Abstract:
A system and related techniques prepare and condition the installation of new networked service or application components, such as Internet services, based on an individual subscriber&#39;s subscribed-to services, features and other components. A subscriber to an Internet service may choose to add, for example, a componentized subscription to a music or video download service to their access plan. When the user inserts a CDROM or accesses a Web site for installation, the user may be prompted for a username or passport-type object to authenticate their account. The user may then be presented with a set of available service selections, extensions or enhancements to choose to add to their plan. Those available selections may be prefiltered or prequalified, for example, based on geographic location, account spending or access limits, language or other criteria. Because the installation engine delivers components which are intelligently filtered at time of installation, the service components or applications can be tailored to that specific user&#39;s needs and options, instead of downloading or installing a monolithic package which may contain services not available or of interest to that user.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION  
       [0001]     Not applicable.  
       STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT  
       [0002]     Not applicable.  
       FIELD OF THE INVENTION  
       [0003]     The invention relates to the field of networked computer services, and more particularly to a platform which automatically detects and presents networked service options and components, for instance Internet access and media installation options, based on individual subscribers&#39; subscribed services and related status.  
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0004]     Internet services are commonly advertised and provisioned using distributed CD-ROM bundles or Web site downloads. To ensure uniformity and economize bulk delivery costs, those media or downloads, however, are typically not tailored to the needs or access privileges of individual users. Rather, the Web browser, media player or other applications, services or components may instead be installed in a single, uninterruptible, fixed installation script which installs a monolithic package of components to the user&#39;s computer or other client.  
         [0005]     When a user installs a client, service, media engine or other component from such prepackaged media or downloads, therefore, the classes, types and defaults in the service components delivered to that user may be undesired and extraneous to that person&#39;s usage needs. For example, language options may be installed which are not generally used in the user&#39;s geographic location, or media options which are not compatible with the user&#39;s access mode, such as dial-up, may be installed. This lack of selectability in the installation process may load the user&#39;s storage with unnecessary, and occasionally incompatible, features. Likewise a user who attempts to remove unnecessary components may cause unintended bugs or interruptions to the services they do actually want.  
         [0006]     Moreover, when network services are installed using conventional techniques, the individual user&#39;s existing or desired access rights may be totally ignored. Many users may for instance choose to update or upgrade a browser, media client or associated Web services such as email, Web hosting, music downloads or others on an existing Internet service or other account. One-size-fits all installations routines as currently practiced do not in any way reference a user&#39;s existing subscription profile to pare down and isolate only those service components for that user&#39;s current service list. Nor do known installers attempt to differentiate desired from undesired services and thereby install only necessary supporting components when a new user initiates entirely new service. Other problems and inefficiencies in the provisioning and installation of network services exist.  
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0007]     The invention overcoming these and other problems in the art relates in one regard to a system and method for automatically generating a network service installation based on a user&#39;s subscription status, in which an installation engine may initiate service provisioning and installation from CD-ROM, Internet downloads or other channels or media. In embodiments, the installation engine will access the user&#39;s subscription status from a subscription database or other data store to separate the subset of components, services, applications or other features or functions from all possible installation components which the user desires or is entitled to install. Those components may include, for example, email or Web hosting service, anti-spam or anti-virus services or utilities, media services or portals, or other channels, services or components, all tailored and installed according to the user&#39;s new or existing subscription profile. Because unnecessary components, code, data and other resources are filtered out before installation to the user&#39;s client or other machine, a more streamlined, more bug-free and user-friendly service initiation process may be enjoyed. 
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0008]      FIG. 1  illustrates a network environment in which a system and method for automatically generating a service installation may operate, according to embodiments of the invention.  
         [0009]      FIG. 2  illustrates a user interface with illustrative installation options, according to an embodiment of the invention.  
         [0010]      FIG. 3  illustrates a logical architecture for an installation engine, according to an embodiment of the invention.  
         [0011]      FIG. 4  illustrates overall subscription-driven installation processing, according to an embodiment of the invention. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS  
       [0012]      FIG. 1  illustrates an architecture in which a system and method for may operate, according to an embodiment of the invention. As illustrated in that figure, a user may operate a client  102  using a user interface  116  such as a graphical user interface (GUI) or other to initiate and guide an installation process of one or more components for services of their choosing. As illustrated, the user may initiate the service installation process by inserting media  104  such as a CR-ROM drive into the client  102 , or, in embodiments may access a network  106  such as the Internet or other network to initiate similar installation processing. Whether initiated by media  104 , over network  106  or a combination of the two, in embodiments the client may host and execute an installation engine  120  to manage the distribution of new service components to the client  102  and/or the user&#39;s subscription account.  
