Patent Application
20100235254
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to distribution of digital products and, more particularly, to network-based distribution of digital products.
2. Description of the Related Art
Today, online media stores, such as iTunes™ Media Store, allow customers (i.e., online users) to purchase or rent media items, such as music or videos, over the Internet. Often, at online media stores, numerous media items made available and are provided by various different content providers, such as music labels or movie companies. Software tools, such as iProducer™ and Label Connect™ available from Apple Inc. of Cupertino, Calif., can assist content providers with online submission of media content to the iTunes™ Media Store.
Software programs are also available to be purchased or licensed at retail stores as well as online stores. Conventionally, a software program is primarily purchased as a compact disc (CD) containing the software program. Alternatively, purchasers can often purchase and download a software program from an online retailer or a software provider's website. However, when an online retailer operates to sell software programs of various independent parties, there are difficulties in providing the digital program files and supporting information/files to the online retailers. This problem is exacerbated by a large number of small software providers that often desire to partner with the online retailer. As a result, online retailers that receive online submissions face substantial burdens and difficulties due to the wide range of variation with respect to the submissions.
Conventionally, after purchasing, download and installing a software program on a computing device, the software program is essentially a static product. Though some software programs can receive updates for fixing of errors or bugs or virus protections, these updates are freely provided and serve to maintain existing functionality. Unfortunately, some software providers have a need to facilitate follow-on purchases that augment the initial software programs. However, once a software program has be purchased online, download and installed, there is conventionally no convenient means for that software program to itself facilitate an in-application purchase of rights or privileges to additional functionality, components etc. of the software program.
The invention relates to a system, device and method for accessing locked (secured) features of digital products with assistance from a product distribution site.
A digital product can be submitted to a product distribution site for network-based distribution. The digital product can be initially provided such that it provides base functionality but contains one or more locked features that, if unlocked, can supplement the base functionality. If the digital product that has been submitted is approved, the digital product becomes available at the product distribution site such that users can search, browse and purchase the digital product. Once the digital product has been purchased, download and installed on a user's computing device, the user is able to utilized the digital product. However, since the digital product itself includes one or more locked features, the user is not able to utilize such features until a subsequent purchase is performed. Advantageously, the subsequent purchase can be invoked from the digital product. In doing so, the digital product interacts (directly or indirectly) with remote server (e.g., the product distribution site) to purchase access or usage for one or more of the locked features within the digital product. Once access or usage for the one or more locked features has been purchased, the one or more locked features within the digital product can be unlocked and thereafter utilized.
In one embodiment, the digital products are computer program products (e.g., computer software programs). The product distribution site can also be referred to as an online product hosting site. Although the features of the digital products can vary depending on implementation, some examples of features include: modules, tools, characters, functionality, content, or data. Features can also be referred to as components.
The invention can be implemented in numerous ways, including as a method, system, device, apparatus (including computer readable medium and graphical user interface). Several embodiments of the invention are discussed below.
As a method for unlocking supplemental features of an application program, where the method operates on a computing device, one embodiment of the invention includes at least the acts of: executing an application program on the computing device, the application program being previously acquired from a remote network-based application distribution system, the application program including at least one supplemental feature that is presently locked and located within the application program but available to be unlocked; determining, at the computing device, that a user of the application program desires to acquire usage of the at least one supplemental feature that is presently locked; requesting that the remote network-based application distribution system approve unlocking of the at least one supplemental feature; receiving an authorization from the remote network-based application distribution system that the at least one supplemental feature is approved for unlocking; and thereafter unlocking the at least one supplemental feature of the application program at the computing device, thereby permitting the application program to utilize the at least one supplemental feature.
