Patent ID: 8341753

Claim:
An apparatus useable in managing an application delivery over a network, comprising: a network interface component for receiving and sending information; a processor, in communication with the network interface component, that includes machine instructions that cause the processor to perform operations, including: receiving from a client device a request for at least a portion of the application, wherein the application is executable by the client device; determining if the request is authentic, and if so, then providing a content ticket that includes a first portion encrypted to be readable only by the client device and a second portion encrypted to be readable only by a content server device and an IP address associated with the client device, the content ticket being useable to allow the client device to access at least the portion of the application prior to a release date associated with the application; in response to receiving a valid content ticket, providing at least the portion of the application prior to the release date associated with the application, wherein at least one component of the application within the portion is encrypted using an encryption key, a different component of the application within the portion is encrypted using a different encryption key, and at least one subset of other components of the application within the portion is unencrypted and executes on the client device prior to the release date of the application and before every component of the application for the client device is available after the release date for execution on the client device; and if the release date associated with the application is satisfied, sending a decryption key to decrypt the at least one component that is encrypted and a different decryption key to decrypt the different component that is encrypted such that each component of the application for the client device, including at least each component that is decrypted, are enabled for execution on the client device.