Method and apparatus for sotfware delivery and management

• US 20030181242A1
• Filed: 03/20/2002
• Published: 09/25/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 03/20/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Intel Corporation
• Original Assignee: Intel Corporation
• Inventors: Scotzin, Shawn C., Ingalls, Paul E., Lee, Se-Wai
• Granted Patent: US 8,216,071 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 463/42
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/12 involving interaction between a plurality of game devices, e.g. transmisison or distribution systems protocols for networked virtual reality, networked games H04L29/06034
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/30 Interconnection arrangements between game servers and game devices; Interconnection arrangements between game devices; Interconnection arrangements between game servers
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/335 using Internet
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/71 using secure communication between game devices and game servers, e.g. by encrypting game data or authenticating players
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/77 involving data related to game devices or game servers, e.g. configuration data, software version or amount of memory
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/792 for payment purposes, e.g. monthly subscriptions
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/407 Data transfer via internet
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/50 characterized by details of game servers
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/552 for downloading to client devices, e.g. using OS version, hardware or software profile of the client device

Abstract

A method and apparatus for software delivery and management includes receiving an electronic catalog identifying one or more game titles, displaying at least a subset of the identified game titles within a graphical user interface (GUI), receiving an indication from a user selecting one of the game titles displayed within the GUI, and displaying information corresponding to the selected one of the game titles in association with at least one of a first offer to preview a partially enabled game program corresponding to the selected one of the game titles and a second offer to purchase a fully enabled version of the game program corresponding to the selected one of the game titles.

Claims

1. In a client device, a method comprising:

receiving an electronic catalog identifying one or more game titles;

displaying at least a subset of the identified game titles within a graphical user interface (GUI);

receiving an indication from a user selecting one of said game titles displayed within the GUI; and

displaying information corresponding to the selected one of said game titles in association with at least one of a first offer to preview a partially enabled game program corresponding to the selected one of said game titles and a second offer to purchase a fully enabled version of the game program corresponding to the selected one of said game titles.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein said electronic catalog comprises at least said first and second offers and is received from a server.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein said game titles correspond to a group of electronically deliverable game programs.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the GUI is part of a game management application designed to facilitate centralized access to a plurality of installed and downloadable games.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein said indication is received from the user via a user input device comprising at least one of a mouse, joystick, trackball, and keyboard.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving a second indication from the user accepting one of said first and second offers, wherein if said first offer is accepted by the user the partially enabled version of the game program is automatically downloaded to the client device, and wherein if said second offer is accepted by the user a purchasing dialog is presented to the user to facilitate payment by the user in exchange for the fully enabled version of the game program being downloaded to the client device.

7. The method of claim 6, further comprising periodically displaying said second offer to purchase the fully enabled version of the game program to the user through the GUI.

8. The method of claim 6, further comprising installing the downloaded game program in response to at most a single input action by the user, based at least in part upon one or more previously identified installation locations.

9. The method of claim 6, further comprising displaying one or more offers to download additional game programs while the game program is being downloaded.

10. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

displaying one or more offers to obtain additional game programs having one or more characteristics in common with the selected one of said game titles.

11. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

displaying a third offer for the user to play the game program corresponding to the selected one of said game titles;

receiving a second indication from the user accepting the third offer; and

launching said game program in response to said user accepting said third offer.

12. The method of claim 11, further comprising monitoring one or more usage metrics associated with use of said game program corresponding to the selected one of said game titles by said user.

13. The method of claim 12, further comprising determining if a user usage metric is equal to or exceeds a predefined game usage metric associated with said game program corresponding to the selected one of said game titles.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein said determining if said user usage metric is equal to or exceeds a predefined game usage metric occurs prior to said game program being launched.

15. The method of claim 13, further comprising displaying said second offer to purchase a fully enabled version of the game program if said user metric is determined to be equal to or exceed said predefined game usage metric.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein the user usage metric and the game usage metric comprise at least one of a game-play time limit, a number of game-plays limit, a score limit, and a game level progression limit.

17. In a client device, a method comprising:

receiving an electronic catalog identifying one or more software programs available for download from at least one server;

displaying representations associated with at least a subset of the identified software programs within a graphical user interface (GUI);

receiving an indication from a user selecting one of said software program representations displayed within the GUI; and

displaying at least one of a first offer to preview a partially enabled version of the software program corresponding to the selected one of said software program representations and a second offer to purchase a fully enabled version of the software program corresponding to the selected one of said software program representations.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein said electronic catalog comprises at least said first and second offers and is received from a server.

