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

• US 20050160422A1
• Filed: 12/14/2004
• Published: 07/21/2005
• 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 7,853,955 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 717/175
• 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 sub-part. 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 computer readable medium having computer-executable instructions for performing a method for identifying application functionality needed to run a set of files when a computer is disconnected from a network, the method comprising the steps of:

determining the set of files to be stored locally on the computer;

identifying a type for each file in the set of files;

storing the set of files locally on the computer;

for each file in the set of files identifying a handler routine and sending each file to the identified handler routine;

for each file in the set of files, in the identified handler routine, determining the application functionality required to execute each file; and

installing the identified application functionality locally on the computer.

2. A computer readable medium as defined in claim 1, wherein the application functionality comprises products, features and components.

3. A computer readable medium as defined in claim 1, wherein the handler routine is on the computer.

4. A computer readable medium as defined in claim 1, wherein the step of determining the set of files to be stored locally on the computer comprises receiving user input, wherein the user input corresponds to a plurality of files that are to be stored locally on the computer.

5. A computer readable medium as defined in claim 1, wherein the step of determining the set of files to be stored locally on the computer comprises the steps of:

searching a plurality of files in a plurality of storage locations on the computer;

determining whether each file found in the plurality of storage locations is to be stored locally on the computer; and

if so, then adding the file to the set of files.

6. A computer-readable medium as defined in claim 5 wherein the step of determining whether each file found in the plurality of storage locations is to be stored locally is based on a set of rules.

7. A computer-readable medium as defined in claim 5 wherein the step of determining whether each file found in the plurality of storage locations is to be stored locally is based on a user'"'"'s usage patterns.

8. A computer-readable medium as defined in claim 1 wherein the step of identifying application functionality needed to run each file comprises determining whether each file needs multiple application functionality, and, if so, mapping application functionality to a file embedded in the set of files.

10. A computer readable medium having computer-executable instructions for performing a method for identifying a set of application functionality to be stored on a computer connected to a network, the method comprising:

causing a document identification engine (DIE) to create a list of a plurality of files stored locally on the computer;

sending the list of files from the DIE to a document mapping engine (DME);

causing the DME to identify a proper handler routine for each file in the list of files;

sending each file from the DME to the proper handler routine;

causing the handler routine to identify the application functionality needed to execute each file when the computer is disconnected from the network;

sending a list of needed application functionality of the handler routine to the DME;

sending a list of needed application functionality from the DME to a migration engine (ME);

causing the ME to determine the current status of the needed application functionality; and

if the status of the needed application functionality indicates that the needed application functionality is not installed locally on the computer, then causing the ME to install the needed application functionality to the computer.

9. A computer-readable medium as defined in claim 10 wherein the embedded file comprises one of an Object Linking and Embedding (OLE) object or a hyperlink.

11. A computer-readable medium as defined in claim 10, wherein the method further comprises:

causing the handler routine to notify the DME of an embedded file; and

in response to receiving the notification of the embedded file, causing the DME to transmit the embedded file to another handler routine associated with the embedded file.

12. A computer-readable medium as defined in claim 10 further comprising the steps of:

sorting the application functionality according to a frequency of occurrence.

13. A computer-readable medium as defined in claim 12 wherein the step of sorting the application functionality comprises steps of:

causing the handler routine to return importance rankings associated with the application functionality.

14. A computer readable medium having computer-executable instructions for performing a method of executing application functionality on a computer disconnected from a network comprising:

while the computer is connected to the network, identifying one or more files to be used when the computer is disconnected from the network;

determining whether the one or more files are associated with the application functionality, wherein the application functionality is located on the network;

upon identifying one or more files associated with the application functionality, transferring the application functionality from the network to the computer;

disconnecting the computer from the network; and

executing the application functionality in combination with at least one of the files associated with the application functionality.

15. A computer readable medium as defined in claim 14 wherein the one or more files are on the network prior to the identifying act, the method further comprising:

prior to disconnecting the computer from the network, transferring the one or more files from the network to the computer.

16. A computer readable medium as defined in claim 14 wherein the act of determining whether the one or more files are associated with the application functionality comprises analyzing the one or more file to determine application functionality.

17. A computer readable medium as defined in claim 16 further comprising:

receiving a disconnect signal; and

in response to the disconnect signal, automatically identifying the one or more files to be analyzed.

18. A computer readable medium as defined in claim 17 wherein the disconnect signal comprises a shut-down signal.

19. A computer readable medium as defined in claim 17 wherein the disconnect signal comprises a undock signal.

20. A computer readable medium as defined in claim 17 wherein the act of automatically identifying the one or more files to be analyzed comprises:

automatically reviewing a recently used document list; and

automatically reviewing a list of documents marked for use offline.