Compartmentalizing application distribution for disparate electronic devices

• US 9,729,542 B2
• Filed: 04/17/2015
• Issued: 08/08/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 09/24/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Oracle International Corporation (Oracle Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Oracle International Corporation (Oracle Corporation)
• Inventors: Jayanti Venkata, Bhagavati Kumar, Maheshwari, Harsh, Das, Sidhartha, Aggarwal, Karan
• Primary Examiner(s): Zhen, Wei
• Assistant Examiner(s): MORSHED, HOSSAIN M
• Application Number:
  US14/689,722
• Publication Number:
  US 20160085533A1
• Time in Patent Office: 844 Days
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/121 Restricting unauthorised execution of programs
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/30 Authentication, i.e. establishing the identity or authorisation of security principals
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/31 User authentication
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/45 Structures or tools for the administration of authentication
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 8/60 Software deployment
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 8/61 Installation
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 8/65 Updates security arrangements therefor G06F21/57
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 8/71 Version control security arrangements therefor G06F21/57; Configuration management
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 9/452 Remote windowing, e.g. X-Window System, desktop virtualisation protocols for virtual reality H04L67/131
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/082 the condition being updates or upgrades of network functionality
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/0895 Configuration of virtualised networks or elements, e.g. virtualised network function or OpenFlow elements
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/20 Network management software packages
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/28 Restricting access to network management systems or functions, e.g. using authorisation function to access network configuration
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/40 using virtualisation of network functions or resources, e.g. SDN or NFV entities
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/5096 wherein the managed service relates to distributed or central networked applications
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 47/125 by balancing the load, e.g. traffic engineering
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/08 for authentication of entities cryptographic mechanisms or cryptographic arrangements for entity authentication H04L9/32
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/0823 using certificates cryptographic mechanisms or cryptographic arrangements for entity authentication involving certificates H04L9/3263
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/083 using passwords cryptographic mechanisms or cryptographic arrangements for entity authentication using a predetermined code H04L9/3226
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/0876 based on the identity of the terminal or configuration, e.g. MAC address, hardware or software configuration or device fingerprint
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/10 : for controlling access to devices or network resources
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/101 : Access control lists [ACL]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/102 : Entity profiles
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/104 : Grouping of entities
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/105 : Multiple levels of security
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/20 : for managing network security; network security policies in general filtering policies H04L63/0227
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/205 : involving negotiation or determination of the one or more network security mechanisms to be used, e.g. by negotiation between the client and the server or between peers or by selection according to the capabilities of the entities involved negotiation of communication capabilities H04L69/24
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/02 : based on web technology, e.g. hypertext transfer protocol [HTTP]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/10 : in which an application is distributed across nodes in the network software deployment G06F8/60; multiprogramming arrangements G06F9/46
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/12 : specially adapted for proprietary or special-purpose networking environments, e.g. medical networks, sensor networks, networks in vehicles or remote metering networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/306 : User profiles
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/55 : Push-based network services
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/75 : Indicating network or usage conditions on the user display
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 9/3268 : using certificate validation, registration, distribution or revocation, e.g. certificate revocation list [CRL]
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/06 : Authentication
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/33 : using wearable devices, e.g. using a smartwatch or smart-glasses
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 16/06 : Hybrid resource partitioning, e.g. channel borrowing
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/08 : User group management
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/50 : Service provisioning or reconfiguring
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/60 : Subscription-based services using application servers or record carriers, e.g. SIM application toolkits
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/70 : Services for machine-to-machine communication [M2M] or machine type communication [MTC]

Abstract

Techniques are provided for generating a logical application by grouping multiple physical distributions of an application for programming a plurality of electronic devices. A logical application can run separate commands through a single interface, lessening the number of connections needed between different user'"'"'s electronic devices (e.g., smart phones, tablets, workstations, wearable computers) and a company'"'"'s various servers. In certain embodiments, different physical distributions of the application may correspond to different operating systems versions of the application. Compiled code for each of these operating systems and device types is controlled and assigned to select users'"'"' devices from vastly different distribution architectures. In certain embodiments, a particular version (i.e., physical distribution) of the logical application to be installed to the device is determined based on the operating system of the device and the appropriate version of the logical application is installed on the device.

Claims

1. A method for grouping two or more physical distributions of an application into a logical application for disparate electronic devices, the method comprising:

defining a data structure for a logical application in a database table, the data structure comprising multiple records;

receiving a first resource locator for a first binary file of an application, the first binary file including executable code enabled to execute on a first operating system version;

generating a first set of entries in a first database record of the data structure for the first resource locator, the first set of entries corresponding to a first distribution location of the application, the first set of entries including the first resource locator in a uniform resource locator (URL) field in the first database record of the data structure;

assigning the first operating system version of a first device to the first set of entries;

receiving a property-list metadata file for a second binary file for the application, the property-list metadata file including serialized objects enabled to be executed on a second operating system version;

generating a second set of entries in a second database record of the data structure for the property-list metadata file, the second set of entries corresponding to a second distribution location of the application, the second set of entries including the property-list metadata file and at least two binary large object (blob) fields in the second database record of the data structure;

assigning the second operating system version of a second device to the second set of entries;

generating a logical application using the first set of entries and the second set of entries; and

presenting a single user interface of the logical application linking to each of the multiple records in the data structure, the user interface having a first user interface element linked to the first set of entries including the URL for the first resource locator and a second user interface element linked to the second set of entries including the blobs and the property-list metadata file.

