Protocol method for provisioning services

1. A computer readable medium in which a provisioning application is stored, the provisioning application including program instructions which when read by a computer system, cause the computer system to perform a method for provisioning services between a client and a provisioning server, comprising the operations of:

providing discovery transactions that allow the client device to retrieve information regarding services available to the client device from a provisioning server, wherein a service comprises a plurality of content files capable of being installed on the client device, wherein the client device is configured to restrict granularity of services requested from the provisioning server, the granularity defined by selection of one or more properties of provisioning services the client device requests to discover;

affording subscription transactions that allow the client device to manage content in service directories, wherein a service directory comprises a plurality of services; and

providing delivery transactions that allow the client device to download data related to services based on synchronization of the client device with the provisioning server, wherein the synchronization ensures that view of delivered services on the client is in synchronization with the view of the delivered services on the provisioning server,

wherein the discovery transactions, the subscription transactions and the delivery transactions may be requested by another client device different from the client device.

2. The computer readable medium as recited in claim 1 , wherein the discovery transactions includes a service discovery transaction that allows the client device to obtain information regarding a particular service.

3. The computer readable medium as recited in claim 2 , wherein the discovery transactions include a service directory discovery transaction that allows the client device to obtain information regarding a particular service directory.

4. The computer readable medium as recited in claim 1 , wherein the subscription transactions include a service subscription transaction that allows a service to be added to a service directory.

5. The computer readable medium as recited in claim 4 , wherein the subscription transactions include an unsubscribe transaction that allows a service to be removed from a service directory.

6. The computer readable medium as recited in claim 1 , wherein the delivery transactions include an update transaction that allows the client device to obtain a provisioning update comprising a list of services that should be installed on the client device.

7. The computer readable medium as recited in claim 6 , wherein the delivery transactions include a notification transaction that allows the provisioning server to request the client device to perform an update transaction.

8. The computer readable medium as recited in claim 7 , wherein the delivery transactions include a delivery transaction that allows the client device to download data related to a service.

9. A method for provisioning services between a client device and a provisioning server, comprising the operations of:

providing discovery transactions that allow the client device to retrieve information regarding services available to the client device from a provisioning server, wherein a service comprises a plurality of content files capable of being installed on the client devices, wherein the client device is configured to restrict granularity of services requested from the provisioning server, the granularity defined by selection of one or more properties of provisioning services the client device requests to discover;

affording subscription transactions that allow the client device to manage content in service directories, wherein a service directory comprises a plurality of services; and

providing delivery transactions that allow the client device to downloading of data related to services based on synchronization of the client device with the provisioning server,

wherein the synchronization ensures that view of delivered services on the client is in synchronization with the view of the delivered services on the provisioning server,

wherein the discovery transactions, the subscription transactions and the delivery transactions may be requested by another client device different from the client device.

10. The method as recited in claim 9 , wherein the discovery transactions includes a service discovery transaction that allows the client device to obtain information regarding a particular service.

11. The method as recited in claim 10 , wherein the discovery transactions include a service directory discovery transaction that allows the client device to obtain information regarding a particular service directory.

12. The method as recited in claim 9 , wherein the subscription transactions include a service subscription transaction that allows a service to be added to a service directory.

13. The method as recited in claim 12 , wherein the subscription transactions include an unsubscribe transaction that allows a service to be removed from a service directory.

14. The method as recited in claim 9 , wherein the delivery transactions include an update transaction that allows the client device to obtain a provisioning update comprising a list of services that should be installed on the client device.

15. The method as recited in claim 14 , wherein the delivery transactions include a notification transaction that allows the provisioning server to request the client device to perform an update transaction.

16. The method as recited in claim 15 , wherein the delivery transactions include a delivery transaction that allows the client device to download data related to a service.

17. A system for provisioning services, comprising: a provisioning server; and

a client device in communication with the provisioning server via a

provisioning protocol, the provisioning protocol comprising:

discovery transactions that allow the client device to retrieve information regarding services available to the client device from a provisioning server, wherein a service comprises a plurality of content files capable of being installed on the client device, wherein the client device is configured to restrict granularity of services requested from the provisioning server, the granularity defined by selection of one or more properties of provisioning services the client device requests to discover;

subscription transactions that allow the client device to manage content in service directories, wherein a service directory comprises a plurality of services; and

delivery transactions that allow the client device to download data related to services based on synchronization of the client device with the provisioning server, wherein the synchronization ensures that view of delivered services on the client are in synchronization with the view of the delivered services on the provisioning server, wherein the discovery transactions, the subscription transactions and the delivery transactions may be requested by another client device different from the client device.

18. The system as recited in claim 17 , wherein the discovery transactions include a service discovery transaction that allows the client device to obtain information regarding a particular service, and wherein the discovery transactions further include a service directory discovery transaction that allows the client device to obtain information regarding a particular service directory.

19. The system as recited in claim 17 , wherein the subscription transactions include a service subscription transaction that allows a service to be added to a service directory, and wherein the subscription transactions further include an unsubscribe transaction that allows a service to be removed from a service directory.

20. The system as recited in claim 17 , wherein the delivery transactions include an update transaction that allows the client device to obtain a provisioning update comprising a list of services that should be installed on the client device, the delivery transactions further including a notification transaction that allows the provisioning server to request the client device to perform an update transaction, and wherein the delivery transactions further include a delivery transaction that allows the client device to download data related to a service.