding sub-streams. Further, the file differencing algorithm defines a protocol for structuring a delta file by using a set of operation codes and a variable length integer format to eliminate redundant information in the delta file.

Abstract: A portable communication device is provided that receives upgrade files via at least one wireless coupling. The contents of the upgrade file include information to repair errors in software components of the portable communication device and/or information to upgrade functions of the portable communication device. The portable communication device automatically upgrades the software components using the upgrade file contents. The portable communication device automatically recovers to an operational state when detecting an error or failure during the automatic upgrade. Further, the portable communication device resumes or reinitiates the automatic upgrade following-the error or failure.

Abstract: A file differencing and updating system is provided that includes a file differencing component and a file updating component. The file differencing component, or file differencing engine, generates a difference file in a first processor-based or computer system from an original or old version and a new version of an electronic file. Generation of the difference files includes processing to reduce the number of file changes introduced by code block swaps. The processing uses an alignment algorithm, which includes a sorting algorithm, to align the code blocks of the original version in the same order as those of the new version, thereby eliminating the increase in the number of byte-level file differences due to code block swaps. During the alignment operations, the block movements are dynamically recorded at a minimum cost level and encoded for transmission to the file updating component for use in code recovery.

Abstract: A portable communication device is provided that receives upgrade files via at least one wireless coupling. The contents of the upgrade file include information to repair errors in software components of the portable communication device and/or information to upgrade functions of the portable communication device. The portable communication device automatically upgrades the software components using the upgrade file contents. The portable communication device automatically recovers to an operational state when detecting an error or failure during the automatic upgrade. Further, the portable communication device resumes or reinitiates the automatic upgrade following the error or failure.

Abstract: An exemplary method for managing information in a mobile device comprises the steps of downloading a first set of files, determining whether a local cache has enough space to store the first set of files, storing the first set of files into the local cache if the local cache has enough space, selecting an out-dated record and removing a second set of files corresponding to the out-dated record from the local cache if the local cache does not have enough space, and repeating the determining step until the first set of files is stored into the local cache.

Abstract: In generating difference information between different file versions, a software component distributor (SCD) receives new files and corresponding original files. The SCD generates a new map file, hex file, and device memory map (DMM) for the new file. Module information is read from the new file using information of the new map file and hex file. The SCD, using the module information, compares the new DMM with the DMM of the original file, identifying inserted and deleted modules of the new file in response to the comparison. The SCD identifies remaining modules of the new file in which the contents remain the same as corresponding modules of the original file, where the remaining modules are modules of the new file not identified as inserted modules. The SCD generates difference information representative of the inserted modules, deleted modules, and remaining modules in which the contents remain the same.

Abstract: In scheduling updates of original electronic files, an upgrade system receiving new electronic files generates target lists of host device models/users that are to receive the new file information. The new file information includes upgrades and/or upgrade notifications. In response to the target lists, the upgrade system uses delivery rules to generate a delivery schedule for delivery of the information to the devices. The upgrade system executes a network traffic simulation using the delivery schedule. The simulation applies the delivery schedule to the network in order to estimate the network traffic capacity that would result from transferring the new file information in accordance with the delivery schedule. The upgrade system refines the delivery schedule, using results of the simulation, in order to optimize network performance. The upgrade system transmits the new file information to the appropriate devices in accordance with the refined delivery schedule.

Abstract: An upgrade controller controls file upgrades on a client device in response to the receipt of a new electronic file that is an upgraded version of an original file hosted on the client device. The upgrade controller estimates the resources that will be used by the client device in upgrading the original electronic file using the new electronic file. Furthermore, the upgrade controller reads upgrade process control parameters from a user profile. The upgrade process control parameters include user preference information relating to the upgrade process, and are selected or defined by the user of the client device. The upgrade controller uses information of the estimated resources and the upgrade process control parameters to control the upgrade of the original file on the client device without interrupting normal operation of the client device and without violating the user preferences.

Abstract: In performing memory management, an upgrade client of a host device identifies and reserves memory blocks large enough to accommodate new software components by performing sequential searches of first and second memory areas. The new software components are updated versions of components of original software files. When the new component size exceeds that of available blocks of the first and second memory areas, the upgrade client rewrites the first memory area to eliminate unused memory blocks, reapportions the first and second memory areas, writes the new component to the second memory area, and updates a vector table. To access host device software components, the upgrade client receives a function call from the main program of the host device including identification information of corresponding software files, reads a start address of the corresponding software files from the vector table, and generates a call for the corresponding software files.

