Method and apparatus for operating a mobile application store

An apparatus for operating a mobile application store, the apparatus comprising:

• a memory;
• and
• a processor configured to execute instructions in the memory to operate the apparatus to:
• execute a first mobile application store that operates in an environment of an operating system of an apparatus;
• receive user input to the first mobile application store to select a mobile application to run on the apparatus;
• connect to a second mobile application store operable only in an environment of an operating system of a mobile device;
• access a user account database to retrieve user account information for authentication to connect to the second mobile application store;
• request for the mobile application to be downloaded to the apparatus from the second mobile application store apparatus;
• download the mobile application to the apparatus;
• install the mobile application after the mobile application is downloaded;
• instruct an emulator installed on the apparatus to run the mobile application on the apparatus when the mobile application is installed,
• receive user input to register or login to a user account for connecting to the second mobile application store;
• and
• store the user account information in the user account database for new user account registration or when the login to the user account is performed for a first time on the apparatus,
• wherein the emulator is for emulating the environment of the operating system of the mobile device in the environment of the operating system of the apparatus,
• wherein the mobile application selected to run is configured to run only in the environment of the operating system of the mobile device, and
• wherein the mobile application is selected from a plurality of mobile applications provided by the first mobile application store.

A non-transitory computer readable storage medium embodying thereon a program of computer readable instructions which, when executed by one or more processors of an apparatus, cause the apparatus to carry out a method for operating a mobile application store, the method comprising:

• executing a first mobile application store that operates in an environment of an operating system of an apparatus;
• receiving user input to the first mobile application store to select a mobile application to run on the apparatus;
• connecting to a second mobile application store operable only in an environment of an operating system of a mobile device;
• accessing a user account database to retrieve user account information for authentication to connect to the second mobile application store;
• requesting for the mobile application to be downloaded to the apparatus from the second mobile application store;
• downloading the mobile application to the apparatus;
• installing the mobile application after the mobile application is downloaded;
• instructing an emulator installed on the apparatus to run the mobile application on the apparatus when the mobile application is installed;
• receiving user input to register for or login to a user account for connecting to the second mobile application store;
• and
• storing the user account information in the user account database for new user account registration or when the login to the user account is performed for a first time on the apparatus,
• wherein the emulator is for emulating the environment of the operating system of the mobile device in the environment of the operating system of the apparatus,
• wherein the mobile application selected to run is configured to run only in the environment of the operating system of the mobile device,
• wherein the mobile application is selected from a plurality of mobile applications provided by the first mobile application store.