As a method for unlocking supplemental features of an application program, where the method operates on a computing device, another embodiment of the invention includes at least the acts of: executing an application program on the computing device, the application program being previously acquired from a remote network-based application distribution system; offering, via the application program, a user of the computing device at least one supplemental feature that is presently locked and located within the application program but available to be unlocked; receiving an indication that the user of the computing device desires to acquire usage of the at least one supplemental feature that is presently locked; requesting, in response to the indication being received, supplemental feature information from the remote network-based application distribution system, the supplemental feature information including at least descriptive information pertaining to the at least one supplemental feature; subsequently receiving, at the computing device, the supplemental feature information from the remote network-based application distribution system; presenting the supplemental feature information at the computing device; confirming, at the computing device, that the user desires to acquire usage of the at least one supplemental feature that is presently locked; requesting that the remote network-based application distribution system approve unlocking of the at least one supplemental feature; receiving an authorization from the remote network-based application distribution system that the at least one supplemental feature is approved for unlocking; and thereafter unlocking the at least one supplemental feature of the application program at the computing device, thereby permitting the application program to utilize the at least one supplemental feature.
As a computer-implemented method for managing unlocking of supplemental features of application programs that have been previously acquired from a network-based application distribution system, one embodiment of the invention includes at least the acts of: receiving a request from a computing device for supplemental feature information from the remote network-based application distribution system; retrieving the supplemental feature information associated with the supplemental feature of the application program, the supplemental feature information including at least descriptive information pertaining to a supplemental feature of an application program previously acquired from the network-based application distribution system; sending the retrieved supplemental feature information to the computing device; receiving a request from the computing device to unlock the supplemental feature of the application program; determining whether the network-based application distribution system approves unlocking of the supplemental feature; and sending an authorization to the computing device for unlocking the supplemental feature if the determining determines that the network-based application distribution system has approved unlocking of the supplemental feature.
As a computer-implemented method for managing unlocking of supplemental features of application programs that have been previously acquired from a network-based application distribution system, another embodiment of the invention includes at least the acts of: receiving a request from the computing device to unlock a supplemental feature of an application program previously acquired from the network-based application distribution system; determining whether the network-based application distribution system approves unlocking of the supplemental feature; and sending an authorization to the computing device for unlocking the supplemental feature if the determining determines that the network-based application distribution system has approved unlocking of the supplemental feature.
As a mobile computing device, one embodiment of the invention includes at least: at least one application program having at least one locked feature; and a commerce server resident on the mobile computing device. The commerce server being configured to interact with a remote server to facilitate access to the at least one locked feature of the at least one application program, while the at least one application program is operating on the mobile computing device.
As a computer readable medium including at least computer program code executable by a computing device stored thereon for unlocking supplemental components of a program product, one embodiment of the invention includes at least: computer program code for executing a program product on the computing device, the program product being previously acquired from a remote network-based application distribution system, the program product including at least one supplemental component that is presently locked and located within the program product but available to be unlocked; computer program code for determining, at the computing device, that a user of the program product desires to acquire usage of the at least one supplemental component that is presently locked; computer program code for requesting that the remote network-based application distribution system approve unlocking of the at least one supplemental component; computer program code for receiving an authorization from the remote network-based application distribution system that the at least one supplemental component is approved for unlocking; and computer program code for unlocking the at least one supplemental component of the program product at the computing device, thereby permitting the program product to utilize the at least one supplemental component.
As a computer readable medium including at least computer program code executable by a computing device stored thereon for managing unlocking of supplemental components of application programs that have been previously acquired from a network-based application distribution system, one embodiment of the invention includes at least: computer program code for receiving a request from the computing device to unlock a supplemental component of a program product previously acquired from the network-based application distribution system; computer program code for determining whether the network-based application distribution system approves unlocking of the supplemental component; and computer program code for sending an authorization to the computing device for unlocking the supplemental component if it is determined determines that the network-based application distribution system has approved unlocking of the supplemental component.
Other aspects and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings which illustrate, by way of example, the principles of the invention.
The invention will be readily understood by the following detailed description in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein like reference numerals designate like elements, and in which:
The invention relates to a system, device and method for accessing locked (secured) features of digital products with assistance from a product distribution site.
A digital product can be submitted to a product distribution site for network-based distribution. The digital product can be initially provided such that it provides base functionality but contains one or more locked features that, if unlocked, can supplement the base functionality. If the digital product that has been submitted is approved, the digital product becomes available at the product distribution site such that users can search, browse and purchase the digital product. Once the digital product has been purchased, download and installed on a user's computing device, the user is able to utilized the digital product. However, since the digital product itself includes one or more locked features, the user is not able to utilize such features until a subsequent purchase is performed. Advantageously, the subsequent purchase can be invoked from the digital product. In doing so, the digital product interacts (directly or indirectly) with a remote server (e.g., the product distribution site) to purchase access or usage for one or more of the locked features within the digital product. Once access or usage for the one or more locked features has been purchased, the one or more locked features within the digital product can be unlocked and thereafter utilized.