19. The method of claim 17, wherein said software program representations correspond to a group of electronically deliverable software programs.

20. The method of claim 17, wherein the GUI is part of a software management application designed to facilitate centralized access to a plurality of installed and downloadable software programs.

21. The method of claim 17, wherein said indication is received from the user via a user input device comprising at least one of a mouse, joystick, trackball, and keyboard.

22. The method of claim 17, further comprising:

receiving a second indication from the user indicating their acceptance to one of said first and second offers;

automatically downloading to the client device the partially enabled version of the software program corresponding to the selected one of said software program representations if said first offer is accepted by the user; and

presenting a purchasing dialog to the user to facilitate payment by the user in exchange for the fully enabled version of the software program corresponding to the selected one of said software program representations if said second offer is accepted by the user.

23. The method of claim 22, further comprising periodically displaying said second offer to purchase the fully enabled version of the software program corresponding to the selected one of said software program representations to the user through the GUI.

24. The method of claim 22, further comprising installing the downloaded game program in response to at most a single input action by the user, based at least in part upon one or more previously identified installation locations.

25. The method of claim 22, further comprising displaying one or more offers to download additional software programs while the software program corresponding to the selected one of said software program representations is being downloaded.

26. The method of claim 17, further comprising:

displaying one or more offers to obtain additional software programs having one or more characteristics in common with the selected one of said software program representations.

27. The method of claim 17, further comprising:

displaying a third offer for the user to make use of the software program corresponding to the selected one of said software program representations;

receiving a second indication from the user accepting the third offer; and

launching said software program corresponding to the selected one of said software program representations in response to said user accepting said third offer.

28. The method of claim 27, further comprising monitoring one or more usage metrics associated with use of said software program corresponding to the selected one of said software program representations by said user.

29. The method of claim 28, further comprising determining if a user usage metric is equal to or exceeds a predefined application usage metric associated with said software program corresponding to the selected one of said software program representations.

30. The method of claim 29, wherein said determining if said user usage metric is equal to or exceeds a predefined application usage metric occurs prior to said software program corresponding to the selected one of said software program representations being launched.

31. The method of claim 29, further comprising displaying said second offer to purchase a fully enabled version of the software program corresponding to the selected one of said software program representations if said user metric is determined to be equal to or exceed said predefined application usage metric.

32. The method of claim 31, wherein the user usage metric and the application usage metric track at least how many times the software program corresponding to the selected one of said software program representations is launched, or how long the software program is used.

33. In a client device, a method comprising:

determining if one or more game programs are installed on said client device based at least in part upon a catalog of electronic game signatures;

displaying within a graphical user interface (GUI), at least a subset of game titles corresponding to said one or more game programs determined to be installed on said client device;

receiving an indication from a user selecting one of said game titles displayed within the GUI; and

displaying one or more offers to download one or more additional game programs belonging to a group of electronically deliverable games identified as being associated with the selected one of said game titles.

34. The method of claim 33, wherein the catalog of electronic game signatures is received from a server.

35. The method of claim 33, wherein the GUI is part of a game management application designed to facilitate centralized access to a plurality of installed and downloadable games programs.

36. The method of claim 33, further comprising:

displaying within said GUI, at least a subset of game titles corresponding to said catalog of electronic game signatures.

37. In a server, a method comprising:

transmitting to the client device, an electronic catalog identifying a plurality of game titles, said catalog including at least a first electronic offer to receive a partially enabled version of a game program corresponding to one of said game titles and a second electronic offer to receive a fully enabled version of the game program corresponding to said one of said game titles;

receiving from the client device, an acceptance to one of said first and second offers, and

transmitting the partially enabled version of the game program to the client if said acceptance is associated with said first offer, and transmitting the fully enabled version of the game program to the client if said acceptance is associated with said second offer.

38. The method of claim 37, further comprising:

detecting a network connection from said client device requesting an updated version of said electronic catalog.

39. The method of claim 37, wherein at least a subset of said plurality of game titles within said electronic catalog is associated with at least one recommended game title, wherein each of said recommended game titles correspond to an electronic offer to receive a partially enabled version of a game program corresponding to the recommended game title, and an electronic offer to receive a fully enabled version of the game program corresponding to the recommended game title.

40. The method of claim 37, wherein said fully enabled version of the game program is transmitted to the client upon successful processing of payment by a user associated with the client device.

