Patent application number | Description | Published |
20090178070 | Content Rental System - A content rental system includes one data store for storing rental content. The content rental system also includes a content server for transferring content to one viewing device based upon a received request. The content server is further configured to authorize the transfer of the content from the viewing device to another viewing device. | 07-09-2009 |
20090178093 | Content Rental System - A content rental system includes one data store for storing rental content. The content rental system also includes a content server for transferring content to one viewing device based upon a received request. The content server is further configured to authorize the transfer of the content from the viewing device to another viewing device. | 07-09-2009 |
20090183151 | Obtaining Software for a Handheld Device - Techniques for improved installation of software on handheld devices. In one embodiment, a handheld device is coupled with a computer that has a client software application. The client software application can support installing software applications onto the handheld device. The client software application can determine if the handheld device is in need of, or already has, one or more particular software applications installed on the handheld device. The client application software can then obtain the particular software applications from a remote server and then transfer the particular software applications to the handheld device. Advantageously, a user can automatically be made aware of the particular software applications that it may need. In one implementation, a user of the handheld device or the computer can purchase the particular software applications. | 07-16-2009 |
20090276332 | Network-based distribution of application products - An improved system and method for submitting, distributing and/or managing digital products with respect to a product distribution system are disclosed. The submission of digital products to the product distribution system can operate to electronically submit not only the digital products but also product information, developer information and distribution parameters. The product distribution system can present the digital products for distribution at an online product distribution site in accordance with the distribution parameters. The online product distribution site can present potential purchasers with product information and/or developer information prior to any purchase. | 11-05-2009 |
20090307682 | Techniques for Acquiring Updates for Application Programs - Improved approaches for submission, management and/or distribution of updates to digital products, such as application programs (software programs), with respect to an online product distribution site are disclosed. Updates to numerous digital products can be centrally managed in a uniform and computer-assisted manner so that updates can be efficiently distributed to appropriate users. | 12-10-2009 |
20090307683 | Network-Based Update of Application Programs - Improved approaches for submission, management and/or distribution of updates to digital products, such as application programs (software programs), with respect to an online product distribution site are disclosed. Updates to numerous digital products can be centrally managed in a uniform and computer-assisted manner so that updates can be efficiently distributed to appropriate users. | 12-10-2009 |
20100011052 | SYSTEM AND METHOD OF REGULATING DATA TRAFFIC BETWEEN A CLIENT DEVICE AND A SERVER - A system, method, and computer-readable medium for regulating data traffic between a client device and a server. The system determines whether a transmission of a data file is allowable based on pre-defined criteria. The system provides an indication of whether the transmission is allowable and under what conditions the transmission would be allowable. If the transmission of a data file is requested and the transmission is not allowable, a message is sent from the server to the client device that first pre-defined criteria are not met and the message indicates that the transmission of the data file will be allowed when second pre-defined criteria are met. | 01-14-2010 |
20100011354 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR LOCALIZING DISPLAY OF APPLICATIONS FOR DOWNLOAD - Disclosed herein are systems, methods, and computer readable-media for localizing display of applications for download, the method including receiving from a developer and ingesting into an online store an application localized in different languages, including a designated default language, determining a local language of a user desiring to download the application from the online store, presenting to the user an interface to download a version of the application in the user's local language if the application is available in the user's local language, and presenting to the user an interface to download the version of the application in the designated default language if the application is unavailable in the user's local language. In one aspect, a list of all available localized versions is presented to the user. In another aspect, statistics about when the user desires an unavailable localized version are recorded and reported to the developer. One variation includes receiving from the user a request for an unavailable localized version, and forwarding the request to the developer. To assist a customer in selecting a proper localized version, the method can display to the user one or more representative screenshots of the localized application. In the case of people who speak more than one language, determining a local language of a user further includes determining one or more secondary local languages and/or assigning an order of priority to the secondary languages. | 01-14-2010 |
