Network-based distribution of application products

• US 20090276332A1
• Filed: 09/26/2008
• Published: 11/05/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 05/05/2008
• Status: Active Application

• Current Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Original Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Inventors: Miller, Mark, Hwang, Yoon Sub, Gharabally, Sam, Wadycki, Andrew
• Granted Patent: US 10,255,580 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/27
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 8/60 Software deployment
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/087 Inventory or stock management, e.g. order filling, procurement or balancing against orders
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/06 Buying, selling or leasing transactions
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0601 Electronic shopping [e-shopping]

Abstract

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.

Claims

1. A method for locating information on a digital product that is made available for distribution at an online repository, said method comprising:

receiving an electronic submission of product information and distribution information pertaining to the digital product;

rendering the digital product available for distribution from an online store in accordance with the distribution information; and

assisting a user to the online store in locating at least a portion of the product information pertaining to the digital product.

2. A method as recited in claim 1, wherein said assisting the user to the online store in locating at least a portion of the product information pertaining to the digital product comprises presenting a product page to the user, the product page including at least the portion of the product information pertaining to the digital product.

3. A method as recited in claim 1, wherein said assisting the user to the online store in locating at least a portion of the product information pertaining to the digital product comprises:

creating a product page utilizing the product information pertaining to the digital product provided from the electronic submission; and

presenting the product page to the user while accessing the online store.

4. A method as recited in claim 1, wherein said method further comprises:

receiving an electronic submission of developer information pertaining to a developer of the digital product; and

assisting the user to the online store in accessing at least a portion of the developer information.

5. A method as recited in claim 4, wherein said assisting the user to the online store in accessing at least a portion of the developer information comprises presenting a developer page to the user, the developer page including at least the portion of the developer information pertaining to the digital product.

6. A method as recited in claim 5, wherein said assisting the user to the online store in locating at least a portion of the product information pertaining to the digital product comprises presenting a product page to the user, the product page including at least the portion of the product information pertaining to the digital product.

7. A method as recited in claim as recited in claim 6, wherein the developer page includes a hyperlink to the product page, and wherein the product page includes a hyperlink to the developer page.

8. A method as recited in claim 4, wherein said assisting the user to the online store in accessing at least a portion of the developer information comprises:

creating a developer page utilizing the developer information pertaining to the digital product provided from the electronic submission; and

presenting the developer page to the user while accessing the online store.

9. A computer-implemented method for accessing information concerning application products from an online repository, said computer-implemented method comprising:

presenting an electronic information page providing descriptive information on a plurality of different application programs, the electronic information page including, for each of the different application programs, at least descriptive information, a first user interface control to access developer information and a second user interface control to access application information;

presenting a developer information page in response to selection of the first user interface control of the electronic information page, the developer information page including at least text data pertaining to the particular developer; and

presenting an application information page in response to selection of the second user interface control of the electronic information page, the application information page including at least text and graphic data pertaining to the particular application program.

10. A computer-implemented method as recited in claim 9, wherein the developer information page contains data that primarily or exclusively pertains only to the particular developer, and wherein the application information page contains data that primarily or exclusively pertains only to the particular application program.

11. A computer-implemented method as recited in claim 9, wherein the application information page further includes a third user interface control to access license information pertaining to the particular application program.

12. A computer-implemented method as recited in claim 11, wherein said method further comprises:

presenting a license information page in response to selection of the third user interface control of the application information page, the license information page including the licensing terms associated with the particular application program.

13. A computer-implemented method as recited in claim 9, wherein the application information page further includes a fourth user interface control to access recommendations of other application programs that are related to the particular application program or commonly purchased by users.

14. A computer-implemented method as recited in claim 13, wherein said method further comprises:

presenting a recommendation page in response to selection of the fourth user interface control of the application information page, the recommendation page identifying at least one other application program that that is related to the particular application program or commonly purchased by users.

15. A graphical user interface for locating and downloading a digital product from an online distribution site, said graphical user interface comprising:

a main window configured to promote a plurality of digital products and to enable a user to search or browse the digital products or access information about the digital products;

a search dialog or window configured to assist the user in searching the digital products; and

a main application window configured to promote a plurality of digital computer program products,

wherein the main window is replaced by the main application window when the user initiates presentation of the main application window

16. A graphical user interface as recited in claim 15, wherein said graphical user interface further comprises:

a search results window that presents search results based on the searching of the digital products.

17. A graphical user interface as recited in claim 15, wherein said graphical user interface further comprises:

an application list window that replaces the main application window when the user specifies a classification of computer program products to be presented, the application list window presenting at least a plurality of those of the computer program products that satisfy the classification.

18. A graphical user interface as recited in claim 15, wherein said graphical user interface further comprises:

a developer information window that presents information about a developer of one or more computer program products available for distribution by the online distribution site.

19. A graphical user interface as recited in claim 15, wherein said graphical user interface further comprises:

an application list window that replaces the main application window when the user specifies a classification of computer program products to be presented, the application list window presenting at least a plurality of those of the computer program products that satisfy the classification;

a developer information window that presents information about a developer of one or more computer program products available for distribution by the online distribution site,

wherein for each a plurality of the computer program products being presented in the application list window, the application list window includes a hyperlink to the developer window which presents information about the developer for the corresponding one of the computer program products.

20. A graphical user interface as recited in claim 15, wherein said graphical user interface further comprises:

a search results window that presents search results based on the searching of the digital products, the search results identifying at least one of the computer program products available for distribution by the online distribution site;

a developer information window that presents information about a developer of one or more computer program products available for distribution by the online distribution site,

wherein for each of the at least one computer program products being presented in the search results window, the search results window includes a hyperlink to the developer window which presents information about the developer for the corresponding one of the computer program products.

21. A graphical user interface as recited in claim 15, wherein said graphical user interface further comprises:

an application product window that presents information about a particular one of the computer program products available for distribution by the online distribution site.

22. A graphical user interface as recited in claim 15, wherein said graphical user interface further comprises:

an application list window that replaces the main application window when the user specifies a classification of computer program products to be presented, the application list window presenting at least a plurality of those of the computer program products that satisfy the classification;

an application product window that presents information about a particular one of the computer program products available for distribution by the online distribution site,

wherein for each a plurality of the computer program products being presented in the application list window, the application list window includes a hyperlink to the application product window which presents information about the particular one of the computer program products.

23. A graphical user interface as recited in claim 15, wherein said graphical user interface further comprises:

a search results window that replaces the search window, the search results window presenting search results in view of the searching of the digital products, the search results identifying at least one of the computer program products available for distribution by the online distribution site;

an application product window that presents information about a particular one of the computer program products available for distribution by the online distribution site,

wherein for each of the at least one computer program product being presented in the search results window, the search results window includes a hyperlink to the application product window which presents information about the particular one of the computer program products.

24. A graphical user interface as recited in claim 15, wherein the main window is replaced by the search window when the user initiates presentation of the search window.

25. A graphical user interface as recited in claim 24, wherein said graphical user interface further comprises:

a search results window that replaces the search window, the search results window presenting search results in view of the searching of the digital products.