Device experience application launcher

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11429362-B2
Application number	US-201916523200-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jul 26, 2019
Priority date	Jul 26, 2019
Publication date	Aug 30, 2022
Grant date	Aug 30, 2022

Abstract

A system, method, and computer-readable medium are disclosed for improved management of software applications used on a device of a business entity. A determination is made if software applications are needed for the device. Application program interface (API) calls are performed for needed software applications from one or more sources, including third-party providers. The needed software applications are fetched from the one or more sources through communication channels established by the API calls; and authenticating fetched software applications prior to installing on the device.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A computer-implementable method for management of software applications used on a device of a business entity comprising:
determining if software applications which are available over different platforms are needed for the device through an application interface gateway (DEAL) monitored and provided updates by a software application management system wherein the software applications are identified by identifier numbers that include #KeyDatabase information;
analyzing inventory of components and software applications identified by part numbers specified and signed by the business entity of the device through the application interface gateway, wherein the analyzing assures that the software applications are authentic;
identifying business entity specific components and software applications of the device by comparing the part numbers to part numbers in a key database through the application interface gateway, wherein the identifying assures that the software applications are authentic;
generating reports as to the device and system implementing the device based on the authenticated software applications;
performing application program interface (API) calls for needed software applications from one or more sources customized to the device;
fetching the needed software applications from the one or more sources through communication channels established by the API calls; and
authenticating fetched software applications prior to installing on the device.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the determining is based on components, hardware, software, and applications specific to the business entity implemented by the device and fetching the needed software applications includes bundled software applications specific to the components, hardware, software, and applications.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the sources include third-party provider marketplaces.

4. The method of claim 1 , wherein the authenticating is performed of the fetched software applications by signature comparison, certificate comparison, or a combination of signature and certificate comparison.

5. The method of claim 1 further comprising generating a review report of the software applications installed on the device, wherein the review report includes updates over time.

6. The method of claim 1 further comprising receiving updates as to the software applications.

7. The method of claim 1 further comprising generating a customized repository of an inventory of components, hardware, software, and applications identified by part numbers specific to the business entity that implement the needed software applications, wherein an update is performed on the customized repository when changes are made to the inventory of components, hardware, software, and applications.

8. A system comprising:
a processor;
a data bus coupled to the processor; and a non-transitory, computer-readable storage medium embodying computer program code, the non-transitory, computer-readable storage medium being coupled to the data bus, the computer program code interacting with a plurality of computer operations for improved management of software applications used on a device of a business entity and comprising instructions executable by the processor and configured for:
determining if software applications which are available over different platforms are needed for the device through an application interface gateway (DEAL) monitored and provided updates by a software application management system wherein the software applications are identified by identifier numbers that include #KeyDatabase information;
analyzing inventory of components and software applications identified by part numbers specified and signed by the business entity of the device through the application interface gateway, wherein the analyzing assures that the software applications are authentic;
identifying business entity specific components and software applications of the device by comparing the part numbers to part numbers in a key database through the application interface gateway, wherein the identifying assures that the software applications are authentic;
generating reports as to the device and system implementing the device based on the authenticated software applications;
performing application program interface (API) calls for needed software applications from one or more sources customized to the device;
fetching the needed software applications from the one or more sources through communication channels established by the API calls; and
authenticating fetched software applications prior to installing on the device.

9. The system of claim 8 , wherein the determining is based on components, hardware, software, and applications specific to the business entity implemented by the device and fetching the needed software applications includes bundled software applications specific to the components, hardware, software, and applications.

10. The system of claim 8 , wherein the sources include third-party provider marketplaces.

11. The system of claim 10 , wherein the authenticating is performed of the fetched software applications by signature comparison, certificate comparison, or a combination of signature and certificate comparison.

12. The system of claim 8 further comprising generating a review report of the software applications installed on the device, wherein the review report includes updates over time.

13. The system of claim 8 further comprising receiving updates as to the software applications.

14. The system of claim 8 further comprising generating a customized repository of an inventory of components, hardware, software, and applications identified by part numbers specific to the business entity that implement the needed software applications, wherein an update is performed on the customized repository when changes are made to the inventory of components, hardware, software, and applications.

15. A non-transitory, computer-readable storage medium embodying computer program code, the computer program code comprising computer executable instructions configured for:
determining if software applications which are available over different platforms are needed for a device through an application interface gateway (DEAL) monitored and provided updates by a software application management system wherein the software applications are identified by identifier numbers that include #KeyDatabase information;
analyzing inventory of components and software applications identified by part numbers specified and signed by a business entity of the device through the application interface gateway, wherein the analyzing assures that the software applications are authentic;
identifying business entity specific components and software applications of the device by comparing the part numbers to part numbers in a key database through the application interface gateway, wherein the identifying assures that the software applications are authentic;
generating reports as to the device and system implementing the device based on the authenticated software applications;
performing application program interface (API) calls for needed software applications from one or more sources customized to the device;
fetching the needed software applications from the one or more sources through communication channels established by the API calls; and
authenticating fetched software applications prior to installing on the device.

16. The non-transitory, computer-readable storage medium of claim 15 , wherein the determining is based on components, hardware, software, and appl

Assignees

• Dell Products Lp

Inventors

• Buck Amy L
• Roy Mainak
• Babu Rathi

Classifications

• G06F8/75

  Structural analysis for program understanding · CPC title

• G06F21/57

  Certifying or maintaining trusted computer platforms, e.g. secure boots or power-downs, version controls, system software checks, secure updates or assessing vulnerabilities · CPC title

• G06F21/44 Primary

  Program or device authentication · CPC title

• G06F8/71

  Version control (security arrangements therefor G06F21/57); Configuration management · CPC title

• G06F9/451

  Execution arrangements for user interfaces · CPC title