In one embodiment, the digital products are computer program products (e.g., computer software programs). The product distribution site can also be referred to as an online product hosting site. Although the features of the digital products can vary depending on implementation, some examples of features include: modules, tools, characters, functionality, content, or data. Features can also be referred to as components.
Embodiments of various aspects of the invention are discussed below with reference to
The product submission and distribution system 100 also includes a first client 110 and a second client 112. Typically, the product submission and distribution system 100 would include a plurality of different clients 110, 112. The first client 110 includes a network access program 114. The second client 112 includes a product submission program 116. Some clients can also include both the network access program 114 and the product submission program 116. The network access program 114 is an application program (e.g., software application) that operates on the first client 110, which is a computing device. One example of a suitable network access program is a network browser (e.g., Microsoft Explorer or Safari). Another example of a suitable network access program is iTunes™ offered by Apple Inc. The first client 110 can be coupled to the product distribution site 102 through the data network 108. Hence, any of the first clients 110 can interact with the product distribution site 102 to review, purchase and/or manage digital products.
The product submission program 116 is also an application program (e.g., software application) that operates on the second client 112, which is a computing device. The product submission program 116 is used to submit digital products to the product submission and management system 104 for eventual distribution by the media distribution site 102. Although the network access program 114 and the product submission program 116 are shown in
In the product submission and distribution system 100 shown in
The product submission and distribution system 100 allows a user of the client 110 to utilize the network access program 114 to browse, search or sort through a plurality of digital products that can be purchased from the product distribution site 102. The network access program 114 may also allow the user to preview or demo some or all of a digital product. In the event that the user of the network access program 114 desires to purchase a particular digital product, the user (via the network access program 114) and the product distribution site 102 can engage in an online commerce transaction in which the user pays for access rights to the particular digital product. In one embodiment, a credit card associated with the user is credited for a purchase or rental amount of the particular digital product.
Upon purchasing a particular digital product, the product distribution site 102 permits the digital data for the particular digital product to be retrieved from the products store 106 and then delivered (e.g., downloaded) from the product distribution site 102 to the requesting client 110 through the data network 108. In this regard, the product distribution site 102 or some other delivery server (not shown) obtains the digital data corresponding to the particular digital product from the products store 106 and downloads such digital data through the data network 108 to the client 110. The downloaded digital data can then be stored on the client 110. In one embodiment, the downloaded digital data is encrypted as received at the client 110 but is decrypted and then perhaps re-encrypted before persistently stored on the client 110. Thereafter, the client 110 can utilize (e.g., execute) the digital data of the digital product at the client 110.
The submission and purchase of the digital products can be achieved over the data network 108. In other words, the submission and purchase of the digital products can be achieved online. The purchase of media items online can also be referred to as electronic commerce (e-commerce). In one embodiment, the data network 108 makes use of at least a portion of the Internet. In one embodiment, the connections through the data network 108 between the product distribution site 102 and the clients 110, 112 can be through secure connections, such as Secure Sockets Layer (SSL). The clients 110, 112 can vary with application but generally are computing devices that have memory storage. Often, the clients 110, 112 are personal computers or other computing devices that are capable of storing and presenting media to their users. In one embodiment, one or more of the clients can be portable computing devices (e.g., laptop or network computers) or handheld computing devices (e.g., PDAs, smart phones, multi-function electronic devices, or media players).
The digital products can include one or more supplemental features. The supplemental features can serve to supplement or augment corresponding digital products. As shown in
Although the product distribution site 102, the product submission and management system 104 and the products store 106 are shown in
To facilitate communication with the product distribution site (e.g., the feature acquisition manager 122) by the client 110 with respect to acquiring usage of the supplemental feature 120 of the application program 118, the product distribution site 102 can support an Application Programming Interface (API). For example, the APIs for the product distribution site 102 might, in once embodiment, include the following APIs shown below in Appendix A.
