Method Supplying Content to a Device
A method of delivering content updates for user interfaces to devices is disclosed. The content data comprises metadata that determines how upgrades to the content data is delivered, for example locations of the updates, the frequency at which updates are accessed, etc. The metadata may also locate a further data resource, such as a database, that stores the location of the content data upgrades.
1 . A method of receiving content data for a user interface to a device, the method comprising the steps of:
the device receiving content data for a user interface from a communications interface;
the device processing the received content data to form a user interface for the device;
wherein the content data comprises metadata and the method comprises the further step of the device accessing content data updates via the communications interface in accordance with the content data metadata.
2 . A method according to claim 1 , wherein the metadata comprises an address for content data updates and the device accesses the content data updates located at the address.
3 . A method according to claim 1 , wherein the metadata comprises a first address and the device queries the first address to obtain a second address, the device accessing the content data updates located at the second address.
4 . A method according to claim 3 , wherein the first address locates a database, the database comprising addresses for a plurality of content data updates.
5 . A method according to any preceding claim wherein the metadata comprises data which determines the frequency at which the device accesses content data updates.
6 . A method according to any of claims 1 to 5 wherein the metadata comprises data which defines events that cause the device to access content data updates.
7 . A method according to any preceding claim, wherein the content data updates accessed by the device are received via the communications interface, processed by the device and used to update the device user interface.
8 . A data carrier comprising computer-executable code for performing the method of any of claims 1 to 7 .
9 . A device comprising: a user interface; a display means for displaying the user interface; a communications interface for receiving content data for use in the user interface and processing means to process received content data to form the user interface wherein the content data comprises metadata and the device is configured to access content data updates via the communications interface in accordance with the content data metadata.
10 . A device according to claim 9 wherein the device is configured to access content data updates at an address comprised within the metadata.
11 . A device according to claim 9 wherein the device is configured to query an address comprised within the metadata, wherein the result of the query is a second address that identifies a content data update.
12 . A device according to any of claims 9 - 11 wherein the metadata comprises data which configures the device to access content data updates at a predetermined frequency.
13 . A device according to any of claims 9 - 11 wherein the metadata comprises data which configures the device to access content data updates in response to pre-defined events.
14 . A device according to any of claims 9 - 13 wherein the device is further configured to receive content data updates via the communications interface; process the received content data updates and update the device user interface accordingly.