Method and system for identifying program module functionality needed by a computer when disconnected from a network

• US 20050132063A1
• Filed: 01/24/2005
• Published: 06/16/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 12/30/1998
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
• Inventors: Edelstein, Noah B., Belt, Jeffrey C., Schreiber, Eric S., Ratan, Maithreyi Lakshmi
• Granted Patent: US 7,293,269 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 709/227
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 8/61 Installation

Abstract

Identifying program module functionality needed by a computer when disconnected from a network is disclosed. A document identification engine (DIE) creates a list of files stored locally on the computer. The DIE sends the list of files to a document mapping engine (DME). The DME identifies a proper handler routine for each file in the list of files and sends each file to the proper handler routine(s). The handler routine(s) identifies the application functionality needed to execute each file. The application functionality may include products, features and components. The handler routine sendsd a list of needed application functionality to the DME. If needed, the DME may send any sub-parts of files to another handler for further processing, such as when a word processing document includes a spreadsheet subpart. The DME also can send the list of needed application functionality to a migration engine (ME). The ME determines the current status of the needed application functionality. If the status of the needed application functionality indicates that the needed application functionality is not installed locally on the computer, then the ME installs the needed application functionality to the computer.

Claims

1. A method of installing an application feature on a first computer system, wherein the first computer system is capable of communicating with a second computer system when the first and second computer systems are connected, the first computer system being unable to communicate with the second computer system when the first and second computer systems are disconnected and wherein the application feature is stored on the second computer system, the method comprising:

storing one or more user files on the first computer system;

evaluating the one or more user files;

determining whether the one or more user files require one or more application features;

while the first computer system is connected to the second computer system, transferring the one or more required application features from the second computer system to the first computer system; and

disconnecting the first computer system from the second computer system.

2. A method as defined in claim 1 wherein the act of evaluating the one or more user files further involves classifying the one or more user files according to type.

3. A method as defined in claim 2 wherein the one or more user files have file names and the types are classified by file name extensions.

4. A method as defined in claim 1 wherein at least one user file further comprises an embedded file and wherein the embedded file is associated with different application features than the remaining user files, and wherein the method further comprises:

evaluating the embedded file;

determining whether the embedded file requires application features; and

transferring application features associated with the embedded file to the first computer system.

5. A method as defined in claim 1 wherein at least two user files are different in type and wherein the act of determining associated application features further comprises:

executing a first handler routine to evaluate a first user file of a first type; and

executing a second handler routine to evaluate a second user file of a second type.

6. A method as defined in claim 1 further comprising:

determining a lack of capacity on the first computer system;

receiving user selection of user files;

determining a priority of application features based on the user selection; and

transferring application features according to the determined priority.

7. A method as defined in claim 6 further comprising:

receiving user selection of application features; and

transferring a limited subset of available application features to the first computer system based on user selection of application features.

8. A method as defined in claim 6 further comprising:

identifying application features existing on the first computer system prior to transferring application features to the first computer system;

comparing existing application features to those identified for transfer; and

transferring only those application features not existing on the first computer system.

9. A method as defined in claim 1 further comprising:

automatically identifying the user files to be stored on the first computer system.

10. A method as defined in claim 9 further comprising:

evaluating automatically identified user files and user files previously existing on the first computer system to determine application features to be stored on the first computer system.

11. A method as defined in claim 10 further comprising:

determining a likelihood of application feature use; and

based on the likelihood of application feature use, determining a priority for transferring application features to the first computer system.

12. A computer readable medium having computer-executable instructions for performing a method for identifying one or more application features needed to access one or more user files when a first computer system is disconnected from a second computer system, the method comprising the steps of:

storing one or more user files on the first computer system;

evaluating the one or more user files;

determining whether the one or more user files require one or more application features;

while the first computer system is connected to the second computer system, transferring the one or more required application features from the second computer system to the first computer system; and

disconnecting the first computer system from the second computer system.

13. A computer readable medium as defined in claim 12 wherein the act of evaluating the one or more user files further involves classifying the one or more user files according to type and wherein the one or more user files have file names with file name extensions and the types are classified by file name extensions.

14. A computer readable medium as defined in claim 12 wherein at least one user file further comprises an embedded file and wherein the embedded file is associated with different application features than the remaining user files, and wherein the method further comprises:

evaluating the embedded file;

determining whether the embedded file requires application features; and

transferring application features associated with the embedded file to the first computer system.

15. A computer readable medium as defined in claim 12 wherein at least two user files are different in type and wherein the act of determining associated application features further comprises:

executing a first handler routine to evaluate a first user file of a first type; and

executing a second handler routine to evaluate a second user file of a second type.

16. A computer readable medium as defined in claim 12 wherein the method further comprises:

determining a lack of capacity on the first computer system;

receiving user selection of user files;

determining a priority of application features based on the user selection; and

transferring application features according to the determined priority.

17. A computer readable medium as defined in claim 16 wherein the method further comprises:

receiving user selection of application features; and

transferring a limited subset of available application features to the first computer system based on user selection of application features.

18. A computer readable medium as defined in claim 16 wherein the method further comprises:

identifying application features existing on the first computer system prior to transferring application features to the first computer system;

comparing existing application features to those identified for transfer; and

transferring only those application features not existing on the first computer system.

19. A computer readable medium as defined in claim 12 wherein the method further comprises:

automatically identifying the user files to be stored on the first computer system; and

evaluating automatically identified user files and user files previously existing on the first computer system to determine application features to be stored on the first computer system.

20. A method as defined in claim 19 wherein the method further comprises:

determining a likelihood of application feature use; and

based on the likelihood of application feature use, determining a priority for transferring application features to the first computer system.