The client 200 includes an operating system (OS) 202 that operates on the client 200 to provide basic computing services to application programs that may execute on the client 200. In addition, the operating system 202 includes a commerce server 204. The commerce server 204 is utilized by application programs operating on the client 200 to perform commerce operations with respect to a remote server, such as a remote digital product distribution server. For example, the remote server can pertain to the product distribution server 102 illustrated in
The client 200 can also includes one or more application programs that are installed on the client 200 and which can be executed by the client 200. Typically, these application where acquired and download from a remote server (e.g., product distribution server 102) to the client 200. The applications resident and installed on the client 200 are represented by application program A 206 and application program B 208. As illustrated in
To facilitate communication between the application programs 206, 208 and the commerce server 204, the commerce server 204 can support an Application Programming Interface (API). For example, the APIs for the commerce server 204 might, in once embodiment, include the following APIs shown below in Appendix B. Appendix B also contains information on how to modify application programs to support and distribute supplemental features using the product distribution site 102 (e.g., host a network-based application store).
As noted above, the supplemental features (or supplemental components) of application programs (or digital products) can vary depending on implementation. The supplemental features can pertain to: modules, tools, characters, functionality, content, or data. For a game-based application program, the supplemental features can be: new weapons, new characters, extended lives, additional game levels, etc. For productivity applications, the supplemental feature can be: additional modules (e.g., yearly module, geographic module, content-based module, etc.), additional or enhanced functions (wireless communications, printing, storage, etc.), etc. For informational applications, the supplemental feature can be: additional content or data, additional learning or information modules, etc.
The digital product submission process 400 can receive 402 product information pertaining to a digital product. The product information can vary depending upon the type of digital product being submitted. In one implementation, one type of digital product that can be submitted to an online repository by the digital product submission process 400 is a digital program product, such as a computer program product. Examples of product information for a computer program product can include one or more of: a product name, a supported device type indication, genre indication, version number, product identifier, support information, and license agreement information. In addition, when the digital program product incorporates one or more supplemental features, the digital product submission process 400 can also receive 404 supplemental information for the one or more supplemental features.
Next, a least one electronic file pertaining to a digital product can be uploaded 406. The digital product can have one or more electronic files associated therewith. For example, the digital product may include a binary file, a support or help file, and/or one more exemplary screen illustrations.
In addition, a least one distribution parameter to be used with the digital product can be received 408. A distribution parameter is a parameter that can be utilized to control or influence the manner in which the digital product is able to be distributed. One example of a distribution parameter is a pricing parameter. As an example, a pricing parameter can specify a price or a price tier to be associated with the digital product. Other distribution parameters can pertain to digital storefronts from which the digital product is to be distributed from. Still further, distribution parameters could also pertain to preview eligibility, license categories (types), etc.
Thereafter, the digital product can be submitted 410 to the online repository. The online repository can, for example, correspond to the product submission and management system 104. The online repository can receive the one or more electronic files, the associated product information, the supplemental feature information, and the one or more distribution parameters. The online repository can then operate to permit distribution of the digital product, as contained in the one or more electronic files, from a product distribution site (e.g., an online store) in accordance with the product information and the one or more distribution parameters. The online repository can also then operate to facilitate subsequent access to the one or more supplemental features of the digital product. After the submission 410 of the digital product to the online repository, the digital product submission process 400 can end.
The supplemental feature client process 500 can execute 502 an application program previously acquired from a remote network-based application distribution system. For example, the remote network-based application description system can, for example, pertain to the product submission and distribution system 100 illustrated in
In any case, when the decision 504 determines that acquisition of a supplemental feature is not requested, a decision 506 can determine whether the application program should quit (i.e., end). When the decision 506 determines that the application program should not quit, then the application program continues and the supplemental feature client process 500 returns to repeat the decision 504. Alternatively, when the decision 506 determines that the application program should quit, then the supplemental feature client process 500 can end.