20100205274 | Intelligent Download of Application Programs - Improved techniques for controlling delivery (e.g., download) of application programs from a remote application repository to different client computing devices are disclosed. Application programs are often built to operate on computing devices that have certain hardware capabilities. Hence, application programs available for download from a remote application repository might not be suitable execution on all client computing devices that are able to access the remote application repository. The improved techniques for controlling delivery can operate to permit the applications to be received by only those client computing devices that have the required hardware capabilities to properly operate the application programs. | 08-12-2010 |
20100235254 | Application Products with In-Application Subsequent Feature Access Using Network-Based Distribution System - An improved system, device and method for accessing locked (secured) features of digital products with assistance from a product distribution site are disclosed. In one embodiment, a digital product can be submitted to a product distribution site for network-based distribution. The digital product can be initially provided such that it provides base functionality but contains one or more locked features that, if unlocked, can supplement the base functionality. If the digital product that has been submitted is approved, the digital product becomes available at the product distribution site such that users can search, browse and purchase the digital product. Once the digital product has been purchased, download and installed on a user's computing device, the user is able to utilize the digital product. However, since the digital product itself includes one or more locked features, the user is not able to utilize such features until a subsequent purchase is performed. Advantageously, the subsequent purchase can be invoked from the digital product. In doing so, the digital product interacts (directly or indirectly) with a remote server (e.g., the product distribution site) to purchase access or usage for one or more of the locked features within the digital product. Once access or usage for the one or more locked features has been purchased, the one or more locked features within the digital product can be unlocked and thereafter utilized. | 09-16-2010 |
20100235889 | APPLICATION PRODUCTS WITH IN-APPLICATION SUBSEQUENT FEATURE ACCESS USING NETWORK-BASED DISTRIBUTION SYSTEM - An improved system, device and method for accessing features of digital products with assistance from a product distribution site are disclosed. In one embodiment, a user of a client device may have previously acquired rights or permissions to access one or more supplemental features of one or more digital products (e.g., application programs). Typically, a user would purchase an application program and then sometime later also purchase supplemental features for use with the application program. In one implementation the supplemental features can be purchased using the application program with the assistance of a remotely located product distribution server. Sometime thereafter, in some cases, the user desires to make use of such previously acquired one or more supplemental features on another client device. For example, the user may wish or need to transfer from a former client device to a new client device. As another example, the user may wish to utilized (e.g., share) such previously acquired one or more supplemental features with another client device associated with the user, such as another client device within user's account. | 09-16-2010 |
20100319053 | DEVICES WITH PROFILE-BASED OPERATING MODE CONTROLS - A device (e.g., a phone) can be provided by an entity (e.g., a business) to a user (e.g., an employee). The device includes a profile manager that allows the user to configure a personal profile comprising any of applications, settings, and stored data. The device is also configurable with an entity profile determined by the entity that also may include applications, settings, and stored data. The user can select from operating modes comprising at least a personal mode, and a unity mode; an entity mode also may be available for selection. The profile manager, based on the selected mode, determines whether entity profile data and applications are available to the user, and which applications from either profile may conduct user-perceptible activities. The profile manager may periodically verify entity profile rights with a server, and if verification fails, then the profile manager can restrict entity profile data and applications access, regardless of operating mode. | 12-16-2010 |
20100332296 | SYSTEMS, METHODS, AND COMPUTER-READABLE MEDIA FOR COMMUNITY REVIEW OF ITEMS IN AN ELECTRONIC STORE - Disclosed herein are systems, computer-implemented methods, and tangible computer-readable media for community-based ranking in an electronic store. The method includes receiving a predictive ranking of an item in an electronic store and feedback about the item from each of a group of individuals, the predictive ranking being predictive of item performance in the electronic store. The method further tracks an actual ranking of the item over time based on item performance in the electronic store, provides an incentive for individuals in the group of individuals whose associated predictive ranking coincides with the actual ranking of the item, and presents in the electronic store received feedback from at least one individual associated with the predictive ranking that coincides with the actual ranking of the item. Rankings can be directed to different subdomains in the electronic or online store. Individuals having favorable successful prediction ratios can receive incentives. | 12-30-2010 |
