User experience and dependency management in a mobile device

A method of installing a software and/or firmware application in an electronic device of a user, the method comprising:

• enabling a set of user criteria that comprises a type of communication path;
• accessing a list of dependencies of the software and/or firmware application to be installed, wherein a dependency comprises a software and/or firmware component used by, but not part of, the software and/or firmware application to be installed;
• comparing the list of dependencies to a list of all software and/or firmware components already present in a memory of the electronic device;
• producing a dependency graph to determine a number of dependents of the list of dependencies;
• automatically retrieving all dependencies and dependents of the list of dependencies not already present in the memory of the electronic device;
• determining whether room is available in the memory of the electronic device for the software and/or firmware application, all dependencies, and dependents of the list of dependencies not already present in the memory of the electronic device;
• generating update information for installing the software and/or firmware application and all dependencies not already present in the memory of the electronic device;
• downloading the update information to the electronic device, via a communication network, if room is available in the memory of the electronic device and the set of user criteria are met;
• and
• processing the downloaded update information by the electronic device.

A method of installing a software and/or firmware application in an electronic device of a user, the method comprising:

• enabling a set of user criteria that comprises how often differential updates are performed;
• accessing a list of dependencies of the software and/or firmware application to be installed, wherein a dependency comprises a software and/or firmware component used by, but not part of, the software and/or firmware application to be installed;
• comparing the list of dependencies to a list of all software and/or firmware components already present in a memory of the electronic device;
• producing a dependency graph to determine a number of dependents of the list of dependencies;
• automatically retrieving all dependencies and dependents of the list of dependencies not already present in the memory of the electronic device;
• determining whether room is available in the memory of the electronic device for the software and/or firmware application, all dependencies, and dependents of the list of dependencies not already present in the memory of the electronic device;
• generating update information for installing the software and/or firmware application and all dependencies not already present in the memory of the electronic device;
• downloading the update information to the electronic device, via a communication network, if room is available in the memory of the electronic device and the set of user criteria are met;
• and
• processing the downloaded update information b the electronic device.