Systems and methods for delivering and accessing software components

• US 10,120,667 B2
• Filed: 04/30/2015
• Issued: 11/06/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 04/30/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Schneider Electric Industries SAS (Schneider Electric SE)
• Original Assignee: Schneider Electric Industries SAS (Schneider Electric SE)
• Inventors: Falcy, Mathieu, Moulin, Michel
• Primary Examiner(s): Nahar, Qamrun
• Application Number:
  US14/701,315
• Publication Number:
  US 20150317151A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,286 Days
• Field of Search: None
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 11/30 Monitoring
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/10 Protecting distributed programs or content, e.g. vending or licensing of copyrighted material protection in video systems or pay television H04N7/16 ; Digital rights management [DRM]
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/121 Restricting unauthorised execution of programs
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2221/2149 Restricted operating environment
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 8/60 Software deployment
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 8/65 Updates security arrangements therefor G06F21/57
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 9/4451 User profiles; Roaming
• 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 67/34 involving the movement of software or configuration parameters network booting or remote initial program loading [RIPL] G06F9/4416
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/56 Provisioning of proxy services store-and-forward switching systems in data switching networks H04L12/54

Abstract

A system, method, and computer program product are disclosed for enabling software components on a device, and for providing selective access to the components. A computer system receives a download request for a software component and an identifier associated with the requesting device and determines whether the software component is pre-installed, but not enabled, on the device. In the event that the system determines, through a registration check, that the software component is pre-installed but not enabled on the device, the system enables the component on the device. In the event that the system determines that the software component is not pre-installed on the device, the system causes the component to be downloaded and enabled on the device. Selective access to software components is granted based on whether the component is accessed by a user or a service provider, with the service provider granted access to remotely install ancillary functionality.

Claims

1. A method of facilitating enabling a software component on a device, the software component comprising application program code executable on the device, said method being implemented by a computer system comprising one or more processors operable in executing program code stored on at least one non-transitory computer-readable medium to cause the computer system to perform the method comprising:

the computer system receiving a download request for the software component and an identifier uniquely associated with the device for which the software component is requested;

the computer system ascertaining based on a software inventory for the device whether the application program code of the software component is pre-installed on the device but not enabled for execution by the device; and

wherein, (i) in the event that the computer system ascertains that the application program code of the software component is pre-installed on the device but not enabled for execution by the device, the computer system causes information for enabling the pre-installed application program code of the software component for execution by the device to be communicated to the device, and (ii) in the event that the computer system ascertains that the application program code of the software component is not pre-installed on the device, the computer system causes the application program code of the software component to be downloaded for enablement on the device.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein the software inventory is cloud-based.

3. The method according to claim 1, wherein the software inventory is stored on the device, and the computer system ascertains whether the application program code of the software component is pre-installed on the device but not enabled for execution by the device based on a message received from an intermediary device that accesses the device-stored software inventory.

4. The method according to claim 3, wherein the message received from the intermediary device includes the software inventory, the method further comprising the computer system causing the received software inventory to be stored in a non-transitory storage medium that the computing system can access without communicating with the intermediary device.

5. The method according to claim 3, wherein the message received from the intermediary device does not include the software inventory.

6. The method according to claim 1, wherein the download request is received from an intermediary device that is configured to (i) permit a user to browse and select software components for downloading to and executing by the device, and (ii) selectively communicate with the device, and wherein:

in the event that the computer system causes information for enabling the application program code of the software component for execution by the device to be communicated to the device, the intermediary device is operable in (a) receiving from the computing system a message comprising the information, and (b) communicating the information to the device; and

in the event that the computer system causes the application program code of the software component to be downloaded for enablement on the device, the intermediary device is operable in (a) receiving from the computing system a communication comprising the application program code of the software component, and (b) causing the application program code of the software component to be installed on the device.

7. The method according to claim 6, wherein (a) the device is a circuit breaker device that comprises a circuit breaker maintenance tool and is configured to selectively provide one or more of selectively executable protection, counting, diagnosis, maintenance, and alarming functions, (b) the software component is an application module that when executed by the circuit breaker maintenance tool causes the circuit breaker device to implement one or more of the selectively executable protection, counting, diagnosis, maintenance, and alarming functions, and/or one or more selectively executable circuit protection functions.

8. The method according to claim 7, wherein the circuit breaker device that comprises a circuit breaker maintenance tool is configured to selectively provide a plurality of selectively executable protection, counting, diagnosis, maintenance, and alarming functions.

9. The method according to claim 7, wherein the software component is an application module that when executed by the circuit breaker maintenance tool causes the circuit breaker device to implement a plurality of the protection, counting, diagnosis, maintenance, and alarming functions.

10. The method according to claim 7, wherein the circuit breaker device comprises:

at least one processor that is operable to selectively execute the software component; and

a communication module that is operable to selectively communicate with at least the intermediary device.

11. The method according to claim 10, wherein (a) the computing system is under the ownership and control of a first party, and (b) the intermediary device and the circuit breaker device are located at a premises of a customer or subscriber of the first party.

12. The method according to claim 11, wherein the first party is a supplier or manufacturer of the circuit breaker device.

13. The method according to claim 12, wherein the first party generates and/or updates a cloud-based software inventory for the device upon providing the device to the customer or subscriber, wherein the cloud-based software inventory is generated or updated such that it includes information identifying all software components of the device as provided to the customer or subscriber.

14. The method according to claim 13, wherein the software inventory includes information indicating whether each software component installed on the device is enabled.

