Feature Switching Kits

Abstract

A system and method for feature switching in software applications. A feature switching action (FSA) is received and at least one user device is identified based on the received FSA. At least one feature switching instruction (FSI) is generated based on the received FSA and the FSI is sent to at least one of the identified user devices. A feature switching instruction response (FSIR) is received from each user device that received a FSI and a feature switching action response (FSAR) is generated based on the received FSIRs.

1 . (canceled) 
     
     
         2 . A method for feature switching in a software application for social media executing on a user device, the software application providing a user interface to display aggregated social media content on the user device, the software application communicating with a set of services and executing a set of service software development kits (SDKs) corresponding to the set of services, the method comprising:
 receiving, by the software application on the user device from a SDK platform, a feature switching instruction (FSI) for a first service of the set of services, the first service providing social media content to the software application, the social media content being aggregated from a plurality of sources;   identifying, by the software application based on the FSI, a first service SDK of the set of service SDKs, the first service SDK corresponding to the first service, wherein the FSI specifies a plurality of set values for the first service SDK, each set value of the plurality of set values corresponding to a different source of the plurality of sources and representing a relative contribution of social media content from that source to the aggregated social media content; and   updating, by the software application, the first service SDK to provide the aggregated social media content to the software application according to the plurality of set values.   
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 2 , further comprising:
 generating, by the software application, a feature switching instruction response (FSIR) for transmission to the SDK platform, the FSIR indicating an outcome associated with the execution, by the user device, of updating the first service SDK based on the FSI.   
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein updating the first service SDK comprises:
 generating, by the software application, a request for transmission to a service provider to provide the aggregated social media content according to the plurality of set values;   receiving, by the software application on the user device from the service provider, the aggregated social media content according to the plurality of set values; and   storing, by the software application on the user device, the aggregated social media content in a local data repository of the user device.   
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein:
 the plurality of set values is a first plurality of set values; and   the method further comprises, before receiving the FSI at the user device:
 receiving, by the software application on the user device, the aggregated social media content according to a second plurality of set values, each set value of the of the second plurality of set values corresponding to a different source of the plurality of sources and representing a relative contribution of social media content from that source to the aggregated social media content, 
 wherein at least one set value of the second plurality of set values corresponding to a given source of the plurality of sources is different from its corresponding set value of the first plurality of set values corresponding to that given source. 
   
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein:
 the plurality of set values is a first plurality of set values;   the plurality of sources is a first plurality of sources, the first plurality of sources comprising:
 a second plurality of sources; and 
 a new source introduced by the FSI; and 
   the method further comprises, before receiving the FSI at the user device:
 receiving, by the software application on the user device, the aggregated social media content according to a second plurality of set values, each set value of the of the second plurality of set values corresponding to a different source of the second plurality of sources and representing a relative contribution of social media content from that source to the aggregated social media content. 
   
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 2 , further comprising, before receiving the FSI at the user device:
 receiving, at the SDK platform, a feature switching action (FSA) from a command authority authorizing feature switching of the software application, the SDK platform being authorized to execute the feature switching of the software application, the FSA comprising a user device identifier and the plurality of set values;   identifying, by the SDK platform, the user device based on the user device identifier in the received FSA;   generating, by the SDK platform, the FSI with the plurality of set values based on the received FSA for the user device; and   sending, from the SDK platform to the user device, the FSI.   
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 2 , further comprising:
 generating, by the SDK platform, a feature switching action response (FSAR) based on the FSIR, the FSAR indicating, when updating the first service SDK is not successful, an outcome associated with the execution, by the SDK platform, of the feature switching of the software application on the user device based on the FSI sent to the user device; and   sending, from the SDK platform to a command authority, the FSAR.   
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein:
 the SDK platform provides an application marketplace to facilitate exchange of software applications from a developer device to the user device; and   the method further comprises, before receiving the FSI at the user device:
 receiving, at the user device from the application marketplace of the SDK platform, the software application. 
   
