Mobile App Scanning for Rewards Notification
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Solution Overview
Problem
Users of mobile devices are often unaware of potential benefits and rewards associated with installed applications due to the lack of a technical mechanism allowing apps to change operation based on the presence or usage of other apps, making it difficult to track and utilize available partnerships and incentives.
Innovation Solution
A method and system that periodically scans the mobile device for installed applications, compares them against a list of apps associated with rewards programs, and generates notifications for available rewards, either for installed or missing apps, by accessing a database and utilizing the device's processor and storage media to update and analyze application information.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If apps operate independently without detecting other installed apps, then app operation simplicity is maintained, but user awareness of rewards and benefits is lost
Solution Approach 1:
The system enables apps to automatically detect other installed apps and generate reward notifications without requiring manual user input or configuration. The scanning app autonomously queries the operating system for installed application information, compares it against a database of partnered apps, and generates notifications automatically, allowing the system to serve itself rather than requiring active user participation.
Solution Approach 2:
The system implements feedback by having apps query information about other installed apps and receive notifications based on detected relationships. The scanning process continuously monitors the device state, compares current app installations against partnered application databases, and provides feedback to users through notifications about available rewards, creating a closed-loop information flow that keeps users informed of their eligibility status.
2Loss of information
If a periodic scanning system is implemented to detect installed apps, then user awareness of rewards is improved, but device resource consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system implements periodic scanning at predetermined time intervals rather than continuous monitoring. The scanning process is triggered at specific periods (such as daily, weekly, or upon app launch) to check for installed applications, which reduces resource consumption compared to continuous operation while still maintaining timely awareness of rewards for users.
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs preliminary actions by pre-loading the list of partnered applications and their associated rewards into the scanning app's database before actual scanning occurs. This preliminary data preparation eliminates the need to query partnership information in real-time during scanning, significantly reducing processing resources and energy consumption during the actual detection process.
3Adaptability or versatility
If apps request permission to access camera or photos, then app functionality is enabled, but user control and security are maintained
Solution Approach 1:
The scanning app acts as an intermediary between the operating system and other installed apps when querying application information. Instead of apps directly accessing each other's data or system resources, the scanning app mediates these interactions by requesting application information from the operating system's package manager, which then provides relevant data about installed applications without requiring direct app-to-app access or compromising user security.
Data Source
AI summary
Systems, methods, and computer-readable storage media for scanning a mobile computing device for applications produced by partnered entities and providing benefits when those applications are found. An exemplary system does this by accessing a list of applications and associating each application with a respective entity which has a rewards program linked to a specific entity. The system issues a request for application information of the applications which are installed on the mobile computing device, identifies applications that match the list of applications in the data record, and generates at least one notification based on the identified applications and the rewards program. The system then displays the at least one notification.