Controlled application distribution

Abstract

An application sender can control the distribution and use of an application using an authorization token encapsulating distribution terms submitted by the application sender and the application license specification submitted by a developer of the application. The application sender can access an application store and perform various functions such as selecting one or more applications for use by an application receiver, combining one or more applications into a bundle for use by an application receiver, and/or combining several applications to form a new application for use by an application receiver. The application receiver can utilize the application in accordance with the authorization token generated by the distribution terms.

1 - 20 . (canceled) 
     
     
         21 . A computer-implemented method for distributing an application, the method comprising:
 receiving, by a computer, from an application sender a selection of an application to be used by an application receiver, the application associated with an application license specification;   receiving, by the computer, distribution terms from the application sender under which the application is to be distributed;   utilizing the distribution terms received from the application sender and the application license specification to verify that the application license specification permits the distribution of the application to the application receiver according to the distribution terms; and   responsive to verifying that the application license specification permits the distribution of the application to the application receiver according to the distribution terms, sending a communication to the application receiver indicating that a right to use the application has been secured by the application sender.   
     
     
         22 . The computer-implemented method of  claim 21 , wherein the communication comprises an authorization token used to control the distribution of the application based on the application license specification and the distribution terms received from the application sender. 
     
     
         23 . The computer-implemented method of  claim 22 , wherein the authorization token comprises the application license specification, the distribution terms, or a restriction placed on the application by an application store providing the application. 
     
     
         24 . The computer-implemented method of  claim 22 , further comprising generating a receiver license based on the authorization token. 
     
     
         25 . The computer-implemented method of  claim 22 , further comprising receiving a communication from the application receiver comprising a request to use the application. 
     
     
         26 . The computer-implemented method of  claim 25 , further comprising verifying that the request to use the application is permitted under the distribution terms by verifying information associated with the application receiver. 
     
     
         27 . The computer-implemented method of  claim 26 , further comprising transmitting the application to the application receiver in response to verifying the information associated with the application receiver and the authorization token. 
     
     
         28 . The computer-implemented method of  claim 25 , wherein the communication from the application receiver further comprises a request to utilize a second authorization token associated with the application, and wherein the authorization token and the second authorization token are associated with a number of seats of the application that the application receiver can use. 
     
     
         29 . The computer-implemented method of  claim 22 , wherein the authorization token comprises a password, data indicating a timeframe to use the application, data indicating that a communication that the application is ready for distribution to the application receiver, or a personal identification number. 
     
     
         30 . The computer-implemented method of  claim 21 , wherein the application license specification is provided by a developer of the application or is a hardcoded default of an application store providing the application. 
     
     
         31 . The computer-implemented method of  claim 21 , further comprising revoking a use of the application by the application receiver. 
     
     
         32 . A computer, comprising:
 a hardware processor; and   a computer-readable storage medium in communication with the processor, the computer-readable storage medium comprising computer-executable instructions stored thereupon which, when executed by the hardware processor, cause the hardware processor to   receive from an application sender a selection of an application to be used by an application receiver, the application associated with an application license specification,   receive distribution terms from the application receiver under which the application is to be distributed, the distribution terms comprising a level of control the application sender permits the application receiver to have when using the application,   utilize the distribution terms received from the application sender and the application license specification to verify that the application license specification permits the distribution of the application to the application receiver according to the distribution terms, and   responsive to verifying that the application license specification permits the distribution of the application to the application receiver according to the distribution terms, send a communication to the application receiver indicating that a right to use the application has been secured by the application sender.   
     
     
         33 . The computer of  claim 32 , wherein the communication comprises an authorization token used to control the distribution of the application based on the application license specification and the distribution terms received from the application sender. 
     
     
         34 . The computer of  claim 33 , wherein the computer-readable storage medium comprises further computer-executable instructions to associate the authorization token with a license associated with the application. 
     
     
         35 . The computer of  claim 33 , wherein the computer-readable storage medium comprises further computer-executable instructions to transmit a license payment to a developer of the application upon receipt of a communication to utilize the authorization token or upon payment by the application sender. 
     
     
         36 . The computer of  claim 32 , wherein the computer-readable storage medium comprises further computer-executable instructions to receive a communication from the application receiver comprising a request to use the application. 
     
     
         37 . The computer of  claim 32 , wherein the computer-readable storage medium comprises further computer-executable instructions to integrate a first receiver license associated with the application with a second receiver license associated with a second application. 
     
     
         38 . The computer of  claim 37 , wherein the application and the second application are bundled, whereby a second application receiver receives the right to use both the application and the second application in a single transaction. 
     
     
         39 . An optical disk, a magnetic storage device, or a solid state storage device having computer-executable instructions stored thereupon which, when executed by a computer, cause the computer to:
 receive from an application sender a selection of an application to be used by an application receiver, the application associated with an application license specification;   receive distribution terms from the application receiver under which the application is to be distributed;   utilize the distribution terms received from the application sender and the application license specification to verify that the application license specification permits the distribution of the application to the application receiver according to the distribution terms; and   responsive to verifying that the application license specification permits the distribution of the application to the application receiver according to the distribution terms, send a communication to the application receiver indicating that a right to use the application has been secured by the application receiver.   
     
     
         40 . The optical disk, the magnetic storage device, or the solid state storage device of  claim 39 , wherein the communication comprises an authorization token used to control the distribution of the application based on the application license specification and the distribution terms received from the application sender.