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 plurality of client devices without user input at the plurality of client devices, and wherein the plurality of client devices comprises a first client device and a second client device, the method comprising:
receiving, at a device controller from a remote device, a user selection, wherein the user selection identifies client software and a set of identifiers associated with a subset of the plurality of client devices, wherein the subset of the plurality of client devices comprises the first client device, wherein the set of identifiers comprises a unique identifier for each client device of the plurality of client devices, wherein the client software includes at least one of content or a setting;
identifying, at the device controller, the subset of the plurality of client devices based on the set of identifiers; and
transmitting, responsive to the identifying, the client software to the subset of the plurality of client devices,
wherein each client device of the plurality of client devices is configured with a modified operating system, wherein the modified operating system is configured to execute specifically on each client device and is further configured to prevent, on each client device, at least one of invocation of a system call or display of a pop-up that requires user input during installation of the client software.
2. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
receiving, at the device controller from the remote device, a second user selection, wherein the second user selection identifies second client software and a second set of identifiers associated with a second subset of the plurality of client devices, wherein the second subset of the plurality of client devices comprises the second client device, and wherein the second client software is different from first client software.
3. The method of claim 2 , wherein the plurality of client devices is associated with an account identifier, and wherein the subset of the plurality of client devices comprises a first type of client devices and wherein the second subset of the plurality of client devices comprises a second type of client devices.
4. The method of claim 3 , wherein the first type of client devices is associated with a first physical location associated with the account identifier and the second type of client devices is associated with a second physical location associated with the account identifier.
5. The method of claim 1 , wherein the client software is a new version of the client software.
6. The method of claim 1 , the method further comprising:
determining a successful installation of the client software on the first client device; and
installing the client software on other client devices of the plurality of client devices based on the successful installation of the client software on the first client device.
7. The method of claim 1 , wherein the set of identifiers comprises serial numbers of client device of the plurality of client devices.
8. The method of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of client devices are point of sale devices.
9. A system for remotely configuring and controlling a plurality of client devices without user input at the plurality of client devices, and wherein the plurality of client devices comprises a first client device and a second client device, the system comprising:
a memory;
a processor communicatively coupled to the memory, and configured to:
receive, from a remote device, a user selection, wherein the user selection identifies client software and a set of identifiers associated with a subset of the plurality of client devices, wherein the subset of the plurality of client devices comprises the first client device, wherein the set of identifiers comprises a unique identifier for each client device of the plurality of client devices, wherein the client software includes at least one of content or a setting;
identify the subset of the plurality of client devices based on the set of identifiers; and
transmit, responsive to the identifying, the client software to the subset of the plurality of client devices,
wherein each client device of the plurality of client devices is configured with a modified operating system, wherein the modified operating system is configured to execute specifically on each client device and is further configured to prevent, on each client device, at least one of invocation of a system call or display of a pop-up that requires user input during installation of the client software.
10. The system of claim 9 , wherein the processor is further configured to:
receive, from the remote device, a second user selection, wherein the second user selection identifies second client software and a second set of identifiers associated with a second subset of the plurality of client devices, wherein the second subset of the plurality of client devices comprises the second client device, and wherein the second client software is different from first client software.
11. The system of claim 10 , wherein the plurality of client devices is associated with an account identifier, and wherein the subset of the plurality of client devices comprises a first type of client devices and wherein the second subset of the plurality of client devices comprises a second type of client devices.
12. The system of claim 11 , wherein the first type of client devices is associated with a first physical location associated with the account identifier and the second type of client devices is associated with a second physical location associated with the account identifier.
13. The system of claim 9 , wherein the client software is a new version of the client software.
14. The system of claim 9 , wherein the processor is further configured to:
determine a successful installation of the client software on the first client device; and
install the client software on other client devices of the plurality of client devices based on the successful installation of the client software on the first client device.
15. The system of claim 9 , wherein the set of identifiers comprises serial numbers of client device of the plurality of client devices.
16. The system of claim 9 , wherein the plurality of client devices are point of sale devices.
17. A non-transitory computer-readable medium storing instructions, wherein the instructions, when executed by a processor of a device controller for remotely configuring and controlling a plurality of client devices without user input at the plurality of client devices, and wherein the plurality of client devices comprises a first client device and a second client device, cause the processor to perform operations comprising:
receiving, at the device controller from a remote device, a user selection, wherein the user selection identifies client software and a set of identifiers associated with a subset of the plurality of client devices, wherein the subset of the plurality of client devices comprises the first client device, wherein the set of identifiers comprises a unique identifier for each client device of the plurality of client devices, wherein the client software includes at least one of content or a setting;
identifying, at the device controller, the subset of the plurality of client devices based on the set of identifiers; and
transmitting, responsive to the identifying, the client software to the subset of the plurality of client devices,
wherein each client device of the plurality of client devices is configured with a modified operating system, wherein the modified operating system is configured to execute specifically on each client device and is further configured to prevent, on each client device, at least one of invocation of a system call or display of a pop-up that requires user input during installation of the client software.
18. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 17 , wherein the operations further comprise:
receiving, at the device controller from the remote device, a second user selection, wherein the second user selection identifies second client software and a second set of identifiers associated with a second subset of the plurality of client devices, wherein the second subset of the plurality of client devices comprises the second client device, and wherein the second client software is different from first client software.
19. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 18 , wherein the plurality of client devices is associated with an account identifier, and wherein the subset of the plurality of client devices comprises a first type of client devices and wherein the second subset of the pluraltiy of client devices comprises a second type of client devices.
20. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 19 , wherein the first type of client devices is associated with a first physical location associated with the account identifier and the second type of client devices is associated with a second physical location associated with the account identifier.