Resource application program interface utility for changing user interface elements on wireless devices

摘要

Embodiments of a mobile device incorporating a resource application program interface for downloading user interface components for a resident application are described. Resource profiles are defined by device manufacturers for each model of mobile device. The resource profiles specify the composition, format, and appearance of one or more user interface elements displayed or executed by the mobile device. A content provider maintains a common database of resources for each mobile device model. The resources comprise files, links to files, and/or data or program objects associated with the configurable aspect of the user interface for each mobile device and are provided in the form of a downloadable UI content package consisting of the description file and resource files. The mobile device handset includes a resource API to download UI content package data from a UI content server or UI content that is locally stored. The resource API contains a number of different plug-in content engines and an engine selector component to allow an application program executed on the mobile handset to access the resources without requiring modification of the application.