Patent Application
20160378455
This relates generally to device communications, including but not limited to installing applications on electronic devices by transferring installation files through a local connection between electronic devices.
Mobile devices have become an increasingly dominant means through which consumers access, download, and consume electronic content over the Internet.
Despite substantial advancements in telecommunications technology, however, achievable data rates for accessing content on the Internet are still limited. Furthermore, considering the relatively large file sizes for mobile applications, in addition to the limited availability of Internet access in certain geographic regions, such as developing countries, consumers often have difficulty downloading applications and therefore are often left frustrated when using mobile devices.
Accordingly, there is a need for methods, devices, and systems for installing updated applications on electronic devices by transferring installation files through an established local connection between electronic devices. By establishing a local connection between devices using a close-range communications protocol (e.g., Bluetooth or WiFi Direct), devices that are unable to establish Internet connectivity or have slow Internet connectivity can receive installation files from nearby connected devices. In doing so, devices may install or update applications that would otherwise be inaccessible due to poor or absent Internet connectivity. Such methods, devices, and systems optionally complement or replace conventional methods for installing and updating applications on electronic devices.
In accordance with some embodiments, a method is performed at a first electronic device (e.g., a client device) with one or more processors and memory storing instructions for execution by the one or more processors. The method includes storing in the memory one or more installation files for a first version of an application. A local connection is established with a second electronic device, the local connection being independent of Internet connectivity. Using the local connection, the method includes determining whether the first version of the application is installed on the second electronic device. In response to a determination that the first version of the application is not installed on the second electronic device, the first electronic device sends, to the second electronic device through the local connection, the one or more installation files for the first version of the application.
In accordance with some embodiments, an electronic device (e.g., a client device) includes one or more processors, memory, and one or more programs; the one or more programs are stored in the memory and configured to be executed by the one or more processors. The one or more programs include instructions for performing the operations of the method described above. In accordance with some embodiments, a non-transitory computer-readable storage medium has stored therein instructions that, when executed by the electronic device, cause the electronic device to perform the operations of the method described above.
Thus, electronic devices are provided with more effective and efficient methods for installing and updating applications on electronic devices, thereby increasing the effectiveness and efficiency of such devices and user satisfaction with such devices.
Embodiments disclosed in the attached claims are directed to a method, a storage medium, a system and a computer program product, wherein any feature mentioned in one claim category, e.g. method, can be claimed in another claim category, e.g. system, as well. The dependencies or references back in the attached claims are chosen for formal reasons only. However any subject matter resulting from a deliberate reference back to any previous claims (in particular multiple dependencies) can be claimed as well, so that any combination of claims and the features thereof is disclosed and can be claimed regardless of the dependencies chosen in the attached claims. The subject-matter which can be claimed comprises not only the combinations of features as set out in the attached claims but also any other combination of features in the claims, wherein each feature mentioned in the claims can be combined with any other feature or combination of other features in the claims. Furthermore, any of the embodiments and features described or depicted herein can be claimed in a separate claim and/or in any combination with any other embodiments or features described or depicted herein or with any of the features of the attached claims.
In some embodiments, a method comprises:
at a first electronic device with one or more processors and memory storing instructions for execution by the one or more processors:
storing in the memory one or more installation files for a first version of an application;
establishing a local connection with a second electronic device, the local connection being independent of Internet connectivity;
using the local connection, determining whether the first version of the application is installed on the second electronic device; and
in response to a determination that the first version of the application is not installed on the second electronic device, sending, to the second electronic device through the local connection, the one or more installation files for the first version of the application.
Establishing the local connection may comprise pairing the first electronic device with the second electronic device using a wireless communications protocol.
Establishing the local connection may comprise connecting to the second electronic device over a personal-area network.
Establishing the local connection may comprise connecting to the second electronic device over a peer-to-peer network.
Establishing the local connection may be performed in response to a determination that a congestion threshold for the Internet connectivity is satisfied.
Establishing the local connection may be performed in response to a determination that the second device cannot establish Internet connectivity.
