Accessory device application bundling

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9769301-B2
Application number	US-201514837406-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Aug 27, 2015
Priority date	Sep 2, 2014
Publication date	Sep 19, 2017
Grant date	Sep 19, 2017

Abstract

In response to receiving an application for operation on an accessory device and an interface definition, a computer device produces an application package that includes a companion application, a companion extension, and the application and interface definition. The application package components are configured to interoperate in accordance with an application identifier that is mutually recognized among all the package components. When the application package is installed at the companion device, the companion device automatically unpacks the components and sends the accessory device application and interface definition to the accessory device.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A method of operating a server computer that is in communication with a companion device over a network connection, the method comprising:
receiving, at the server computer, an accessory device application file for installation at an accessory device, the accessory device application file comprising an accessory device application and an interface definition, wherein the accessory device application and the interface definition are mutually identified with an application identifier, the accessory device application file including programming code that, when executed by the accessory device, provides the accessory device application to the accessory device, and wherein the accessory device application, with the interface definition, specifies display values for display at the accessory device and communicates with an accessory device daemon included with an operating system of the accessory device for external communications;
generating, by the server computer in response to the received application file, an accessory device application package for installation at the companion device, the accessory device application package including components comprising a companion application for generating display values for display at the accessory device, a companion device extension for communications between a companion device daemon included with an operating system of the companion device, the companion device application, and the accessory device application file;
sending the accessory device application package from the server computer to the companion device over the network connection;
wherein the application identifier is recognized by the companion device application, the companion device extension, the companion device daemon, the accessory device daemon, and the interface definition, which are configured to interoperate in accordance with the application identifier.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the server computer receives a confirmation message from the companion device upon installation of the accessory device application package at the companion device.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the server computer receives a confirmation message from the companion device upon installation of the accessory device application and interface definition at the accessory device.

4. The method of claim 1 , wherein the application package comprises a single data file that includes all the components comprising the companion device application, companion device extension, accessory device application, and interface definition.

5. The method of claim 1 , wherein the companion application generates display values for the accessory device display in accordance with a framework stored in the companion device.

6. The method of claim 1 , wherein the companion device daemon is configured to provide display messages to a predetermined companion application that is stored in the companion device and that can process the provided display messages, in accordance with the application identifier.

7. The method of claim 1 , wherein the accessory device application package including programming code that, when executed by the accessory device, provides the accessory device application and the interface definition.

8. A method of operating a companion device that is in communication with a server computer over a network connection, the method comprising:
sending a request from the companion device to the server computer for an accessory device application package for installation at the companion device,
the accessory device application package including components comprising a companion application for generating display values for a display of the accessory device, a companion device extension for communications between a companion device daemon included with an operating system of the companion device, and the companion device application, and an accessory device application file,
wherein the accessory device application file includes an accessory device application and an interface definition, wherein the accessory device application and the interface definition are mutually identified with an application identifier, the accessory device application file including programming code that, when executed by the accessory device, provides the accessory device application to the accessory device, and wherein the accessory device application, with the interface definition, specifies display values for display at the accessory device and communicates with an accessory device daemon included with an operating system of the accessory device for external communications;

receiving the accessory device application package at the companion device from the server computer over the network connection;
wherein the application identifier is commonly known to the companion device application, the companion device extension, the companion device daemon, the accessory device daemon, and the interface definition and are configured to interoperate in accordance with the application identifier.

9. The method of claim 8 , further comprising sending a confirmation message from the companion device to the server computer upon installation of the accessory device application package at the companion device.

10. The method of claim 8 , further comprising sending a confirmation message from the companion device to the server computer upon installation of the accessory device application and interface definition at the accessory device.

11. The method of claim 8 , wherein the accessory device application package comprises a single data file that includes all the components comprising the companion device application, companion device extension, accessory device application, and interface definition.

12. The method of claim 8 , wherein the companion application generates display values for the accessory device display in accordance with a framework stored in the companion device.

13. The method of claim 8 , wherein the companion device daemon is configured to provide display messages to a predetermined companion application that is stored in the companion device and that can process the provided display messages, in accordance with the application identifier.

14. The method of claim 8 , wherein the accessory device application package includes programming code that, when executed by the accessory device, provides the accessory device application and the interface definition.

15. The method of claim 8 , wherein the accessory device application package is generated by the server computer in response to receiving an accessory device application file for installation at an accessory device, the accessory device application file comprising the accessory device application and the interface definition mutually identified with the application identifier.

16. The method of claim 8 , further comprising sending the accessory device application file, including the accessory device application and interface definition, from the companion device to the accessory device over the network connection.

17. A computer product comprising a non-transitory computer readable medium storing a plurality of instructions for a server computer that is in communication with a companion device over a network connection, to perform a method for controlling the server computer, the method comprising:
receiving, at the server computer, an accessory device application file for installation at an accessory device, the accessory device application file comprising an accessory device application and an interface definition, wherein the accessory d

Assignees

• Apple Inc

Inventors

• Marcos Paul D
• Platzer Andrew E

Classifications

• G06F8/61 Primary

  Installation · CPC title

• H04M1/7253 Primary

  Electricity · mapped topic

• H04M1/72525

  Electricity · mapped topic

• H04M1/72412 Primary

  using two-way short-range wireless interfaces · CPC title

• H04M1/72406

  by software upgrading or downloading · CPC title