Distribution of applications to intermittently connected clients

摘要

A system for selectively distributing applications and databases from a server computer to at least one client, such as at least one of a plurality of intermittently connected handheld devices. Applications and databases to be downloaded and deleted are selected from an application list 503 maintained by handheld devices. After connection with the server computer, the application list of selected applications is copied to the server computer which maintains an access control list indicating which applications can be downloaded to which handheld devices. The server computer examines the application list and the access control list to determine which applications are both selected and authorized for use by the handheld device. After determining that requested applications are authorized for requesting devices, these applications are downloaded. If the connected handheld device does not have the application list, the application list is created for it and downloaded.