APPLICATION INSTALLATION SYSTEM

• US 20130104118A1
• Filed: 10/19/2011
• Published: 04/25/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 10/19/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Malikie Innovations Limited (Key Patent Innovations Limited)
• Original Assignee: Visto Corporation (Blackberry Limited)
• Inventors: Somani, Haniff, Quinlan, Sean Michael
• Granted Patent: US 9,110,750 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 717/173
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/51 at application loading time, e.g. accepting, rejecting, starting or inhibiting executable software based on integrity or source reliability
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/6218 to a system of files or objects, e.g. local or distributed file system or database
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2221/2141 Access rights, e.g. capability lists, access control lists, access tables, access matrices
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 8/60 Software deployment
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 8/61 Installation
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 9/44505 Configuring for program initiating, e.g. using registry, configuration files
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 9/4451 User profiles; Roaming
• CPC Class Codes: Y04S 40/20 Information technology specific aspects, e.g. CAD, simulation, modelling, system security

Abstract

A method, system and computer program product for controlling the installation of applications on a user terminal is disclosed. In one aspect, a catalogue server identifies a first and a second installation control setting corresponding to a first and a second application on the basis of user identification data from a data store comprising entries for a plurality of applications and their corresponding installation control settings. Subsequently, the catalogue server determines installation control data for at least one of the first and second application on the basis of the first and the second installation control setting. The determined installation control data is transmitted to the user terminal for controlling installation of at least one of the first and the second application

Claims

1. A method of controlling the installation of applications on a user terminal, on the basis of user identification data for a user associated with the user terminal, the method comprising:

accessing a data store, the data store comprising entries for a plurality of applications and corresponding installation control settings associated with the plurality of applications;

identifying, on the basis of the user identification data, at least a first installation control setting for a first of the plurality of applications;

identifying, on the basis of the user identification data, at least a second installation control setting for a second of the plurality of applications;

determining installation control data for at least one of the first and second applications on the basis of at least the first installation control setting and at least the second installation control setting; and

transmitting an installation control message to control installation of at least one of the first and second applications on the user terminal, the installation control message comprising the installation control data.

2. A method according to claim 1, in which:

the first application and the second application are the same application,

the first installation control setting is different from the second installation control setting, and

the installation control message relates to installation of the first application.

3. A method according to claim 1, wherein the installation control message comprises installation control data for a set of applications selected on the basis of the user identification data.

4. A method according to claim 1, wherein the first installation control setting is associated with a first plurality of users, each of the first plurality of users having a first common grouping characteristic.

5. A method according to claim 4, wherein the second installation control setting is associated with a second plurality of users, at least some of which are different to the first plurality of users, each of the second plurality of users having a second common grouping characteristic, different from the first common grouping characteristic.

6. A method according to claim 1, wherein the determination of installation control data comprises selecting between at least the first installation control setting and the second installation control setting according to one or more predetermined selection criteria.

7. A method according to claim 6, wherein the one or more predetermined selection criteria tend to select a more restrictive installation control setting.

8. A method according to claim 1, wherein available settings for the installation control settings include a default setting and one or more further settings, wherein the determination of the installation control data comprises selecting one of the one or more further settings in preference to the default setting if both one of the one or more further settings and the default setting are present in the first installation control setting and the second installation control setting.

9. A method according to claim 1, wherein available settings for the installation control settings include a default setting and one or more further settings, wherein the determination of the installation control data comprises including installation control data which indicates access is to be denied to a given application if the first installation control setting comprises a default setting and the second installation control setting also comprises a default setting.

10. A method according to claim 1, wherein the installation control settings include at least one of:

a setting allowing the user terminal to install an application;

a setting denying the user terminal a right to install an application;

a setting suspending access to an application if previously installed;

a setting continuing access to an application if previously installed;

a setting forcing the user terminal to install an application; and

a default installation control setting.

11. A method according to claim 1, wherein the installation control data include at least one of:

a setting allowing the user terminal to install an application;

a setting denying the user terminal a right to install an application;

a setting suspending access to an application if previously installed;

a setting continuing access to an application if previously installed;

a setting forcing the user terminal to install an application; and

a default installation control setting.

12. A method according to claim 1, comprising:

receiving an installation request message from the user terminal requesting access to an identified application; and

in response to receipt of the installation request message, and determining installation control data in relation to the identified application, facilitating installation of the requested application on the user terminal in accordance with the determined installation control data.

