Integrated setup for generating customization XML

• US 20060136872A1
• Filed: 12/20/2004
• Published: 06/22/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 12/20/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
• Inventors: Hughes, Aidan T., Barr, Paul C., Jennings, John P.
• Granted Patent: US 7,594,225 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 717/114
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 9/44505 Configuring for program initiating, e.g. using registry, configuration files

Abstract

An integrated application setup enables the generation and expression of application customization intent in a generic manner that is indifferent to the way in which the customization intent is implemented. A customization application integrates the process of customizing a target application with the standard setup process for the target application. The customization application allows a user to review customization options for the target application and to specify customization intent through an application configuration user interface (UI). The customization application then generates customization XML that expresses the user'"'"'s customization intent.

Claims

1. A method for expressing customization intent comprising:

accessing an application installation package having information for installing an application;

presenting customization options from the application installation package via an application configuration user interface (UI);

receiving user input instructions through the UI that identify customization intent regarding the application; and

generating customization XML that expresses the customization intent.

2. A method as recited in claim 1, further comprising:

accessing pre-existing customization XML that represents previous customization intent; and

presenting previous customizations through the UI that indicate the previous customization intent.

3. A method as recited in claim 2, further comprising:

altering previous customization intent based on the user input instructions; and

generating updated customization XML that expresses updated customization intent.

4. A method as recited in claim 1, wherein accessing an application installation package comprises:

retrieving an application program that includes a customization application;

initiating a setup process to set up the application program; and

executing the customization application as an integral part of the setup process to generate the customization XML.

5. A method as recited in claim 4, wherein retrieving an application program is selected from the group comprising:

downloading the application program over a network from a remote location; and

retrieving the application program from a local media storage device.

6. One or more processor-readable media having processor-executable instructions configured to perform the method of claim 1.

7. One or more processor-readable media having processor-executable instructions configured for:

accessing an application program that includes a customization application; and

generating customization XML expressing a user'"'"'s customization intent regarding the application program.

8. One or more processor-readable media as recited in claim 7, comprising further processor-executable instructions configured for:

accessing an application installation package associated with the application program; and

presenting customization options from the application installation package to a user.

9. One or more processor-readable media as recited in claim 8, comprising further processor-executable instructions configured for receiving user input identifying the customization intent regarding the application program.

10. One or more processor-readable media as recited in claim 9, wherein receiving user input comprises receiving user input via an application configuration user interface (UI).

11. One or more processor-readable media as recited in claim 10, wherein presenting customization options comprises populating the UI with the customization options from the application installation package.

12. One or more processor-readable media as recited in claim 8, wherein accessing an application installation package comprises:

initiating a setup process to set up the application program; and

executing the customization application as an integral part of the setup process to generate the customization XML.

13. One or more processor-readable media as recited in claim 7, wherein generating customization XML comprises executing the customization application as an integral part of a setup procedure for the application program.

14. One or more processor-readable media as recited in claim 7, comprising further processor-executable instructions configured for:

accessing pre-existing customization XML that expresses previous customization intent; and

presenting the previous customization intent to a user.

15. One or more processor-readable media as recited in claim 14, comprising further processor-executable instructions configured for:

receiving user input that alters the previous customization intent; and

generating updated customization XML expressing the user'"'"'s updated customization intent.

16. One or more processor-readable media as recited in claim 15, wherein presenting the previous customization intent and receiving user input are achieved via an application configuration user interface (UI) supported by the customization application.

17. A computer comprising the processor-readable media of claim 7.

18. A system comprising:

a processor;

a memory;

an application program stored in the memory; and

a customization program integrated within the application program, that when executed on the processor receives user input identifying customization intent and generates customization XML that expresses the customization intent.

19. A system as recited in claim 18, further comprising:

an application installation package; and

an application configuration UI supported by the customization program and configured to present customization options to the user based on the application installation package, and to receive the customization intent input from the user.

20. A system as recited in claim 18, further comprising:

an XML document indicating previous customizations made to the application program;

wherein the UI is further configured to present the previous customizations to the user and to receive user input regarding changes to the previous customizations.