WO2022189370A1

WO2022189370A1 - Method for providing one or more applications to at least one machine

Info

Publication number: WO2022189370A1
Application number: PCT/EP2022/055781
Authority: WO
Inventors: Robert Schmitt; David Bell
Original assignee: Robert Bosch Gmbh
Priority date: 2021-03-12
Filing date: 2022-03-08
Publication date: 2022-09-15
Also published as: DE102021202412A1; CN117099078A

Abstract

The invention relates to a method for providing one or more applications to at least one machine, wherein a management service (2) executed in a remote computing unit provides the one or more applications (A1, A2, ... Ai, ... AK) and stores application information (I1, I2, ... Ii, ... IK) about each of the one or more applications and machine information (E1, E2, ... Ej, ... EL) about each of the at least one machine (M1, M2, ... Mj, ... ML), and wherein each of the at least one machine is controlled by means of at least one control unit, which is designed to execute applications and can establish a data connection (4) to the management service, the method comprising: - capturing (110, 120) a selection of an application (Ai) from among the one or more applications and a selection of a machine (Mj) from among the at least one machine; - the management service carrying out (130) a compatibility check (12) between the selected application and the selected machine on the basis of the machine information (Ii) and the application information (Mj); - updating (150) the machine information relating to the selected machine and the application information relating to the selected application.

Description

description

title

Method for providing one or more applications to at least one machine

The present invention relates to a method for providing one or more applications to at least one machine and a computer program for its implementation.

Background of the Invention

The range of functions of modern machines controlled by control devices or control units can be significantly increased by expanding a basic functionality using additional hardware or add-on parts and software. In order to be able to use additional hardware, a corresponding computer program or software module must generally be installed on the control unit, for example a computer program that controls the hardware and/or reads out data obtained from the hardware. The functionality can also be expanded with additional software without changing the machine.

This is the case with agricultural machines as well as with other industrial machines. A field sprayer can be provided with a linkage, which enables the height of the spray nozzles to be adjusted in sections, and with (ground) distance sensors. A soil tracking program running in the control unit can then be set up to evaluate measured data from the distance sensors and to adjust the linkage in such a way that the distance to the ground or to the vegetation is as uniform as possible, in order to distribute spray agent evenly over the plants to guarantee. Here is So there is additional hardware in the form of the distance sensors and an additional software module in the form of the ground tracking program. A fertilizer spreader could, for example, be expanded with a corresponding software module to control the amount of fertilizer spread depending on the position, which is determined by a GPS device attached to the tractor to which the fertilizer spreader is attached.

These software modules, referred to as 'applications' in the context of this application, can be provided by a cloud service, with the machine being able to be connected to it at least temporarily via a network, in particular via the so-called Internet, in order to exchange data. In this cloud service, functionalities in the form of software modules or applications can be provided by various providers (also providers different from the manufacturer of the machine), which an owner of the machine can install and use as required.

Disclosure of Invention

According to the invention, a method for providing one or more applications to at least one machine and a computer program for its implementation with the features of the independent patent claims are proposed. Advantageous configurations are the subject of the subclaims and the following description.

According to the invention, a compatibility check is carried out after detecting a selection of an application and a selection of a machine before the actual installation of the selected application on the selected machine by a remote or non-machine computing unit running or implemen oriented management service, wherein for the compatibility check by the management service stored or managed machine information and application information are used, which are respectively updated accordingly. Errors, such as functional assemblies or sensors that are required for the function of the application but are not installed on the machine, can thus be detected at an early stage and, if necessary, corrected be resolved. Furthermore, the method according to the invention is advantageous since the selection of the application and machine can take place separately in time and space from the installation of the application.

The application is selected from one or more (available) applications. The machine is also selected from one or more machines or from at least one machine. The one or more applications are provided by the management service, which also stores application information about each of the one or more applications and machine information about each of the at least one machine. Each of the at least one machine is controlled by at least one controller configured to execute applications and capable of communicating with a management service.

A management service according to the invention can be viewed as a computer program that is implemented or executed in the remote computing unit (such as a possibly distributed server system) and provides services over a network (e.g. Internet), e.g. providing data or computing power , performing administrative tasks and storing related data, or similar. "Remote" refers to the management service not running on either the machine's controller or a user terminal. The management service can thus be viewed as a "cloud service" implemented in the colloquial "cloud".

