Method and System for Adding Frequently Selected Applications to a Computer Startup Sequence

• US 20080016397A1
• Filed: 07/10/2007
• Published: 01/17/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 03/15/2004
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Pagan, William
• Application Number:
  US11/775,800
• Publication Number:
  US 20080016397A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 714/36
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 9/445 Program loading or initiating bootstrapping G06F9/4401; security arrangements for program loading or initiating G06F21/57

Abstract

A computer system includes an automatic startup configuration utility running in a startup sequence to update the startup sequence according to the actions of a user in launching applications during an initial portion of an operating session. An application is considered for automatic launching based on the number of times it has been launched in the past and on the percentage of possible times that it has been launched. Preferably, before an application is added to the startup sequence, the user is presented with a dialog box asking him whether he wishes the application to be added for automatic launching in subsequent operating sessions, or whether he wishes the application to be removed from consideration for automatic launching.

Claims

1. A method for causing an application selected for launching by a user during an operating session of a computer system to be launched during subsequent operating sessions, wherein data and instructions for the application are stored within data and instruction storage within the computer system, and wherein the method comprises:

a) determining that the application has been launched during a portion of the operating session;

b) determining that the application has been launched a number of times exceeding a launch number criterion during portions of previous operating sessions; and

c) writing data to a startup sequence causing the application to be launched by the computer system during the subsequent operating sessions.

2. The method of claim 1, additionally comprising, before step c):

d) determining that the application has been launched a percentage of times exceeding a launch percentage criterion during the portions of previous operating sessions.

3. The method of claim 2, additionally comprising, after steps b) and d) and before step c):

e) displaying a user interface providing for a user selection indicating that the user wants the application to be launched during the subsequent operating sessions, and

f) receiving a selection signal indicating that the user wants the application to be launched during the subsequent operating sessions.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein

the user interface additionally provides for a user selection indicating that the user wants the application to be removed from consideration to be launched during subsequent operating sessions, and

the method additionally includes determining that a blacklist flag has not been set regarding the application during a previous operating session in response to a selection signal indicating that the user wants the application to be removed from consideration to be launched during subsequent operating sessions.

5. The method of claim 3, wherein

the user interface additionally provides for a user selection indicating that the user wants the application to be removed from consideration to be launched during subsequent operating sessions,

the launch number criterion is held at a first level in response to a determination that a blacklist flag has not been set regarding the application during a previous operating session in response to a selection signal indicating that the user wants the application to be removed from consideration to be launched during subsequent operating sessions, and

the launch number criterion is held at a second level in response to a determination that a blacklist flag has been set regarding the application during a previous operating session in response to a selection signal indicating that the user wants the application to be removed from consideration to be launched during subsequent operating sessions.

6. A computer system comprising a display screen;

data and instruction storage storing a plurality of applications, a startup configuration database, and a launch history database storing data corresponding to previously launched applications within the plurality of applications; and

a microprocessor programmed to perform a method comprising;

a) reading data within the startup configuration database;

b) launching an application within the plurality of applications from data corresponding to the application within the startup configuration database;

c) displaying a first user interface on the display screen providing for user selection of an application within the plurality of applications;

d) launching a user-selected application in response to a selection signal indicating user selection of the application;

e) writing data corresponding to the user-selected application to the launch history database;

f) determining from data stored within the launch history database that the user-selected application has been launched a number of times exceeding a launch number criterion; and

g) writing data to the startup configuration database corresponding to the user-selected application.

7. The computer system of claim 6, wherein the method additionally comprises, before step g):

h) determining from data stored within the launch history database that the user-selected application has been launched a percentage of times exceeding a launch percentage criterion.

8. The computer system of claim 7, wherein the method additionally comprises, after steps f) and h) and before step g):

i) displaying a second user interface on the display screen providing for a user selection indicating that the user wants the user-selected application to be launched during subsequent operating sessions, and

f) receiving a selection signal indicating that the user wants the user-selected application to be launched during the subsequent operating sessions.

9. The computer system of claim 8, wherein

the second user interface additionally provides for a user selection indicating that the user wants the user-selected application to be removed from consideration to be launched during subsequent operating sessions, and

the method additionally includes determining that a blacklist flag has not been set regarding the user-selected application during a previous operating session in response to a selection signal indicating that the user wants the user-selected application to be removed from consideration to be launched during subsequent operating sessions.

10. The computer system of claim 8, wherein

the second user interface additionally provides for a user selection indicating that the user wants the user-selected application to be removed from consideration to be launched during subsequent operating sessions,

the launch number criterion is held at a first level in response to a determination that a blacklist flag has not been set regarding the user-selected application during a previous operating session in response to a selection signal indicating that the user wants the user-selected application to be removed from consideration to be launched during subsequent operating sessions,

the launch number criterion is held at a second level in response to a determination that a blacklist flag has been set regarding the user-selected application during a previous operating session in response to a selection signal indicating that the user wants the user-selected application to be removed from consideration to be launched during subsequent operating sessions,

the launch percentage criterion is held at a third level in response to a determination that a blacklist flag has not been set regarding the user-selected application during a previous operating session in response to a selection signal indicating that the user wants the user-selected application to be removed from consideration to be launched during subsequent operating sessions, and

the launch percentage criterion is held at a fourth level in response to a determination that a blacklist flag has been set regarding the user-selected application during a previous operating session in response to a selection signal indicating that the user wants the user-selected application to be removed from consideration to be launched during subsequent operating sessions.

