Metamarket System for Multi-Device Software Interoperability
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current software markets do not support the installation, updating, or removal of software systems that operate on multiple devices with different user identities, and require an internet connection, causing inconvenience for users without internet access and limiting device interoperability.
Innovation Solution
A metamarket system that allows uploading, selling, downloading, activating, updating, and using a set of applications as one system on various wearable, mobile, and IoT devices, increasing interoperability and enabling applications to run on different devices made by different vendors, with a hierarchy of entities and mechanisms for managing application submission, updating, and security.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If applications are managed on a single device through traditional software markets, then device control and security are simplified, but device interoperability and multi-device software system management are limited
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a universal software management system that can manage applications across multiple device types (smartphones, tablets, wearables, IoT devices) through a common marketplace infrastructure. The system provides multi-functional capabilities including app distribution, updates, licensing, and device interoperability management through unified APIs and protocols, allowing a single software system to operate coherently across diverse device platforms without requiring device-specific management solutions
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a marketplace server as an intermediary between developers, users, and multiple devices. This central mediator handles application distribution, authentication, licensing, and coordination across the device ecosystem. The marketplace server acts as a hub that manages software systems spanning multiple devices, handling complex inter-device communications and coordination tasks while presenting simplified interfaces to end users and developers
2Reliability
If internet connection is required for software management, then centralized control and security are improved, but user convenience and accessibility for offline users deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The patent enables preliminary downloading and caching of applications and software updates to local device storage before internet connectivity is needed. Users can download apps during connected sessions, and the system stores them locally for installation and execution when offline. This preliminary action allows continuous software management operations without requiring constant internet connection, maintaining centralized control while enabling offline accessibility
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements local device capabilities for autonomous software management operations including installation, activation, and basic updates without requiring real-time internet connection. Devices can self-manage their local application ecosystems using cached credentials and locally stored software packages, performing self-service operations while periodically syncing with the centralized marketplace server when connectivity is available
3Productivity
If applications are managed individually per device, then device-specific optimization is achieved, but system-wide software management and interoperability are hindered
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges individual device application management into a unified system-wide software management framework. Multiple devices participating in the same software system share a common application state, licensing information, and configuration data through the marketplace infrastructure. This combining approach allows efficient system-wide updates and coordination while maintaining device-specific optimizations, eliminating redundant management operations across the device ecosystem
Data Source
AI summary
A description is therefore provided of technologies enhancing interoperability of devices located in a proximity from each other, with the goal of improving service performance, convenience and security. Interoperability between a wearable device on a user's hand and a door or a mobile phone results in improved security as well as convenience of use. Interoperability between mobile devices and a computer device embedded in a car, results in a convenient and secure lock. Interoperability between mobile devices and nearby devices belonging to different users, able to provide local computational power, results in lowering of bandwidth requirements for data transfer, by means of performing computations on the data being collected locally, as opposed to it being done on a remote server.