In some embodiments, the method comprises: determining whether the first version of the application is installed on the second electronic device comprises determining whether a second version of the application that predates the first version of the application is installed on the second electronic device;
the determination that the first version of the application is not installed on the second electronic device is a determination that the second version of the application is installed on the second electronic device, and
the one or more installation files for the first version of the application comprise updates for updating the application on the second electronic device from the second version to the first version.
In some embodiments, the method comprises:
In some embodiments, determining whether the first version of the application is installed on the second electronic device comprises:
In some embodiments, the method further comprises, before sending the one or more installation files, displaying a message on the first electronic device with instructions for updating security settings on the second electronic device to enable installation of the first version of the application.
In some embodiments, the method, wherein the application is an application for connecting to a social networking service, and a first user associated with the first electronic device is a user of the social networking service, the method further comprises, at the first electronic device:
receiving, from the second electronic device through the local connection, a request to create an account with the social networking service for a second user associated with the second electronic device; and sending the request to a remote server through a communications channel distinct from the local connection.
In some embodiments, the method further comprises automatically displaying a message on the first electronic device prompting the first user to associate with the second user on the social networking service after sending the request to create the account to the remote server.
In some embodiments, wherein the application is an application for connecting to a social networking service, and a first user associated with the first electronic device and a second user associated with the second electronic device are users of the social networking service, the method further comprises, at the first electronic device:
Sending the content from the social networking service may be performed in accordance with a determination that the second electronic device has no Internet connectivity.
In some embodiments, sending the one or more installation files for the first version of the application comprises:
sending a first plurality of packets through the local connection to the second electronic device,
after sending the first plurality of packets, detecting loss of the local connection with the second electronic device,
reestablishing the local connection with the second electronic device, and
after reestablishing the local connection, sending a second plurality of packets through the local connection to the second electronic device.
In some embodiments, the method comprises:
In some embodiments, the method comprises:
In some embodiments, the method further comprises determining whether the first version of the application is compatible with the second electronic device; wherein sending the one or more installation files to the second electronic device through the local connection is performed in further response to a determination that the first version of the application is compatible with the second electronic device.
In some embodiments, an electronic device comprises:
storing in the memory one or more installation files for a first version of an application;
establishing a local connection with a second electronic device, the local connection being independent of Internet connectivity;
using the local connection, determining whether the first version of the application is installed on the second electronic device; and
in response to a determination that the first version of the application is not installed on the second electronic device, sending, to the second electronic device through the local connection, the one or more installation files for the first version of the application.
In some embodiments, a non-transitory computer-readable storage medium stores one or more programs for execution by one or more processors of a first electronic device, the one or more programs including instructions for:
In some embodiments, one or more computer-readable non-transitory storage media embody software that is operable when executed to perform a method according to any of the above mentioned embodiments.
In some embodiments, a system comprises: one or more processors; and at least one memory coupled to the processors and comprising instructions executable by the processors, the processors operable when executing the instructions to perform a method according to any of the above mentioned embodiments.
In some embodiments, a computer program product, preferably comprising a computer-readable non-transitory storage media, is operable when executed on a data processing system to perform a method according to any of the above mentioned embodiments.
For a better understanding of the various described embodiments, reference should be made to the Description of Embodiments below, in conjunction with the following drawings. Like reference numerals refer to corresponding parts throughout the figures and description.
Reference will now be made to embodiments, examples of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings. In the following description, numerous specific details are set forth in order to provide an understanding of the various described embodiments. However, it will be apparent to one of ordinary skill in the art that the various described embodiments may be practiced without these specific details. In other instances, well-known methods, procedures, components, circuits, and networks have not been described in detail so as not to unnecessarily obscure aspects of the embodiments.
It will also be understood that, although the terms first, second, etc. are, in some instances, used herein to describe various elements, these elements should not be limited by these terms. These terms are used only to distinguish one element from another. For example, a first version could be termed a second version, and, similarly, a second version could be termed a first version, without departing from the scope of the various described embodiments. The first version and the second version are both versions, but they are not the same version.