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein:
 each service SDK of the set of service SDKs includes one or more features and corresponds to one service of the set of services; and   the method further comprises:
 determining, by the SDK platform, at least one of:
 the set of service SDKs installed on the user device; 
 for each service SDK of the set of service SDKs, an amount of time each feature of the one or more features is executed; 
 for each service SDK of the set of service SDKs, an identity of a subset of features of the one or more features that is executed; 
 for each service SDK of the set of service SDKs, a frequency that a service corresponding to that service SDK is accessed; 
 an operating system of the user device; or 
 a geographic location of the user device. 
 
   
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 2 , further comprising, before generating the FSIR:
 identifying, by the software application on the user device based on the FSI, a second service SDK of the set of service SDKs, the second service SDK corresponding to a second service of the set of services, wherein the FSI specifies a set value for the second service SDK, the set value indicating the second service SDK is to be disabled due to the second service exceeding a threshold for downtime; and   disabling, by the software application on the user device, the second service SDK based on the set value for the second service SDK.   
     
     
         12 . A method for feature switching in a software application executing on a first user device of a set of user devices, each user device of the set of user devices executing the software application, the method comprising:
 receiving, at a software development kit (SDK) platform, a feature switching action (FSA) from a command authority authorizing feature switching of the software application, the SDK platform being authorized to execute the feature switching of the software application, the FSA comprising at least one user device identifier and a plurality of set values;   identifying, by the SDK platform, the first user device based on the at least one user device identifier in the received FSA; and   for the first user device:
 generating, by the SDK platform, a feature switching instruction (FSI) with the plurality of set values based on the received FSA; and 
 sending, from the SDK platform to the first user device, the FSI. 
   
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 12 , further comprising:
 receiving, at the SDK platform from the first user device, a feature switching instruction response (FSIR);   generating, by the SDK platform, a feature switching action response (FSAR) based on the received FSIR, the FSAR indicating an outcome associated with the execution, by the SDK platform, of the feature switching of the software application on the first user device based on the FSI sent to the first user device; and   sending, from the SDK platform to the command authority, the FSAR.   
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein:
 the software application is for social media and provides a user interface to display aggregated social media content on the first user device;   the software application communicates with a set of services and includes a set of service software development kits (SDKs) corresponding to the set of services;   the FSI is for a first service of the set of services, the first service providing social media content to the software application, the social media content being aggregated from a plurality of sources; and   the method further comprises:
 identifying, by the software application on the first user device based on the FSI, a first service SDK of the set of service SDKs, the first service SDK corresponding to the first service, the plurality of set values being specified for the first service SDK, each set value of the plurality of set values corresponding to a different source of the plurality of sources and representing a relative contribution of social media content from that source to the aggregated social media content; and 
 updating, by the software application on the first user device, the first service SDK to provide the aggregated social media content to the software application according to the plurality of set values. 
   
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein updating the first service SDK comprises:
 generating, by the software application on the first user device, a request for transmission to a service provider to provide the aggregated social media content according to the plurality of set values;   receiving, by the software application on the first user device from the service provider, the aggregated social media content according to the plurality of set values; and   storing, by the software application on the first user device, the aggregated social media content in a local data repository of the first user device.   
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein:
 the plurality of set values is a first plurality of set values; and   the method further comprises, before receiving the FSI at the user device:
 receiving, by the software application on the user device, the aggregated social media content according to a second plurality of set values, each set value of the of the second plurality of set values corresponding to a different source of the plurality of sources and representing a relative contribution of social media content that source contributes to the aggregated social media content, 
 wherein at least one set value of the second plurality of set values corresponding to a given source of the plurality of sources is different from its corresponding set value of the first plurality of set values corresponding to that given source. 
   
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein:
 the plurality of set values is a first plurality of set values;   the plurality of sources is a first plurality of sources, the first plurality of sources comprising:
 a second plurality of sources; and 
 a new source introduced by the FSI; and 
   the method further comprises, before receiving the FSI at the first user device:
 receiving, by the software application on the first user device, the aggregated social media content according to a second plurality of set values, each set value of the of the second plurality of set values corresponding to a different source of the second plurality of sources and representing a relative contribution of social media content that source contributes to the aggregated social media content. 
   
