Managing applications on a computing device

• US 9,778,820 B2
• Filed: 01/17/2014
• Issued: 10/03/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 01/18/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Salesforce.com, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Salesforce.com, Inc.
• Inventors: Desai, Sachin, Ayers, Stephen
• Primary Examiner(s): Lynch, Sharon
• Application Number:
  US14/157,999
• Publication Number:
  US 20140208266A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,355 Days
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0482 Interaction with lists of selectable items, e.g. menus
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/10 Office automation; Time management
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 50/01 Social networking

Abstract

Disclosed are methods, apparatus, systems, and computer readable storage media for managing applications on a computing device. A computing device may receive allowed application data indicating applications that are launchable by a base application. A user interface with one or more selections of the applications may be displayed at a display of the computing device. The computing device may receive input data indicating a selection of an application. Identifier data associated with the base application and selection data associated with the application may be provided to the application.

Claims

1. A computer implemented method for managing applications on a computing device, the method comprising:

receiving, at the computing device, allowed application data including a list of one or more launchable applications a user is authorized to access that are capable of being launched by a base application on the computing device, the allowed application data comprising a display priority of the one or more launchable applications according to usage information of the one or more launchable applications, the base application including a social media feed, the one or more launchable applications associated with partners of an organization to which the user belongs, and the one or more launchable applications determined based on at least credentials of the user;

causing display at the computing device of a user interface comprising one or more selections of the one or more launchable applications;

receiving, at the computing device, first input data indicating a selection of a first application of the one or more launchable applications;

providing, to the first application, identifier data identifying the base application and first selection data associated with the selection of the first application, the first selection data comprising contextual data from the social media feed, the contextual data providing one or more variables for performing an action associated with the first application, the action comprising at least a search for and retrieval of content within the first application and different from controlling access to content;

processing, at the computing device, first application data provided by the first application, the first application data comprising social media data capable of being shared on the social media feed, the social media data retrieved as a result of the action associated with the first application; and

causing display at the computing device of the first application data.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving, at the computing device, second input data indicating a selection of a second application of the one or more launchable applications; and

providing, to the second application, the identifier data identifying the base application, the first selection data associated with the selection of the first application, and second selection data associated with the selection of the second application.

3. The method of claim 2, the method further comprising:

receiving, at the computing device, an indication to return to the base application from the second application; and

returning to the base application from the second application, the return based on the identifier data identifying the base application.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the allowed application data further identifies allowed actions performed by the one or more launchable applications.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the one or more launchable applications are further determined based on a role of a user in an organization.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the one or more launchable applications are further determined based on a geographic region.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the computing device is one of:

a smartphone, a laptop, a tablet, a wearable display device, and a desktop computer.

8. One or more computing devices for using applications, the one or more computing devices comprising:

one or more hardware processors configurable to cause;

processing allowed application data including a list of one or more launchable applications a user is authorized to access that are capable of being launched by a base application on a computing device, the allowed application data comprising a display priority of the one or more launchable applications according to usage information of the one or more launchable applications, the base application including a social media feed, the one or more launchable applications associated with partners of an organization to which the user belongs, and the one or more launchable applications determined based on at least credentials of the user;

displaying, at a display of the computing device, a user interface comprising one or more selections of the one or more launchable applications;

processing first input data indicating a selection of a first application of the one or more launchable applications;

providing, to the first application, identifier data identifying the base application and first selection data associated with the selection of the first application, the first selection data comprising contextual data from the social media feed, the contextual data providing one or more variables for performing an action associated with the first application, the action comprising at least a search for and retrieval of content within the first application and different from controlling access to content;

processing first application data provided by the first application, the first application data comprising social media data capable of being shared on the social media feed, the social media data retrieved as a result of the action associated with the first application; and

displaying, at the display of the computing device, the first application data.

9. The one or more computing devices of claim 8, the one or more processors further configurable to cause:

processing second input data indicating a selection of a second application of the one or more launchable applications; and

providing, to the second application, the identifier data identifying the base application, the first selection data associated with the selection of the first application, and second selection data associated with the selection of the second application.

10. The one or more computing devices of claim 9, the one or more processors further configurable to cause:

processing an indication to return to the base application from the second application; and

returning to the base application from the second application, the returning based on the identifier data identifying the base application.

11. The one or more computing devices of claim 8, wherein the allowed application data further identifies allowed actions performed by the one or more launchable applications.

12. The one or more computing devices of claim 8, wherein the one or more launchable applications are further determined based on a role of a user in an organization.

13. The one or more computing devices of claim 8, wherein the one or more launchable applications are further determined based on a geographic region.

14. A non-transitory computer readable medium having instructions stored thereon, the instructions being executable by a processor and being configurable to cause:

processing allowed application data including a list of one or more launchable applications a user is authorized to access that are capable of being launched by a base application on a computing device, the allowed application data comprising a display priority of the one or more launchable applications according to usage information of the one or more launchable applications, the base application including a social media feed, the one or more launchable applications associated with partners of an organization to which the user belongs, and the one or more launchable applications determined based on at least credentials of the user;

displaying, at a display of the computing device, a user interface comprising one or more selections of the one or more launchable applications;

processing first input data indicating a selection of a first application of the one or more launchable applications;

providing, to the first application, identifier data identifying the base application and first selection data associated with the selection of the first application, the first selection data comprising contextual data from the social media feed, the contextual data providing one or more variables for performing an action associated with the first application, the action comprising at least a search for and retrieval of content within the first application and different from controlling access to content;

processing first application data provided by the first application, the first application data comprising social media data capable of being shared on the social media feed, the social media data retrieved as a result of the action associated with the first application; and

displaying, at the display of the computing device, the first application data.

15. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 14, the instructions being further configurable to cause:

processing second input data indicating a selection of a second application of the one or more launchable applications; and

providing, to the second application, identifier data identifying the base application, the first selection data associated with the selection of the first application, and second selection data associated with the selection of the second application.