The terminology used in the description of the various embodiments described herein is for the purpose of describing particular embodiments only and is not intended to be limiting. As used in the description of the various described embodiments and the appended claims, the singular forms “a,” “an,” and “the” are intended to include the plural forms as well, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise. It will also be understood that the term “and/or” as used herein refers to and encompasses any and all possible combinations of one or more of the associated listed items. It will be further understood that the terms “includes,” “including,” “comprises,” and/or “comprising,” when used in this specification, specify the presence of stated features, integers, steps, operations, elements, and/or components, but do not preclude the presence or addition of one or more other features, integers, steps, operations, elements, components, and/or groups thereof.
As used herein, the term “if” is, optionally, construed to mean “when” or “upon” or “in response to determining” or “in response to detecting” or “in accordance with a determination that,” depending on the context. Similarly, the phrase “if it is determined” or “if [a stated condition or event] is detected” is, optionally, construed to mean “upon determining” or “in response to determining” or “upon detecting [the stated condition or event]” or “in response to detecting [the stated condition or event]” or “in accordance with a determination that [a stated condition or event] is detected,” depending on the context.
As used herein, the term “exemplary” is used in the sense of “serving as an example, instance, or illustration” and not in the sense of “representing the best of its kind.”
The network architecture 100A includes a local connection 112 for communicably connecting one or more client devices together (e.g., 104-1 and 104-3, 104-4, 104-5, . . . 104-p). In some embodiments, multiple client devices 104 are interconnected through the local connection 112 using a wireless communications protocol (e.g., IEEE 802.15.4, Wi-Fi, ZigBee, 6LoWPAN, Thread, Z-Wave, Bluetooth, ISA100.11a, WirelessHART, MiWi, NFC, etc.). For example, the client devices 104-1 and 104-3, 104-4, 104-5, . . . 104-p compose a personal-area network (PAN) (e.g., implemented using Bluetooth or ZigBee) or a peer-to-peer (P2P) network (e.g., implemented using WiFi Direct). In some embodiments, all of the client devices 104 connected through the local connection 112 are within wireless communication range of each other. In some embodiments, all of the client devices 104-3, 104-4, 104-5, . . . 104-p are within wireless communication range of the client device 104-1 but not necessarily each other.
Client devices 104-3, 104-4, 104-5, . . . 104-p may be unable to connect to the social network system 108 directly through the one or more networks 106 (e.g., due to network congestion, poor cellular reception, an associated user not being subscribed to network services, etc.). Instead, using the local connection 112, these client devices may indirectly access the social network system 108 through the client device 104-1, which is connected to the social network system 108 through the one or more networks 106. The client device 104-1 therefore acts as an intermediary device (sometimes referred to as a “host” or “sending” device) through which client devices 104-3, 104-4, 104-5, . . . 104-p (sometimes referred to as “receiving” devices) can send and retrieve data over the one or more networks 106 (e.g., installation files for an application provided by the social network system 108). Thus, in some implementations, the client device 104-1 retrieves and shares data (e.g., installation files) requested by other client devices using the local connection 112. (Alternatively, the client device 104-1 shares files that it has previously downloaded before receiving a request from a receiving device.)
In some embodiments, the client devices 104 are computing devices such as smart watches, personal digital assistants, portable media players, smart phones, tablet computers, 2D gaming devices, 3D (e.g., virtual reality) gaming devices, laptop computers, desktop computers, televisions with one or more processors embedded therein or coupled thereto, in-vehicle information systems (e.g., an in-car computer system that provides navigation, entertainment, and/or other information), and/or other appropriate computing devices that can be used to communicate with the social-network system 108. In some embodiments, the social-network system 108 is a single computing device such as a computer server, while in other embodiments, the social-network system 108 is implemented by multiple computing devices working together to perform the actions of a server system (e.g., cloud computing).
