Method and apparatus for the distribution of configuration data

1. A method for distributing configuration data from a host application to a plurality of mobile terminals in a wireless system, comprising:

receiving from the host application, at a network management computer (NMC), configuration data related to a mobile application residing on one or more of the plurality of mobile terminals, the configuration data comprising software code and instructions for a configuration of a mobile application;

receiving from the host application, at the NMC, a configuration data definition related to the configuration data, wherein the configuration data definition comprises a group value for classifying one or more of the plurality of mobile terminals into one or more groups;

generating at the NMC a configuration data value including the configuration data and an update application identification identifying to which application the configuration data is applicable in response to receiving the configuration data and the configuration data definition;

receiving from the plurality of mobile terminals, at the NMC, an existing application identification relating to the mobile application residing on the plurality of mobile terminals;

receiving from the host application, at the NMC, a request from a client to transmit the configuration data value to one or more of the plurality of mobile terminals; and

transmitting to a predetermined set of the plurality of mobile terminals, from the NMC, the configuration data value in response to the existing application identification received from the plurality of mobile terminals such that the configuration data value is transmitted to the predetermined set of mobile terminals for which the update application identification is non-identical to the existing application identification, wherein the predetermined set of the plurality of mobile terminals is based in part on the group value.

2. The method of claim 1 , further comprising receiving, at the NMC, an acknowledgement message from one or more of the predetermined set of mobile terminals relating to the receipt of the configuration data value.

3. The method of claim 2 , further comprising transmitting, from the NMC to the host application, a service acknowledgement message in response to the receipt of the acknowledgement message from the one or more of the predetermined set of mobile terminals.

4. The method of claim 1 further comprising receiving from the host application, at the NMC, a configuration data definition identification corresponding to the received configuration data definition.

5. The method of claim 4 , wherein the configuration data definition identification is transmitted to the predetermined set of mobile terminals simultaneously with the configuration data value.

6. The method of claim 1 , comprising:

receiving from the host application, at the NMC, a request from a client to transmit the configuration data value to a predetermined mobile terminal, wherein the configuration data value includes a designation of a new precedence level for a mobile terminal, wherein the new precedence level corresponds to a new operating characteristic of the mobile terminal, the configuration data comprising software code and instructions for a configuration of a mobile application, and wherein the request includes a grouping request to classify at least the mobile terminal based in part on the precedence level; and

transmitting, from the NMC, the configuration data value including the new precedence level to the mobile terminal in response to receiving the request from the client, the mobile terminal including a mobile application defining a previous precedence level such that the mobile terminal loads the configuration data in response to the new precedence level being non-identical to the previous precedence level.

7. The method of claim 6 , further comprising:

performing the transmitting of the configuration data value simultaneously for at least a second mobile terminal.

8. The method of claim 6 , wherein the new precedence level and the previous precedence level are hierarchical.

9. The method of claim 8 , wherein the new precedence level and the previous precedence level are represented by numerical values.

10. The method of claim 9 , wherein the transmitting, from the NMC, the configuration data value including the new precedence level to the mobile terminal in response to receiving the request from the client, the mobile terminal loading the configuration data value in response to the new precedence level being greater than the previous precedence level.

11. The method of claim 6 , wherein the mobile terminal comprises a truck interface unit adapted to provide positioning data with respect to a truck.

12. The method of claim 6 , wherein the configuration data value comprises a position reporting interval.

13. A network management computer (NMC) for distributing configuration data from a host application to a plurality of mobile terminals in a wireless system, the NMC comprising:

a memory comprising instructions to:

receive, from a host application, configuration data related to a mobile application residing on one or more of a plurality of mobile terminals, the configuration data comprising software code and instructions for a configuration of a mobile application;

receive from the host application a configuration data definition (CDEF) related to the configuration data, wherein the CDEF comprises a group value for classifying one or more of the plurality of mobile terminals into one or more groups;

generate at the NMC a configuration data value including the configuration data and an update application identification identifying to which application the configuration data is applicable in response to receiving the configuration data and the configuration data definition;

receive from the plurality of mobile terminals an existing application identification relating to the mobile application residing on the plurality of mobile terminals;

receive from the host application a request from a client to transmit the configuration data value to one or more of the plurality of mobile terminals; and

transmit to a predetermined set of the plurality of mobile terminals, the configuration data value in response to the existing application identification received from the plurality of mobile terminals such that the configuration data value is transmitted to the predetermined set of mobile terminals for which the update application identification is non-identical to the existing application identification, wherein the predetermined set of the plurality of mobile terminals is based in part on the group value; and

a processor in communication with the memory and configured to execute the instructions.

14. The NMC of claim 13 , wherein the memory further comprises instructions to receive an acknowledgement message from one or more of the predetermined set of mobile terminals relating to the receipt of the configuration data value.

15. The NMC of claim 14 , wherein the memory further comprises instructions to transmit to the host application a service acknowledgement message in response to the receipt of the acknowledgement message from the one or more of the predetermined set of mobile terminals.

16. The NMC of claim 13 , further wherein the memory further comprises instructions to receive from the host application a configuration data definition identification corresponding to the received configuration data definition.

17. The NMC of claim 16 , wherein the configuration data definition identification is transmittable to the predetermined set of mobile terminals simultaneously with the configuration data value.

18. The NMC of claim 13 , wherein the memory further comprises instructions to:

receive from the host application a request from a client to transmit the configuration data value to a predetermined mobile terminal, wherein the configuration data value includes a designation of a new precedence level for a mobile terminal, wherein the new precedence level corresponds to a new operating characteristic of the mobile terminal, the configuration data comprising software code and instructions for a configuration of a mobile application, and wherein the request includes a grouping request to classify at least the mobile terminal based in part on the precedence level; and

transmit the configuration data value including the new precedence level to the mobile terminal in response to receiving the request from the client, the mobile terminal including a mobile application defining a previous precedence level such that the mobile terminal loads the configuration data in response to the new precedence level being non-identical to the previous precedence level.

19. The NMC of claim 18 , wherein the memory further comprises instructions to:

transmit the configuration data value including the new precedence level to at least a second mobile terminal simultaneously with a transmittal of the configuration data value to the mobile terminal.

20. The NMC of claim 19 , wherein the mobile terminal comprises a truck interface unit adapted to provide positioning data with respect to a truck and wherein the configuration data value comprises a position reporting interval.

21. The NMC of claim 18 , wherein the new precedence level and the previous precedence level are hierarchical.

22. The NMC of claim 18 , wherein the new precedence level and the previous precedence level are represented by numerical values.

23. The NMC of claim 18 , wherein the mobile terminal is adapted to load the configuration data value in response to the new precedence level being greater than the previous precedence level.