The control unit is an arithmetic unit, ie it comprises one or more processors (each with possibly several arithmetic cores), a random access memory (RAM) and a non-volatile memory and/or can access a non-volatile memory. Interfaces are also provided, in particular for establishing the data connection. Interfaces are to be understood as meaning both physical interfaces, in particular plug-in connections, and software calls or messages. The control unit can be a control unit provided directly in the machine. More generally, the control unit can be a computing unit that is separate from the machine and can be connected to the machine or its control unit for data communication via an interface (such as ISOBUS). The control unit can control at least some functions of the machine via this interface; for this purpose the control unit interacts with the control unit and can optionally access its resources, eg non-volatile memory. In the case of agricultural machines, the control unit can be arranged on a tractor, for example, to which various agricultural machines can be attached. A control unit can therefore be provided for several machines, with applications for several machines being able to be installed on the control unit.

When installing and uninstalling applications, a corresponding installation or deinstallation program is called up on the control unit and the required data is transmitted via the data connection. During installation, the program data of the application in particular are transmitted and stored by the control unit (in the non-volatile memory provided in the control unit and/or in a non-volatile memory which the control unit can access, e.g. also in a non-volatile ei nes control unit of the machine).

For the sake of simplicity, this application also refers to installing (or uninstalling) an application on a machine. This is to be understood in such a way that the application or the program code of the application is installed (or uninstalled) on the control unit of the machine, ie it is stored in a memory of the control unit or a memory which the control unit can access , wherein the control unit is set up to execute the program code of the application.

The method preferably includes detecting an installation release, with the installation release preferably being recorded using an operating device which is connected to the administration service and/or to the control unit of the selected machine via a communication link. In this way it can be avoided that the installation of the application is triggered while the machine is being used productively, ie while the machines is processing a productive work order and its execution is disrupted. More preferably, the administration service or the control unit sends an installation release request to the operating device, displays it there to a user and records the installation release in response to a corresponding input from the user. The operating device can, for example, be a smartphone belonging to the user, an operating unit on the machine, a touchscreen for operating the machine, an operating button on the machine, a computer or the like.

Preference is given to installing the selected application on the control unit of the selected machine if the compatibility check is successful, if the data connection between the control unit and the management service exists, or if the data connection does not exist immediately after a successful compatibility check, the selected application is installed after the data connection has been established from the control unit of the selected machine; where the application information and the machine information are updated immediately after the successful compatibility check. In both cases, the selected application will only be installed if the installation release is available. The updating of the application information and the machine information is thus performed while waiting for the data connection. This is advantageous because if another application is installed, this further installation or the compatibility check associated with it can already take into account the changed machine information and application information.

Preferably, if the compatibility check is unsuccessful, an error message is generated; the error message more preferably containing information about a cause of the unsuccessful compatibility check. The error message allows a user to recognize early on, before the machine is started up, that the installation of the application failed. With the information about the cause, a user can identify where the problem lies and possibly take action to fix it. In the case of errors that can be rectified, for example if an existing peripheral device, e.g. a sensor, is not currently installed on the machine but is user can be installed, the installation can still take place. On the other hand, if the cause of the error cannot be remedied by the user, eg insufficient storage space, the installation cannot be carried out.

Accordingly, depending on the error message and/or a user input, the application is preferably not installed or, if the data connection between the control unit and the management service is established, the selected application is installed on the control unit of the selected machine, or, if the data connection does not exist, the selected application is installed after the data connection has been established by the control unit of the selected machine, the application information and the machine information being updated immediately after the compatibility check, in both cases if dependent on claim 2, the selected application will only be installed if the installation release is available. The user input can be recorded via a user terminal, on which, for example, an input is queried as to whether the error should be skipped or whether or not the application (despite the error message) should be installed.

The method preferably includes detecting a selection of an application installed on one of the at least one machine to be deinstalled; if the data connection of the machine's control unit with the administration service is established, uninstalling the application to be uninstalled from the machine's control unit, or, if the data connection of the machine's control unit with the administration service is not established, uninstalling the application to be uninstalled from the machine's control unit after the data connection has been established by the machine's control unit, and updating, preferably only after uninstallation, of the machine information of the machine and the application information of the application to be uninstalled.

More preferably, in this embodiment of the method, a deinstallation release is recorded and the deinstallation only takes place if the deinstallation release is available; whereby preferably the deinstallation release by means of a service device is recorded, which is connected to the management service and/or to the control unit of the selected machine via a communication link. This can prevent the application from being uninstalled while the machine is in use, for example if an employee is still using the machine and the application while another person wants to uninstall the application.