In some embodiments, client devices 104 are associated with users (not shown) who employ the client devices 104 to access the social-network system 108 and to participate in a corresponding social-networking service provided by the social-network system 108. For example, one or more of the client devices 104 execute web browser applications that can be used to access the social-networking service. As another example, one or more of the client devices 104 execute software applications that are specific to the social-networking service (e.g., social-networking “apps” running on smart phones or tablets, such as a Facebook social-networking application running on an iPhone, Android, or Windows smart phone or tablet).
Users interacting with the client devices 104 can participate in the social-networking service provided by the social-network system 108 by posting information, such as text comments (e.g., updates, announcements, replies), digital photos, videos, audio files, links, and/or other electronic content. Users of the social-networking service can also annotate information posted by other users of the social-networking service (e.g., endorsing or “liking” a posting of another user, or commenting on a posting by another user). In some embodiments, information can be posted on a user's behalf by systems and/or services external to the social-network system 108. For example, the user may post a review of a movie to a movie-review website, and with proper permissions that website may cross-post the review to the social network system 108 on the user's behalf. In another example, a software application executing on a mobile client device, with proper permissions, may use global positioning system (GPS) or other geo-location capabilities (e.g., Wi-Fi or hybrid positioning systems) to determine the user's location and update the social network system 108 with the user's location (e.g., “At Home”, “At Work”, or “In San Francisco, Calif.”), and/or update the social network system 108 with information derived from and/or based on the user's location. Users interacting with the client devices 104 can also use the social-networking service provided by the social-network system 108 to define groups of users. Users interacting with the client devices 104 can also use the social-networking service provided by the social-network system 108 to communicate and collaborate with each other.
In some embodiments, the network architecture 100 also includes third-party servers 110-1, 110-2, . . . 110-m. In some embodiments, a given third-party server 110 is used to host third-party websites that provide web pages to client devices 104, either directly or in conjunction with the social-network system 108. In some embodiments, the social-network system 108 uses inline frames (“iframes”) to nest independent websites within a user's social network session. In some embodiments, a given third-party server is used to host third-party applications that are used by client devices 104, either directly or in conjunction with the social-network system 108. In some embodiments, the social-network system 108 uses iframes to enable third-party developers to create applications that are hosted separately by a third-party server 110, but operate within a social-networking session of a user and are accessed through the user's profile in the social-network system 108. Exemplary third-party applications include applications for books, business, communication, contests, education, entertainment, fashion, finance, food and drink, games, health and fitness, lifestyle, local information, movies, television, music and audio, news, photos, video, productivity, reference material, security, shopping, sports, travel, utilities, and the like. In some embodiments, a given third-party server 110 is used to host enterprise systems, which are used by client devices 104, either directly or in conjunction with the social-network system 108. In some embodiments, a given third-party server 110 is used to provide third-party content (e.g., news articles, reviews, message feeds, etc.).
In some embodiments, a given third-party server 110 is a single computing device, while in other embodiments, a given third-party server 110 is implemented by multiple computing devices working together to perform the actions of a server system (e.g., cloud computing).
Client devices 104 may be interconnected based on a variety of network topologies. For example, in some embodiments, each client device (e.g., 104-1 and 104-3 through 104-p) is connected to each of the other client devices through the local connection 112. In other embodiments, client devices are connected only to some of the other client devices in the network architecture (e.g., client device 104-1 is only connected to client device 104-3, and client device 104-3 is connected only to client devices 104-1 and 104-4). In some embodiments, one client device acts as a host device with which all other client devices are connected through the local connection 112 (e.g., each of the client devices 104-3 to 104-p are connected to client device 104-1, but not to any other client devices), from which content is retrieved (e.g., installation files) and through which content can be transmitted (e.g., social media posts). In some embodiments, multiple client devices together serve as host devices from which one or more client devices may retrieve content (e.g., client devices 104-1 and 104-3 send different portions of installation files to client device 104-4).
Client devices 104 may be interconnected through the local connection 112 using multiple communications protocols and interfaces. For example, in one implementation, the client device 104-1 may be paired with client device 104-3 using a Bluetooth wireless interface, while simultaneously the client device 104-1 is connected to the client device 104-4 using an NFC wireless interface.
