System and method for scheduling content updates in a content-based application

A system for scheduling a content update, comprising:

• a mobile device configured with a processor, a memory, and a storage medium, the storage medium being encoded with a command queue and a content-based application that when executed by the processor runs in the memory and causes the mobile device to:
• monitor the command queue for commands that are due for execution;
• if a refresh command in the command queue is due for execution, determine if the refresh command is prohibited from executing due to a pending delay period set by a prior refresh command, wherein the pending delay period defines a period during which another refresh command issued to the mobile device that commands the mobile device to refresh the same content as the prior refresh command will be ignored;
• if the refresh command is not prohibited by the pending delay period, execute the refresh command by contacting a content server identified in the refresh command and requesting a content update session;
• and
• receive a new refresh command configured for execution at a predetermined time in the future.

A non-transitory computer-readable medium encoded with computer-executable instructions for scheduling a content update which, when executed, perform operations comprising:

• receiving a refresh command that specifies a time when the refresh command should be executed;
• storing the refresh command in a command queue on a mobile device;
• monitoring the command queue to determine if any commands in the command queue are due for execution;
• if the refresh command is due to be executed, determining if the refresh command is prohibited from executing by a parameter set in a previous refresh command, wherein the parameter defines a period during which another refresh command issued to the mobile device that commands the mobile device to refresh the same content as the previous refresh command will be ignored;
• and
• if the refresh command is not prohibited, executing the refresh command by contacting a content server and initiating a content update session.

A method for scheduling a content update, comprising:

• receiving a refresh command that specifies a time when the refresh command should be executed;
• storing the refresh command in a command queue on a mobile device;
• monitoring the command queue to determine if any commands in the command queue are due for execution;
• and
• if the refresh command has become due for execution and its execution is not prohibited due to a pending delay period set by a prior refresh command, executing the refresh command by contacting a content server and initiating a content update session, wherein the pending delay period defines a period during which another refresh command issued to the mobile device that commands the mobile device to refresh the same content as the prior refresh command will be ignored.

A system for scheduling a content update, comprising:

• means for receiving a refresh command that specifies a time when the refresh command should be executed;
• means for storing the refresh command in a command queue on a mobile device;
• means for monitoring the command queue to determine if any commands in the command queue are due for execution;
• and
• if the refresh command has become due for execution and its execution is not prohibited by a parameter of a prior refresh command, means for executing the refresh command by contacting a content server and initiating a content update session, wherein the parameter defines a period during which another refresh command issued to the mobile device that commands the mobile device to refresh the same content as the prior refresh command will be ignored.