UPDATING ESTIMATED PROCESS RUNTIME

• US 20070283340A1
• Filed: 06/05/2006
• Published: 12/06/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 06/05/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
• Inventors: Hoover, Jonathan A., Thompson, Daniel J.
• Granted Patent: US 7,577,632 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 717/168
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0481 based on specific properties of the displayed interaction object or a metaphor-based environment, e.g. interaction with desktop elements like windows or icons, or assisted by a cursor's changing behaviour or appearance

Abstract

Systems and methods for updating estimated process runtimes are provided. Initially, an estimated runtime for a process, the estimated runtime being based on a default value or at least one previously recorded actual runtime, is received. An actual runtime of the process is then recorded and the estimated runtime for the process is automatically updated utilizing the recorded actual runtime.

Claims

1. A method for updating an estimated runtime for a process, the method comprising:

receiving an estimated runtime for the process, the estimated runtime being based on at least one prior actual runtime for the process;

recording an actual runtime for the process; and

automatically updating the estimated runtime utilizing the recorded actual runtime.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising presenting an indicator of the estimated runtime for the process.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the estimated runtime comprises an average of two or more prior actual runtimes for the process.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the process includes a plurality of distinct units, and wherein the estimated runtime comprises a sum of average actual runtimes for two or more of the plurality of distinct units.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein the actual runtime for the process includes a sum of actual runtimes for fewer than all of the plurality of distinct units based on a system environment in which the process is executed.

6. The method of claim 2, wherein the indicator comprises a progress bar.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the process comprises at least one of a software installation process and a software updating process.

8. One or more computer readable media having computer-executable instructions for performing the method of claim 1.

9. A system for updating an estimated runtime for a process, the system comprising:

an executer component configured to measure an actual runtime for the process and to utilize the actual runtime to update the estimated runtime for the process;

a repository configured to store one or more information items related to the process; and

a presentation component configured to present an indicator of at least one of the one or more information items.

10. The system of claim 9, wherein the executor component is further configured to automatically update the estimated runtime for the process upon receiving an actual runtime for the process.

11. The system of claim 9, wherein the estimated runtime for the process comprises an average of two or more prior actual runtimes for the process.

12. The system of claim 9, wherein the process includes a plurality of distinct units, and wherein the estimated runtime for the process comprises a sum of estimated runtimes for two or more of a plurality of distinct units comprising the process.

13. The system of claim 9, wherein at least one of the one or more information items includes a default runtime for the process, an estimated runtime for the process, an identifier of at least one distinct unit comprising the process, a default runtime for at least one distinct unit comprising the process, or an estimated runtime for at least one distinct unit comprising the process.

14. The system of claim 13, wherein the presentation component is configured to present an indicator of the estimated runtime for the process, and wherein the indicator is a progress bar.

15. A method for updating an estimated runtime for a process, the process including a plurality of distinct units, the method comprising:

receiving an indication to execute at least a portion of the process;

determining based on a system environment which of the plurality of distinct units comprise the portion of the process to be executed;

receiving the estimated runtime for the portion of the process to be executed, the estimated runtime comprising a sum of estimated runtimes for each of the distinct units comprising the portion of the process to be executed;

recording an actual runtime for each of the distinct units comprising the portion of the process; and

automatically updating the estimated runtimes for each of the distinct units comprising the portion of the process utilizing the respective recorded actual runtimes.

16. The method of claim 15, further comprising storing the updated estimated runtime for each of the distinct units.

17. The method of claim 15, further comprising presenting an indicator of the estimated runtime for the portion of the process to be executed.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein the indicator comprises a progress bar.

19. The method of claim 15, wherein the process comprises at least one of a software installation process and a software updating process.

20. One or more computer-readable media having computer-executable instructions for performing the method of claim 15.