Memory 206 includes high-speed random-access memory, such as DRAM, SRAM, DDR RAM, or other random-access solid-state memory devices; and may include non-volatile memory, such as one or more magnetic disk storage devices, optical disk storage devices, flash memory devices, and/or other non-volatile solid-state storage devices. Memory 206 may optionally include one or more storage devices remotely located from the processor(s) 202. Memory 206, or alternately the non-volatile memory device(s) within memory 206, includes a non-transitory computer-readable storage medium. In some embodiments, memory 206 or the computer-readable storage medium of memory 206 stores the following programs, modules and data structures, or a subset or superset thereof:
The social network database 214 stores data associated with the social network in one or more types of databases, such as graph, dimensional, flat, hierarchical, network, object-oriented, relational, and/or XML databases.
In some embodiments, the social network database 214 includes a graph database, with entity information 216 represented as nodes in the graph database and connection information 220 represented as edges in the graph database. The graph database includes a plurality of nodes, as well as a plurality of edges that define connections between corresponding nodes. In some embodiments, the nodes and/or edges themselves are data objects that include the identifiers, attributes, and information for their corresponding entities, some of which are rendered at clients 104 on corresponding profile pages or other pages in the social-networking service. In some embodiments, the nodes also include pointers or references to other objects, data structures, or resources for use in rendering content in conjunction with the rendering of the pages corresponding to the respective nodes at clients 104.
Entity information 216 includes user information 218, such as user profiles, login information, privacy and other preferences, biographical data, and the like. In some embodiments, for a given user, the user information 218 includes the user's name, profile picture, contact information, birth date, sex, marital status, family status, employment, education background, preferences, interests, and/or other demographic information.
In some embodiments, entity information 216 includes information about a physical location (e.g., a restaurant, theater, landmark, city, state, or country), real or intellectual property (e.g., a sculpture, painting, movie, game, song, idea/concept, photograph, or written work), a business, a group of people, and/or a group of businesses. In some embodiments, entity information 216 includes information about a resource, such as an audio file, a video file, a digital photo, a text file, a structured document (e.g., web page), or an application. In some embodiments, the resource is located in the social-network system 108 (e.g., in content 222) or on an external server, such as third-party server 110.
In some embodiments, connection information 220 includes information about the relationships between entities in the social network database 214. In some embodiments, connection information 220 includes information about edges that connect pairs of nodes in a graph database. In some embodiments, an edge connecting a pair of nodes represents a relationship between the pair of nodes.
In some embodiments, an edge includes or represents one or more data objects or attributes that correspond to the relationship between a pair of nodes. For example, when a first user indicates that a second user is a “friend” of the first user, the social-network system 108 transmits a “friend request” to the second user. If the second user confirms the “friend request,” the social-network system 108 creates and stores an edge connecting the first user's user node and the second user's user node in a graph database as connection information 220 that indicates that the first user and the second user are friends. In some embodiments, connection information 220 represents a friendship, a family relationship, a business or employment relationship, a fan relationship, a follower relationship, a visitor relationship, a subscriber relationship, a superior/subordinate relationship, a reciprocal relationship, a non-reciprocal relationship, another suitable type of relationship, or two or more such relationships.
In some embodiments, an edge between a user node and another entity node represents connection information about a particular action or activity performed by a user of the user node towards the other entity node. For example, a user may “like” or have “attended,” “played,” “listened,” “cooked,” “worked at,” or “watched” the entity at the other node. The page in the social-networking service that corresponds to the entity at the other node may include, for example, a selectable “like,” “check in,” or “add to favorites” icon. After the user clicks one of these icons, the social-network system 108 may create a “like” edge, “check in” edge, or a “favorites” edge in response to the corresponding user action. As another example, the user may listen to a particular song using a particular application (e.g., an online music application). In this case, the social-network system 108 may create a “listened” edge and a “used” edge between the user node that corresponds to the user and the entity nodes that correspond to the song and the application, respectively, to indicate that the user listened to the song and used the application. In addition, the social-network system 108 may create a “played” edge between the entity nodes that correspond to the song and the application to indicate that the particular song was played by the particular application.
