System and method for updating an on-device application catalog in a mobile device receiving a push message from a catalog server indicating availability of an application for download

A method of updating an on-device-application catalog in a mobile device comprising:

• receiving a first push message from a catalog server including application catalog data from an application catalog, the application catalog comprising information relating to a plurality of applications available on an application server for download;
• pre-caching on the mobile device the application catalog data from the catalog server contained in the first push message;
• responsive to receiving an indication of a search function, browsing the application catalog data from the catalog server;
• accessing the application catalog stored on the catalog server with a browser,
• receiving a second push message from the application catalog server indicating availability of an application for download and containing information from the application catalog related to the application;
• reading the information from the second push message;
• displaying the information from the second push message to a user of the mobile device for acceptance;
• receiving an indication that the user of the mobile device accepts the application;
• and
• in response to the receiving the indication:
• requesting the application from the application server,
• receiving the application from the application server,
• installing the application on the mobile device,
• updating the on-device application catalog to indicate the availability of the application for execution on the mobile device, and
• displaying an indication of the availability of the application for execution on the mobile device.

A system for providing software applications to a mobile device comprising:

• a processor;
• and
• a memory, coupled with and readable by the processor, the memory containing a series of instructions that, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to:
• provide access to an application catalog stored on a catalog server, the application catalog comprising information relating to a plurality of applications available on an application server for download,
• receive from a browser a request for an application that is one of the plurality of applications identified in the application catalog, wherein the request identifies the mobile device,
• read request information from the request, the request information indicating the application and the mobile device;
• read data from the application catalog related to the application;
• generate a push message with a header indicating the mobile device;
• add the data from the application catalog to the body of the push message;
• send the push message to the mobile device identified in the request for the application,
• receive an acceptance of the push message from the mobile device, and
• responsive to the receiving the acceptance, send the application to the mobile device for storing on the mobile device to provide additional functionality to the mobile device.

A mobile device for updating an on-device application catalog comprising:

• a processor;
• and
• a memory, coupled with and readable by the processor, the memory containing a series of instructions that, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to:
• receive a first push message from a catalog server including application catalog data from an application catalog, the application catalog comprising information relating to a plurality of applications available on an application server for download;
• pre-cache on the mobile device the application catalog data from the catalog server contained in the first push message;
• responsive to receiving an indication of a search function, browse the application catalog data from the catalog server;
• access the application catalog stored on a catalog server with a browser,
• receive a second push message from the application catalog server indicating availability of an application for download and containing information from the application catalog related to the application,
• read the information from the second push message,
• display the information from the second push message to a user of the mobile device for acceptance, and
• receive an indication that the user of the mobile device accepts the application,
• responsive to receiving the indication:
• request the application from the application server,
• receive the application from the application server,
• install the application on the mobile device,
• update the on-device application catalog to indicate the availability of the application for execution on the mobile device, and
• display an indication of the availability of the application for execution on the mobile device.