Creating a screen saver from downloadable applications on mobile devices

A wireless communication device, comprising:

• a receiver;
• a memory storing data;
• a display screen;
• at least one application stored in the memory having at least one handle executing the at least one application in a screen saver mode when the at least one handle is selected, the at least one application creating images for presentation on the display screen in the screen saver mode;
• and
• a screen saver program stored in the memory that, during operation of the screen saver program, selects the at least one application handle.

A method of creating screen saver displays on a display device, the device having a display screen, a storage medium, a screen saver computer program stored in the storage medium, and a screen saver carousel stored in the storage medium, the method comprising the steps of:

• adding an application handle to execute an application in a screen saver mode to the screen saver carousel;
• starting the screen saver program in response to exceeding a timeout period of inactivity;
• and
• selecting the application handle to execute the application in the screen saver mode.

A computer readable medium having computer-executable instructions for performing steps comprising:

• monitoring activity on a device having a display screen;
• determining whether a timeout period of inactivity on the device has been exceeded;
• evaluating whether a screen saver carousel contains application handles, each of the application handles executing a respective application in a screen saver mode when selected;
• and
• if the carousel contains at least one application handle, and if the timeout period has been exceeded, selecting the at least one application handle to execute the respective application.

A portable device comprising:

• a display screen;
• a memory;
• a command entry device;
• a computer application stored in the memory, the application having at least one handle executing the application in a screen saver mode when the at least one handle is selected, the application being a program that is fully functional in a full application mode and is less than fully functional in a screen saver mode, the application creating images for presentation on the display screen in the screen saver mode;
• a different computer application stored in the memory having at least one different handle executing the different application in a different screen saver mode when the at least one different handle is selected;
• rules within the database for determining the scheduling for selecting the at least one handle;
• parameters within the database associated with the at least one handle for controlling operational aspects of the application;
• a screen saver program stored in the memory selecting the at least one application handle during operation of the screen saver program according to the rules;
• and
• a processor coupled to the memory that performs the steps of:
• monitoring the device for detecting inputs from the command entry device;
• determining whether a timeout period of inactivity from the inputs has been exceeded;
• in accordance with instructions from the screen saver program, selecting the at least one application handle stored in the carousel;
• if a signal is not detected from the command entry device since the period of inactivity was exceeded, and if a timeout period for operation of the application is exceeded, selecting the different handle to execute the different application associated with the different handle in its respective different screen saver mode;
• if a signal is detected from the command entry device since the period of inactivity was exceeded, determining whether the executed application operating in the screen saver mode is an interactive application;
• and
• if the executed application is interactive,
• terminating the screen saver program, and
• executing the executed interactive program in a full application mode.