In some embodiments, content 222 includes text (e.g., ASCII, SGML, HTML), images (e.g., jpeg, tif and gif), graphics (e.g., vector-based or bitmap), audio, video (e.g., mpeg), other multimedia, and/or combinations thereof. In some embodiments, content 222 includes executable code (e.g., games executable within a browser window or frame), podcasts, links, and the like.
In some embodiments, the social network server module 228 includes web or Hypertext Transfer Protocol (HTTP) servers, File Transfer Protocol (FTP) servers, as well as web pages and applications implemented using Common Gateway Interface (CGI) script, PHP Hyper-text Preprocessor (PHP), Active Server Pages (ASP), Hyper Text Markup Language (HTML), Extensible Markup Language (XML), Java, JavaScript, Asynchronous JavaScript and XML (AJAX), XHP, Javelin, Wireless Universal Resource File (WURFL), and the like.
Memory 306 includes high-speed random-access memory, such as DRAM, SRAM, DDR RAM or other random-access solid-state memory devices; and may include non-volatile memory, such as one or more magnetic disk storage devices, optical disk storage devices, flash memory devices, or other non-volatile solid-state storage devices. Memory 306 may optionally include one or more storage devices remotely located from the processor(s) 302. Memory 306, or alternately the non-volatile memory device(s) within memory 306, includes a non-transitory computer-readable storage medium. In some embodiments, memory 306 or the computer-readable storage medium of memory 306 stores the following programs, modules and data structures, or a subset or superset thereof:
Each of the above identified modules and applications correspond to a set of executable instructions for performing one or more functions as described above and/or in the methods described in this application (e.g., the computer-implemented methods and other information processing methods described herein). These modules (i.e., sets of instructions) need not be implemented as separate software programs, procedures or modules, and thus various subsets of these modules are, optionally, combined or otherwise re-arranged in various embodiments. In some embodiments, memory 206 and/or 306 store a subset of the modules and data structures identified above. Furthermore, memory 206 and/or 306 optionally store additional modules and data structures not described above.
Attention is now directed towards embodiments of graphical user interfaces (“GUIs”) and associated processes that may be implemented on a client device (e.g., the client device 104 in
Displaying the messages shown in
In some embodiments, the social network system 108 (e.g.,
The first electronic device 502-1 stores (506) the installation files for the first version of the application received from the social network system 108 (e.g., in memory 306,
The first electronic device 502-1 (e.g., client device 104-1,
In some embodiments, establishing the local connection is performed in response to a determination that a congestion threshold for the Internet connectivity is satisfied. (Subsequent operations, such as sending (518) installation files, may also be performed at least in part in response to this determination.) A congestion threshold may include a predefined minimum available network bandwidth (e.g., bits per seconds), data rate, network latency, or other performance metric of a network connection through which an electronic device accesses the Internet (e.g., measured network bandwidth over a network 106,
Using the local connection, the first electronic device 502-1 (or the second electronic device 502-2) determines (512) whether the first version of the application is installed on the second electronic device 502-2. In some embodiments, the determining (512) includes the first electronic device 502-1 or the second electronic device 502-2 determining whether any version of the application is installed on the second electronic device. For example, the first electronic device 502-1 may indicate to the second electronic device 502-2 that a version of the application is installed on the first electronic device or that installation files for a version of the application are available on the first electronic device. Based on this indication, the second electronic device 502-2 determines whether any version of the same application is installed on the second electronic device 502-2. Alternatively, the second electronic device 502-2 may indicate to the first electronic device 502-1 (e.g., by providing a list of all installed applications) that a version of the application is installed on the second electronic device 502-2.
