Method And System For Distributing A Software Application To A Specified Recipient

Abstract

The present invention is related to a computer-implemented method and system for allowing a user to distribute an application in an electronic device to at least one specified recipient. The method according to the present invention includes invoking a share function in the electronic device by the user, and in response to the user invoking the share function, transmitting automatically an install image associated with the application to the at least one specified recipient. According to the present invention, the install image is an installable copy of the application.

1 . A computer-implemented method for allowing a user to distribute an application in an electronic device to at least one specified recipient comprising:
 invoking a share function included in an application in an electronic device; and   in response to invoking the share function, automatically determining an install image associated with the application, automatically invoking a delivery mechanism to generate a message addressable to at least one specified recipient, and automatically attaching information identifying the determined install image to the message, wherein the install image is an installable copy of the application.   
   
   
       2 . The method of  claim 1  further comprising:
 receiving the install image associated with the application in a device associated with the at least one specified recipient; and   automatically installing and persistently storing the application on the device associated with the at least one specified recipient.   
   
   
       3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the install image is a self-installing copy of the application. 
   
   
       4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein invoking a share function includes:
 displaying a share button when the application is running, the integrated share button, when selected, for automatically invoking the share function.   
   
   
       5 . The method of  claim 4 , wherein displaying the share button includes displaying the share button in at least one of a menu item, a context menu, and a program start menu. 
   
   
       6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the install image associated with the application is stored in the electronic device and further comprising automatically attaching the determined install image to the message. 
   
   
       7 . The method of  claim 1 , comprising:
 receiving at least one address for the at least one recipient; and   sending the message to the at least one recipient via the delivery mechanism.   
   
   
       8 . The method of  claim 1 , comprising:
 adding data associated with the application to the install image prior to attaching the install image to the message.   
   
   
       9 . The method of  claim 1 , comprising:
 providing a script and an install button to the message, wherein when the install button is selected by the at least one recipient, the script automatically launches the install image.   
   
   
       10 . The method of  claim 1  further comprising:
 sending distribution data related to the distribution of the application to a computer system for tracking; and   storing the distribution data at the computer system.   
   
   
       11 . A computer-implemented method for allowing a user to distribute an application in an electronic device to at least one specified recipient comprising:
 receiving a first message sent from an electronic device to a computer system for storing a plurality of install images associated with a plurality of applications, the first message requesting the computer system to distribute an application in the electronic device to at least one recipient, wherein the first message is automatically generated in response to an invoking of a share function included in the application in the electronic device and includes at least one address for the at least one recipient; and   in response to receiving the first message, automatically determining an install image associated with the application, automatically invoking a delivery mechanism to generate a second message addressable to the at least one specified recipient, and automatically attaching the determined install image to the message, wherein the install image is an installable copy of the application.   
   
   
       12 . The method of  claim 11 , comprising:
 determining a version of the application appropriate for the at least one recipient, wherein automatically determining the install image includes retrieving the install image associated with the appropriate version of the application; and   sending the message to the at least one recipient via the delivery mechanism.   
   
   
       13 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein determining a version of the application further includes:
 in response to receiving the first message, sending a third message from the computer system to the at least one recipient, wherein the third message includes a setup mechanism;   querying the at least one recipient by the setup mechanism to determine an operating environment associated with the at least one recipient;   receiving a fourth message from the setup mechanism to the computer system, wherein the fourth message includes information related to the at least one recipient and the associated operating environment; and   selecting, based on the information in the fourth message, the appropriate version of the application.   
   
   
       14 . The method of  claim 11  further comprising:
 tracking distribution information by the computer system; and   storing the distribution information in a database coupled to the computer system.   
   
   
       15 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the application is a photo album viewing application and the method further includes:
 adding album data to the install image associated with the photo album viewing application prior to sending the message including the attached install image to the at least one specified recipient.   
   
   
       16 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the install image associated with the application automatically launches the application after the install image has installed the application onto the device. 
   
   
       17 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the application comprises one or more modules, at least one of the modules including an integrated share button, which when selected by the user, invokes the share function. 
   
   
       18 . A computer readable medium containing program instructions for allowing a user to distribute an application in an electronic device to at least one specified recipient, the computer readable medium comprising instructions for:
 invoking a share function included in an application in an electronic device; and   in response to invoking the share function, automatically determining an install image associated with the application, automatically invoking a delivery mechanism to generate a message addressable to at least one specified recipient, and automatically attaching information identifying the determined install image to the message, wherein the install image is an installable copy of the application.   
   
   
       19 . A computer readable medium containing program instructions for allowing a user to distribute an application in an electronic device to at least one specified recipient, the computer readable medium comprising instructions for:
 receiving a first message sent from an electronic device to a computer system for storing a plurality of install images associated with a plurality of applications, the first message requesting the computer system to distribute an application in the electronic device to at least one recipient, wherein the first message is automatically generated in response to an invoking of a share function included in the application in the electronic device and includes at least one address for the at least one recipient; and   in response to receiving the first message, automatically determining an install image associated with the application, automatically invoking a delivery mechanism to generate a second message addressable to the at least one specified recipient, and automatically attaching the determined install image to the message, wherein the install image is an installable copy of the application.   
   
   
       20 . A system comprising:
 a first device comprising:
 an application having an integrated share button and a share function coupled to the application, wherein when the share function in the first device is invoked via the integrated share button, an install image associated with the application is automatically determined; and 
 a delivery mechanism, automatically invoked to generate a message addressable to at least one user-specified device in communication with the first device, configured to automatically attach the determined install image to the message, the install image being an installable copy of the application. 
   
   
   
       21 . A system comprising:
 a server in communication with a first device and at least one other device, the server including:   storage for storing a plurality of install images associated with a plurality of applications; and   means for receiving a first message from the first device including a request to distribute an application in first device to the at least one other device, wherein the first message is automatically generated in response to an invoking of a share function included in the application in the first device and includes at least one address for the at least one other device;   wherein in response to receiving the first message, the server is configured to automatically determine an install image associated with the application, automatically invoke a delivery mechanism to generate a second message addressable to the at least one specified recipient, and automatically attaching the determined install image to the message, wherein the install image is an installable copy of the application.   
   
   
       22 . The system of  claim 21 , wherein the server is configured to determine which version of the application is appropriate for the at least one other device, and based on this determination, retrieves the install image associated with the appropriate version of the application. 
   
   
       23 . The system of  claim 22 , wherein the server is configured to send the retrieved install image associated with the appropriate version of the application to the at least one other device. 
   
   
       24 . The system of  claim 21 , wherein the user is allowed to attach data associated with the application to the install image, thereby distributing the application and the associated data. 
   
   
       25 . The system of  claim 24 , wherein the application is a photo album viewing application and the associated data includes image data. 
   
   
       26 . The system of  claim 21 , wherein the server collects and records distribution data related to the first device and to the user-specified device.