On the other hand, when the decision 504 determines that acquisition of a supplemental feature is requested, a request 508 can be made to the remote network-based application distribution system. The request 508 can be a request that the remote network-based application distribution system approve unlocking of the supplemental feature. A decision 510 can then determine whether the remote network-based application distribution system has approved the unlocking of the supplemental feature. When the decision 510 determines that the remote network-based application distribution system has approved the unlocking of the supplemental feature, the supplemental feature of the application program can be unlocked 512. Here, in one environment, the remote network-based application distribution system can inform the client that the supplemental feature is approved to be unlocked, and then the application program can operate to unlock the supplemental feature. Alternatively, when the decision 510 determines that the remote network-based application distribution system has not approved (i.e., denied) the unlocking of the supplemental feature, the request to unlock the supplemental feature is denied 514. Here, by informing the client that the supplemental feature is not approved be unlocked, the application program does not operate to unlock the supplemental feature, whereby the supplemental feature remains locked. Following the block 512 or the block 514, the supplemental feature client process 500 can end.
The supplemental feature client process 600 can begin by download 602 of an application program from a network-based application distribution system. For example, a user of the client can interact with the network-based application distribution system to identify, purchase and download the application program. Once downloaded, the application program can be installed on the client. Thereafter, a decision 604 can determine whether the application program is to be executed. When the decision 604 determines that the application program is not the executed, the supplemental feature client process 600 effectively waits until the application program is executed. Once the decision 604 determines that the application program is to be executed, the application program is executed 606.
Next, a decision 608 can determine whether a supplemental feature is to be offered at the client. When the decision 608 determines that a supplemental feature is not the offered, a decision 610 can determine whether the supplemental feature client process 600 should quit (end). When the decision 610 determines that the supplemental feature client process 600 should end, then the supplemental feature client process 600 can end without rendering a supplemental feature available. Alternatively, when the decision 610 determines that the supplemental feature client process 600 should not end, the supplemental feature client process 600 returns to repeat the decision 608.
On the other hand, when the decision 608 determines that a supplemental feature is to be offered, a supplemental feature offer can be presented 612. Here, the supplemental feature offer being presented 612 can be viewed or heard by the user of the client operating the application program. In one implementation, the supplemental feature offer is presented 612 by the application program being executed on the client. A decision 614 can then determine whether the user accepts the supplemental feature offer. When the decision 614 determines that the user has not accepted the supplemental feature offer, the supplemental feature client process 600 can return to repeat the decision 610 whereby the supplemental feature client process 600 can continue or quit.
Alternatively, when the decision 614 determines that the user has accepted the supplemental feature offer, supplemental feature information can be requested 616 from the network-based application distribution system. A decision 618 determines whether a response has been received to the request for the supplemental feature information. When the decision 618 determines that a response is not yet been received, the supplemental feature client process 600 can await such a response. On the other hand, once the decision 618 determines that a response to the request for the supplemental feature information has been received, the supplemental feature information can then be presented 620. The supplemental feature information is presented 620 to provide the user of the application program operating on the client with information about the supplemental feature being offered. For example, the supplemental feature information can be displayed by the client, such as the application program or by an operating system.
Next, a decision 622 can determine whether the user has confirmed acquisition of the supplemental feature. According to one implementation, apart from the application program, the operating system can require that the user confirm that they desire to acquire the supplemental feature. This decision 622 serves to manage the acquisition of supplemental features in a controlled way so that application programs do not carelessly or inappropriately acquire supplemental features for users. When the decision 622 determines that the acquisition of the supplemental feature has not yet been confirmed, the supplemental feature client process 600 can await such a confirmation. In the event that the confirmation does not occur within a predetermined period of time, the decision 622 could alternatively cause the supplemental feature client process 600 to end.
Alternatively, when the decision 622 determines that the acquisition of the supplemental feature has been confirmed by the user, authorization to access the supplemental feature can be requested 624. Here, the request for authorization to access the supplemental feature can, for example, be made to the networked-based application distribution system. A decision 626 then determines whether authorization to access the supplemental feature has been received. The authorization can be provided as or within an authorization response. The authorization response, if provided, is received by the client. Hence, the decision 626 determines whether the authorization response has been received. When the decision 626 determines that the authorization response has not been received, a decision 628 can determine whether a time-out has occurred. When the decision 628 determines that a time-out has occurred, the supplemental feature client process 600 can end. On the other hand, when the decision 628 determines that a time-out has not occurred, the supplemental feature client process 600 can return to repeat the decision 626 to await the reception of the authorization response. Once the decision 626 determines that the authorization response has been received, the supplemental feature of the application program can be unlocked 630. Typically, the application program itself can act to unlock the supplemental feature if the authorization response provided to the client. Following the block 630, the supplemental feature client process 600 can end.