2. The method of claim 1 further comprising a multiple tab interface, wherein the first user interface element is on a first tab of the multiple tab interface and the second user interface element is on a second tab of the multiple tab interface.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the first set of entries comprises a minimum operating system version and a maximum operating system version of the first operating system version of the first device and the second set of entries comprises a minimum operating system version and a maximum operating system version of the second operating system version of the second device.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein a type of the first operating system version or a type of the second operating system version is selected from a group consisting of an iOS®

version, an Android®

operating system version and a Windows®

operating system version.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein a type of a first device or the second device is selected from a group consisting of a workstation, a personal computer, a tablet computer, a mobile device and a wearable device.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

determining a first version of the logical application to install on the first device; and

causing an installation of the first version of the logical application on the first device based on the determining.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

determining a second version of the logical application to install on the second device; and

causing an installation of the second version of the logical application on the second device based on the determining.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein causing the installation of the second version of the logical application further comprises transmitting a push notification event to the second device to download the second version of the logical application onto the second device.

9. A system comprising:

a processor; and

a memory device including instructions that, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to;

define a data structure for a logical application in a database table, the data structure comprising multiple records;

receive a first resource locator for a first binary file of an application, the first binary file including executable code enabled to execute on a first operating system version;

generate a first set of entries in a first database record of the data structure for the first binary file of the application, the first binary file including executable code enabled to execute on a first operating system version, the first set of entries including the first resource locator in a uniform resource locator (URL) field in the first database record of the data structure;

assign the first operating system version of a first device to the first set of entries;

receive a property-list metadata file for a second binary file for the application, the property-list metadata file including serialized objects enabled to be executed on a second operating system version;

generate a second set of entries in a second database record of the data structure for the property-list metadata file, the second set of entries corresponding to a second distribution location of the application, the second set of entries including the property-list metadata file and at least two binary large object (blob) fields in the second database record of the data structure;

assign the second operating system version of a second device to the second set of entries;

generate a logical application using the first set of entries and the second set of entries; and

present a single user interface of the logical application linking to each of the multiple records in the data structure, the user interface having a first user interface element linked to the first set of entries including the URL for the first resource locator and a second user interface element linked to the second set of entries including the blobs and the property-list metadata file;

cause an installation of the logical application on the first device or the second device.

10. The system of claim 9, wherein the first user interface element is on a first tab of the multiple tab interface and the second user interface element is on a second tab of the multiple tab interface.

11. The system of claim 9, wherein the first set of entries comprises a minimum operating system version and a maximum operating system version of the first operating system version of the first device and the second set of entries comprises a minimum operating system version and a maximum operating system version of the second operating system version of the second device.

12. The system of claim 9, wherein the processor is further configured to:

determine a first version of the logical application to install on the first device;

determine a second version of the logical application to install on the second device;

cause an installation of the first version of the logical application on the first device; and

cause an installation of the second version of the logical application on the second device.

13. One or more non-transitory computer-readable media storing computer-executable instructions executable by one or more processors, the computer-executable instructions comprising:

instructions that cause the one or more processors to define a data structure for a logical application in a database table, the data structure comprising multiple records;

instructions that cause the one or more processors to receive a first resource locator for a first binary file of an application, the first binary file including executable code enabled to execute on a first operating system version;

instructions that cause the one or more processors to generate a first set of entries in a first database record of the data structure for the first resource locator, the first set of entries corresponding to a first distribution location of the application, the first set of entries including the first resource locator in a uniform resource locator (URL) field in the first database record of the data structure;

instructions that cause the one or more processors to assign the first operating system version of a first device to the first set of entries;

instructions that cause the one or more processors to receive a property-list metadata file for a second binary file for the application, the property-list metadata file including serialized objects enabled to be executed on a second operating system version;

instructions that cause the one or more processors to generate a second set of entries in a second database record of the data structure for the property-list metadata file, the second set of entries corresponding to a second distribution location of the application, the second set of entries including the property-list metadata file and at least two binary large object (blob) fields in the second database record of the data structure;

instructions that cause the one or more processors to assign the second operating system version of a second device to the second set of entries;

instructions that cause the one or more processors to generate a logical application using the first set of entries and the second set of entries; and

instructions that cause the one or more processors to present a single user interface of the logical application linking to each of the multiple records in the data structure, the user interface having a first user interface element linked to the first set of entries including the URL for the first resource locator and a second user interface element linked to the second set of entries including the blobs and the property-list metadata file.

14. The computer-readable media of claim 13, the instructions further comprising instructions that cause the one or more processors to present the first user interface element in a first tab of the multiple tab interface and present the second user interface element on a second tab of the multiple tab interface.

15. The computer-readable media of claim 13, wherein a type of the first operating system version or a type of the second operating system version is selected from a group consisting of an iOS®

version, an Android®

operating system version and a Windows®

operating system version.

16. The computer-readable media of claim 13, wherein a type of a first device or the second device is selected from a group consisting of a workstation, a personal computer, a tablet computer, a mobile device and a wearable device.