In some embodiments, the determining (512) includes the first electronic device 502-1 or the second electronic device 502-2 determining whether a second version of the application that predates the first version of the application is installed on the second electronic device 502-2 (e.g., comparing versions of the application or corresponding installation files stored on the first and second electronic devices to determine that the version on the second electronic device is an outdated version). For example, the first electronic device 502-1 may indicate to the second electronic device 502-2 that a first version of the application is installed on the first electronic device 502-1. Based on this indication, the second electronic device 502-2 then compares a version of the application installed the second electronic device 502-2 with the first version to determine whether the version installed the second electronic device 502-2 is outdated. The comparison may yield a determination that the version installed on the second electronic device 502-2 is an outdated version, the same version, or a more up-to-date version. Alternatively, the second electronic device 502-2 may indicate to the first electronic device 502-1 that a second version of the application is installed on the second electronic device 502-2. Based on this indication, the first electronic device 502-1 then compares the first version of the application installed the first electronic device 502-1 with the second version to determine whether the version installed the second electronic device 502-2 is outdated.
In some embodiments, the determining (512) includes providing a software updater application to the second electronic device 502-2 through the local connection (e.g., transferring the installation files 350 of the software updater application module 348,
In some embodiments, after establishing (510) the local connection, the first electronic device 502-1 periodically (or continuously) transmits (e.g., broadcasts) over the local connection a list of applications (and their respective versions) stored on the first electronic device 502-1 that it is authorized to distribute. Based on the transmissions (e.g., broadcasts) from the first electronic device 502-1, electronic devices connected to the first electronic device over the local connection may identify available versions of applications that may be obtained from the first electronic device 502-1 over the local connection.
In some embodiments, the first electronic device 502-1 or the second electronic device 502-2 determines (514) whether the first version of the application is compatible with the second electronic device 502-2. Determining the compatibility of the first version of the application may include identifying one or more hardware (e.g., processor type, device manufacturer, chipset, etc.) and/or software (e.g., operating system) specifications of the second electronic device 502-2 (and optionally the first electronic device 502-1), and determining whether the first version of the application is compatible with the identified specifications. In some embodiments, determining the compatibility of the first version of the application includes referencing entries of a table (e.g., an Android application package (“APK”) matrix) which stores a list of compatible device specifications for different versions of the application. In some embodiments, the compatibility check (514) is performed by the software updater application (512) (e.g., software updater application module 348,
In response to a determination that the first version of the application is not installed on the second electronic device 502-2 (and, in some embodiments, that the first version is compatible with the hardware and/or software (e.g., operating system) of the second electronic device), the first electronic device 502-1 sends (518) to the second electronic device and the second electronic device 502-2 receives from the first electronic device, through the local connection, the one or more installation files for the first version of the application (e.g., installation files 342 for a social network client module 340,
In some embodiments, the determination (512) is a determination that the second version of the application is installed on the second electronic device 502-2 (i.e., a version that predates the first version stored on the first electronic device 502-1), and the one or more installation files include updates for updating the application on the second electronic device 502-2 from the second version to the first version. Thus, in some implementations, if it is determined that the receiving device is storing an outdated version of an application, only files for updating the application are sent, rather than an installation package for the entire application.
In some embodiments, the determination (512) is a determination that no version of the application is installed on the second electronic device, and the one or more installation files include one or more files for installing the first version of the application in its entirety, rather than installation files only for updating a previous version of the application.
In some embodiments, before sending (518) the one or more installation files, a message is displayed (516) on the first electronic device 502-1 with instructions for updating security settings on the second electronic device 502-2 to enable installation of the first version of the application. An example of the message is illustrated in and described with respect to
In some embodiments, the first electronic device 502-1 is one of a plurality of electronic devices with which the second electronic device 502-2 can communicate over a local connection (e.g., one of a plurality of electronic devices within wireless communication range of the second electronic device 502-2), and the first electronic device 502-1 sends (518) and the second electronic device 502-2 receives the one or more installation files for the first version of the application in accordance with a determination that respective versions of the application on other electronic devices of the plurality of electronic devices predate the first version of the application. As an example, referring to
In some embodiments, the application is a first application of a plurality of applications stored on the first electronic device 502-1 and/or the second electronic device 502-2 (e.g., a client device 104-1 stores a browser module 338, a social network client module 340, and a client application module 344 in the memory 306). The first electronic device 502-1 sends (518) and the second electronic device 502-2 receives the one or more installation files for the first version of the application in accordance with a determination that a priority of the first application supersedes a priority of a second application on the second electronic device 502-2. For example, if the social network client module 340 has a predefined priority (e.g., represented by a numerical index value) that supersedes a predefined priority of the client application module 344, and updates are available for both modules, the first electronic device 502-1 will send installation files for the social network client module 340 before installation files for the client application module 344 are sent, if ever. In some embodiments, different versions of an application have respective priorities. For example, a first, more recent version of the social network client module 340 may have a greater priority than a second, older version. In this example, a first version of the client application module 344 may supersede the second version of the social network client module 340, while the first version of the social network client module 340 supersedes the first version of the client application module 344.
