Application Repository Billing Apportionment Framework
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Solution Overview
Problem
The current 'closed-garden' software development paradigm restricts innovation and revenue sharing for developers, as it requires certification and direct coupling with enterprises, limiting the rapid development and distribution of applications and discouraging developers from creating and sharing software components due to concerns about fair compensation.
Innovation Solution
An 'open-garden' application development and execution framework that includes an application repository with a billing apportionment module and run-time license tracking API, allowing developers to create, distribute, and monetize their applications without initial enterprise certification, using a revenue-sharing model that incentivizes development by billing usage fees and sharing revenue with developers.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If enterprise certification and direct coupling are required for software development, then reliability and quality control are improved, but device complexity and barriers to entry increase, limiting innovation and developer participation
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces an application repository as an intermediary platform between developers and enterprises. This repository provides standardized services including automatic license tracking, billing apportionment, and revenue sharing mechanisms. By mediating through this platform, the system maintains quality control and reliability while eliminating the need for direct enterprise certification of individual developers, thus reducing complexity barriers.
Solution Approach 2:
The system implements self-service mechanisms where applications automatically track their own license usage through embedded APIs, and the billing system automatically apportioned revenues to respective developers. This automated self-service approach replaces manual certification processes, maintaining reliability through systematic tracking while significantly reducing the complexity of developer onboarding and enterprise verification.
2Measurement precision
If manual license tracking and billing processes are used, then measurement precision of usage is improved, but loss of time and operational efficiency deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements continuous automatic license tracking through embedded APIs that operate throughout the application's execution. The billing system continuously monitors usage metrics and automatically generates billing records without interruption. This continuous automated process maintains precise measurement of usage while eliminating the time loss associated with manual tracking, data collection, and billing processing.
Solution Approach 2:
The system replaces manual mechanical processes of license tracking and billing with automated electronic systems. The billing apportionment module automatically calculates usage fees, determines revenue shares, and processes payments without human intervention. This substitution maintains measurement precision through systematic data collection while dramatically reducing the time required for billing operations.
3Productivity
If revenue sharing mechanisms are implemented, then motivation and productivity of developers are improved, but device complexity of the billing system increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent creates a universal application repository platform that serves multiple functions: application distribution, automatic license tracking, billing processing, and revenue sharing. This multi-functional platform consolidates what would otherwise be separate complex systems into a single unified infrastructure, enabling revenue sharing mechanisms while managing overall system complexity through integration rather than multiplication of components.
Solution Approach 2:
The billing system implements self-service automation where the apportionment module automatically tracks usage, calculates revenue shares based on predefined formulas, and distributes payments without manual intervention. This automated self-service approach enables complex revenue sharing mechanisms among multiple developers while keeping the operational complexity manageable through systematic automation rather than manual processes.
4Speed
If rapid application distribution is enabled without certification, then speed of deployment is improved, but reliability and quality assurance may worsen
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements preliminary registration and licensing of applications through the application repository before distribution. Applications undergo initial validation and receive digital licenses that enable their distribution. This preliminary action ensures basic quality standards are met before rapid deployment begins, maintaining reliability while enabling fast distribution through the standardized licensing process.
Solution Approach 2:
The system implements continuous feedback mechanisms through automatic license tracking and usage monitoring. The billing apportionment system provides real-time feedback on application performance, usage patterns, and revenue generation. This feedback loop enables rapid deployment while maintaining quality assurance through systematic monitoring and the ability to quickly identify and address issues in distributed applications.
Data Source
AI summary
An application repository is provided. The application repository comprises a first computer having a processor and a memory, a data store, a plurality of applications stored in the data store, and a billing apportionment module stored in the memory. Each application contains an instruction to invoke a run-time license tracking application programming interface (API), the plurality of applications comprising a first application. The billing apportionment module, when executed by the processor, receives a first run-time license tracking report generated by invocation of the run-time license tracking application programming interface by the first application executing on one of a second computer and a mobile electronic device, determines a first application usage fee to bill to an account associated with a user of the first application, bills the first application usage fee to the account associated with a user of the first application, determines a first usage fee share based in part on the first application usage fee and on the first run-time tracking report, and transfers the first usage fee share to an account associated with the first application.