Preferably, the application information for each of the one or more applications includes one or more of requirements for machines and control units that are compatible with the application, in particular type of machine and/or control unit, installed functional assemblies, installed sensors; required storage space; needed other applications; required operating system version; required computing power. Preferably, the machine information of the at least one machine each includes one or more of a type of machine; existing hardware resources of the machine, in particular installed function modules and installed sensors; a type of control unit of the machine; available memory of the control unit; operating system version; installed applications; available computing power of the control unit. This application information or machine information allows incompatibility to be identified quickly.

Preferably, the selection of the application and the selection of the machine are captured by means of a user terminal connected to the management service via a communication link; where appropriate, the selection of the application to be uninstalled is recorded by means of the user terminal. More preferably, a user interface is provided on the user terminal, through which the applications and the machines are displayed in the form of icons and/or list items; wherein the user interface is configured to detect an application selection interaction as a selection of the application and a machine selection interaction as a selection of the machine; with even more preferably between the application selection interaction and the machine selection interaction or between the machine selection interaction and the application selection interaction a dragged icon or list element of the application or the machine corresponding to a displayed during a drag interaction. These features allow easy operation, ie easy installation and deinstallation by a user. The user terminal can be different from the above-mentioned operating device. But it is also possible that both are identical.

If necessary, the error message is preferably transmitted to the user terminal and displayed by it. In this way, an error (e.g. a failed compatibility check) can be displayed to the user directly during the interaction. If appropriate, the user input is preferably recorded, with the user input indicating whether or not the application is to be installed (despite an error message).

The implementation of a method according to the invention in the form of a computer program or computer program product with program code for carrying out all of the administrative service method steps is advantageous because this causes particularly low costs, especially if an executing computing unit connected to a network, e.g. a server or a Server system, is used for other tasks and is therefore available anyway. Suitable data carriers for providing the computer program are, in particular, magnetic, optical and electrical memories, such as hard drives, flash memories, EEPROMs, DVDs, etc. It is also possible to download a program via computer networks (Internet, intranet, etc.).

Further advantages and refinements of the invention result from the description and the attached drawing.

The invention is illustrated schematically in the drawing using exemplary embodiments and is described below with reference to the drawing.

Brief description of the drawings

FIG. 1 illustrates a method for providing applications based on the elements involved and their interaction; and FIG. 2 shows a diagram that shows the sequence of the method for providing applications according to a preferred embodiment.

embodiment(s) of the invention

FIG. 1 illustrates a method for providing applications for machines using the elements involved and their interaction in a preferred embodiment. The figure shows a number of machines M1, M2, . Information about each of the machines, so-called machine information E1, E2, ... Ej, ... EL, is stored by a management service 2, i.e. stored or read in a memory of the processing unit on which the management service is executed in a memory that can be accessed by the computing unit. The machine information can be at least partially transmitted by a user of the administration service, e.g. the farm, to the administration service, for example when registering a machine with the administration service, or possibly also (after registration) automatically by the administration service can be called up from the machine via the data connection.

The respective machine information may include one or more of a type of machine; existing hardware resources of the machine, in particular installed function modules, installed sensors or similar; a type of control unit of the machine; available storage space of the control unit; operating system version; installed software; installed applications; Available computing power of the control unit (the available or required computing power can depend on which and how many other applications are being run and also require computing power, is therefore to be seen in the sense of free computing power). The machines can establish a data connection 4 with the administration service. The data connection takes place via a network, in particular via the Internet, with the machine being able to be connected to the network by wire, for example via Ethernet, or wirelessly, for example via a mobile radio connection or via WiFi. It should be noted that the data connection may only exist temporarily, e.g. there is no data connection when the machine is switched off or the data connection of a mobile machine may be interrupted, for example if the machine is outside the radio range of a wireless network. It can also happen that the data connection is indirect, for example via another machine. For example, an agricultural machine can be connected to a tractor with a data cable, which in turn is connected to the network via a cellular connection.

The available applications A1, A2, . . . Ai, . . . AK and application information 11, I2, . . . li, stored in a memory to which the processing unit has access. In this case, the applications and the application information are transmitted from a manufacturer or programmer of the application, e.g. a machine manufacturer or application manufacturer, via a network to the management service and are then stored by the latter.