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein:
 the software application communicates with a set of services and executes a set of service software development kits (SDKs), each service SDK of the set of service SDKs including one or more features and corresponding to one service of the set of services; and   the method further comprises:
 determining, by the SDK platform for each user device of the set of user devices, at least one of:
 the set of service SDKs installed on the user device; 
 for each service SDK of the set of service SDKs, an amount of time each feature of the one or more features is executed; 
 for each service SDK of the set of service SDKs, an identity of a subset of features of the one or more features that is executed; 
 for each service SDK of the set of service SDKs, a frequency that a service corresponding to that service SDK is accessed; 
 an operating system of that user device; or 
 a geographic location of that user device. 
 
   
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 12 , further comprising:
 identifying, by the software application on the first user device based on the FSI, a first service SDK of the set of service SDKs, the first service SDK corresponding to a first service of the set of services, wherein the plurality of set values includes a first set value for the first service SDK, the set value indicating the first service SDK is to be disabled due to the first service exceeding a threshold for downtime; and   disabling, by the software application on the first user device, the first service SDK based on the set value for the first service SDK.   
     
     
         20 . A non-transitory computer readable medium storing instructions for, when executed on a user device, feature switching in a software application for social media executing on the user device, the software application providing a user interface to display aggregated social media content on the user device, the software application communicating with a set of services and executing a set of service software development kits (SDKs) corresponding to the set of services, the instructions, when executed, cause at least one processor to:
 receive, by the software application on the user device from a SDK platform, a feature switching instruction (FSI) for a first service of the set of services, the first service providing social media content to the software application, the social media content being aggregated from a plurality of sources;   identify, based on the FSI, a first service SDK of the set of service SDKs, the first service SDK corresponding to the first service, wherein the FSI specifies a plurality of set values for the first service SDK, each set value of the plurality of set values corresponding to a different source of a plurality of sources and representing a relative contribution of social media content from that source to the aggregated social media content; and   update the first service SDK to provide the aggregated social media content to the software application according to the plurality of set values.   
     
     
         21 . The non-transitory computer readable medium of  claim 20 , wherein the instructions, when executed, further cause at least one processor to:
 generate a feature switching instruction response (FSIR) for transmission to the SDK platform, the FSIR indicating an outcome associated with the execution of updating the first service SDK based on the FSI.   
     
     
         22 . The non-transitory computer readable medium of  claim 20 , wherein the instructions to update the first service SDK, when executed, cause the at least one processor to:
 generate a request for transmission to a service provider to provide the aggregated social media content according to the plurality of set values;   receive, from the service provider, the aggregated social media content according to the plurality of set values; and   store the aggregated social media content in a local data repository of the user device.   
     
     
         23 . The non-transitory computer readable medium of  claim 20 , wherein:
 the plurality of set values is a first plurality of set values; and   the instructions, when executed, further cause the at least one processor to, before receiving the FSI at the user device:
 receive the aggregated social media content according to a second plurality of set values, each set value of the of the second plurality of set values corresponding to a different source of the plurality of sources and representing a relative contribution of social media content from that source to the aggregated social media content, 
 wherein at least one set value of the second plurality of set values corresponding to a given source of the plurality of sources is different from its corresponding set value of the first plurality of set values corresponding to that given source. 
   
     
     
         24 . The non-transitory computer readable medium of  claim 20 , wherein:
 the plurality of set values is a first plurality of set values;   the plurality of sources is a first plurality of sources, the first plurality of sources comprising:
 a second plurality of sources; and 
 a new source introduced by the FSI; and 
   the instructions, when executed, further cause the at least one processor to, before receiving the FSI at the user device:
 receive the aggregated social media content according to a second plurality of set values, each set value of the of the second plurality of set values corresponding to a different source of the second plurality of sources and representing a relative contribution of social media content from that source to the aggregated social media content.