Universal Windows App Store Integration via Privilege-Based APIs
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current platforms do not allow third-party application stores to distribute universal applications on Windows devices, limiting developers' ability to monetize and manage additional or optional content, and requiring complex application logic for content restrictions and updates.
Innovation Solution
Integrating a third-party application store with the device's operating system, allowing identification of application stores, determining privileges, and performing operations specific to each store using APIs, enabling independent management and distribution of sub-component universal applications.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If content is included within the application itself with restrictions, then developers can control content access and monetization, but application logic becomes more complex and users must download all content regardless of purchase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts content management functionality from the application itself and places it in a separate content store. The application package no longer contains embedded content restrictions or monetization logic, instead relying on the content store to manage content delivery, licensing, and updates independently. This separation reduces application logic complexity while maintaining content control capabilities.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a content store as an intermediary between the application and the content delivery system. This intermediary handles content licensing, distribution, and management, allowing developers to control content access and monetization without embedding complex logic in the application. The content store acts as a mediator that simplifies the application's responsibility while maintaining content management flexibility.
2Ease of operation
If all content is downloaded to the device, then users have immediate access to content, but network bandwidth and disk space are consumed
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements preliminary action by pre-downloading and caching content metadata and licensing information in the content store during application installation. This allows the system to quickly determine what content is available and licensed without downloading all content immediately. Full content is downloaded on-demand when users actually access it, reducing initial network bandwidth consumption while maintaining ease of access for licensed content.
3Reliability
If third party application stores are not allowed, then platform security and control are maintained, but developers cannot monetize additional or optional content through external stores
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the application distribution system into two independent but integrated components: the traditional application store for application packages, and a new content store for optional content and DLC. This segmentation allows third-party content stores to operate with controlled privileges, maintaining platform security through the OS integration layer while enabling flexible content distribution through the separate content store mechanism.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates a universal content store interface that can be accessed by applications from any source (original publisher or third-party stores). The content store provides standardized APIs for content management, licensing, and delivery that work universally across different content sources. This multi-functionality allows the system to maintain security through standardized interfaces while supporting diverse content distribution channels including third-party stores.
4Reliability
If updates are required for optional content, then content can be improved and fixed, but the main application must be updated which is difficult when content is contracted out
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts update management for optional content from the main application update process. The content store independently manages updates for DLC and optional content, separate from the application package update mechanism. This allows third-party content providers to update their content without requiring updates to the main application, reducing update management complexity while maintaining content quality through independent update cycles.
Data Source
AI summary
A method and apparatus comprises identifying, by an application platform operating on a device, one or more application stores and one or more applications operating on the device, the one or more application stores being configured as a respective source for each application operating on the device, determining one or more application store privileges for each of the one or more application stores operating on the device, each application store privilege providing a respective application store with management capabilities over the one or more applications, and performing, for each application store, one or more operations specific to the application store based on the one or more application store privileges and one or more application program interfaces (APIs) specific to the application store.