Customized Application Delivery via Segmented Template and Server
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Solution Overview
Problem
Mobile terminals often restrict the delivery of customized applications due to hardware vendors' requirements for digital signatures and compliance checks, making it difficult to distribute applications that haven't passed these checks, especially for closed audiences or beta testing phases.
Innovation Solution
A method involving a customization server that delivers customization information separately from a generic template application, ensuring the template application is compliant with app store constraints and can be upgraded without restrictions, allowing for customization without app store approval.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If customized applications are delivered to mobile terminals, then application customization capability is improved, but compliance with app store constraints and digital signature requirements deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The application delivery system is segmented into two independent parts: a template application delivered through the app store with proper digital signatures, and separate customization information delivered through a customization server. This segmentation allows the template to satisfy app store compliance requirements while the customization information provides the needed adaptability without compromising the signed integrity of the base application.
Solution Approach 2:
A customization server acts as an intermediary between the app store ecosystem and the need for customized applications. The server delivers customization information that modifies the template application's behavior or appearance without requiring the customized application itself to pass through app store approval processes, thus maintaining compliance while enabling customization.
2Reliability
If customized applications undergo full compliance checks and digital signature verification, then application reliability is improved, but delivery flexibility and ability to reach closed audiences deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
By segmenting the application into a signed template and unsigned customization information, the system maintains reliability verification for the base application through app store processes while enabling flexible delivery of customized versions to closed audiences without requiring each customized variant to undergo full compliance checks.
Solution Approach 2:
The template application is pre-signed and pre-verified through app store compliance checks before distribution. This preliminary action ensures reliability of the base application, while subsequent customization can be delivered flexibly to specific audiences without repeating the full verification process.
3Productivity
If template application is updated without restrictions, then productivity and upgrade speed are improved, but maintaining digital signature integrity and compliance deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The template application and customization information are segmented such that the signed template can be updated independently through app store processes while customization information is updated separately through the customization server. This allows rapid updates to customization content without requiring re-signing or full compliance verification, maintaining both integrity and productivity.
Data Source
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Figure 3A
AI summary
Application delivery to a mobile terminal (1-80). A customization server (1-20) receives an application request containing identification information for the mobile terminal. The customization server instructs the mobile terminal to download a template application (1-50) from an application store (1-40). The customization server prepares customization information (1-30) for the application, the mobile terminal and/or its user and sends the customization information to the mobile terminal. The template application comprises data structures for making the template application compliant with constraints of the application store; an initial execution routine for detecting that the template application is being executed at the mobile terminal without installed customization information; a customization information retrieval routine for retrieving the customization information; a customization information install routine for installing the retrieved customization information; and application execution routines for executing the application with the installed customization information.