         [0013]     The service components which the user may choose to install or initiate on client  102  or associated account may include a range of network access features, services and media. The service components may include, for example, one or more email accounts, or a Web site hosting service, for instance with a certain amount of storage (e.g. 10 MB or other) for new or existing accounts. The service components may likewise include utilities and tools, such as anti-spam filters for email or other communications channels, anti-virus tools for client  102  or other machines, or the provisioning of Internet access itself, via network  106  or otherwise. The service components managed according to embodiments of the invention may likewise encompass media and other services, such as digital photo or other file sharing, music download service, video download service or other media delivery services. The service components may likewise include Web or other services such as financial, medical, educational or other portals, or other personal or business resources. In embodiments, the selection and installation of eligible services may include the installation of corresponding application components, interfaces or resources, such as Web browsers, media players including audio or video codecs, email clients, or other components or services.  
         [0014]     According to embodiments as shown in  FIG. 1 , when the user inserts media  104  or accesses a Web site via network  106 , installation logic may be started which analyzes and delivers content and components to client  102  or otherwise which matches the user&#39;s subscription status. According to embodiments in one regard, the client  102  may communicate with installation server  108  to facilitate that provisioning. Installation server  108  may be or include a local or remote server which may in turn communicate with a subscription database  110 , to identify appropriate service components for the requesting user. Toward that purpose, subscription database  110  may host resources including an available component list  112 , a subscriber services list  114  and other data or connections.  
         [0015]     When the installation engine  120  is notified that a new installation event has begun, the installation engine may prompt the user for user ID, login or other account or identification information. For instance, an existing user desiring to update or upgrade services may enter their existing user name or account name, while a new user may enter a new user or account name to be activated. Installation engine  120  may authenticate the user&#39;s entered account and other information as appropriate, for instance by performing a lookup of that information against subscription database  110 . This authorization process may in one regard be performed before components, code or other data may be installed onto client  102  or activated in an associated account, thereby again avoiding unnecessary or inappropriate delivery of undesired components.  
         [0016]     After the initiating user has been authenticated, the installation engine  120  may access the subscription database  110  to reference an available component list  112 , to begin to isolate eligible components for that user. Available component list  112  may include or interface to, for example, a list or set of service components which are available to the user based on their geographic location, market or co-branding preferences, language requirements or other governing criteria or factors. For instance, the available component list  112  may indicate that for User X updating their service components in, for illustration South America, certain services such as Internet telephony may be available, or that eligible components must include services delivered in Spanish, Portuguese, English or other languages. In embodiments, marketing terms or conditions, such as the user&#39;s agreement to use their telephone company&#39;s affiliated cellular telephone or network-enabled data service, may narrow the set of services in and presented by the available component list  112 . Likewise in cases a user&#39;s age or other criteria may affect or filter the services stored to or accessed from available component list  112 .  
         [0017]     The installation engine  120  may likewise access the subscribed services list  114  for the initiating user, which data may also be stored in subscription database  110 . The subscribed services list  114  may contain a list, table or other data structure recording the services and components which a user may currently subscribe to, or which are awaiting activation or are currently in other status. Thus for a given user, the subscribed services list  114  may contain selections or components such as email, Web hosting, music downloads, Internet banking or email payment service, or other services or components.  
         [0018]     Those services or components may in embodiments be or include some services or components whose subscription is free of charge, and others which involve a monthly or other subscription fee. For example some services, such as on-demand music download, may incur a per-track download charge. Some services in subscribed services list  114  may be dependent on subscription to other services, such as anti-spam tools which may depend on email service. Other subscription arrangements, charges and combinations are possible. The installation engine  120  may in embodiments compare the components in the available component list  112  for the initiating user against the subscribed services list  114 , to generate a set of eligible components based on the matching components from that data.  
         [0019]     According to embodiments illustrated in  FIG. 1 , the installation server  108  may likewise communicate with a component store  128  hosting a set of software or service components  130  available in available component list  112  or otherwise, to permit accessing or downloading of those components and resources by authorized clients. In embodiments the set of software or service components  130  may be stored in or distributed from other local or remote storage resources, depending on configuration.  
         [0020]     Upon initiation of a service installation and the isolation of eligible components via the subscription database  110 , as illustrated in  FIG. 2  the user may be presented with a set of installation options  118  on user interface  116 . Those installation options  118  may again and as illustrated include services or components such as email, Web hosting, anti-virus or other utilities, music, video or other download options, or other services or resources. After the user&#39;s selections from the set of installation options  118  are made, the installation engine  120  may initiate the building of those components on client  102  or otherwise. For example, a new or updated media player may be installed to client  102 .  
