Life cycle management of user-selected applications on wireless communications devices

• US 8,126,128 B1
• Filed: 11/01/2006
• Issued: 02/28/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 11/01/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I LP (AT&T, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I LP (AT&T, Inc.)
• Inventors: Hicks, John Alson III, O'Neil, Douglas R.
• Primary Examiner(s): Ramakrishnaiah, Melur
• Assistant Examiner(s): Laekemariam, Yosef K
• Application Number:
  US11/555,536
• Time in Patent Office: 1,945 Days
• Field of Search: 379/114.13, 379/201.05, 379/121.06, 379/123, 379/221.07, 379/207.02, 379/132, 379/114.05, 379/266.07, 379/280, 379/201.02, 370/913, 370/310.1
• US Class Current: 379/201.05
• 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 machine-readable storage medium comprising machine-readable instructions that, when executed by a machine, cause the machine to perform a method comprising:

presenting to a user of a wireless communications device, by way of the wireless communications device, a plurality of applications for installation on the wireless communications device, wherein the wireless communications device maintains a first profile for the user and a second profile for the user;

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

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

initiating storage of the first application on the wireless communications device such that the first application is associated at the wireless communications device with the first profile for the user;

initiating storage of the second application on the wireless communications device such that the second application is associated at the wireless communications device with the second profile for the user;

receiving a communication for the user of the wireless communications device;

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

initiating an act selected from a group of acts consisting of;

transmission of a notification to the user in response to determining that the communication is not associated with any pre-set profile for the user, wherein the notification indicates that the received communication is not associated with any pre-set profile for the user; and

switching of the wireless 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 wireless communications device, wherein the default mode differs from a first mode associated with the first profile and a second mode associated with the second profile.

2. The machine-readable storage medium of claim 1, wherein the instructions are further configured to cause the machine to:

receive a communication for the user of the wireless communications device; and

determine that the communication is associated with the first profile for the user on the wireless communications device.

3. The machine-readable storage medium of claim 2, wherein the instructions are further configured to cause the machine to initiate, in response to determining that the communication is associated with the first profile for the user, switching of the wireless communications device to a first mode associated with the first profile for the user on the wireless communications device.

4. The machine-readable storage medium of claim 2, wherein:

the communication is a first communication; and

the instructions are further configured to cause the machine to;

receive a second communication for the user of the wireless communications device; and

determine that the second communication is associated with the second profile for the user on the wireless communications device.

5. The machine-readable storage medium of claim 4, wherein the instructions are further configured to cause the machine to initiate, in response to determining that the second communication is associated with the second profile for the user, switching of the wireless communications device to a second mode associated with the second profile for the user on the wireless communications device.

6. The machine-readable storage medium of claim 4, wherein the instructions are further configured to cause the machine to activate the second application, associated with the second profile for the user at the wireless communications device, for processing the second communication, in response to determining that the second communication is associated with the second profile.

7. The machine-readable storage medium of claim 2, wherein the instructions are further configured to cause the machine to activate the first application, associated with the first profile for the user at the wireless communications device, for processing the communication, in response to determining that the communication is associated with the first profile.

8. The machine-readable storage medium of claim 1, wherein the notification includes a prompt requesting instructions from the user.

9. A machine-readable storage medium comprising machine-readable instructions that, when executed by a machine, cause the machine to perform a method comprising:

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

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

recommending, responsive to the match signal, to the user of the wireless communications device, by way of the wireless communications device, that an application that is already installed on the device be deleted before installing the application;

receiving a communication for the user of the wireless communications device;

determining that the communication is not associated with any pre-set profile for the user of the wireless communications device; and

initiating an act selected from a group of acts consisting of;

transmission of a notification to the user in response to determining that the communication is not associated with any pre-set profile for the user, wherein the notification indicates that the received communication is not associated with any pre-set profile for the user; and

switching of the wireless 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 wireless communications device, wherein the default mode differs from any modes associated with any pre-set profile for the user.

10. The machine-readable storage medium of claim 9, wherein the instructions are further configured to cause the machine to recommend, responsive to the match signal, an upgrade of the device.

11. A machine-readable storage medium, for managing compliance with a license for an application installed on a wireless communications device, comprising machine-readable instructions that, when executed by a machine, cause the machine to perform a method comprising:

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

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

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

sending notification to the user advising the user that the obligations are not being complied with;

disabling the application on the wireless communications device; and

removing the application from the wireless communications device;

receiving a communication for the user of the wireless communications device;

determining that the communication is not associated with any pre-set profile for the user of the wireless communications device; and

initiating an act selected from a group of acts consisting of;

transmission of a notification to the user in response to determining that the communication is not associated with any pre-set profile for the user, wherein the notification indicates that the received communication is not associated with any pre-set profile for the user; and

switching of the wireless 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 wireless communications device, wherein the default mode differs from any modes associated with any pre-set profile for the user.

12. The machine-readable storage medium of claim 11, wherein the machine-readable storage medium and the machine are components of a management server that is remote to the wireless communications device.

13. The machine-readable storage medium of claim 11, wherein the machine-readable storage medium and the machine are components of a billing server that is remote to the wireless communications device.

14. The machine-readable storage medium of claim 11, wherein the instructions, in causing the machine to perform the monitoring, cause the machine to determine whether a required payment has been made in connection with the license.

15. The machine-readable storage medium of claim 11, wherein the instructions, in causing the machine to perform the monitoring, cause the machine to determine an obligation, other than a required payment, associated with the license.

16. The machine-readable storage medium of claim 11, wherein the instructions are further configured to cause the machine to grant continued access for the wireless communications device in response to determining that the license obligations are being fulfilled.

17. The machine-readable storage medium of claim 11, wherein the instructions, in causing the machine to initiate disabling of the application on the wireless communications device, cause the machine to initiate disabling of the application only in response to:

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

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

18. The machine-readable storage medium of claim 11, wherein the instructions, in causing the machine to initiate removing of the application on the wireless communications device, cause the machine to initiate removing of the application only in response to:

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

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