Systems for distributing applications and methods of operation of same

Abstract

A managed services platform and method of operation of same are described herein. The platform can include a device management service (DMS) server in which the DMS server can act as a gateway for communications with one or more computing devices, and the computing devices are associated with a first entity. The platform can also include an application service (AS) server in which the AS server is communicatively coupled with the DMS server. When a first computing device contacts the DMS server, the DMS server is operable to provide a bundle to the first computing device. As an example, the bundle contains content that at least includes one or more configuration messages and an application set that contains one or more predefined applications. The content of the bundle can be determined at least in part by the first entity.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A managed services distribution portal, comprising:
 one or more displays configured to display selections associated with the management of services for a first client portal and a second client portal, wherein the first client portal is assigned a first application repository that is associated with the first client portal and the second client portal is assigned a second application repository that is associated with the second client portal, wherein the display is further configured to show a hierarchical arrangement of distribution relationships of content among or between client portals; and   a processor that is communicatively coupled to the user interface elements, wherein the processor is configured to:
 cause the transmission of the availability of an application to the first client portal and the second client portal for publication in the first application repository and the second application repository; and 
 cause the display of a hierarchical arrangement of the first client portal, the second client portal, and a sub-client portal that is vertically integrated with the first client portal such that publication of the application in the first application repository causes a transmission of the availability of the application to the sub-client portal for publication in a sub-client application repository associated with the sub-client portal. 
   
     
     
         2 . The managed services portal according to  claim 1 , wherein the first client portal is associated with a first entity, the second client portal is associated with a second entity and the sub-client portal is associated with a third entity, wherein the third entity is a subsidiary, division or affiliate of the first entity and is under the control of the first entity. 
     
     
         3 . The managed services portal according to  claim 2 , wherein once the application is published in the first application repository, the application is available for download from the first application repository only to computing devices that are associated with the first entity and is available for download from the second application repository only to computing devices that are associated with the second entity. 
     
     
         4 . The managed services portal according to  claim 1 , wherein the hierarchical arrangement is scalable such that the processor is further configured to cause the display of additional portals in relation to the first client portal, the second client portal or the sub-client portal. 
     
     
         5 . A method of distributing content to various portals, comprising:
 enabling a user to make selections associated with the management of services for a first client portal and a second client portal, wherein the first client portal is assigned a first application repository and the second client portal is assigned a second application repository;   transmitting the availability of one or more applications to the first and second client portals for respective publication in the first application repository and the second application repository;   as part of enabling the user to make selections, presenting a hierarchical arrangement of the first client portal, the second client portal, and a sub-client portal that shows permitted content-distribution relationships among the first client portal, the second client portal, and the sub-client portal, wherein the sub-client portal is a downstream portal with respect to the first client portal such that publication of the application in the first application repository causes a transmission of the availability of the application to the sub-client portal for publication in a sub-client application repository.   
     
     
         6 . The method according to  claim 5 , further comprising receiving the application from an application approval portal that has designated the application as an approved application. 
     
     
         7 . The method according to  claim 5 , wherein the first client portal is operated by a first entity, the second client portal is operated by a second entity and the sub-client portal is operated by a third entity. 
     
     
         8 . The method according to  claim 7 , wherein the third entity is a subsidiary, division or affiliate of the first entity and is under the control of the first entity. 
     
     
         9 . The method according to  claim 5 , wherein the hierarchical arrangement is scalable and presenting the hierarchical arrangement further comprises presenting the hierarchical arrangement to include additional upstream and downstream portals. 
     
     
         10 . A method of distributing applications to multiple portals, comprising:
 receiving an approved application at a client portal for publication in an application repository associated with the client portal;   designating the approved application for publication in the application repository associated with the client portal; and   in response to the designation, signaling a downstream client portal of the availability of the approved application for publication in an application repository associated with the downstream client portal;   wherein the client portal is associated with a first entity and the downstream client portal is associated with a second entity;   wherein the second entity is a subsidiary, division or affiliate of the first entity;   wherein signaling the downstream client portal of the availability of the approved application comprises signaling the downstream client portal of the availability of the approved application for automatic publication in the application repository associated with the downstream client portal or signaling the downstream client portal of the availability of the approved application to enable the second entity to permit the approved application for publication in the application repository associated with the downstream client portal.   
     
     
         11 . The method according to  claim 10 , wherein receiving the approved application at the client portal further comprises receiving the approved application and additional content for publication in the application repository associated with the client portal. 
     
     
         12 . The method according to  claim 11 , wherein signaling the downstream client portal further comprises signaling the downstream client portal of the availability of the approved application and the additional content for publication in the application repository associated with the downstream client portal.