Device controller and viewer
Method, apparatus and computer program product embodiments are provided for distributing and installing content and settings on client devices without receiving any user input at the client devices, which limit usage of the client device a user at the client device to a first set of the usage activities. A device controller may remotely configure and control client devices by providing instructions and content for distribution to the client devices. The instructions may cause the client devices to install the content on the client devices without requiring any user input to initiate the installation or during installation of the content. The client device may be further configured to allow management of the client device by the device controller.
1. A method for remotely configuring and controlling a client device without user input at the client device, the method comprising:
receiving, at the client device, distributed content from a device controller located remotely from the client device, the distributed content comprising first display content and second display content, and wherein the distributed content includes installable content;
displaying the first display content on a first screen of the client device without receiving user input at the client device to display the first display content;
displaying the second display content on a second screen of the client device without receiving user input at the client device to display the second display content;
receiving, at the client device from the device controller, a time interval associated with the installable content;
installing, at the client device, the installable content without receiving any user input at the client device to install the installable content;
displaying, based on the time interval, the installed content at least one of the first screen or the second screen;
preventing, during the installing, an invocation of an application program interface that requires additional user input during the installing of the installable content; and
preventing, during the installing, display of a directed response interaction with the client device to enable progression of the installing.
2. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
preventing, by an operating system on the client device, displaying on the first screen of the client device requests for user input at the client device.
3. The method of claim 2 , wherein the operating system is a proprietary operating system that is modified to execute specifically on the client device.
4. The method of claim 1 , wherein the first screen is oriented to face a first user and the second screen is oriented to face a second user.
5. The method of claim 1 , wherein the first display content is different from the second display content.
6. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
determining whether a network connection exists between the client device and the device controller;
in response determining that the network connection does not exist, determining whether off-line content is available to the client device; and
in response to determining that the off-line content is available, retrieving the off-line content.
7. The method of claim 1 , wherein the client device is pre-programmed to communicate with the device controller when the client device connects to a network, the method further comprising:
prior to receiving the distributed content, transmitting, by the client device to the device controller, a serial number associated with the client device, wherein the serial number is associated with a customer account on the client device.
8. A client device, comprising:
a first screen;
a second screen; and
a processor communicatively coupled to the first and second screens and configured to:
receive, at the client device, distributed content from a device controller located remotely from the client device, the distributed content comprising first display content and second display content, and wherein the distributed content further comprises installable content;
display the first display content on the first screen without receiving user input at the client device to display the first display content;
display the second display content on the second screen without receiving user input at the client device to display the second display content;
receive, at the client device from the device controller, a time interval associated with the installable content;
install, at the client device, the installable content without receiving user input at the client device to install the installable content;
display, based on the time interval, the installed content on at least one of the first screen or the second screen
prevent, during the installing, an invocation of an application program interface that requires additional user input during the installing of the installable content and
prevent, during the installing, display of a directed response interaction with the client device to enable progression of the installing.
9. The client device of claim 8 , wherein, during an installation of the distributed content, the processor is further configured to:
prevent, by an operating system on the client device, displaying on the first screen requests for user input of the client device.
10. The client device of claim 9 , wherein the operating system is a proprietary operating system that is modified to execute specifically on the client device.
11. The client device of claim 8 , wherein the first screen is oriented to face a first user and the second screen is oriented to face a second user.
12. The client device of claim 8 , wherein the first display content is different from the second display content.
13. The client device of claim 8 , wherein the processor is further configured to:
determine whether a network connection exists between the client device and the device controller;
in response determining that the network connection does not exist, determine whether off-line content is available to the client device; and
in response to determining that the off-line content is available, retrieve the off-line content.
14. The client device of claim 8 , wherein the client device is pre-programmed to communicate with the device controller when the client device connects to a network and wherein the processor is further configured to:
prior to receiving the distributed content, transmit, by the client device to the device controller, a serial number associated with the client device, wherein the serial number is associated with a customer account on the client device.
15. A method for remotely configuring and controlling a client device without user input at the client device, the method comprising:
receiving, at the client device, distributed content from a device controller located remotely from the client device, the distributed content comprising first display content and second display content, and wherein the distributed content includes installable content;
displaying, when a touchscreen of the client device is in a first position, the first display content on a first screen of the touchscreen of the client device without receiving user input at the client device to display the first display content;
displaying, when the touchscreen of the client device is in a second position, the second display content on a second screen of the touchscreen of the client device without receiving user input at the client device to display the second display content;
receiving, at the client device from the device controller, a time interval associated with the installable content;
installing, at the client device, the installable content without receiving any user input at the client device to install the installable content;
displaying, based on the time interval, the installed content at least one of the first screen or the second screen;
preventing, during the installing, an invocation of an application program interface that requires additional user input during the installing of the installable content; and
preventing, during the installing, display of a directed response interaction with the client device to enable progression of the installing.
16. The method of claim 15 , further comprising:
detecting the touchscreen of the client device changing from the first position to the second position; and
based on the detecting, changing the first display content to the second display content.