Information Processing Apparatus License-Based Version Switching
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Solution Overview
Problem
Users face hassle and storage inefficiency due to the need to download and store both trial and product versions of game software, leading to a cluttered and less user-friendly interface.
Innovation Solution
An information processing apparatus that determines the availability of license information to switch between trial and product versions, allowing the product version to be downloaded as a trial version with restricted functions, eliminating the need for duplicate downloads and storage.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If both trial version and product version of game software are stored in the storage, then users can access both versions, but storage capacity is wastefully consumed
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the trial version and product version into a single stored copy. The system determines whether the user has a valid license and appropriately displays either the trial version interface or the full product version interface, eliminating the need to store duplicate copies of the same software.
Solution Approach 2:
The single stored software file serves multiple functions: it acts as the trial version when no license is present and as the full product version when a license is valid. This multi-functionality allows one copy to replace what would traditionally require two separate copies.
2Loss of information
If icons of both trial version and product version are displayed in the menu screen, then users can see available software, but the interface becomes less user-friendly
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of displaying two separate icons and requiring users to understand the relationship between them, the system inverts the approach by displaying a single icon that dynamically represents the user's actual access status. The icon's appearance or associated information changes based on license validity, simplifying the interface while preserving all necessary information.
3Adaptability or versatility
If users download both trial version and product version, then they can try and purchase the software, but they experience hassle and time loss
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs the software download in advance as a trial version, storing it locally on the user's device. When the user decides to purchase, only the license information needs to be added rather than downloading the entire software again. This preliminary action of downloading the trial version eliminates the need for repeated downloads.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent extracts the essential difference between trial and product versions down to just the license information. The actual software code remains the same; what changes is the licensing status. This extraction allows the system to transition from trial to product version by simply adding license data rather than redistributing the entire software package.
Data Source
AI summary
A storage stores content information for a trial version of an application program assigned identification information and content information for a product version; a license information acquisition unit acquires license information for the application program by referring to request information acknowledged by an input acknowledging unit; a determination unit determines whether the license information for the application program is stored in the memory by referring to the identification information; and a display processing unit generates a display screen using first content information until the determination unit determines that the license information is stored, and generates a display screen using second content information when the determination unit determines that the license information is stored.