20130019233 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR LINKING PRE-INSTALLED SOFTWARE TO A USER ACCOUNT ON AN ONLINE STOREAANM Pardehpoosh; Pedraum R.AACI Palo AltoAAST CAAACO USAAGP Pardehpoosh; Pedraum R. Palo Alto CA USAANM Federighi; Craig M.AACI Los Altos HillsAAST CAAACO USAAGP Federighi; Craig M. Los Altos Hills CA USAANM Feldman; Daniel I.AACI San FranciscoAAST CAAACO USAAGP Feldman; Daniel I. San Francisco CA USAANM Quirk; Gregory T.AACI Maple GlenAAST PAAACO USAAGP Quirk; Gregory T. Maple Glen PA USAANM Matthew; Jack R.AACI San FranciscoAAST CAAACO USAAGP Matthew; Jack R. San Francisco CA USAANM Lee-Kang; JackieAACI SunnyvaleAAST CAAACO USAAGP Lee-Kang; Jackie Sunnyvale CA USAANM Ciudad; Jean-PierreAACI San FranciscoAAST CAAACO USAAGP Ciudad; Jean-Pierre San Francisco CA USAANM Gromek; Monika E.AACI OaklandAAST CAAACO USAAGP Gromek; Monika E. Oakland CA USAANM Burkholder; Thomas K.AACI VancouverAACO CAAAGP Burkholder; Thomas K. Vancouver CAAANM Pu; Daniel EmilAACI San FranciscoAAST CAAACO USAAGP Pu; Daniel Emil San Francisco CA USAANM Gharabally; SamAACI San FranciscoAAST CAAACO USAAGP Gharabally; Sam San Francisco CA USAANM Verosub; Ellis MarshallAACI San CarlosAAST CAAACO USAAGP Verosub; Ellis Marshall San Carlos CA USAANM Hwang; Yoon SubAACI AlamedaAAST CAAACO USAAGP Hwang; Yoon Sub Alameda CA US - Disclosed herein are systems, methods, and non-transitory computer-readable storage media for associating an application that was pre-installed on a computer with a user account on an online store. A system configured to practice the method presents an application available for download, receives a request to download the application to a computing device, determines that the application is a pre-installed application, presents an authorization prompt configured to request user authorization to link the application with a user account, receives the user authorization, generates a unique hardware identifier associated with the computing device, determines that the application is linkable based upon the unique hardware identifier, and links the adoptable application with the user account when the adoptable application is linkable. | 01-17-2013 |
20130019234 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR LINKING PRE-INSTALLED SOFTWARE TO A USER ACCOUNT ON AN ONLINE STORE - Disclosed herein are systems, methods, and non-transitory computer-readable storage media for associating an application that was pre-installed on a computer with a user account on an online store. A system configured to practice the method presents an application available for download, receives a request to download the application to a computing device, determines that the application is a pre-installed application, presents an authorization prompt configured to request user authorization to link the application with a user account, receives the user authorization, generates a unique hardware identifier associated with the computing device, determines that the application is linkable based upon the unique hardware identifier, and links the adoptable application with the user account when the adoptable application is linkable. | 01-17-2013 |
20130019237 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR LINKING PRE-INSTALLED SOFTWARE TO A USER ACCOUNT ON AN ONLINE STORE - Disclosed herein are systems, methods, and non-transitory computer-readable storage media for associating an application for installation on a computer with a user account on an online store. A system configured to practice the method presents an application available for download, receives from a client device a software adoption request including an identifier associated with a user account and a proof of entitlement associated with a software package or the user account, verifies the proof of entitlement by comparing the proof of entitlement to a database, and if the proof of entitlement is verified, adopts the software package as part of the user account. | 01-17-2013 |
20140215510 | Content Rental System - A content rental system includes one data store for storing rental content. The content rental system also includes a content server for transferring content to one viewing device based upon a received request. The content server is further configured to authorize the transfer of the content from the viewing device to another viewing device. | 07-31-2014 |
20140223423 | Automatic Updating of Applications - In some implementations, a mobile device can be configured to automatically download and install updates to applications installed on the mobile device. In some implementations, the automatic updates can be performed based on how the mobile device is connected to a network that provides access to the application updates. In some implementations, the automatic updates can be performed based on whether the mobile device has previously downloaded applications or application updates from a caching server. In some implementations, indicia can be presented on a graphical user interface of the mobile device to indicate which applications have been updated. In some implementations, an application update can be downloaded while the corresponding application is in use by the user. The application can be installed when the application is no longer being used by the user. | 08-07-2014 |
20140280462 | INTELLIGENT DOWNLOAD OF APPLICATION PROGRAMS - Improved techniques for controlling delivery (e.g., download) of application programs from a remote application repository to different client computing devices are disclosed. Application programs are often built to operate on computing devices that have certain hardware capabilities. Hence, application programs available for download from a remote application repository might not be suitable execution on all client computing devices that are able to access the remote application repository. The improved techniques for controlling delivery can operate to permit the applications to be received by only those client computing devices that have the required hardware capabilities to properly operate the application programs. | 09-18-2014 |