SDK Overlay Content Updates for Rapid Mobile App Changes
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Solution Overview
Problem
The existing software development process for mobile apps is inefficient in making rapid, on-the-fly changes without releasing new versions, leading to multiple app versions in use by different users and delays in feature updates.
Innovation Solution
Implementing a Software Development Kit (SDK) layer on end-user devices that allows for overlaying content without altering the app code, enabling adjustments through a back-end layer and rule engine for quick updates and corrections.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Speed
If traditional software release process is used, then app updates can be deployed, but it takes several days and creates multiple versions in use
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the app into two independent parts: the core application code (stored in app store) and the overlay content (stored in cloud database). This allows the overlay content to be updated independently and immediately without going through the traditional app store review process, thus achieving rapid deployment speed while avoiding multiple versions in use.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces an overlay content database as an intermediary layer between the core app and the users. This intermediary allows content to be dynamically updated and pushed to users in real-time without requiring app store approval, resolving the contradiction between deployment speed and update time by decoupling the content delivery mechanism from the traditional app release process.
2Adaptability or versatility
If new features are added through app releases, then functionality is improved, but the development cycle is lengthy and complex
Solution Approach 1:
The patent separates feature implementation into two layers: core app functionality (unchanged) and overlay content (highly adaptable). This segmentation allows new features to be added by simply updating overlay content in the cloud database, dramatically improving adaptability while reducing development complexity since no code changes or app store submissions are needed.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent makes the content layer dynamic by storing it in a cloud database that can be updated in real-time. This dynamic approach allows features to be added, modified, or removed by simply changing the overlay content data, without requiring complex development cycles, thus improving adaptability while minimizing development process complexity.
3Ease of manufacture
If overlay content is used for adjustments, then code changes are avoided, but an additional SDK layer is required
Solution Approach 1:
The patent makes the overlay content mechanism universal by designing it to work with any existing app that integrates the SDK. The same overlay infrastructure can deliver different types of content (advertisements, notifications, feature updates, etc.) across multiple apps, improving ease of manufacture through reusability while justifying the initial architecture complexity through broad applicability.
Data Source
AI summary
Aspects of the subject disclosure may include, for example, generating an adjustment request associated with a software application executable by a group of end user devices; and providing the adjustment request to the group of end user devices causing a software development kit (SDK) resident on each of the group of end user devices to present overlay content according to the adjustment request, where the overlay content is positioned over a portion of content being presented by the software application. Other embodiments are disclosed.