Method for activating and deactivating client-side services from a remote server
A system, apparatus, and method for controlling the operation of a service in a client device. The invention uses an existing protocol which is used for communications between an application resident in the device and a remote server to convey information about the service to the application. The information may be relevant to a service specific function, such as configuration or provisioning, or an activation or de-activation instruction, for example. The application receives the service related information, processes the information and then provides the information to the service via a notification channel. The service related information may be incorporated into a message sent from the remote server to the client device by using an element of the protocol, for example, by appending a text string to a header.
1. A mobile device comprising:
one or more processors; and
at least a first application stored in memory and executable by the one or more processors and configured to communicate with a remote server over a wireless communication channel in accordance with a communication protocol and with a second application on the mobile device over a notification channel;
wherein the first application is configured to:
send, to the remote server, a first message comprising one or more elements required by the communication protocol and signature information regarding the second application;
receive, from the remote server, a second message comprising one or more elements required by the communication protocol and access control data for use by the second application to control access to the second application; and
provide the access control data to the second application via the notification channel.
2. The mobile device of claim 1 wherein the signature information includes an information item uniquely identifying the second application.
3. The mobile device of claim 1 wherein the signature information includes one or more information items associated with the mobile device.
4. The mobile device of claim 1 wherein the signature information includes an information element identifying a user account associated with the mobile device.
5. The mobile device of claim 1 wherein the communication protocol is selected from a group consisting of HTTP, TCP/IP, POP3 and SMTP.
6. A computer-implemented method comprising:
at a mobile device having memory and one or more processors, wherein there are at least a first application and a second application installed on the mobile device, wherein the first application is configured to communicate with a remote server over a wireless communication channel in accordance with a communication protocol and with the second application on the mobile device over a notification channel;
the first application sending, to the remote server, a first message comprising one or more elements required by the communication protocol and signature information regarding the second application;
the first application receiving, from the remote server, a second message comprising one or more elements required by the communication protocol and access control data for use by the second application to control access to the second application; and
the first application providing the access control data to the second application via the notification channel.
7. The method of claim 6 wherein the signature information includes an information item uniquely identifying the second application.
8. The method of claim 6 wherein the signature information includes one or more information items associated with the mobile device.
9. The method of claim 6 wherein the signature information includes an information element identifying a user account associated with the mobile device.
10. The method of claim 6 wherein the communication protocol is selected from a group consisting of HTTP, TCP/IP, POP3 and SMTP.
11. A server system, comprising:
one or more processors; and
memory for storing one or more programs, wherein the one or more programs, when executed by the one or more processors, cause the server system to:
receive from a first application on a mobile device, over a wireless communication channel in accordance with a communication protocol, a first message comprising one or more elements required by the communication protocol and signature information regarding a second application on the mobile device;
process the signature information to determine access control data for the second application; and
send to the first application a second message comprising one or more elements required by the communication protocol and the access control data for use by the second application to control access to the second application.
12. The server system of claim 11 wherein the signature information includes an information item uniquely identifying the second application.
13. The server system of claim 11 wherein the signature information includes one or more information items associated with the mobile device.
14. The server system of claim 11 wherein the signature information includes an information element identifying a user account associated with the mobile device.
15. The server system of claim 11 wherein the communication protocol is selected from a group consisting of HTTP, TCP/IP, POP3 and SMTP.