Abstract: In controlling electronic file updates, an upgrade system identifies host device models that include an original electronic file upon receipt of a new file, when the new file is an updated version of the original file. Using the identified model list, the upgrade system automatically generates a target list of subscribers that use the identified models. The upgrade system filters the target list using data of pre-defined user groups and generates subgroups of the target list. The pre-defined groups can include groupings made according to any criteria. The upgrade system selects an upgrade control policy for each user according to the subgroup to which the user is a member. The upgrade control policy controls device update parameters. The upgrade system transmits upgrades and/or upgrade notifications to the appropriate host devices in accordance with the selected upgrade control policies.

Abstract: An exemplary method for providing personalized application search results in a mobile device comprises the steps of receiving a search request from a user, the search request including at least one search keyword and a user identifier, searching an application registry database for a first set of matching applications based on the search keyword, searching an application selection table for a second set of matching applications based on the search keyword and the user identifier, ordering the second set of matching applications based on frequency of use parameters in the application selection table to obtain an ordered second set of matching applications, appending a set of application in the first set of matching applications but not in the second set of matching applications to the end of the ordered second set of matching applications, generating a response to the search request based on the third set of matching applications, and sending the response to the user.

Abstract: A portable communication device is provided that receives upgrade files via at least one wireless coupling. The contents of the upgrade file include information to repair errors in software components of the portable communication device and/or information to upgrade functions of the portable communication device. The portable communication device automatically upgrades the software components using the upgrade file contents. The portable communication device automatically recovers to an operational state when detecting an error or failure during the automatic upgrade. Further, the portable communication device resumes or reinitiates the automatic upgrade following the error or failure.

Abstract: A method for performing differencing and updating between electronic files is provided. A byte-level file differencing algorithm receives two byte streams corresponding to an original file and a new file. The new file includes updated and revised versions of the original file. The file differencing algorithm determines a longest common sub-string (LCS) between the two byte streams and divides each of the two byte streams into sub-streams. The sub-streams include the LCS along with prefix and suffix sub-streams to the LCS. The file differencing algorithm then recursively determines an LCS and divides each sub-stream until a size of the sub-streams is less than a pre-specified size. Byte-level differences are then identified between each of the corresponding sub-streams. Further, the file differencing algorithm defines a protocol for structuring a delta file by using a set of operation codes and a variable length integer format to eliminate redundant information in the delta file.

Abstract: An exemplary method for intelligently caching applications and data on a gateway comprises the steps of calculating a cache benefit index for a set of files, the cache benefit index measuring a total benefit for caching the set of files, determining whether to cache the set of files on a local file system based on the cache benefit index, caching the set of files on the local file system, and updating a set of tables in a gateway database based on the caching.

Abstract: An exemplary method for intelligently caching application or data on a mobile device comprises the steps of receiving a request to execute or access a set of files, the set of files including an application or data, downloading the set of files from a remote server or a gateway if the set of files is not pre-loaded or cached, calculating a cache benefit index for the set of files, determining available free space in a local file system, caching the set of files in the local file system in accordance with the cache benefit index, saving corresponding meta information in a database, recording the request in the database, and returning the location of the requested application in the local file system.

Abstract: An exemplary method for managing caches on a gateway comprises the steps of periodically checking a set of records in a database, each of the set of records corresponding to a set of files, selecting a record based on the checking, contacting a server to update or check status of a set of files corresponding to the record, and updating the set of files and the record in accordance with a response from the server.

Abstract: An exemplary method for managing a cache on a mobile device comprises the steps of receiving a call for loading a set of files, the set of files including an application or data, searching a database in a database for a matching record to the set of files, determining if the set of files is out-of-date or if a scheduled update is overdue based on the matching record, updating the set of files if it is out-of-date, performing a status check or update if the scheduled update is overdue, and loading the set of files if it is not out-of-date and the scheduled update is not overdue.

Abstract: An exemplary method for managing requests in a mobile device system comprises the steps of assigning a priority to each queue in a set of priority queues, inputting requests into the set of priority queues based on a priority associated with each request, merging multiple requests in the set of priority queues into a merged request based on priorities associated with the multiple requests and a destination for the multiple requests, and sending the merged request to a request queue for a connection in a connection pool for the destination.

Abstract: An exemplary method for intelligently providing application and data in a mobile device system comprises the steps of collecting user operation history of at least one user, generating user and application registration information, selectively caching application or data at a mobile device and a gateway based on the user operation history, differentially updating the application or data at the mobile device and the gateway, and synchronizing the user operation history and user and application registration information among a plurality of gateways.

Abstract: An exemplary method for managing information in a mobile device comprises the steps of downloading a first set of files, determining whether a local cache has enough space to store the first set of files, storing the first set of files into the local cache if the local cache has enough space, selecting an out-dated record and removing a second set of files corresponding to the out-dated record from the local cache if the local cache does not have enough space, and repeating the determining step until the first set of files is stored into the local cache.