The supplemental feature server process 700 can began with a decision 702. The decision 702 can determine whether a supplemental feature information request has been received. Typically, the supplemental feature information request can be received from a client. As an example, the supplemental feature information request can be initiated by block 616 of the supplemental feature client process 600 illustrated in
When the decision 702 determines that a supplemental feature information request has been received, the supplemental feature information associated with the supplemental feature can be retrieved at 704. For example, the server has access to data storage that can store the supplemental feature information for a plurality of different supplemental features. As a particular example, the supplemental feature information can be part of the product information stored in the products storage 106, which may be a database. The supplemental feature information that has been retrieved 704 can then be sent 706. Typically, the supplemental feature information is sent 706 to the client that initiated the supplemental feature information request. Alternatively, when the decision 702 determines that a supplemental feature information request has not been received, the blocks 704 and 706 can be bypassed.
Following the block 706, or its being bypassed, the supplemental feature server process 700 can perform processing associated with unlocking a supplemental feature. Specifically, a decision 708 can determine whether an unlock request has been received. Typically, the unlock request can be received from the client. As an example, the unlock request (which is also an authorization request) can be initiated by block 624 of the supplemental feature client process 600 illustrated in
When the decision 708 determines that an unlock request has been received, the supplemental features server process 700 can determine 710 whether the unlock request is to be approved. In one implementation, the approval can require that one or more requirement be met. The requirement can vary with implementation be can include one or more of payment for the supplemental feature, prior purchase of the application program, existence of user account, etc. When the decision 712 determines that the unlock request is not approved, the supplemental feature server process 700 can sends 714 a denial response to the client that made the unlock request. The denial response may indicate a reason for the denial. Alternatively, when the decision 712 determines that the unlock request is approved, an authorization response to unlock the supplemental feature is sent 716 to the client providing the unlock request. The authorization response can include an authorization code or codes can that can be utilized to unlock the particular supplemental feature for which the unlock has been requested. In one implementation, the authorization response is sent 716 to the application program operating on the client, and the application program can then act to unlock the supplemental feature (e.g., block 630 of the supplemental feature client process 600 illustrated in
On the other hand, when the decision 708 determines that an unlock request has not been received, the block 710-716 can be bypassed. Following the blocks 714 or 716 (or the bypass of such blocks), the supplemental features server process 700 can return to repeat the decision 702.
U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 61/160,640, filed Mar. 16, 2009, entitled “APPLICATION PRODUCTS WITH IN-APPLICATION SUBSEQUENT FEATURE ACCESS USING NETWORK-BASED DISTRIBUTION SYSTEM”, is hereby incorporated herein by reference.
This application also references and/or incorporates: (1) U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/687,534, filed Oct. 15, 2003, and entitled “METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR SUBMITTING MEDIA FOR NETWORK-BASED PURCHASE AND DISTRIBUTION”, which is hereby incorporated herein by reference; (2) U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/712,303, filed Feb. 27, 2007, and entitled “PROCESSING OF METADATA CONTENT AND MEDIA CONTENT RECEIVED BY A MEDIA DISTRIBUTION SYSTEM”, which is hereby incorporated herein by reference; (3) U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/609,815, filed Dec. 12, 2006, and entitled “TECHNIQUES AND SYSTEMS FOR ELECTRONIC SUBMISSION OF MEDIA FOR NETWORK-BASED DISTRIBUTION”, which is hereby incorporated herein by reference; (4) U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/622,923, filed Jan. 12, 2007, and entitled “COMPUTERIZED MANAGEMENT OF MEDIA DISTRIBUTION AGREEMENTS”, which is hereby incorporated herein by reference; (5) U.S. patent application Ser. No. 12/286,076, filed Sep. 26, 2008, entitled “ELECTRONIC SUBMISSION AND MANAGEMENT