Automatic Updating of Applications

• US 20170010883A1
• Filed: 09/23/2016
• Published: 01/12/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 02/05/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Original Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Inventors: Alsina, Thomas Matthieu, Kelly, Sean, Coffman, Patrick, Gharabally, Sam
• Granted Patent: US 9,977,668 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 8/61 Installation
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 8/65 Updates security arrangements therefor G06F21/57
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/34 involving the movement of software or configuration parameters network booting or remote initial program loading [RIPL] G06F9/4416

Abstract

In some implementations, a mobile device can be configured to automatically download and install updates to applications installed on the mobile device. In some implementations, the automatic updates can be performed based on how the mobile device is connected to a network that provides access to the application updates. In some implementations, the automatic updates can be performed based on whether the mobile device has previously downloaded applications or application updates from a caching server. In some implementations, indicia can be presented on a graphical user interface of the mobile device to indicate which applications have been updated. In some implementations, an application update can be downloaded while the corresponding application is in use by the user. The application can be installed when the application is no longer being used by the user.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

installing applications on a mobile device;

periodically sending from the mobile device a request to an application service for application update information corresponding to the one or more installed applications;

receiving application update information from the application service identifying application updates available for downloading from the application service for one or more of the installed applications;

determining that the mobile device is connected to the application service over a cellular data connection;

waiting a first specified period of time for the mobile device to connect to a wireless access point; and

automatically downloading the application updates when the mobile device connects to a wireless access point within the first specified period of time.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

storing a caching server information identifying a caching server to which the mobile device has previously connected;

waiting a second specified period of time for the mobile device to connect to the caching server; and

automatically downloading the application updates from the caching server when the mobile device connects to the caching server through the wireless access point.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

determining that the mobile device has not connected to the wireless access point within the first specified period of time;

determining whether downloading application updates over cellular data is enabled;

automatically downloading the application updates over a cellular data connection when the mobile device has not connected to the wireless access point within the first period of time and when cellular data downloads are enabled.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

determining that a user has initiated a download from the mobile device;

pausing the automatic download of application updates until the user initiated download is complete.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

determining a parental control rating limit configured for the mobile device;

determining that at least one of the application updates exceeds the parental control rating limit;

preventing the automatic downloading of the at least one application update.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

determining that an installed application having a corresponding application update is in use by a user of the mobile device;

waiting to install the application update for the installed application until the user stops using the installed application;

installing the application update for the installed application when the installed application is no longer being used by the user.

7. A non-transitory computer-readable medium including one or more sequences of instructions which, when executed by one or more processors, causes:

installing applications on a mobile device;

periodically sending from the mobile device a request to an application service for application update information corresponding to the one or more installed applications;

receiving application update information from the application service identifying application updates available for downloading from the application service for one or more of the installed applications;

determining that the mobile device is connected to the application service over a cellular data connection;

waiting a first specified period of time for the mobile device to connect to a wireless access point; and

automatically downloading the application updates when the mobile device connects to a wireless access point within the first specified period of time.

8. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 7, wherein the instructions cause:

storing a caching server information identifying a caching server to which the mobile device has previously connected;

waiting a second specified period of time for the mobile device to connect to the caching server; and

automatically downloading the application updates from the caching server when the mobile device connects to the caching server through the wireless access point.

9. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 7, wherein the instructions cause:

determining that the mobile device has not connected to the wireless access point within the first specified period of time;

determining whether downloading application updates over cellular data is enabled;

automatically downloading the application updates over a cellular data connection when the mobile device has not connected to the wireless access point within the first period of time and when cellular data downloads are enabled.

10. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 7, wherein the instructions cause:

determining that a user has initiated a download from the mobile device;

pausing the automatic download of application updates until the user initiated download is complete.

11. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 7, wherein the instructions cause:

determining a parental control rating limit configured for the mobile device;

determining that at least one of the application updates exceeds the parental control rating limit;

preventing the automatic downloading of the at least one application update.

12. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 7, wherein the instructions cause:

determining that an installed application having a corresponding application update is in use by a user of the mobile device;

waiting to install the application update for the installed application until the user stops using the installed application;

installing the application update for the installed application when the installed application is no longer being used by the user.

13. A system comprising:

one or more processors; and

a computer-readable medium including one or more sequences of instructions which, when executed by the one or more processors, causes;

installing applications on a mobile device;

periodically sending from the mobile device a request to an application service for application update information corresponding to the one or more installed applications;

receiving application update information from the application service identifying application updates available for downloading from the application service for one or more of the installed applications;

determining that the mobile device is connected to the application service over a cellular data connection;

waiting a first specified period of time for the mobile device to connect to a wireless access point; and

automatically downloading the application updates when the mobile device connects to a wireless access point within the first specified period of time.

14. The system of claim 13, wherein the instructions cause:

storing a caching server information identifying a caching server to which the mobile device has previously connected;

waiting a second specified period of time for the mobile device to connect to the caching server; and

automatically downloading the application updates from the caching server when the mobile device connects to the caching server through the wireless access point.

15. The system of claim 13, wherein the instructions cause:

determining that the mobile device has not connected to the wireless access point within the first specified period of time;

determining whether downloading application updates over cellular data is enabled;

automatically downloading the application updates over a cellular data connection when the mobile device has not connected to the wireless access point within the first period of time and when cellular data downloads are enabled.

16. The system of claim 13, wherein the instructions cause:

determining that a user has initiated a download from the mobile device;

pausing the automatic download of application updates until the user initiated download is complete.

17. The system of claim 13, wherein the instructions cause:

determining a parental control rating limit configured for the mobile device;

determining that at least one of the application updates exceeds the parental control rating limit;

preventing the automatic downloading of the at least one application update.

18. The system of claim 13, wherein the instructions cause:

determining that an installed application having a corresponding application update is in use by a user of the mobile device;

waiting to install the application update for the installed application until the user stops using the installed application;

installing the application update for the installed application when the installed application is no longer being used by the user.