Application Installation Control via Multi-Source Settings
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing application distribution systems lack mechanisms for controlling application installation on user terminals, leading to issues with provisioning, entitlement management, and persistence of applications, particularly in enterprise environments, where compatibility and cost-effectiveness are concerns.
Innovation Solution
A method for controlling application installation on user terminals based on user identification data, utilizing a data store with installation control settings from multiple sources, such as application developers, enterprises, and equipment manufacturers, to determine and transmit installation control messages, allowing for flexible and restrictive access management.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If application distribution systems use simple entitlement determination based on payment, then transaction simplicity is improved, but application control capability deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the installation control setting into multiple independent components: entitlement determination (payment-based) and installation control (multi-source settings). This allows the system to maintain simple payment-based entitlement while adding layered installation control from application developers, enterprises, and equipment manufacturers without complicating the core transaction flow.
Solution Approach 2:
The installation control setting serves multiple functions simultaneously: it determines whether an application can be installed, tracks installation status, enables persistence control, and supports bulk distribution. This multi-functional approach allows a single mechanism to address diverse control requirements from different stakeholders without requiring separate systems.
2Adaptability or versatility
If enterprise specific application distribution systems are maintained, then application control is improved, but system cost deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges multiple control sources (application developers, enterprises, equipment manufacturers) into a unified installation control setting stored in the application data. This eliminates the need for separate enterprise-specific distribution systems while maintaining comprehensive control capabilities through a shared infrastructure.
Solution Approach 2:
The installation control setting acts as an intermediary mechanism that translates requirements from different stakeholders into a common control format. Instead of maintaining separate distribution systems for each enterprise, the system uses this intermediary setting to harmonize diverse control requirements within a single platform.
3Adaptability or versatility
If multiple installation control settings from different sources are considered, then control flexibility is improved, but determination complexity deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by allowing different installation control settings to have different scopes and priorities. Each stakeholder (application developer, enterprise, equipment manufacturer) can set controls appropriate to their specific context, and the system determines the effective setting based on the user's location in the control hierarchy, thereby managing complexity through localized decision-making rules.
Data Source
AI summary
A method, system and computer program product for generating a list of applications available for installation on a user terminal is disclosed. In one aspect, a catalogue server identifies a first and a second installation control setting corresponding to an application on the basis of user identification data from a data store comprising entries for a plurality of applications and their corresponding installation control settings. Subsequently, the catalogue server determines installation control data for at least one of the first and second application on the basis of the first and the second installation control setting. The determined installation control data is used to generate the list of application available for installation on the user terminal.