Method and apparatus for automatic loading of applications

• US 9,112,928 B2
• Filed: 05/29/2009
• Issued: 08/18/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 05/29/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Nokia Technologies Oy (Nokia Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Nokia Technologies Oy (Nokia Corporation)
• Inventors: Lindberg, Phillip, Evans, John Anthony, Frossen, Johan, Gianni, Josephine, Heiner, Andreas
• Primary Examiner(s): Unelus, Ernest
• Assistant Examiner(s): Yimer, Getente A
• Application Number:
  US12/475,174
• Publication Number:
  US 20100306762A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,272 Days
• Field of Search: 717/176, 717/172, 717/177, 717/178
• US Class Current: 1/1
• 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: H04L 67/306 User profiles
• 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

An approach is provided for automatic loading of applications, including receiving user identification corresponding to a device. Data is also received, which indicates a set of one or more relevant applications that are a subset of multiple available applications. The set is automatically selected based on the user identification and an application favored by a contact associated with the user. Installation is initiated of an application of the selected set within the device. In some embodiments, access is provided to a social service via a network. The social service includes data that indicates multiple users, contacts among the users, and applications favored by the users. Access is also provided to receive at the social service a request message indicating user identification for a first user at a first network node. A message indicating a relevant application based on an application favored by a contact of the first user is transmitting to the first network node.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

receiving, at an apparatus, user identification corresponding to a device;

receiving, at the apparatus, data indicating a set of one or more relevant applications comprising a subset of a plurality of available applications, wherein the set is automatically selected based on the user identification and an application recommended, frequently used, or a combination thereof, by a contact of the user, wherein the available applications are cached and hidden but not installed in the device; and

initiating, by the apparatus, installation of an application of the subset within the device.

2. A method of claim 1, further comprising initiating display of an icon representing the installed application, wherein the installed application is launched by user input indicating activation of the icon,

wherein the available applications are cached in the device by a device manufacturer.

3. A method of claim 1, further comprising:

initiating display of a predetermined screen on a user interface of the device that indicates no pre-installation of the relevant applications.

4. A method of claim 1, further comprising:

generating a request message comprising the user identification and requesting the set of one or more applications;

initiating transmission of the request message to a trusted source; and

receiving a response message specifying the set, wherein the set is automatically selected based on the recommended, frequently used, or a combination thereof, application by the trusted source.

5. A method of claim 1, further comprises:

receiving settings for the application by a contact of a user identified by the user identification,

wherein the installation of the application is based on the settings by the contact.

6. A method of claim 3, wherein initiating installation of the application further comprises initiating execution of a locally cached copy of the application.

7. A method of claim 1, further comprising initiating storing caching locally a copy for each of the plurality of available applications before receiving data indicating user identification.

8. A method of claim 6, wherein no icon is displayed for the locally cached available applications before receiving the data indicating the set of one or more relevant applications.

9. A method of claim 1, wherein initiating installation of the application further comprises:

initiating display of the set of relevant applications; and

receiving input indicating the application to be installed from among the subset.

10. An apparatus comprising:

at least one processor; and

at least one memory including computer program code, the at least one memory and the computer program code configured to, with the at least one processor, cause the apparatus to perform at least the following;

receive user identification for a user of the apparatus;

receive data indicating a set of one or more relevant applications comprising a subset of a plurality of available applications, wherein the set is automatically selected based on the user identification and an application recommended, frequently used, or a combination thereof, by a contact of the user, wherein the available applications are cached and hidden but not installed in the apparatus; and

initiate installation of an application of the subset within the apparatus.

11. An apparatus of claim 10, wherein the apparatus is further configured to initiate display of an icon representing the installed application, wherein the installed application is launched by user input indicating activation of the icon.

12. An apparatus of claim 10, wherein the apparatus is further configured to initiate display of a predetermined screen that indicates no pre-installation of applications.

13. An apparatus of claim 10, wherein the apparatus is further configured to:

generate a request message comprising the user identification and requesting the set of one or more applications;

initiate transmission of the request message to a trusted source; and

receive a response message specifying the set, wherein the set is automatically selected based on the recommended, frequently used, or a combination thereof, application by the trusted source.

14. An apparatus of claim 10, wherein:

the apparatus is further configured to receive settings for the application by a contact of a user identified by the user identification; and

the installation of the application is based on the settings by the contact.

15. An apparatus of claim 10, wherein the step to initiate installation of the application further comprises initiate execution of a locally stored copy of the application.

16. An apparatus of claim 10, wherein the apparatus is further configured to initiate storing locally a copy for each of one or more of the plurality of available applications before the step to receive data indicating user identification.

17. An apparatus of claim 10, wherein the step to initiate installation of the application further comprises:

initiate display of the set of relevant applications; and

receive input indicating the application to be installed from among the subset.

18. An apparatus comprising:

at least one processor; and

at least one memory including computer program code, the at least one memory and the computer program code configured to, with the at least one processor, cause the apparatus to perform at least the following;

store data indicating a plurality of users, contacts among the plurality of users, and applications recommended, frequently used, or a combination thereof, by the plurality of users;

receive data indicating user identification for a first user at a first network node;

select a relevant application based on an application recommended, frequently used, or a combination thereof, by a contact of the first user; and

initiate sending to the first network node a message comprising data that indicates the relevant application.

19. A method comprising:

providing access to a social service via a network, the social service comprising social service data that indicates a plurality of users, contacts among the plurality of users, and applications recommended, frequently used, or a combination thereof, by the plurality of users;

providing access to receive at the social service a request message comprising data that indicates user identification for a first user at a first network node; and

transmitting to the first network node a message comprising data that indicates a relevant application based on an application recommended, frequently used, or a combination thereof, by a contact of the first user.

20. A method of claim 19, further comprising transmitting to the first network node a message comprising data that indicates settings by the contact for the relevant application.