System and method to provide application management on wireless data terminals by means of device management agent and dynamic link libraries
The present invention relates to a system and method of remote application management on wireless data terminals using a device management agent and dynamic link libraries provided by the application. Third party applications on a wireless device can communicate and be controlled by a remote management server via a management client plug-in interface.
1. A method for remotely managing applications on a mobile wireless device using a management server and a management agent, the method comprising:
providing a dynamic link library for each application to be managed;
loading the dynamic link library in the management agent;
receiving a command for managing a specific application by the management agent from the management server;
invoking the command through the dynamic link library;
sending a status of command execution to the management server through the management agent;
receiving an unload command and an application signature by the management agent from the management server;
determining the correct application to send a command to from the application signature; and
relinquishing the ability to control the application by removing the application dynamic link library from the memory of the management agent.
2. The method of claim 1 , wherein receiving commands for managing a specific application further comprises:
receiving a command to start an application by the management agent from the management server and starting the application.
3. The method of claim 1 , wherein receiving commands for managing a specific application further comprises:
receiving a command to stop an application by the management agent from the management server and stopping the application.
4. The method of claim 1 , wherein receiving commands for managing a specific application further comprises:
receiving an invoke command and an application signature by the management agent from the management server;
determining the correct application to send a command to by the application signature; and
invoking an operation in the application.
5. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
providing a common directory on the mobile device for storing one or more plug-in interfaces as dynamic link libraries.
6. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
storing credentials of the remote management server with the management agent; and
verifying that the credentials are correct prior to invoking any commands from the management server.
7. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
registering a unique signature with the management server for each application that can be remotely managed; and
associating each application with a signature.
8. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
transferring the dynamic link library of an application from the management server to the mobile wireless device; and
installing the dynamic link library on the mobile wireless device.
9. A system for remotely managing applications on mobile wireless devices using a management agent, comprising:
a management server located on a network,
a processor operable to execute computer program instructions,
an adapter operable for communicating with the network,
an interface capable of accepting user input,
software operational on the wireless device for:
loading into the management agent a dynamic link library for each application to be managed;
receiving a command for managing a specific application by the management agent from the management server;
invoking the command through the dynamic link library;
sending a status of command execution to the management server through the management agent;
receiving an unload command and an application signature by the management agent from the management server;
determining the correct application to send a command to from the application signature; and
relinquishing the ability to control the application by removing the application dynamic link library from the memory of the management agent.
10. The system of claim 9 , wherein receiving commands for managing a specific application further comprises:
receiving a command to start an application by the management agent from the management server and starting the application.
11. The system of claim 9 , wherein receiving commands for managing a specific application further comprises:
receiving a command to stop an application by the management agent from the management server and stopping the application.
12. The system of claim 9 , wherein receiving commands for managing a specific application further comprises:
receiving an invoke command and an application signature by the management agent from the management server;
determining the correct application to send a command to by the application signature; and
invoking an operation in the application.
13. The system of claim 9 , further comprising: a common directory on the mobile device for storing one or more plug-in interfaces as dynamic link libraries.
14. The system of claim 9 , further comprising the software:
storing credentials of the remote management server with the management agent; and
verifying that the credentials are correct prior to invoking any commands from the management server.
15. The system of claim 9 , further comprising the software:
registering a unique signature with the management server for each application that can be remotely managed; and
associating each application with a signature.
16. The system of claim 9 , further comprising the software:
transferring the dynamic link library of an application from the management server to the mobile wireless device; and
installing the dynamic link library on the mobile wireless device.
17. A non-transitory computer readable storage medium for remotely managing applications on a mobile wireless device using a management server and a management agent comprising:
computer program instructions, recorded on the non-transitory computer readable storage medium and executable by a processor, for:
providing a dynamic link library for each application to be managed;
loading the dynamic link library in the management agent;
receiving a command for managing a specific application by the management agent from the management server;
invoking the command through the dynamic link library;
sending a status of command execution to the management server through the management agent;
receiving an unload command and an application signature by the management agent from the management server;
determining the correct application to send a command to from the application signature; and
relinquishing the ability to control the application by removing the application dynamic link library from the memory of the management agent.
18. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 17 , wherein receiving commands for managing a specific application further comprises:
receiving a command to start an application by the management agent from the management server and starting the application.
19. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 17 , wherein receiving commands for managing a specific application further comprises:
receiving a command to stop an application by the management agent from the management server and stopping the application.
20. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 17 , wherein receiving commands for managing a specific application further comprises:
receiving an invoke command and an application signature by the management agent from the management server;
determining the correct application to send a command to by the application signature; and
invoking an operation in the application.
21. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 17 , further comprising:
providing a common directory on the mobile device for storing one or more plug-in interfaces as dynamic link libraries.
22. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 17 , further comprising:
storing credentials of the remote management server with the management agent; and
verifying that the credentials are correct prior to invoking any commands from the management server.
23. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 17 , further comprising:
registering a unique signature with the management server for each application that can be remotely managed; and
associating each application with a signature.
24. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 17 , further comprising:
transferring the dynamic link library of an application from the management server to the mobile wireless device; and
installing the dynamic link library on the mobile wireless device.