The respective application information relates to or includes application requirements that the machine must have in order to be able to install the application on it. The application requirements may include one or more of a type of machine for which the application is intended; required hardware resources of the machine, in particular installed function modules, installed sensors or similar; type of control unit required; required storage space; required operating system version; needed other applications; required computing power. Furthermore, the application information can also include other information, such as a number of available application licenses. A user terminal 6 is also shown in FIG. This can be, for example, a PC, a tablet, a smartphone or similar. The user terminal can establish a connection with the management service via a communication connection 8 over a network, eg the so-called Internet. The connection from the user terminal to the network can again be wired or wireless.

After the communication connection has been established and, if necessary, after the user has been authenticated, the user can manage the machines in the administration service, in particular install or uninstall applications on control units for machines. For this purpose, the available applications and machines in the form of application symbols or application list elements a1, a2, ... ai, ... aK and in the form of machine symbols or machine list elements m1, m2, . .. mj, ... ml_ represented here, for example, as list elements (combinations are possible, e.g. a list with symbols). Likewise, at least parts i1, i2, ... ii, ... iK of the application information (e.g. number of available licenses) and parts e1, e2, ... ej, ... iL of the machine information (e.g. on the respective Machine installed applications, installed function modules, etc.) are shown.

The user interface may be provided by dedicated machine and application management management software running on the user terminal (which also provides the communications link to the management service). However, provision is preferably made for the user interface to be made available as a web application by the administration service. HTML5 (W3C Recommendation) can be used for this purpose, which in particular enables the implementation of 'drag & drop' mechanisms (https://www.w3schools.com/html/html5_draganddrop.asp).

For example, an application Ai is to be installed on one of the machines Mj. For this purpose, the user can select the application Ai through an application selection interaction and the machine Mj through a machine selection interaction on the user interface. Application selection interaction and Machine selection interactions may each consist of a mouse button press and/or release or click when operated by a mouse, or touching and/or releasing the touch or tap of the screen surface when operated by a touch-sensitive screen, where the respective interaction takes place via the icon/list element that represents the application or machine. For example, the application list element aj can be pulled over the machine list element mi (arrow 10) in a known manner by means of "drag &drop" in order to assign the application Ai to the machine Mj. Of course, it is also possible to first capture the machine selection interaction and then the application selection interaction (e.g. by dragging a machine icon over an application icon). The symbols or list elements of the selected application and the selected machine can be graphically highlighted on the user interface, for example colored differently.

After the application has been assigned to the machine (i.e. selecting the application and selecting the machine), a compatibility check (arrow 12) is carried out on the server side, i.e. by the administration service. The compatibility test is based on the application information li, the application Ai that is to be installed and the machine information Ej, the machine Mj on which the application is to be installed, checks whether the application is to be installed on the machine or its control unit is suitable. It is checked whether the machine meets the application requirements of the application.

The compatibility check can include, for example, one or more of: whether the application is intended for the type of machine or its control unit; whether the machine has the necessary hardware resources for the function of the application, e.g. necessary functional modules, sensors or similar; whether the control unit has sufficient available computing power and/or available storage space; whether other applications necessary for the function of the application are installed, whether there are incompatibilities with already installed applications; whether an application license is available. If the compatibility check is successful and preferably after an installation release, for example via an operating device, the application Ai is installed on the machine Mj or its control unit via the data connection 4 and the application information li and machine information Ej stored by the management service 2 are accordingly updated. For example, the information on the memory space available on the machine is reduced in the machine information and the application is specified as an installed application, or the number of available application licenses is reduced in the application information.

If necessary, if there is no data connection, for example when the machine is switched off, the installation takes place after the machine or its control unit establishes the data connection 4 with the administration service 2, i.e. the installation is delayed until the data connection is established, for example when the machine is switched on, in which case an installation release is preferably first detected here. In this case, the application and machine information is preferably updated immediately after a successful compatibility check, i.e. before the actual installation, while waiting for the data connection. Provision may also be made here for the update to be provided with a corresponding note that it is provisional. This immediate update has the advantage that if another application is to be installed on the same machine, the marked installation can be taken into account when checking the compatibility of this further application.

If the compatibility check is not successful, a corresponding error message is preferably output, in which the cause of the failed compatibility check is specified. Depending on the cause, the installation can also take place if the compatibility check failed, for example if a peripheral device that is in principle available is not installed on the machine. For this purpose, a corresponding input from the user may be requested, ie a user input is recorded which indicates whether the unsuccessful compatibility check should be ignored, ie the application should be installed anyway. A similar procedure is followed when an application is uninstalled from a machine or control unit. A selection of the application to be uninstalled is therefore first recorded. For example, symbols of the applications installed on the respective machines can be displayed on the user interface next to the machine symbols and can be selected by interaction. Dragging the icon away from the machine may indicate that the application should be uninstalled. It would also be possible to display a menu when selecting the machine or application (e.g. by right-clicking when using a mouse).