41. An apparatus comprising:

storage medium having stored therein programming instructions designed to enable the apparatus to

receive an electronic catalog identifying one or more game titles;

display at least a subset of the identified game titles within a graphical user interface (GUI);

receive an indication from a user selecting one of said game titles displayed within the GUI;

display information corresponding to the selected one of said game titles in association with at least one of a first offer to preview a partially enabled game program corresponding to the selected one of said game titles and a second offer to purchase a fully enabled version of the game program corresponding to the selected one of said game titles; and

at least one processor coupled with the storage medium to execute the programming instructions.

42. The apparatus of claim 41, wherein said electronic catalog is received from a server and comprises at least said first and second offers.

43. The apparatus of claim 41, wherein said game titles correspond to a group of electronically deliverable game programs.

44. The apparatus of claim 41, wherein the GUI is a part of a game management application designed to facilitate centralized access to a plurality of installed and downloadable games.

45. The apparatus of claim 41, wherein said indication is received from the user via a user input device comprising at least one of a mouse, joystick, trackball, and keyboard.

46. The apparatus of claim 41, wherein the programming instructions are designed to enable the apparatus to receive a second indication from the user indicating their acceptance to one of said first and second offers, automatically download to the client device the partially enabled version of the game program if said first offer is accepted by the user, and present a purchasing dialog to the user to facilitate payment by the user in exchange for the fully enabled version of the game program if said second offer is accepted by the user.

47. The apparatus of claim 46, wherein the programming instructions are designed to enable the apparatus to periodically display said second offer to purchase the fully enabled version of the game program to the user through the GUI.

48. The apparatus of claim 46, wherein the programming instructions are designed to enable the apparatus to install the downloaded game program in response to at most a single input action by the user, based at least in part upon one or more previously identified installation locations.

49. The apparatus of claim 46, wherein the programming instructions are designed to enable the apparatus to display one or more offers to download additional game programs while the game program is being downloaded.

50. The apparatus of claim 41, wherein the programming instructions are designed to enable the apparatus to display one or more offers to obtain additional game programs having one or more characteristics in common with the selected one of said game titles.

51. The apparatus of claim 41, wherein the programming instructions are designed to enable the apparatus to display a third offer for the user to play the game program corresponding to the selected one of said game titles, receive a second indication from the user accepting the third offer, and launch said game program in response to said user accepting said third offer.

52. The apparatus of claim 51, wherein the programming instructions are designed to enable the apparatus to monitor one or more usage metrics associated with use of said game program corresponding to the selected one of said game titles by said user.

53. The apparatus of claim 52, wherein the programming instructions are designed to enable the apparatus to determine if a user usage metric is equal to or exceeds a predefined game usage metric associated with said game program corresponding to the selected one of said game titles.

54. The apparatus of claim 53, wherein the programming instructions are designed to enable the apparatus to determine if said user usage metric is equal to or exceeds a predefined game usage metric, prior to said game program being launched.

55. The apparatus of claim 53, wherein the programming instructions are designed to enable the apparatus to display said second offer to purchase a fully enabled version of the game program if said user metric is determined to be equal to or exceed said predefined game usage metric.

56. The apparatus of claim 55, wherein the user usage metric and the game usage metric comprise at least one of a game-play time limit, a number of game-plays limit, a score limit, and a game level progression limit.

57. An apparatus comprising:

a storage medium having stored therein programming instructions designed to enable the apparatus to

receive an electronic catalog identifying one or more software programs available for download from at least one server;

display representations associated with at least a subset of the identified software programs within a graphical user interface (GUI);

receive an indication from a user selecting one of said software program representations displayed within the GUI;

display at least one of a first offer to preview a partially enabled version of the software program corresponding to the selected one of said software program representations and a second offer to purchase a fully enabled version of the software program corresponding to the selected one of said software program representations; and

at least one processor coupled with the storage medium to execute the programming instructions.

58. The apparatus of claim 57, wherein said electronic catalog comprises at least said first and second offers and is received from a server.

59. The apparatus of claim 57, wherein said software program representations correspond to a group of electronically deliverable software programs.

60. The apparatus of claim 57, wherein the GUI is part of a software management application designed to facilitate centralized access to a plurality of installed and downloadable software programs.

61. The apparatus of claim 57, wherein said indication is received from the user via a user input device comprising at least one of a mouse, joystick, trackball, and keyboard.

62. The apparatus of claim 57, wherein the programming instructions are designed to enable the apparatus to receive a second indication from the user indicating their acceptance to one of said first and second offers, automatically download to the client device the partially enabled version of the software program corresponding to the selected one of said software program representations if said first offer is accepted by the user, and present a purchasing dialog to the user to facilitate payment by the user in exchange for the fully enabled version of the software program corresponding to the selected one of said software program representations if said second offer is accepted by the user.