Referring now to
In some embodiments, the application is an application for connecting to a social networking service (e.g., a social network client module 340 for connecting to a service provided by the social network system 108,
In some embodiments, after the installation files for first version of the application have been sent to and received by the second electronic device 502-2 (518), a message is displayed (530) on the first electronic device 502-1 and/or the second electronic device 502-2 prompting the first user to associate with the second user on the social networking service (or prompting the second user to associate with the first user). An example of the message is illustrated in and described with respect to
In some embodiments in which the first and second users (associated with the first electronic device 502-1 and the second electronic device 502-2, respectively) are users of the social networking service, the first electronic device 502-1 receives (532) from the social networking service, and the social network system 108 sends to the first electronic device 502-1, through a communications channel distinct from the local connection (e.g., over the one or more networks 106), content for the second user. Content may include any content accessible by users on a social network system (e.g., feed content, posts, messages, audio/visual data, links, etc.). The first electronic device 502-1 sends (534) to the second electronic device 502-2, and the second electronic device 502-2 receives from the first electronic device 502-1, through the local connection (e.g., local connection 108), the content from the social networking service for display on the second electronic device. Thus, content provided by the social network system 108 may be accessed by electronic devices otherwise having limited or no Internet connectivity, but within proximity of other Internet-connected devices with which a local connection can be established. In some embodiments, sending (534) and receiving the content from the social networking service is done in accordance with a determination that the second electronic device 502-2 has no Internet connectivity. In some embodiments, content received (532) from the social networking service is cached in the memory of the first electronic device 502-1 for transmission at a later time, such that the first electronic device 502-1 can send the content to the second electronic device 502-2 even in the absence of Internet connectivity at the time of sending.
In some embodiments, the first electronic device 502-1 receives content (e.g., a post) from the second electronic device 502-2, and sends the received content to the social networking service through the communications channel distinct from the local connection (e.g., a user whose electronic device cannot establish Internet connectivity can post content on a social networking service through an Internet-connected electronic device with which a local connection is established).
In some embodiments, the method 500 in
Although the method 500 of
For situations in which the systems discussed above collect information about users, the users may be provided with an opportunity to opt in/out of programs or features that may collect personal information (e.g., information about a user's preferences or a user's contributions to social content providers). In addition, in some embodiments, certain data may be anonymized in one or more ways before it is stored or used, so that personally identifiable information is removed. For example, a user's identity may be anonymized so that the personally identifiable information cannot be determined for or associated with the user, and so that user preferences or user interactions are generalized (for example, generalized based on user demographics) rather than associated with a particular user.
Although some of various drawings illustrate a number of logical stages in a particular order, stages which are not order dependent may be reordered and other stages may be combined or broken out. While some reordering or other groupings are specifically mentioned, others will be apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art, so the ordering and groupings presented herein are not an exhaustive list of alternatives. Moreover, it should be recognized that the stages could be implemented in hardware, firmware, software or any combination thereof.
The foregoing description, for purpose of explanation, has been described with reference to specific embodiments. However, the illustrative discussions above are not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the scope of the claims to the precise forms disclosed. Many modifications and variations are possible in view of the above teachings. The embodiments were chosen in order to best explain the principles underlying the claims and their practical applications, to thereby enable others skilled in the art to best use the embodiments with various modifications as are suited to the particular uses contemplated.
