Method and system for context-based application management

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9286050-B2
Application number	US-201113225375-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Sep 2, 2011
Priority date	Sep 2, 2011
Publication date	Mar 15, 2016
Grant date	Mar 15, 2016

Abstract

An application is installed on a user device based on context information of another user device. A retail service platform determines that context information of a user device satisfies pre-defined context information, initiates installation of an application on the user device based on the pre-defined context information, and then initiates installation of the application on another user device based on a request from the (first) user device. The retail service platform determines to uninstall the application from the other user device based on a change in the context information of the (first) user device.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A method comprising:
initiating, by an apparatus controlled by a retail service provider, installation of a remote manager application on a user device;
determining by the apparatus via the remote manager application that current context information of the user device satisfies pre-defined context information, the pre-defined context information indicating one or more retail locations associated with the retail service provider and a time range associated with the one or more retail locations;
initiating by the apparatus a transfer of an application to the user device based on the pre-defined context information and the satisfaction of the pre-defined context information;
initiating by the apparatus a validation of the application by the remote manager application that the application is not corrupted, intercepted, modified, or a combination thereof, by a third party during the transfer, prior to the installation of the application;
initiating by the apparatus via the remote manager application installation of the application at the user device based on the validation;
causing, at least in part by the apparatus, transfer of the application to another user device based on a request from the user device;
initiating by the apparatus installation of the application on the other user device; and
initiating uninstallation of the application by the apparatus from the other user device based on at least one change in the current context information of the user device that causes dissatisfaction of the pre-defined context information as determined by the remote manager application, wherein the at least one change in the current context information of the user device indicates an uninstallation of the application from the user device.

2. A method according to claim 1 , further comprising:
transferring the application to the user device based on the current context information.

3. A method according to claim 2 , further comprising:
determining a local data network configured to transfer the application to the user device based on a current location indicated in the current context information; and
determining to configure the user device to connect to the local data network to download the application,
wherein the application is downloaded to the user device over the local data network.

4. A method according to claim 2 , further comprising:
determining to uninstall the application on the user device based on a change of a current time indicated in the current context information outside of the time range,
wherein the application is pushed to the user device.

5. A method of according to claim 1 , further comprising:
determining by the apparatus whether the user device has installed with the remote manager application, wherein the remote manager application is installed on the user device when the apparatus determines that the user device has not yet installed with the remote manager application.

6. A method according to claim 1 , further comprising:
initiating a presentation on the user device indicating the at least one change in the current context information of the user device and a prompt querying whether to remove the application from the user device or leave the application on the user device prior to the initiating of the uninstallation from the user device; and
skipping the initiating of the uninstallation from the user device, when receiving a user selection of leaving the application on the user device.

7. A method according to claim 1 , wherein the application includes a gaming application,
wherein the other user device is connected with the user device via a near field communication network.

8. A method according to claim 1 , further comprising:
sharing information associated with the application with another user device based on a request from the user device, a user of the user device, or a combination thereof,
wherein the current context information comprises a location of the user device, and the other user device is located away from the location of the user device.

9. A method according to claim 8 , wherein the information comprises a coupon, an advertisement, a website address, an email address, a street address, a telephone number, or a combination thereof.

10. A method of claim 5 , further comprising:
determining by the apparatus whether a profile has been created for the user device to determine whether the user device has installed with the remote manager application,
wherein the application is selected based on user preference, a past user selection, the current context information, or a combination thereof, and the application is transferred from the user device to the other user device.

11. An apparatus controlled by a retail service provider comprising:
a processor configured to:
initiate installation of a remote manager application on a user device,
determine via the remote manager application that current context information of the user device satisfies pre-defined context information, the pre-defined context information indicating one or more retail locations associated with the retail service provider and a time range associated with the one or more retail locations,
initiate a transfer of an application to the user device based on the pre-defined context information and the satisfaction of the pre-defined context information,
initiate a validation of the application by the remote manager application that the application is not corrupted, intercepted, modified, or a combination thereof, by a third party during the transfer, prior to the installation of the application,
initiate via the remote manager application installation of the application at the user device based on the validation,
cause, at least in part, a transfer of the application to another user device based on a request from the user device, initiate installation of the application on the other user device, and
initiate uninstallation of the application from the other user device based on at least one change in the current context information of the user device that causes dissatisfaction of the pre-defined context information as determined by the remote manager application, wherein the at least one change in the current context information of the user device indicates an uninstallation of the application from the user device.

12. An apparatus according to claim 11 , further comprising:
a communication interface configured to transfer the application to the user device based on the current context information.

13. An apparatus according to claim 11 , wherein the processor is further configured to:
determine a local data network configured to transfer the application to the user device based on a current location indicated in the current context information; and
determine to configure the user device to connect to the local data network, and the application is transferred to the user device over the local data network.

14. An apparatus according to claim 12 , wherein the application is pushed to the user device.

15. An apparatus according to claim 11 , wherein the processor is further configured to determine whether the user device has installed with the remote manager application, wherein the remote manager application is installed on the user device when the apparatus determines that the user device has not vet installed with the remote manager application.

16. An apparatus according to claim 11 , wherein the processor is further configured to initiate a presentation on the user device indicating the at least one change in the current context in

Assignees

• Moore Devin C
• Thompson Wade P
• Verizon Patent & Licensing Inc

Inventors

• Moore Devin C
• Thompson Wade P

Classifications

• G06Q30/0639

  Locating goods or services, e.g. based on physical position of the goods or services within a shopping facility · CPC title

• G06F8/62 Primary

  Uninstallation · CPC title

• G06Q30/0281

  Customer communication at a business location, e.g. providing product or service information, consulting · CPC title

• G06F8/60

  Software deployment · CPC title