13. A method according to claim 1, comprising:

monitoring the data store for updates to the installation control settings;

identifying one or more updated installation control settings associated with one or more of the plurality of applications; and

determining installation control data for one or more of the plurality of applications on the basis of at least the one or more updated installation control settings.

14. A method according to claim 13, comprising:

maintaining a list of applications installed on the user terminal;

comparing the one or more applications having updated installation control settings to the list of applications installed on the user terminal; and

transmitting an installation control update message to the user terminal, the installation control update message comprising installation control data generated on the basis of the comparison.

15. A method according to claim 14, wherein the comparison step comprises identifying, from among the applications having updated installation control data, one or more applications which are listed in the list of applications installed on the user terminal.

16. A method according to claim 14, wherein the installation control update message is configured to cause access to one or more of the identified applications to be terminated on the user terminal.

17. A method according to claim 14, wherein the comparison comprises identifying, from among the applications having updated installation control data, one or more applications having an updated installation control setting indicating that installation should be forced on the user terminal and which are not listed on the list of applications installed by the user terminal.

18. A method according to claim 1, wherein the data store comprises entries for a plurality of versions of one or more of the plurality of applications, and the at least a first and at least a second installation control settings comprise installation control settings associated with the plurality of versions.

19. A method according to claim 18, wherein the first installation control setting for a first version of an installed application is configured to deny or suspend access to the first version of the installed application, the second installation control setting for a second version of the installed application is configured to continue, allow, or force access to the second version of the installed application, and the installation control data is configured to force a user terminal to upgrade to a second version of an application.

20. A method according to claim 18, wherein the first installation control setting for a first version of an installed application is configured to continue, allow or force access to the first version of the installed application, the second installation control setting for a second version of the installed application is configured to deny or suspend access to the second version of the installed application, and the installation control data is configured to prevent a user terminal from upgrading to a second version of an application.

21. A method according to claim 18, wherein the first installation control setting for a first version of an installed application is configured to continue, allow or force access to the first version of the installed application, and the second installation control setting for a second version of the installed application is configured to continue, allow or force access to the second version of the installed application, and the installation control data is configured to allow a user terminal to upgrade to a second version of an application if desired.

22. A method according to claim 18, wherein the first installation control setting for a first version of an installed application is configured to continue, allow or force access to the first version of the installed application, and the second installation control setting for a second version of the installed application is configured to force installation of the second version of the installed application, and the installation control data is configured to force a user terminal to upgrade to a new version of an application.

23. A method according to claim 1, wherein the first installation control setting is associated with a first administrative control role and the second installation control setting is associated with a second, different, administrative control role.

24. A method according to claim 1, wherein the installation control message is transmitted to the user terminal.

25. A method according to claim 1, wherein the installation control message is transmitted to an application data store to enable the data store to determine a response to a request for an application.

26. A system for controlling the installation of applications on a user terminal, on the basis of user identification data for a user associated with the user terminal, the system comprising:

data store, the data store comprising entries for a plurality of applications and corresponding installation control settings associated with the plurality of applications; and

a server configured to;

identify, on the basis of the user identification data, at least a first installation control setting for a first of the plurality of applications;

identify, on the basis of the user identification data, at least a second installation control setting for a second of the plurality of applications,

determine installation control data for at least one of the first and second applications on the basis of at least the first installation control setting and at least the second installation control setting; and

transmit an installation control message to control installation of at least one of the first and second applications on the user terminal, the installation control message comprising the installation control data.

27. A computer program product comprising a non-transitory computer-readable storage medium having computer readable instructions stored thereon, the computer readable instructions being executable by a computerized device to cause the computerized device to perform a method for controlling the installation of applications on a user terminal, on the basis of user identification data for a user associated with the user terminal, the method comprising:

accessing a data store, the data store comprising entries for a plurality of applications and corresponding installation control settings associated with the plurality of applications;

identifying, on the basis of the user identification data, at least a first installation control setting for a first of the plurality of applications;

identifying, on the basis of the user identification data, at least a second installation control setting for a second of the plurality of applications;

determining installation control data for at least one of the first and second applications on the basis of at least the first installation control setting and at least the second installation control setting; and

transmitting an installation control message to control installation of at least one of the first and second applications on the user terminal, the installation control message comprising the installation control data.