11. A computer program product for use with a computer system having a microprocessor executing program steps from an operating system having a capability to launch applications from data corresponding to the applications stored within a startup configuration database, wherein the computer program product includes a computer usable medium having computer readable program code embodied thereon causing the microprocessor to additionally perform a method comprising:

a) determining through an operating system interface with the operating system that a selected application has been launched;

b) writing data corresponding to the selected application to a launch history data file,

c) determining from data stored within the launch history database that the selected application has been launched a number of times exceeding a launch number criterion; and

d) writing data corresponding to the selected application to the startup configuration database.

12. The computer program product of claim 11, wherein the method additionally comprises, before step d):

e) determining from data stored within the launch history database that the selected application has been launched a percentage of times exceeding a launch percentage criterion.

13. The computer program product of claim 12, wherein the method additionally comprises, after steps c) and e) and before step d):

f) displaying a second user interface on the display screen providing for a user selection indicating that the user wants the selected application to be launched during subsequent operating sessions, and

f) receiving a selection signal indicating that the user wants the selected application to be launched during the subsequent operating sessions.

14. The computer program product of claim 13, wherein

the second user interface additionally provides for a user selection indicating that the user wants the selected application to be removed from consideration to be launched during subsequent operating sessions, and

the method additionally includes determining that a blacklist flag has not been set regarding the selected application during a previous operating session in response to a selection signal indicating that the user wants the selected application to be removed from consideration to be launched during subsequent operating sessions.

15. A computer data signal embodied on a carrier wave for use within a computer system having a microprocessor executing program steps from an operating system having a capability to launch applications from data corresponding to the applications stored within a startup configuration database, wherein the computer data signal includes program code causing the microprocessor to additionally perform a method comprising:

a) determining through an operating system interface with the operating system that a selected application has been launched;

b) writing data corresponding to the selected application to a launch history data file,

c) determining from data stored within the launch history database that the selected application has been launched a number of times exceeding a launch number criterion; and

d) writing data corresponding to the selected application to the startup configuration database.

16. The computer data signal of claim 15, wherein the method additionally comprises, before step d):

e) determining from data stored within the launch history database that the selected application has been launched a percentage of times exceeding a launch percentage criterion.

17. The computer data signal of claim 16, wherein the method additionally comprises, after steps c) and e) and before step d):

f) displaying a second user interface on the display screen providing for a user selection indicating that the user wants the selected application to be launched during subsequent operating sessions, and

f) receiving a selection signal indicating that the user wants the selected application to be launched during the subsequent operating sessions.

18. The computer data signal of claim 17, wherein

the second user interface additionally provides for a user selection indicating that the user wants the selected application to be removed from consideration to be launched during subsequent operating sessions, and

the method additionally includes determining that a blacklist flag has not been set regarding the selected application during a previous operating session in response to a selection signal indicating that the user wants the selected application to be removed from consideration to be launched during subsequent operating sessions.

19. The computer data signal of claim 17, wherein

the second user interface additionally provides for a user selection indicating that the user wants the selected application to be removed from consideration to be launched during subsequent operating sessions,

the launch number criterion is held at a first level in response to a determination that a blacklist flag has not been set regarding the selected application during a previous operating session in response to a selection signal indicating that the user wants the selected application to be removed from consideration to be launched during subsequent operating sessions,

the launch number criterion is held at a second level in response to a determination that a blacklist flag has been set regarding the selected application during a previous operating session in response to a selection signal indicating that the user wants the selected application to be removed from consideration to be launched during subsequent operating sessions,

the launch percentage criterion is held at a third level in response to a determination that a blacklist flag has not been set regarding the selected application during a previous operating session in response to a selection signal indicating that the user wants the selected application to be removed from consideration to be launched during subsequent operating sessions, and

the launch percentage criterion is held at a fourth level in response to a determination that a blacklist flag has been set regarding the selected application during a previous operating session in response to a selection signal indicating that the user wants the selected application to be removed from consideration to be launched during subsequent operating sessions.

20. The computer data signal of claim 17, wherein the second user interface additionally provides for a first user selection indicating that the user wants the selected application to be removed from consideration to be launched during subsequent operating sessions and for a second user selection indicating that the user wants applications removed from consideration to be launched during subsequent operating sessions not to be reconsidered for launching during subsequent operating sessions, and wherein the method additionally includes:

determining whether a blacklist flag has been set regarding the selected application during a previous operating session in response to a selection signal indicating that the user wants the selected application to be removed from consideration to be launched during subsequent operating sessions;

in response to a determination that the blacklist flag has not been set, holding the launch number criterion at a first level and holding the launch percentage criterion at a third level;

in response to a determination that the blacklist flag has been set, holding the launch number criterion at a second level and holding the launch percentage criterion at a fourth level; and

in response to a determination that the blacklist flag has been set, determining that a reconsideration flag has not been set in response to a selection signal indicating that the user wants applications removed from consideration to be launched during subsequent operating sessions not to be reconsidered for launching during subsequent operating sessions,

21. The computer data signal of claim 20, wherein the second user interface additionally provides for user selections setting the first, second, third, and fourth levels.

22. The computer data signal of claim 15, wherein

the launch history database includes a number of user launch history data structures for a number of users of the computer system,

step a) is preceded by a user logging onto the computer system,

as the method is performed, data written to and read from the startup configuration database is written to and read from a user configuration data structure of the user logging onto the computer system within the startup configuration database, and

as the method is performed, data written to and read from the launch history database is written to and read from the user launch history data structure of the user logging onto the computer system.

23. The computer data signal of claim 16, wherein data is written to the launch history database and to the startup configuration database corresponding to the selected application only during a predetermined period following launching applications within the plurality of applications from data corresponding to the applications within the startup configuration database.