Real time re-purposing of a mobile application using xml data

A method for conducting online retail purchasing activities with a mobile device comprising:

• using an Internet-enabled host server online purchasing system;
• loading at least one merchant identifier and respective merchant account and loading or linking with an associated database representing that merchant's inventory of available products, prices, and operations by which product selections and purchase operations can be indicated;
• loading a plurality of identified users and respective user accounts;
• linking the online purchasing system to a banking system such that online purchases and related financial transactions can be conducted via the online purchasing system and respective accounts of merchants and users be maintained by both systems;
• permitting online access by the users to the host server for reviewing the at least one merchant database representing products and operations;
• pre-selecting from the database by each individual user a subset of the database defining a personalized user interface for subsequent access and purchases;
• storing data defining said personalized user interface on the server;
• loading a thin client application for mobile devices on the server for access by subscribing users for downloading to a mobile device, said application programmed for repurposing the local user interface according to an XML-formatted data input;
• downloading and installing on a user's mobile device a copy of the thin client application;
• initiating the thin client application on the mobile device whereby it communicates with the host server and receives XML-formatted data defining the respective personalized user interface stored on the host server;
• repurposing the mobile device user interface according to the XML-formatted data;
• selecting by the user of products and operations using the mobile device user interface and sending commands for the selected products and operations from the mobile device to the host server;
• executing at the host server in real time the received commands for the selected products and operations;
• updating the stored data defining the respective personalized user interface on the host server;
• sending back to the mobile device in real time an XML-formatted data update representing the update to the stored data;
• and
• updating the mobile device user interface with the result in real time.

A remotely operable computer system for users of mobile devices comprising:

• an Internet-enabled server, said server linked or loaded with a database representing user selectable computer-executable operations;
• means of access by users to said server for reviewing the database of operations and pre-selecting therefrom a personal subset of operations, thereby defining a personalized user interface for commanding a selected computer-executable operation from among the subset of operations, said personalized user interface being associated with a user identity and stored on the server;
• and
• a thin client application for a mobile device;
• said application comprising in combination with a mobile device means for communicating with the server via the Internet, confirming a user identity, receiving an XML-formatted data file defining the associated personalized user interface as stored on the server, repurposing the mobile device user interface according to the personalized user interface, communicating user commands via the personalized user interface to the server, receiving from the server an XML-formatted data file representing the resulting update to the personalized user display, and updating the repurposed mobile device user interface accordingly;
• said thin client application being available to said users for installing on a mobile device.

An online purchasing system for users of mobile devices comprising:

• an Internet-enabled host server, said server loaded with at least one merchant identifier and respective merchant account and linked or loaded with an associated database representing that merchant's inventory of available products, prices, and operations by which product selections and purchase operations can be indicated, said server loaded with a plurality of user identifiers and respective user accounts;
• said server being linked to a banking system whereby online purchases can be conducted by the users via the server and respective accounts of merchants and users be maintained;
• means of access by users to said server for reviewing the at least one merchant database representing products and operations, and pre-selecting from among the products a user's own subset of products and thereby defining a personalized user interface for online purchasing activities, said personalized user interface being stored on the server;
• and
• a thin client application for a mobile device;
• said application comprising in combination with a mobile device means for communicating with the server via the Internet, confirming a user identity, receiving an XML-formatted data file defining that user's personalized user interface as stored on the server, repurposing the mobile device user interface accordingly, communicating user commands to the server, receiving from the server an XML-formatted data file representing the resulting update to the personalized user display, and updating the mobile device user interface accordingly;
• said thin client application being accessible via Internet for downloading to an Internet-enabled mobile device.