The selected application to be uninstalled is then uninstalled by the machine when there is a data connection between the management service and the machine's control unit, and the application information and machine information are updated accordingly. Here, too, a deinstallation release is preferably first recorded and the application is only deinstalled if this is available. If the data connection between the administration service and the control unit of the machine does not exist, the uninstallation waits until the data connection is established by the control unit, with the application information and machine information preferably being updated only after the application to be uninstalled has been uninstalled.

FIG. 2 shows a diagram that represents the sequence of the method for providing, in particular for installing, applications according to a preferred embodiment. The method begins with detecting 110 a selection of an application to be installed and detecting 120 a selection of a machine on which or on the control unit of which the application is to be installed. The order of the steps 110, 120, ie the application selection detection and the machine selection detection, can be arbitrary here. A user terminal with a graphical user interface can be used for this purpose, as described in connection with FIG. 1, but in principle it is also possible to record an automatic selection, for example if an application requires other applications to be installed. these others Applications can then be selected automatically and, with the same machine selection, also installed as described below.

The compatibility check is carried out in step 130, a check being made in particular as to whether the machine meets the requirements of the application which are necessary for the function of the application. The compatibility check is carried out by the administration service, which carries out the compatibility check using the application information and machine information stored by the administration service.

If the compatibility check is unsuccessful, ie, for example, application requirements are not at least partially met by the machine, a corresponding error message is generated in preferred step 140, which can also contain information about the causes of the unsuccessful compatibility check. This can be transmitted to the user terminal, for example, in order to inform the user that an error has occurred and, if applicable, the cause of the error, so that the user can possibly take measures to correct the error. Depending on the error message or a corresponding user input, the installation can still be possible.

If the cause of the error is that another required application is not installed on the machine, the error message generated can preferably result in an automatic selection of this other application, ie a detection of this au tomatic selection according to step 110 . The procedure is then carried out first for the other automatically selected application (while the selection of the machine remains unchanged) and then again for the originally selected application, so that the compatibility check is now successful (if there are no further errors) and the originally selected application is installed becomes. Provision can be made for this automatic selection or procedure to be confirmed by a user, for example by means of a corresponding query on the user terminal. If, on the other hand, the compatibility check is successful, in step 150 the administration service updates the stored application information and machine information (taking into account the changes resulting from the installation, ie the assignment of the application to the machine) and the application is installed , steps 160, 170,

180, 190. When updating (step 150), in particular machine information of the selected machine can be updated, which relates to one or more of the following: available memory space of the control unit; installed applications; available computing power of the control unit. The number of available licenses can also be reduced in the application information for the selected application.

In the preferred step 155, an installation release or an installation release signal is detected. This indicates whether the installation is released, i.e. allowed, or not. Installation can only take place if the installation release is available. For this purpose, a corresponding request can be sent to an operating device (e.g. a push-up message) and the installation release can be recorded as an operator input.

In step 160, when installing the application, it is first checked whether the data connection between the control unit of the selected machine and the administration service exists. If this is the case, in step 170 the application is installed on the control unit of the selected machine, in particular the program code of the application being transmitted to the control unit via the data connection. In this case, the updating (step 150) can be carried out in parallel with the installation (step 170) or immediately after it.

If, on the other hand, the data connection does not exist immediately after the compatibility check, there is a wait in step 180 (by the administration service) until the data connection is established and then the installation of the application is carried out in step 190. In this case, the installation release (step 155) can, in contrast to what is shown, only be recorded after the data connection has been established. Updating (step 150) occurs Immediately after the compatibility check or after checking whether the data connection exists, eg while waiting for the data connection. "Waiting" is not necessarily to be understood here in an active sense (eg in the sense of a waiting loop), but should also include the establishment of the data connection or a determination by the administration service that the data connection has been established , the subsequent step 190 (and if necessary the detection of the installation release) triggers. For example, initiation data can be stored in the management service for each machine, which is automatically read and evaluated by the machine or its control unit when the data connection is established, with an entry being provided in such initiation data that indicates that an application is to be installed.

