Identification of host-compatible downloadable applications
First Claim
1. A method of operation of a client computer, whereby an application is obtained from a server for use with a host program on the client computer, the method comprising:
- determining functions provided by the host program on the client computer;
sending an application search request and a list of the determined functions to the server, the list of the determined functions not being a list of programs or a list of applications;
receiving a list of applications available from the server which can be used, at least in a basic mode of operation, with one or more of the determined functionspresenting the list of applications;
receiving, from a user, a selection of an application from the list;
sending the selection to the server;
receiving the selected application; and
activating the received application using the host program.
2 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A user'"'"'s (client) computer sends a request for a listing of applications which can be downloaded from a server in an electronic marketplace and a list of functions provided by a host program. A description of an application, such as in an application manifest, provides a list of required functions and, preferably, a list of optional functions for a software application. The server sends a list of applications supported by those functions. Those supported applications are displayed to the user as being available for downloading. The user selects the desired application and the user'"'"'s computer requests, and the server provides, a download of that application. The downloaded application will then operate on the user'"'"'s computer using the required functions provided by the host programs, and may use any optional functions provided by the host programs.
27 Citations
19 Claims
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1. A method of operation of a client computer, whereby an application is obtained from a server for use with a host program on the client computer, the method comprising:
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determining functions provided by the host program on the client computer; sending an application search request and a list of the determined functions to the server, the list of the determined functions not being a list of programs or a list of applications; receiving a list of applications available from the server which can be used, at least in a basic mode of operation, with one or more of the determined functions presenting the list of applications; receiving, from a user, a selection of an application from the list; sending the selection to the server; receiving the selected application; and activating the received application using the host program. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
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7. A server having downloadable software applications thereon, the server comprising:
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a memory device containing operating instructions, a list of downloadable software applications, and, for each of the downloadable software applications, a list of functions required for the downloadable software application to be used in a basic mode of operation, the list of functions required not being a list of programs or a list of applications; a network interface unit; a processor, communicatively coupled to the memory device and to the network interface unit, the processor of the server executing the operating instructions to; receive, via the network interface unit, from a client computer, a request for a list of software applications which are available on the server, and a list of functions provided by a host program on the client computer, the list of functions provided not being a list of programs or a list of applications; identify software applications which can be used, at least in a basic mode of operation, with one or more of the functions provided by the host program; generate a list of the identified software applications; cause the list of identified software applications to be sent via the network interface unit to the client computer; receive, via the network interface unit, from the client computer, a request for a selected one of the identified software applications; cause the selected software application to be sent via the network interface unit to the client computer. - View Dependent Claims (8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. A computer storage medium having computer readable instructions stored thereupon to obtain an application from a server for use with a host program on a client computer, the computer readable instructions, when executed by the client computer, cause the client computer to:
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determine, by the client computer, functions provided by the host program on the client computer; send an application search request and a list of the determined functions to the server, the list of the determined functions not being a list of programs or a list of applications; receive a list of applications available from the server which can be used, at least in a basic mode of operation, with one or more of the determined functions; present, by the client computer, the list of applications to a user; receive, by the client computer, from the user, a selection of an application from the list; send the selection to the server; receive the selected application from the server; and activate, at the client computer, the received application using the host program. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
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Specification