Method and system for delivering application packages based on user demands

Abstract

A method and a system are provided for delivering on-demand software packages. In one aspect, the method may include subscribing services of a service provider operating a server, the server including an operating system and several application packages installed therein, initiating a client terminal by performing a network booting process using the operating system installed in the server, and executing in the client terminal a subscribed application package installed in the server using resources of the operating system resident in the client terminal. The method may further include charging the user a fee according to the application packages and the operating system subscribed by the user.

1 - 19 . (canceled) 
     
     
         20 . A method for providing software applications over a computer communication network based on user demands, the method comprising:
 authenticating a user by requesting subscription information of the user via a user identification module coupled to a client terminal device of the user;   upon authentication of the user, providing to the client terminal device of the user a listing of one or more software application packages, wherein the user identification module is configured to control access of said one or more software application packages based on the subscription information;   receiving from the client terminal device a selection of a first software application package from said listing of one or more software application packages; and   in response to said selection of the first software application package, transmitting the first software application package to the client terminal device through the computer communication network;   wherein the first software application package and said one or more software application packages are executable on the client terminal device using resources of an operating system resident in the client terminal device.   
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 20 , further comprising:
 either adding a second software application package to or removing the first software application package from said listing of one or more software application packages; and   providing to the client terminal device an updated listing of one or more software application packages with either the second software application package being added or the first software application package being removed.   
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 21 , further comprising:
 when the second software application package is added to said listing of one or more software application packages, receiving a selection of the second software application package from said updated listing of one or more software application packages;   in response to said selection of the second software application package, transmitting the second software application package to the client terminal device through the computer communication network;   wherein the second software application package is executable on the client terminal device using resources of the operating system resident in the client terminal device.   
     
     
         23 . The method of  claim 20 , further comprising:
 while the first software application package is executed on the client terminal device, saving a data file generated by the first software application package in a storage device remote from the client terminal device of the user.   
     
     
         24 . The method of  claim 23 , further comprising encrypting the data file to be saved in the remote storage unit. 
     
     
         25 . The method of  claim 20 , further comprising:
 prior to executing the first software application package, verifying a subscription status of the first software application package; and   initiating execution of the first software application package only if the subscription status is verified.   
     
     
         26 . The method of  claim 20 , wherein said one or more software application packages are non-web-based software applications. 
     
     
         27 . The method of  claim 20 , further comprising accepting a payment from the user in accordance with the user's subscription of said one or more software application packages. 
     
     
         28 . The method of  claim 27 , wherein accepting the payment comprises accepting the payment periodically. 
     
     
         29 . The method of  claim 20 , further comprising searching for the first software application package from a plurality of available software application packages. 
     
     
         30 . The method of  claim 20 , further comprising, prior to authenticating the user, sending the user identification module to the user. 
     
     
         31 . The method of  claim 20 , wherein the computer communication network comprises a wireless network. 
     
     
         32 . The method of  claim 20 , wherein the subscription information comprises at least one of user information, a pass code, account information, subscription details, and system configurations of the client terminal. 
     
     
         33 . A mobile electronic device, comprising:
 a processor;   a memory unit having an operating system resident therein and executed by the processor;   a network interface configured to communicate with a remote server device through a computer network; and   a user identification module configured to:
 authenticate a user by communicating subscription information of the user with the remote server device; and 
 control access of one or more software application packages installed in the remote server device in accordance with the subscription information; 
   wherein the mobile electronic device is configured to:
 allow the user to select a first software application package from a listing of said one or more software application packages; and 
 in response to said selection of the first software application package, receive the first software application package from the remote server device through the computer network; 
   wherein the first software application package and said one or more software application packages are executable by the processor using resources of the operating system resident in the memory unit.   
     
     
         34 . The mobile electronic device of  claim 33 , further configured to:
 allow the user to either add a second software application package to or remove the first software application package from said listing of one or more software application packages; and   update said listing of one or more software application packages with either the second software application package being added or the first software application package being removed.   
     
     
         35 . The mobile electronic device of  claim 35 , further configured to:
 when the second software application package is added, allow the user to select the second software application package from the updated listing of one or more software application packages; and   in response to said selection of the second software application package, receive the second software application package from the remote server device through the computer network;   wherein the second software application package is executable by the processor using resources of the operating system resident in the memory unit.   
     
     
         36 . The mobile electronic device of  claim 33 , further configured to initiate execution of the first software application package only upon verification of a subscription status of the first software application package. 
     
     
         37 . The mobile electronic device of  claim 33 , wherein said one or more software application packages are non-web-based software applications. 
     
     
         38 . The mobile electronic device of  claim 33 , wherein the network interface comprises a wireless network card. 
     
     
         39 . The mobile electronic device of  claim 33 , wherein the subscription information comprises at least one of user information, a pass code, account information, subscription details, and system configurations of the client terminal.