63. The apparatus of claim 62, wherein the programming instructions are designed to enable the apparatus to periodically display said second offer to purchase the fully enabled version of the software program corresponding to the selected one of said software program representations to the user through the GUI.

64. The apparatus of claim 62, wherein the programming instructions are designed to enable the apparatus to install the downloaded game program in response to at most a single input action by the user, based at least in part upon one or more previously identified installation locations.

65. The apparatus of claim 62, wherein the programming instructions are designed to enable the apparatus to display one or more offers to download additional software programs while the software program corresponding to the selected one of said software program representations is being downloaded.

66. The apparatus of claim 57, wherein the programming instructions are designed to enable the apparatus to display one or more offers to obtain additional software programs having one or more characteristics in common with the selected one of said software program representations.

67. The apparatus of claim 57, wherein the programming instructions are designed to

enable the apparatus to display a third offer for the user to make use of the software program corresponding to the selected one of said software program representations;

receive a second indication from the user accepting the third offer; and

launch said software program corresponding to the selected one of said software program representations in response to said user accepting said third offer.

68. The apparatus of claim 67, wherein the programming instructions are designed to enable the apparatus to monitor one or more usage metrics associated with use of said software program corresponding to the selected one of said software program representations by said user.

69. The apparatus of claim 68, wherein the programming instructions are designed to enable the apparatus to determine if a user usage metric is equal to or exceeds a predefined application usage metric associated with said software program corresponding to the selected one of said software program representations.

70. The apparatus of claim 69, wherein the programming instructions are designed to enable the apparatus to determine if said user usage metric is equal to or exceeds a predefined application usage metric, prior to said software program corresponding to the selected one of said software program representations being launched.

71. The apparatus of claim 69, wherein the programming instructions are designed to enable the apparatus to display said second offer to purchase a fully enabled version of the software program corresponding to the selected one of said software program representations if said user metric is determined to be equal to or exceed said predefined application usage metric.

72. The apparatus of claim 71, wherein the user usage metric and the application usage metric track at least how many times the software program corresponding to the selected one of said software program representations is launched, or how long the software program is used.

73. An apparatus comprising:

a storage medium having stored therein programming instructions designed to enable the apparatus to

determine if one or more game programs are installed on said client device based at least in part upon a catalog of electronic game signatures;

display within a graphical user interface (GUI), at least a subset of game titles corresponding to said one or more game programs determined to be installed on said client device;

receive an indication from a user selecting one of said game titles displayed within the GUI; and

display one or more offers to download one or more additional game programs belonging to a group of electronically deliverable games identified as being associated with the selected one of said game titles; and

at least one processor coupled with the storage medium to execute the programming instructions.

74. The apparatus of claim 73, wherein the catalog of electronic game signatures is received from a server.

75. The apparatus of claim 73, wherein the GUI is part of a game management application designed to facilitate centralized access to a plurality of installed and downloadable games programs.

76. The apparatus of claim 73, wherein the programming instructions are designed to enable the apparatus to display within said GUI, at least a subset of game titles corresponding to said catalog of electronic game signatures.

77. An apparatus comprising:

a storage medium having stored therein programming instructions designed to enable the apparatus to

transmit to the client device, an electronic catalog identifying a plurality of game titles, said catalog including at least a first electronic offer to receive a partially enabled version of a game program corresponding to one of said game titles and a second electronic offer to receive a fully enabled version of the game program corresponding to said one of said game titles;

receive an acceptance to one of said first and second offers from the client device; and

transmit the partially enabled version of the game program to the client if said acceptance is associated with said first offer, and transmit the fully enabled version of the game program to the client if said acceptance is associated with said second offer; and

at least one processor coupled with the storage medium to execute the programming instructions.

78. The server of claim 77, wherein the programming instructions are designed to enable the apparatus to detect a network connection from said client device requesting an updated version of said electronic catalog.

79. The server of claim 77, wherein at least a subset of said plurality of game titles within said electronic catalog is associated with at least one recommended game title, wherein each of said recommended game titles correspond to an electronic offer to receive a partially enabled version of a game program corresponding to the recommended game title, and an electronic offer to receive a fully enabled version of the game program corresponding to the recommended game title.

80. The server of claim 77, wherein the programming instructions are designed to enable the apparatus to transmit said fully enabled version of the game program to the client upon successful processing of payment by a user associated with the client device.