         [0021]     The components to be installed may in embodiments be retrieved or delivered from media  104 , from the component store  128 , from both media  104  and component store  128 , or via other channels or resources. In embodiments, components transmitted from installation server  108  may be communicated through application or service-aware protocols, for example ActiveX™, Java™, XML (eXtensible Markup Language) or other code, data or resources. The installation engine  120  may communicate with installation server  108  to update the user&#39;s subscribed services list  114 , to reflect those newly chosen or installed components or services for that user&#39;s account or profile. In embodiments, the user may likewise remove or unsubscribe from given components, when desired.  
         [0022]      FIG. 3  illustrates a logical architecture for the installation engine  120  and other resources, according to an embodiment of the invention. As shown the installation engine  120  may execute an installation script or processing which is in one regard dependent on user authorization and that user&#39;s subscription status. According to that processing in one regard, the installation engine  120  may commence a non-silent installation when a user inserts media  104 , accesses network  106  or takes other steps to begin the addition or subtraction of components to or from a new or existing user subscription or account. The user&#39;s subscribed services list  114 , or desired or selected components or services and associated component permits may be checked against available component list  112  to determine the intersection of those components. In embodiments, component requirements, such as geographic, language, or in some cases, machine-specific criteria for client  102  (such as minimum available storage) or other requirements may be checked. Again after the set of eligible components are generated, they may be passed to the user interface  116 . In embodiments the installation engine  120  and user interface  116  may also receive or present a set of default selections, such as components commonly chosen or subscribed to in the user&#39;s location or at the user&#39;s given service level.  
         [0023]     According to the logical architecture as shown, the set of eligible services and other data may be communicated to the installation server  108 , which in embodiments and as illustrated in  FIG. 3  may host a network access service such as a SOAP (simple object access protocol) service  122 , to facilitate the transmission of component objects selected out by the initiating user. In arrangements as shown, the installation server  108  may access component store  128  or other resources to access or retrieve a set of market-specific components  124 , associated XML code or data as well as one or more default component package  126  to transmit to client  102  via installation engine  120 . Those default components may for instance be selected and accessed when the user interface  116  permits the user to choose an abbreviated installation process which accepts default services or components.  
         [0024]     Overall installation processing according to embodiments of the invention is illustrated in further regard in  FIG. 4 . In step  402 , processing may begin. In step  404 , installation may be initiated by reading installation media such as a CD-ROM or other removable or other media, by initiating access to an installation Web site or a download from a Web site, or other channels. In step  406 , a client software containing an installation engine, such as Microsoft Network (MSN) or other media or other client software, may be installed, for instance onto the hard drive of client  102  or other client or device. In instances where the client  102  already has a media client installed, that installation may be omitted, or updating to current versions may take place. In step  408 , a subscriber signup or login process may be initiated, for instance by prompting the user for a username, password, security-enabled account login such as a Microsoft PassPort™ account, or other account setup, authorization, verification or authentication routines.  
         [0025]     In step  410 , an available component list  112  for the user may be retrieved, for example from subscription database  110 . The available component list  112  may be filtered or conditioned based on subscriber status information for that user, such as geographic location, language, market or co-branding limitations or preferences, age restrictions (for example, in a multiuser family account), or other factors. In step  412 , service component permits for the user may be acquired, for instance by accessing the user&#39;s subscribed services list  114  or otherwise. In step  414 , the permits or authorizations for various service components for that user may be compared against the available component  112  to identify and extract those services that are desired, permitted and available to the user. In step  416 , setup options based on those filtered services may be displayed to the user. For example, the user may be asked to select a degree of anti-spam protection, for instance low, medium or high. Other services and selections may be presented.  
         [0026]     In step  418 , the user&#39;s selections or other inputs may be received in installation engine  120  or other installation logic. In step  420 , the generated set of final component services may be installed in client  102  or other client or device. In step  422 , any post-installation setup or confirmation may be launched, for example to display a welcome screen to the user inviting them to log in to one or more service. In step  424 , processing may repeat, return to a prior processing point, jump to a further processing point or end.  
         [0027]     The foregoing description of the invention is illustrative, and modifications in configuration and implementation will occur to persons skilled in the art. For instance, while the invention has generally been described in terms of subscriber status data stored and accessed from a single subscription database  110 , in embodiments data regarding one or more users may be shared or distributed across multiple databases or data hosts. In embodiments all or part of that data may be stored in client  102 , itself.  
         [0028]     Further, while the invention has generally been described in embodiments wherein the installation engine  120  may be hosted in client  120 , in embodiments the installation engine  120  or similar logic may be hosted or may execute in other local or remote resources, including the installation server  108 . Similarly, while the invention has in embodiments been generally described as involving subscriptions covering individual users, in embodiments the subscriptions to services and corresponding installation management may be for groups of users or organizations. Other hardware, software or other resources described as singular may in embodiments be distributed or shared, and similarly in embodiments resources described as distributed may be combined. The scope of the invention is accordingly intended to be limited only by the following claims.