Claims

Expectations

1. A method for providing one or more applications to at least one machine, wherein a management service (2) running in a remote computing unit provides the one or more applications (A1, A2, ... Ai, ... AK). and application information (I1, I2, ... li, ... IK) for each of the one or more applications and machine information (E1, E2, ... Ej, ... EL) for each of the at least one machine (M1, M2, ... Mj, ... ML) and wherein each of the at least one machine is controlled by at least one control unit, which is arranged to execute applications and which establishes a data connection (4) with a management service can; full

detecting (110, 120) a selection of an application (Ai) from the one or more applications and a selection of a machine (Mj) of the at least one machine;

performing (130), through the management service, a compatibility check (12) between the selected application and the selected machine based on the machine information (Ei) and the application information (Ij);

updating (150) the machine information of the selected machine and the application information of the selected application.

The method of claim 1, comprising acquiring (155) an installation enable; wherein the installation release is preferably recorded by means of an operating device which is connected to the administration service and/or to the control unit of the selected machine via a communication link.

3. The method according to any one of the preceding claims, a) wherein, if the compatibility check is successful and the control unit has a data connection to the administration service, the selected application is installed (170) on the control unit of the selected machine; or b) if the data connection does not exist immediately after a successful compatibility check, the selected application is installed (190) after the data connection has been established by the control unit of the selected machine; wherein the application information and the machine information are updated immediately after the successful compatibility check (150); where in cases a) and b), if dependent on claim 2, the installation of the selected application only takes place if the installation release is present.

4. The method according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein if the compatibility check is unsuccessful, an error message is generated (140); where the error message preferably contains information about the reason for the unsuccessful compatibility check.

5. The method according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein depending on a user input and / or, referring back to claim 4, on the error message a) the application is not installed; b) or, if the control unit is in data connection with the administration service, the selected application is installed on the control unit of the selected machine, c) or, if the control unit is not in data connection with the administration service, the selected application is installed after the data connection has been established from the control unit of the selected machine, with the application information and the machine information being updated immediately after the compatibility check, where in cases b) and c), if dependent on claim 2, the installation of the selected application only takes place if the installation release is present.

6. The method according to any one of the preceding claims, further comprising

detecting a selection of an application installed on one of the at least one machine to be uninstalled; if the data connection of the machine's control unit with the management service is up, uninstall the application to be uninstalled from the machine's control unit, or, if the data connection of the machine's control unit with the management service is not up, uninstall the application to be uninstalled from the Machine control unit after the data connection has been established from the machine control unit; and

Update, preferably only after uninstallation, the machine information of the machine and the application information of the application to be uninstalled.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein an uninstall release is detected and uninstallation occurs only if the uninstall release is present; the deinstallation release preferably being recorded using an operating device which is connected to the administration service and/or to the control unit of the selected machine via a communication connection.

8. The method according to claim 1, wherein the application information for each of the one or more applications includes one or more of: requirements for machines and control units that are compatible with the application, in particular the type of machine and/or the control unit, installed function modules, installed sensors; required storage space; needed other applications; required operating system version; required computing power.

9. The method according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the compatibility check comprises checking whether the selected application satisfies predetermined application requirements of the selected machine.

10. The method according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the machine information of the at least one machine each comprises one or more of: type of machine; existing hardware resources of the machine, in particular installed function modules and installed sensors; type of control unit of the machine; available memory of the control unit; operating system version; installed applications; available computing power of the control unit.

Method according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the selection of the application and the selection of the machine are detected by means of a user terminal (6) connected to the management service via a communication link (8); wherein, if dependent on claim 4, the selection of the application to be uninstalled is detected by the user terminal.

12. The method according to claim 11, wherein a user interface is provided on the user terminal, through which the applications and the machines in the form of symbols and/or list elements (a1, a2, ... ai, ... aK; m1, m2, ... mj, ... mL) are displayed; wherein the user interface is configured to detect an application selection interaction as a selection of the application and a machine selection interaction as a selection of the machine; preferably between the application selection interaction and the machine selection interaction or between the machine selection interaction and the application selection interaction a dragged icon or list element of the application or the machine corresponding to a drag interaction (10) is displayed.

13. The method of claim 11 or 12 when dependent on claim 4, wherein the error message is transmitted to and displayed by the user terminal; wherein, if dependent on claim 5, preferably the user input is detected and the user input indicates whether or not to install the application.

14. A computer program which causes a computing unit connected to a network to carry out all the method steps of a method according to one of claims 1 to 13 carried out by the administration service when it is executed on the computing unit.

15. Machine-readable storage medium with a computer program stored thereon according to claim 14.