Systems and methods for deploying enterprise software updates

Abstract

Systems and methods for deploying enterprise software updates are provided. An identity of an application in an application group that is designated active is obtained in response to a command to run a first application on a client device. Only one application in the application group is designated active at any given time. In response to a determination that an identity of a second application in the application group matches the identity of the single application in the application group that is designated active, a procedure is run that includes terminating the first application and executing the second application. The executing retrieves all or a portion of a shared data element stored on the client device. The shared data element is shared between the first application and the second application, thereby allowing an application with an active status to run while preserving shared data associated with an inactive application.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method comprising:
 at a client device communicatively coupled to a server by a communication network, the client device comprising a processor and a memory:   obtaining from the server, in response to a command to run a first application on the client device, via the communication network, an identity of an application in an application group that is designated active, wherein the application group includes the first application and only one application in the application group is designated active at any given time;   continuing to run the first application on the client device in response to a determination that an identity of the first application matches the identity of the single application in the application group that is designated active, and   running a procedure, in response to a determination that an identity of a second application in the application group matches the identity of the single application in the application group that is designated active, the procedure comprising:
 terminating the first application, and 
 executing the second application, wherein the executing retrieves all or a portion of a shared data element stored on the client device, wherein the shared data element is shared between the first application and the second application, thereby allowing an application with an active status to run while preserving shared data associated with an inactive application. 
   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the obtaining the identity comprises providing a query to the server to obtain the identity of the single application in the application group that is active. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the procedure further comprises modifying a graphical user interface icon associated with the first application. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the client device is a mobile device. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the first application and the second application are different versions of a single point of sale (POS) software application. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 5 , wherein the procedure further comprises executing a procurement transaction using the second application. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 5 , wherein the shared data element comprises a transaction identifier of a procurement transaction that was executed by the first application. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 5 , wherein the shared data element comprises an AMEX transaction identifier, an amount, an authorization code, an AVS street match, an AVS zip code match, a settlement batch number, a billing address, a card security code match, a client IP address, a credit card expiration date, a customer code, a description of a procured item, a discount amount, a quantity, a shipping address, a shipping method, a shipping phone number, a tax amount, a tax rate, a tender type, a time stamp, or a universal pricing code for a procurement transaction that was executed by the first application. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 5 , wherein the shared data element comprises an identification of an operating system version. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 5 , wherein the shared data element comprises a storage sled initialization indication, a storage sled monitoring indication, a storage sled power monitoring indication, or a storage sled status. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 5 , wherein the shared data element comprises a database location, a database store type, a configuration name, a store identifier, or an employee identifier. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the store identifier comprises a corresponding location identifier associated with the respective client. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the store identifier comprises a physical address associated with the client device. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 5 , wherein the shared data element comprises first data written by the first application and second data written by the second application. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the command of the obtaining is provided by a user of the client device. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein prior to the executing, in accordance with a determination that the identity of the first application is the inactive designated status, the method further comprises displaying, at a display of the client device, a prompt to execute the second application. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein:
 in accordance with a determination the first application is executed, the second application is placed in a disabled state, and   in accordance with a determination the second application is executed, the first application is placed in a disabled state.   
     
     
         18 . A non-transitory computer readable storage medium storing at least one program for allowing an application with an active status to run while preserving shared data associated with an inactive application, the at least one program configured for execution by a computer, the at least one program comprising instructions for:
 obtaining from a server over a communications network, in response to a command to run a first application on a client device, via the communication network, an identity of an application in an application group that is designated active, wherein the application group includes the first application and only one application in the application group is designated active at any given time;   continuing to run the first application on the client device in response to a determination that an identity of the first application matches the identity of the single application in the application group that is designated active, and   running a procedure, in response to a determination that an identity of a second application in the application group matches the identity of the single application in the application group that is designated active, the procedure comprising:
 terminating the first application, and 
 executing the second application, wherein the executing retrieves all or a portion of a shared data element stored on the client device, wherein the shared data element is shared between the first application and the second application, thereby allowing an application with an active status to run while preserving shared data associated with an inactive application. 
   
     
     
         19 . A computer system comprising one or more processors, and memory storing one or more programs for execution by the one or more processors, the memory further storing a first application, the one or more programs comprising instructions for:
 obtaining from a server over a communications network, in response to a command to run a first application on a client device, via the communication network, an identity of an application in an application group that is designated active, wherein the application group includes the first application and only one application in the application group is designated active at any given time;
 continuing to run the first application on the client device in response to a determination that an identity of the first application matches the identity of the single application in the application group that is designated active, and 
 running a procedure, in response to a determination that an identity of a second application in the application group matches the identity of the single application in the application group that is designated active, the procedure comprising:
 terminating the first application, and 
 
 executing the second application, wherein the executing retrieves all or a portion of a shared data element stored on the client device, wherein the shared data element is shared between the first application and the second application, thereby allowing an application with an active status to run while preserving shared data associated with an inactive application.