OF DIGITAL PRODUCTS FOR NETWORK-BASED DISTRIBUTION”, which is hereby incorporated herein by reference; (6) U.S. patent application Ser. No. 12/286,075, filed Sep. 26, 2008, entitled “NETWORK-BASED DISTRIBUTION OF APPLICATION PRODUCTS”, which is hereby incorporated herein by reference; (7) U.S. patent application Ser. No. 12/286,092, filed Sep. 26, 2008, entitled “ELECTRONIC SUBMISSION OF APPLICATION PROGRAMS FOR NETWORK-BASED DISTRIBUTION”, which is hereby incorporated herein by reference; (8) U.S. patent application Ser. No. 12/368,111, filed Feb. 2, 2009, entitled “INTELLIGENT DOWNLOAD OF APPLICATION PROGRAMS”, which is hereby incorporated herein by reference; (9) U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 61/180,925, filed May 25, 2009, entitled “CONFIGURATION AND MANAGEMENT OF ADD-ONS TO DIGITAL APPLICATION PROGRAMS FOR NETWORK-BASED DISTRIBUTION”, which is hereby incorporated herein by reference; and (10) U.S. patent application Ser. No. ______ [Att. Dkt. No. 101-P685], filed Sep. 30, 2009, entitled “CONFIGURATION AND MANAGEMENT OF ADD-ONS TO DIGITAL APPLICATION PROGRAMS FOR NETWORK-BASED DISTRIBUTION”, which is hereby incorporated herein by reference.
The various aspects, features, embodiments or implementations of the invention described above can be used alone or in various combinations.
Embodiments of the invention can, for example, be implemented by software, hardware, or a combination of hardware and software. Embodiments of the invention can also be embodied as computer readable code on a computer readable medium. The computer readable medium is any data storage device that can store data which can thereafter be read by a computer system. Examples of the computer readable medium generally include read-only memory and random-access memory. More specific examples of computer readable medium are tangible and include Flash memory, EEPROM memory, memory card, CD-ROM, DVD, hard drive, magnetic tape, and optical data storage device. The computer readable medium can also be distributed over network-coupled computer systems so that the computer readable code is stored and executed in a distributed fashion.
The many features and advantages of the present invention are apparent from the written description. Further, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, the invention should not be limited to the exact construction and operation as illustrated and described. Hence, all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to as falling within the scope of the invention.
item-id: this is the offer (i.e., feature) identifier (i.e., adam id)
app-item-id: this is the application's identifier (i.e., application adam id)
version-external-identifier: this is the application's external version id
offer-name: this is the offer identifier in test mode
bid: this is the application's bundle id in test mode
bvrs: this is the application's bundle version in test mode
dsid, guid, and xtoken are required in all 4 of these api's.
inAppBuy
Request in production: salableAdamId, appAdamId, and appExtVrsId.
Request in test: salableAdamId, appAdamId, appExtVrsId, offerName, bid, and bvrs.
The other buyParams include: productType, price, quantity, and salablePricingParameters.
Response: (if bid, bvrs, and offerName are available)
inAppCheckDownloadQueue
Request in production: uses appAdamId, appExtVrsId, salableAdamId (optional, if not present, it would return all the undownloaded offers for this app and external id).
Request in test: uses bid, bvrs, offerName (optional, if not present, it would return all the undownloaded offers for this app and external id).
<key>download-queue-item-count</key><integer>0</integer>
inAppPendingTransactions
Request in production: uses appAdamId, appExtVrsId, salableAdamId (optional, if not present, it would return all the undownloaded offers for this app and external id).
Request in test: uses bid, bvrs, offerName (optional, if not present, it would return all the undownloaded offers for this app and external id).
inAppTransactionDone
Request in production and test: downloadId
Sample requests & responses:
The programmatic interface for the Commerce Server (referred to as StoreKit) consists of one protocol that must be implemented by your application and a few classes used to communicate to the Application Store that a user wishes to purchase an item.
Everything starts with a payment request. When a user decides to purchase an item you've made available from within your application, your application creates a payment request that details the item to be purchased and (if applicable) the quantity of that item to purchase. The item to be purchased is identified within your application by a productIdentifier string. This is a string that the Application Store and your application agree represents a particular item.
