Electronic submission of application programs for network-based distribution

摘要

An improved system and method for submitting, distributing and/or managing digital products with respect to a product distribution site are disclosed. The submission of digital products to the product distribution site is able to be performed by numerous submitters in a uniform and computer-assisted manner. The submitted digital products can then be managed in a largely automated manner and made available for online purchase and distribution at the product distribution site. Once a digital product is submitted, the user can access the status of the digital product submission to obtain information of whether the digital product has been approved or rejected. In one embodiment, the digital products are computer program products (e.g., computer software programs).

主权项

1. A method for submitting an application program from a client computer to an online repository, said method comprising:
authenticating a user; determining that the user is approved for submission of application programs to the online repository, the determining being based on existence of a distribution agreement associated with the online repository and the user; prior to receiving a submission of an application program file from the client computer for upload to the online repository;
receiving descriptive information metadata corresponding to one or more application programs associated with the user rather than a full application program file for each application program in the one or more application programs when the client computer has determined that the full application program file exceeds a size limit;determining, based on the previously received descriptive information metadata, whether there is at least one eligible application program for upload by the user to the online repository provided that the user has been authenticated and approved for submission of application programs; and subsequently to receiving the descriptive information metadata and after determining that at least one application program is eligible for upload, receiving a submission of a full application program file from the client computer for a selected one or more of the at least one eligible application program.