15. The method according to claim 1, further comprising the computing system determining based on the unique identifier whether the software inventory for the device is stored in a non-transitory storage medium of the computing system, and wherein:

in the event that the software inventory for the device is not stored in the non-transitory storage medium of the computing system, the computing system (i) causing an intermediary device communicably coupled to the device to provide the computing system with the software inventory for the device, and (ii) causing the software inventory for the device to be stored in the non-transitory storage medium of the computing system, wherein the software inventory is updated to include the software component caused to be enabled in response to the download request; and

in the event that the software inventory for the device is stored in the non-transitory storage medium of the computing system, the computing system causing the software inventory of the computing system to be updated to include the software component caused to be enabled in response to the download request.

16. The method according to claim 15, wherein the non-transitory storage medium of the computing system is cloud-based.

17. The method according to claim 16 further comprising the computing system causing a second software component to be enabled on the device when causing the software component to be enabled on the device, wherein functionality and/or data associated with the software component is accessible to a user without requiring authentication of the user, and neither functionality nor any data associated with the second software component is accessible to a user without authentication of the user.

18. The method according to claim 17, wherein the functionality and any data associated with the second software component is selectively accessible to an entity having credentials that can be authenticated by the device and/or by an intermediary device that is communicably coupled to the device.

30. At least one non-transitory computer-readable medium comprising code that, when executed by at least one processor, is operative to cause the at least one processor execute the method according to claim 1.

19. A method of facilitating access to at least one software component on a device, said method being implemented by a computer system comprising one or more processors operable in executing program code stored on at least one non-transitory computer-readable medium to cause the computer system to perform the method comprising:

the computer system receiving a request for access to at least one software component from a requestor, and receiving a type identifier associated with the requestor type;

the computer system ascertaining based on the type identifier whether a requestor is a user or service provider; and

wherein, (i) in the event that the computer system ascertains that the requestor is a user, the computer system granting the user access to software components purchased by the user for use on the device and preventing user access to pre-installed software components not purchased by the user, and (ii) in the event that the computer system ascertains that the requestor is a service provider, the computer system granting the service provider access to all software components on the device, including pre-installed software components not purchased by the user.

20. The method according to claim 19, wherein in the event that the computer system ascertains that the requestor is a service provider, facilitating the execution of additional software components for use by the service provider.

21. The method according to claim 19, wherein in the event that the computer system ascertains that the requestor is a service provider, installing additional software components for use by the service provider.

22. The method according to claim 19, wherein in the event that the computer system ascertains that the requestor is a service provider, granting access to a historical archive of data from all software components on the device.

23. The method according to claim 19, wherein the computer system assembles data from the software components not accessible to the user.

24. The method according to claim 23, wherein the computer system provides the user access to the assembled data through an internet portal.

25. The method according to claim 23, wherein the computer system provides the user access to the assembled data through a mobile application.

26. The method according to claim 23, wherein computer system provides the user access to the assembled data through a reporting tool.

32. At least one non-transitory computer-readable medium comprising code that, when executed by at least one processor, is operative to cause the at least one processor execute the method according to claim 19.

27. A system comprising at least one processor and at least one non-transitory computer-readable medium storing thereon computer code that, when executed by the at least one processor, causes the system to implement a method of facilitating enabling a software component on a device, the software component comprising application program code executable on the device, the method comprising:

the system receiving a download request for the software component and an identifier uniquely associated with the device for which the software component is requested;

the system ascertaining based on a software inventory for the device whether the application program code of the software component is pre-installed on the device but not enabled for execution by the device; and

wherein, (i) in the event that the system ascertains that the application program code of the software component is pre-installed on the device but not enabled for execution by the device, the system causes information for enabling the pre-installed application program code of the software component for execution by the device to be communicated to the device, and (ii) in the event that the system ascertains that the application program code of the software component is not pre-installed on the device, the system causes the application program code of the software component to be downloaded for enablement on the device.

28. The system according to claim 27, wherein the download request is received from an intermediary device that is configured to (i) permit a user to browse and select software components for downloading to and executing by the device, and (ii) selectively communicate with the device, and wherein:

in the event that the system causes information for enabling the application program code of the software component for execution by the device to be communicated to the device, the intermediary device is operable in (a) receiving from the system a message comprising the information, and (b) communicating the information to the device; and

in the event that the system causes the application program code of the software component to be downloaded for enablement on the device, the intermediary device is operable in (a) receiving from the system a communication comprising the application program code of the software component, and (b) causing the application program code of the software component to be installed on the device.

29. The system according to claim 28, wherein (a) the device is a circuit breaker device that comprises a circuit breaker maintenance tool and is configured to selectively provide one or more of selectively executable protection, counting, diagnosis, maintenance, and alarming functions, and (b) the software component is an application module that when executed by the circuit breaker maintenance tool causes the circuit breaker device to implement one or more of the selectively executable protection, counting, diagnosis, maintenance, and alarming functions, and/or one or more selectively executable circuit protection functions.

31. A system comprising at least one processor and at least one non-transitory computer-readable medium storing thereon computer code that, when executed by the at least one processor, causes the system to implement a method of facilitating access to at least one software component on a device, the method comprising:

the system receiving a request for access to at least one software component from a requestor, and receiving a type identifier associated with the requestor type;

the system ascertaining based on the type identifier whether a requestor is a user or service provider; and

wherein, (i) in the event that the system ascertains that the requestor is a user, the system granting the user access to software components purchased by the user for use on the device and preventing user access to pre-installed software components not purchased by the user, and (ii) in the event that the system ascertains that the requestor is a service provider, the system granting the service provider access to all software components on the device, including pre-installed software components not purchased by the user.