The payment queue is the interface to the Application Store. The payment queue is responsible for transferring an application's payment requests to the Commerce Server. The Commerce Server will communicate these requests to the Application Store and display any necessary prompts to the user. Once it validates the user's credentials and approves the payment, the payment queue informs your application that the request has been handled.
When your application adds a payment request onto the payment queue, the request is encapsulated into a transaction. The transaction tells you the state of the request—whether it is still bring processed or if it succeeded or failed.
While your application can ask the payment queue for a list of pending transactions, it is far more common for an application to wait until the payment queue calls it with a list of updated transactions.
In order to work with the payment queue, your application adds an object that implements the SKTransactionObserver as an observer of the payment queue. The transaction observer is called by the payment queue to inform it when transactions are updated or removed from the queue.
Your application should associate an observer with the payment queue during initialization. Don't wait until the user attempts to purchase an item before adding an observer. A user may have attempted to purchase an item but quit your application before the transaction completed. By adding an observer during initialization, those transactions will be forwarded to your observer the next time your application launches.
The observer's key responsibility is to examine all completed purchases and make available the content the user has purchased.
The Commerce Server API is only a small part of the process of adding a store to your application. You'll need to decide how to track the features you wish to sell, how to display them to the user, and how to unlock the content when the user purchases something from your store front.
Before tackling the larger design issues, it helps to understand the basic steps you'll need to follow to add a store to your application.
When you set up the project, make sure to link to StoreKit.framework. Then, according to one embodiment, you can then add a store to your application by following these steps:
1. Decide on a list of items you wish to sell within your application. For a game, you might use this to sell new content to the user. For a productivity application, you might offer the ability to unlock new features within your application.
There can be limitations in the types of features you can offer. While you can unlock code already built into your application, the StoreKit API does not currently offer you application the ability to patch itself or download additional code libraries. Application store purchases must either unlock existing code or be able to be implemented entirely as data. If your features require additional code, you must ship a new version of your application.
2. Register a product identifier string for each item to be sold within your application.
You will revisit this step every time you want to add a new item to sell. Every item to be sold inside your store needs a unique product identifier string. The Application Store uses this string to look up the name of the feature and its price. These product identifiers are specific to each application and are registered with the Application Store much as your application is.
3. Add a user interface that displays items for sale and allows the user to select them.
StoreKit does not provide a user interface. The look and feel of how you sell things to your customers is up to you!
Important: StoreKit focuses on the payment transaction. It does not offer a mechanism for your applications to retrieve information about possible items to purchase, including the price. Your application either needs to store this data locally or fetch it from your own private server.
4. When the user chooses an item to purchase, your application will create a new payment request and add it to the payment queue.
If a particular item can be purchased more than once, you can create a single request that includes the quantity of that item to purchase.
5. Implement the SKTransactionObserver protocol on a class.
You should implement the paymentQueue:updatedTransactions: method in your observer. Without this method, your application will never receive information from the Application Store about processed transactions.
6. Register the transaction observer with the payment queue.
Your application should instantiate a transaction observer object and add it as an observer to the payment queue.
Your application should add the observer during initialization. StoreKit allows for transactions that were queued during a previous launch of your application to be delivered at a future date. For example, the user may have quit your application to take a phone call.
7. Complete the transaction for a successful purchase.
The transactionIdentifier is a string generated by the Application Store after processing the user's payment. Your application is not required to do anything with this information, but you may want to record it as part of an audit trail for your application.
It is critical that your application take whatever steps are necessary to provide the content that the user purchased. Payment has already been received for the item, so the user will expect it to be made available to them.
Once you've provided the user their content, your application must call finishTransaction: to complete the operation. This will remove the transaction from the transaction queue. Once your application calls finishTransaction:, this transaction will be no longer be sent to your application's transaction observer. For this reason, this should be the last step you perform here.
8. Complete the transaction for a failed purchase
The only requirement for a failed purchase is that you remove it from the queue. You may choose to take other actions as necessary.
This application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 61/160,640, filed Mar. 16, 2009, entitled “APPLICATION PRODUCTS WITH IN-APPLICATION SUBSEQUENT FEATURE ACCESS USING NETWORK-BASED DISTRIBUTION SYSTEM”, which is hereby incorporated herein by reference.
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 61160640 | Mar 2009 | US |
