Mobile OS Installer for Dynamic Application Management
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current methods for pre-installing applications on mobile devices lack dynamic control and tracking, leading to difficulties in managing application installations and revenue sharing due to the inability to accurately monitor usage and installations, especially since firmware is rarely changed during the product cycle.
Innovation Solution
A method involving an installer integrated into the mobile device's operating system that downloads a list of permitted applications from a server, verifies their authenticity, and installs them in the background without user intervention, allowing for dynamic application management and tracking.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If applications are pre-installed on mobile devices during manufacturing, then the device is ready to use with provider-specific applications, but the firmware cannot be changed during the product cycle and dynamic application updates are prevented
Solution Approach 1:
The installer application is pre-installed on the device during manufacturing, along with the basic framework and certificate storage. This preliminary setup enables the device to dynamically download and install additional applications later through the assistant application, without requiring firmware changes. The pre-installed installer acts as a foundation that enables future adaptability.
Solution Approach 2:
The system separates the installer functionality from the firmware, making the installer a standalone application that can be updated independently. The installer, assistant, and server work as separate components that can be updated and modified without changing the core firmware, enabling dynamic application management throughout the product cycle.
2Adaptability or versatility
If applications are installed through a central marketplace, then users can access a wide range of applications, but providers and manufacturers cannot track which devices have which applications installed
Solution Approach 1:
The server receives installation status information from devices and provides feedback about which applications are installed on which devices. The assistant application reports back to the server after successful installations, enabling providers and manufacturers to track application distribution and usage across their device fleet.
Solution Approach 2:
The server acts as an intermediary between the central marketplace and the devices. Instead of direct installation from the marketplace, applications are downloaded through the assistant application which communicates with the server, which in turn manages the installation process through the installer. This intermediary layer enables tracking and monitoring of the installation process.
3Reliability
If the installer verifies certificates and names of applications, then only authorized applications can be installed, but the verification process adds complexity to the installation mechanism
Solution Approach 1:
Certificates and authorized application names are stored in advance in the device's memory during manufacturing. The installer has pre-loaded knowledge of what applications are authorized, eliminating the need for complex real-time verification processes. The verification simply involves checking against the pre-stored certificate and name lists.
4Extent of automation
If the installer installs applications in the background without user intervention, then the installation process is automated and efficient, but security risks increase if unauthorized applications are installed
Solution Approach 1:
The assistant application serves as an intermediary between the user and the installer. It initiates the installation process by calling the installer with specific application parameters, maintaining a chain of trust. The assistant acts as a controlled interface that enables automated installation while maintaining security through the certificate verification system.
Solution Approach 2:
The system implements feedback loops where the installer verifies certificates and reports installation status back to the assistant and server. This feedback mechanism ensures that only authorized applications are installed and provides tracking capability, reducing security risks while maintaining automation.
Data Source
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AI summary
A method for controlling the installation of applications on a mobile device, comprising an installer installed on the mobile device and integrated into the operating system of the mobile device in such a way that installation occurs in the background without user intervention, and which knows the network address of a server, wherein the server is provided by the network provider over a network to provide a list of authorized applications that can install applications through the installer, wherein the list includes certificates for each application and their names, which uniquely determine whether the application is authorized to access the installer, further comprising a wizard that runs as an application on the mobile device and that knows the address of the server in order to obtain from it a list of applications to be installed.The process comprises the following steps: - The installer downloads a list of permitted applications and saves this list to the mobile device, containing the names and certificates of the permitted applications; - The wizard downloads a list of applications to be installed from the server, preferably upon the end customer's first startup of the mobile device, including the application locations; - The wizard downloads the applications from the network as installation packages and places them on the mobile device; - The wizard passes the installation package locations to the installer; - The installer verifies the wizard using the certificates and names from the list of permitted applications; if the verification is successful,Allow the installation to be carried out by the wizard in conjunction with the installer without user intervention.