Life Cycle Management of User-Selected Applications on Wireless Communications Devices

• US 20120079475A1
• Filed: 11/30/2011
• Published: 03/29/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 11/01/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Bellsouth Intellectual Property Corporation (AT&T, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Bellsouth Intellectual Property Corporation (AT&T, Inc.)
• Inventors: Hicks, John Alson III, O'Nell, Douglas R.
• Granted Patent: US 9,124,691 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 717/174
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/105 Arrangements for software license management or administration, e.g. for managing licenses at corporate level
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 8/61 Installation
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/02 Marketing; Price estimation or determination; Fundraising
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72406 by software upgrading or downloading
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72469 for operating the device by selecting functions from two or more displayed items, e.g. menus or icons
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/42178 by downloading data to substation equipment
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/4878 Advertisement messages

Abstract

Tools and techniques for performing life cycle management of user-selected applications on wireless communications devices are described herein. In part, the tools provide machine-readable media for presenting to the subscriber a list of available applications for installation on the device, and for receiving selections from the subscriber of one or more of the applications. Additionally, the tools provide methods for selling advertising space on the devices.

Claims

1. A method, for associating applications at a mobile communications device with distinct pre-established user profiles maintained at the mobile communications device, comprising:

receiving, from the user of the mobile communications device, a selection of a first application, from a plurality of applications presented to the user, for installation on the mobile communications device;

receiving, from the user of the mobile communications device, a selection of a second application, from the plurality of applications presented to the user, for installation on the mobile communications device;

initiating storage of the first application on the mobile communications device such that the first application is associated at the mobile communications device with a first profile for the user maintained at the mobile communications device; and

initiating storage of the second application on the mobile communications device such that the second application is associated at the mobile communications device with a second profile for the user maintained at the mobile communications device.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving a communication for the user of the mobile communications device; and

determining that the communication is not associated with any pre-set profile for the user of the mobile communications device, including the first profile and the second profile.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein:

the first profile is associated with a first mode of operation for the mobile communications device;

the second profile is associated with a second mode of operation for the mobile communications device; and

the method further comprises initiating a switching of the mobile communications device to a default mode, for processing the communication, in response to determining that the communication is not associated with any pre-set profile for the user of the mobile communications device, wherein the default mode differs from the first mode associated with the first profile and the second mode associated with the second profile.

4. The method of claim 2, further comprising initiating transmission of a user notification in response to determining that the communication is not associated with any pre-set profile for the user, wherein the user notification indicates that the received communication is not associated with any pre-set profile for the user.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein the notification includes a prompt requesting instructions from the user.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising presenting to the user of the mobile communications device, by way of the mobile communications device, a plurality of applications for installation on the mobile communications device;

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving a communication for the user of the mobile communications device; and

determining that the communication is associated with the first profile for the user on the mobile communications device.

8. The method of claim 7, further comprising initiating, in response to determining that the communication is associated with the first profile for the user, switching of the mobile communications device to a first mode associated with the first profile for the user on the mobile communications device.

9. The method of claim 7, further comprising activating, in response to determining that the communication is associated with the first profile, the first application, associated with the first profile for the user at the mobile communications device, for processing the communication.

10. The method of claim 7, wherein:

the communication is a first communication; and

the method further comprises;

receiving a second communication for the user of the mobile communications device; and

determining that the second communication is associated with the second profile for the user on the mobile communications device.

11. The method of claim 10, further comprising initiating, in response to determining that the second communication is associated with the second profile for the user, switching of the mobile communications device to a second mode associated with the second profile for the user on the mobile communications device.

12. The method of claim 10, further comprising activating, in response to determining that the second communication is associated with the second profile, the second application, associated with the second profile for the user at the mobile communications device, for processing the second communication.

13. A method, for causing action at a mobile communications device based on whether obligations of a license associated with an application installed on the mobile communications device have been fulfilled, comprising:

monitoring performance of the mobile communications device in connection with the obligations associated with the license for the application installed on the mobile communications device;

determining, based on results of the monitoring, whether obligations of the license have been met for the application installed on the mobile communications device; and

initiating, in response to determining that the license obligations have not been fulfilled, an action at the mobile communications device, wherein the action is selected from a group of actions consisting of;

sending a user notification, for receipt by a user of the mobile communications device, advising that the obligations are not being complied with;

disabling the application on the mobile communications device; and

removing the application from the mobile communications device.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein the monitoring, the determining, and the initiating are performed by components of server selected from a group of servers consisting of:

a management server that is remote to the mobile communications device; and

a billing server that is remote to the mobile communications device.

15. The method of claim 13, wherein the monitoring includes determining an obligation, other than a required payment, associated with the license.

16. The method of claim 13, further comprising granting, in response to determining that the license obligations are being fulfilled, continued access for the mobile communications device to a resource used in operation of the application.

17. The method of claim 13, wherein initiating disabling of the application on the mobile communications device includes initiating disabling of the application only in response to:

the user notification, advising that the obligations are not being complied with, having first been delivered; and

use of the application remaining in non-compliance with the license.

18. The method of claim 13, wherein initiating removing of the application from the mobile communications device includes initiating removal of the application only in response to:

the user notification, advising that the obligations are not being complied with, having first been delivered; and

use of the application remaining in non-compliance with the license.

19. A method, for recommending deletion of a previously-installed application at a mobile communications device, comprising:

receiving, from a user of a mobile communications device, input indicating a first application for installation on the mobile communications device;

comparing minimum configuration parameters associated with the first application to capabilities of the mobile communications device;

determining, based on results of the comparing, whether the first application may be installed on the device;

generating a signal in response to results of the determining; and

recommending, responsive to the signal, to the user of the mobile communications device, by way of the mobile communications device, that a second application, previously installed on the mobile communications device, be deleted before installing the first application.

20. The method of claim 19, further comprising recommending, responsive to the signal, an upgrade for the device.