Cloud-to-device messaging for application activation and reporting

A computer-implemented method for updating application data for a first instance of an application at a first client computing device, the method comprising:

• sending a request from the first instance of the application at the first client computing device to an application server via a network connection, the request for updated application data corresponding to a second instance of the application at a second client computing device;
• receiving a first C2DM message at the second client computing device, the first C2DM message consisting of a timestamp, a user ID corresponding to the first client computing device, and the request for updated application data;
• generating updated application data with the first C2DM message using the second instance of the application;
• sending the updated application data from the second client computing device;
• and
• receiving a second C2DM message at the first client computing device, the second C2DM message including a user ID corresponding to the second client computing device and the updated application data.

A client computing device comprising:

• a processor;
• a memory storing an application and instructions for execution by the processor, the instructions for using the processor to:
• send a request from a first instance of the application at the client computing device to a server via a network connection, the request for updated application data corresponding to a second instance of the application at another client computing device, wherein the request causes the server to send a first C2DM message to the other client computing device, the first C2DM message including a user ID corresponding to the client computing device and the request for updated application data, wherein the other client device only sends updated application data to the server in response to the data request by the client computing device;
• and
• receive a second C2DM message at the client computing device, the second C2DM message including a user ID corresponding to the other client computing device and the requested updated application data;
• a transceiver for sending the request and receiving the second C2DM message;
• and
• a display including a graphic representation of a location of the second client computing device from the received updated application data.

A system for updating application data using C2DM comprising:

• a first client computing device including a processor and a memory, the memory storing a first instance of an application and instructions for execution by the processor, the instructions for using the processor to send a request for updated application data corresponding to a second instance of the application;
• an application server including a processor and a memory, the memory storing instructions for execution by the processor, the instructions for using the processor to determine that the request includes a timestamp that exceeds a threshold time limit and to store updated application data;
• a network initiated data request manager including a processor and a memory, the memory storing instructions for execution by the processor, the instructions for using the processor in response to the timestamp exceeding the threshold to generate a C2DM message including a user ID corresponding to the first client computing device and the request for updated application data;
• a second client computing device including a processor and a memory, the memory storing the second instance of the application and instructions for execution by the processor, the instructions for using the processor and the C2DM message to wake up the second instance of the application and cause the second instance of the application to generate updated application data, wherein the second client computing device only sends updated application data to the application server in response to the request from the first client computing device.

A computer-implemented method for updating application data for a first instance of an application at a first client computing device, the method comprising:

• sending a request from the first instance of the application at the first client computing device to an application server via a network connection, the request for updated application data corresponding to a second instance of the application at a second client computing device;
• receiving the request from the first client computing device at an application server via the network connection;
• sending a first C2DM message to the second client computing device via the network connection in response to the application server determining that the second instance of the application at the second client computing device is configured to receive push notifications, wherein the first C2DM includes a user ID corresponding to the first client computing device and the request for updated application data message and causes the second instance to wake up and generate the updated application data;
• receiving the first C2DM message at the second client computing device;
• generating updated application data with the second instance of the application at the second client computing device, the second application instance using the first C2DM message;
• sending the updated application data from the second client computing device to the application server via the network connection, wherein the second client computing device only sends updated application data to the application server in response to the request from the first client computing device;
• receiving a second C2DM message at the first client computing device, the second C2DM message including a user ID corresponding to the second client computing device and the updated application data;
• and
• displaying the updated application data on a display of the first client computing device.